Elections, Meetings, News

Advance Notice of Annual General Meeting (AGM) 2018-19 and Notification of Board Elections

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Chelsea Supporters’ Trust Advance Notice of Annual General Meeting (AGM) 2018-19

  1. By order of the Chelsea Supporters Trust (CST) Board, notice is hereby given, that it is the intention of the CST to hold an AGM and an election for the board of the society for the 2018/19 season.
  2. The AGM will take place on the weekend of 18/19 August 2018. The date will be confirmed once fixtures scheduled for that weekend are announced. The AGM will take place on the alternate day to the Chelsea fixture. The venue for the AGM will be The Hollins Suite, Stamford Bridge.
  3. The agenda for the meeting, along with motions to be voted upon, will be announced no later than Monday 6th August 2018. 
  4. A number of motions will be put forward by the Board. There is also an opportunity for members to propose motions from the floor. A person wishing to propose a floor motion must:
    1. Be a fully paid-up member of the Chelsea Supporters Trust;
    2. Send the motion in writing by email to secretary@chelseasupporterstrust.com by no later than 2300 BST on Friday 3rd August 2018;
    3. Ensure that the motion is seconded by two (2) paid-up members of the CST. The names and email addresses of the proposer and the seconders must be included in the email;
    4. All motions from the floor must be in accordance with the aims and objectives of the CST and must not act to the detriment of the CST.

Chelsea Supporters’ Trust Notice of Election

  1. The Board Election will coincide with the CST Annual General Meeting which will occur on the same date. 
  2. Voting for the election will commence in the form of an online poll following the close of the AGM and will continue for two weeks thereafter. 
  3. The election will be overseen by an independent Electoral Management Group (EMG) consisting of the CST Secretary, a member of the CST and an independent representative. For details on election policy, please contact the Trust Secretary by emailing secretary@chelseasupporterstrust.com. 
  4. There will be nine (9) positions to be elected onto the Trust Board. Candidates will be elected without portfolio and the Board, once elected, will decide on the positions to be held by each elected Board Member. 
  5. A person wishing to stand for election must:
    1. Be a fully paid-up member of the Chelsea Supporters Trust;
    2. Be nominated by one other fully paid-up member of the CST;
    3. Complete a nomination form correctly and accurately, following the guidance outlined on the form;
    4. Submit a candidate statement which will serve as a manifesto and be circulated to all members of the CST eligible to vote;
    5. Return the nomination form and candidate statement no later than 2300 BST on Friday 3rd August 2018. Any nomination forms returned after this time will not be admitted.
  1. Decisions over the validity of nominations shall be a matter for the EMG. Any decision by the EMG not to accept a nomination as valid will be notified to the candidate as soon as practicable, whereupon the candidate may, if appropriate, take steps to rectify the situation.
  2. The decision of the EMG is final. Any complaints made to the EMG concerning the result of the election must be made no later than three working days after the close of the poll. Any complaint after this time shall not be admissible.

Completed nomination forms should be returned to the Chair of the EMG via email secretary@chelseasupporterstrust.com or by post to

Chair of Electoral Management Group, Chelsea Supporters’ Trust, C/O 11 St. Catherine’s Road Winchester Hampshire SO23 0PP
No signatures are required if emailing, but name and email address of both candidate and nominator must be stated and it must be sent from same email address as the one registered on the candidate’s CST membership record.

Related Downloads:

CST election nomination form 2018-19

Election Policy 2018
News

Making Your Voice Heard, Over Land, Sea and Parliament!

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On Wednesday 6 June, Chelsea Supporters Trust joined other trusts from across the EFL and Premier League to discuss safe standing with Labour’s Shadow secretary for Sport, Dr. Rosena Allin-Khan MP.

Whilst the Labour party traditionally has not held a pro safe standing stance, over the last few months it has been undertaking a consultation of fans groups, safety experts and clubs.

This meeting culminated in the end of the consultation, culminating in Labour announcing today at QPR’s stadium, that it will be in favour of safe standing in football.

Henry Fowler, member of the Chelsea Supporters Trust board and campaign lead for safe standing welcomed this commitment from the Labour Party.

“For many years Chelsea Supporters Trust and others have led the way in this debate, including surveying supporters on safe standing annually since 2013.

In 2014, we surveyed members solely on safe standing and 96% said they were in favour. Over the last four years this percentage has stayed between the low 80s to mid 90s in favour of seeing safe standing at Stamford Bridge. We welcome Labour’s support, joining others in Westminster, to help pressure the government into introducing safe standing soon.”

Many supporters representatives agree it is vital that clubs have the autonomy to consult with fans about the best way to further safe standing and appreciate that we must work with the government in their recently announced review into the all seater stadium policy.

Chelsea Supporters Trust chairman, David Chidgey said

“The Chelsea Supporters’ Trust welcomes this encouraging news for the campaign for safe standing. The majority of supporters clearly want safe standing, as do many clubs, but in order for it to become reality the Government need to be persuaded. Political engagement with and support for safe standing is therefore vital in order for this to happen. The Chelsea Supporters Trust will continue to do everything we can to represent supporters views about this important issue with the hope that safe standing can be accommodated in stadia as soon as possible”

There has never been a better time to join the CST and be part of a fans group that makes your voice heard.

You can join today as a voting member for £5 via: https://chelseasupporterstrust.com/cst-membership/registration/

News

Joint Statement from Chelsea Supporters Trust
 and Manchester United Supporters Trust

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F.A. Cup Final Ticket Prices

On Saturday our loyal fans will be supporting their teams at the FA Cup Final. Most will already have provided their support at more than 20 games over the season and some will have done so at up to 50 games across the country and in Europe. All will have invested a considerable chunk of their hard earned income in their loyalty and passion.

Regrettably the majority of those fans will be paying an outrageous £115 or £145 for their tickets, courtesy of an unprecedented imposed price hike of over 30%. At a meeting with a delegation of supporter groups from the then semi-finalist clubs in April the FA told us that it’s immediate financial commitments precluded it from revisiting prices for this season’s final, but agreed to undertake a further review for next season.

From next season the FA’s coffers will be boosted significantly by a ‘transformative’ new broadcasting deal for the FA Cup itself, as well as new improved deals with major sponsors. While most of this will rightly be invested into grass roots football, it is not unreasonable for a small element of that windfall to be invested in the regular fans whose vocal and visual support creates the spectacle that those broadcasters and sponsors have invested in.

On Saturday our respective supporters will be fierce rivals, but after the match, whoever wins, we will be united with all supporter groups in holding the FA to account to set an example as the game’s regulator, and to consult with us to reinstate and preserve a fair deal for fans.

Chelsea Supporters’ Trust

Manchester United Supporters’ Trust

News, Statements

FA Cup Ticket Price Protest

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We are The Shed and the Chelsea Supporters’ Trust are planning a visual protest at The FA Cup Final to show our disgust at the ticket prices. 

When The Chairman of The FA is presented on the pitch, shortly after ‘Abide with Me’, to shake hands with dignitaries and officials, we urge all supporters turn their backs on the pitch until he has left the pitch.

We urge supporters of both teams to take part and spread the word, to help create a powerful visual protest against FA Cup Final ticket prices and show that collectively we can collaborate, make a point and take action.

This year has seen a substantial increase in ticket prices compared with last season’s final, with the largest allocation of tickets (category 2) increasing in price by 35%.

We urge all those attending the game to take part and help get the message across to The FA that, as football supporters, we are against blatant profiteering at the expense of the supporters and treating us contemptuously as cash cows.

We have had enough and it needs to stop.

News, Statements

FA Cup Final Ticket Pricing

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Chelsea Supporters will be looking forward to the FA Cup Final on May 19th; a competition in which we have been very privileged to be at the conclusion of many times over the last 20 years.

However, while the team may have fought long and hard to get there, the supporters have had to dip their hands in their pockets repeatedly during an arduous season, arguably an even greater commitment.

Coupled with season ticket renewals in the middle of May to the tune of (on average) £800, the prospect of paying up to £145 for a FA Cup Final ticket is the straw that breaks the camel’s back.

While we certainly do not hope that this is Chelsea’s last visit to a FA Cup Final for the foreseeable future, this must be the last time the FA gets away with such extortionate ticket prices.

In April, the FA met with Supporters’ Trusts from all four semi-finalists and agreed a number of concessions for the Final including reductions in prices for concessionary tickets; a commitment to review the pricing of tickets behind the goals and introducing an accessibly priced family area going forward and keeping future ticket prices in line with inflation.

However, we believe that this is too little, too late and does not go far enough.

The FA Cup Final remains a very special occasion for football supporters, as a chance to see their team triumph in the most historic club competition in football. While demand always exceeds supply; no supporter able to go should be priced out of the Final.

The FA’s specious argument that the pricing reflects the fact that it is one of the most prestigious events in the sporting calendar and that every penny of profit is reinvested in to the grass roots of the game is subterfuge for blatantly profiteering from the very people whose interests they should serve: the loyal supporters who support the game week in, week out.

The Chelsea Supporters’ Trust, together with the other Supporters’ Trusts, vows to keep the pressure on the FA by any means possible, until the FA agree to change their pricing policy and make ticket prices affordable to the long suffering and ordinary supporter.

We have been taken advantage of for long enough and it’s time for this to stop.

David Chidgey, Chairman, Chelsea Supporters’ Trust

News

Chelsea FC invites fans to a Club organised trip to Auschwitz

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As part of the Club’s ongoing ‘Say No to Antisemitism’ campaign, Chelsea FC are inviting fans groups to join the Club’s trip to Auschwitz on 5 June.

The trip is free of charge and open to all members of the Chelsea Supporters Trust. However, please note that due to the layout of the site there is limited accessibility at the Auschwitz Museum.

The Club would particularly welcome applications from fans aged 18-30 and all attendees would need their own valid travel insurance. The Club will also be extending the invitation to members of Chelsea staff.

Timings are to be confirmed however the trip will depart from Gatwick early on the morning of the 5th returning to Gatwick from Poland the same evening. The Club can arrange transport from Stamford Bridge upon request.

The trip is an important part of the Club’s work tackling Antisemitism. Space, however, is limited and in the event of oversubscription the Club will allocate spaces accordingly. The deadline for applications is Tuesday 15th May.

Should you be interested in participating in this trip please contact Simon Taylor at Chelsea (simon.taylor@chelseafc.com) and copy in membership@chelseasupporterstrust.com to confirm you CST membership, with your:

  • Name
  • Date of birth
  • Passport number
News

Take Part in the Chelsea Supporters Trust Annual Survey

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The sixth annual Chelsea Supporters Trust survey is now available online.

In order for the Trust to operate on a mandate that is a true representation of Supporters’ views, we need to know how you feel about the core issues affecting the Club. By carrying out this survey every year, the Trust is able to track supporters’ concerns. Where appropriate, questions have been dropped and new ones included.  In addition to regular topics, subjects this year include safe standing, VAR, and the proposed winter break.

Members have been emailed a link to the survey (please check junk mail folders if you have not received it). You can also access the survey on the following link:

https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/CST_Survey2018

As in previous years, the results will be presented to the Club. Your opinions really do make a difference! You can read about responses to previous surveys in the survey section of our website.

News, Statements

FA RESPONDS TO FAN REPS CALLS OVER CUP PRICING

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Following the meeting last week between senior FA executives and fan representatives from the teams competing in this season’s FA Cup semi-finals regarding ticket pricing for the semi-finals and final, the FA has confirmed a number of changes to its previous approach.

  • Concessionary tickets will now be charged at £25 off the full adult rate for categories A and B for this year’s final. Concessions for categories C and D remain at £10 off the full adult rate.
  • The FA has committed to review the price bandings behind the goals in Level 1 of Wembley stadium, in collaboration with fan representatives, for the 2018-19 semi-finals and final in recognition of the contribution fans in those areas make to the spectacle and atmosphere.
  • There is a commitment to evaluate the feasibility of introducing a more accessibly priced family area for the 2018-19 semi-finals and final.
  • The FA has committed to keep prices in line with inflation until 2021.

The movement on concessions for this year’s final is to be welcomed, as is the commitment to address the wider issues we raised ahead of next year’s competition. We are obviously disappointed that the other decisions taken for this year’s competition will stand, meaning fans face significantly higher costs. And while the pledge to keep future price increases below RPI until 2021 is progress, we still believe tickets are priced too high and that ticket price inflation has been too steep. The FA’s income from sponsorship and broadcasting linked to the FA Cup will increase significantly from 2018-19 and we expect to see some of that invested in loyal fans whose support is vital for the spectacle that those sponsors and broadcasters are investing in.

Football ticket pricing is not an ordinary competitive market. It is a monopoly and the FA, as the game’s regulatory body, should be setting an example by rewarding fans’ loyalty.

What we are encouraged by is the FA’s acknowledgement that this year’s decisions should not have been taken without proper consultation with supporters. And so we welcome the commitment to discuss pricing for subsequent competitions properly with supporter groups.

The test of that commitment will come as discussions play out. The FA now has the chance to set the standard for genuine consultation that enhances the reputation of the FA Cup, a competition fans continue to hold dear.

Chelsea Supporters’ Trust

Manchester United Supporters’ Trust

Southampton Fan Groups

Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust

News, Statements

FAN REPS MEET WITH FA EXECUTIVES OVER CUP PRICING

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On Monday 9 April, fan representatives from the Clubs competing in the FA Cup semi-finals along with FA Council supporter representative, Katrina Law, met with FA CEO, Martin Glenn and senior FA executives to discuss the increase in pricing for this season’s FA Cup semi-finals and final.

Chelsea Supporters’ Trust, Manchester United Supporters’ Trust, Southampton fan groups and Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust had previously released a joint statement questioning the need for the increases on the back of record broadcast and sponsorship deals and calling for a rethink.

The opportunity to meet with FA decision makers for a constructive and frank discussion was welcomed, as was the acknowledgement that future dialogue should ideally take place before decisions directly affecting fans are made, where possible.

The fan reps have asked that the FA consider a number of measures to reduce the impact of ticket price increases on supporters at this season’s final. With sales already concluded and tickets already printed for the semi-finals, there was no opportunity to revisit the pricing policy for the games scheduled for the 21 and 22 April at this stage.

The FA has committed to explore the viability of those measures and to respond within the next ten days. We’ll make further comment after receiving that response.

Chelsea Supporters’ Trust

Manchester United Supporters’ Trust

Southampton Fan Groups

Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust

News, Statements

FA Cup Ticket Pricing

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The decision to raise prices for the FA Cup semi-finals and finals to the highest levels ever defies belief.
 
The FA has secured record broadcast rights for the competition, there is a lucrative sponsorship deal in place, and attendances throughout the competition have been higher than in recent years. The FA itself is in better financial health than ever. So we cannot see the rationale for hiking prices.

The FA could have tried to explain the reasoning to fans, but once again the people who are the lifeblood of the game, the paying customers, were not consulted or even given advance notice. Like it or lump it is the clear message.
 
Supporters of all four clubs have already spent a fortune following their teams from round three onwards. Our reward for reaching the last four is price rises 10x the rate of inflation. The FA has taken this decision at a time when, by contrast, the Premier League has reduced the cost of away tickets to a maximum of £30.
 
Freezing the lowest ticket price category is a token gesture that will benefit only a small minority of supporters. These price increases further illustrate the longstanding issue we have with the FA as both the regulator of the game as well as the worst offender when it comes to excessive ticket prices for fans. A concession discount of just £10 further compounds the issue.
 
The price of football at the top level is already extortionate. This latest decision is nothing more than opportunistic exploitation of fan loyalty. We expect better from a body that claims to be the guardian of the game, especially in the oldest and most famous cup competition in world football.
 
We wonder, too, how the FA’s commercial partners feel about being associated with such naked opportunism.
 
The FA still has time to rethink. It should.
​
Chelsea Supporters’ Trust, Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust, Manchester United Supporters’ Trust, Southampton fan groups
21 March 2018

The aim of the Chelsea Supporters Trust is to bring the voice of Chelsea supporters, in the UK and overseas, to the attention of Chelsea Football Club.

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