Supporters' trust
Encyclopedia
In British sports, a supporters' trust is a formal, democratic and not-for-profit organisation of fans
who attempt to strengthen the influence of supporters over the running of the club they support. There are over 140 supporters’ trusts across England
, Wales
and Scotland
and the majority of these are affiliated to football
clubs, however trusts also exist for Rugby League
and Rugby Union
.
With government
and with cross-party support, Supporters Direct
was established to encourage the formation of supporters' trusts to promote democratic supporter ownership. Supporters Direct encourages these bodies to be formed as Industrial and Provident Societies (IPSs)
and assists with their formation, legal and start-up costs.
Supporters' trusts were commonly founded in response to a financial crisis which threatens the future of a team, as was the case at Chesterfield
, Lincoln City
and York City
. Their involvement has reportedly ensured the survival of over 20 different clubs entering into administration, particularly during the period of crisis as a result of the collapse of ITV Digital
. Supporters' trusts are now more commonly founded in order to increase influence at clubs through a financial stake in the club.
The first trust established was at Northampton Town
in January 1992. The largest is the Manchester United Supporters Trust, which used to be known as Shareholders United and currently has over 163,000 members. Other large trusts such as Dundee United
, Reading
, Spurs
and Glasgow Rangers
have between 3,000 and 4,500 members.
and 13 non-league
clubs in England, plus two non-league clubs in Scotland. Recently, they were joined by a rugby league club. These are as follows:
League clubs:
Non-League clubs:
England
Scotland
Rugby League Clubs:
, ArabTRUST at Dundee United F.C.
, the Oldham Athletic Supporters Trust
and the Swans Trust at Swansea City A.F.C.
.
About 100 football trusts currently have shares in their clubs.
The following are Rugby League supporters' trusts currently in the UK:
Fresh Players, New Tactics: Lessons from Northampton Town Supporters Trust published by The Football Governance Research Centre
Fan (person)
A Fan, sometimes also called aficionado or supporter, is a person with a liking and enthusiasm for something, such as a band or a sports team. Fans of a particular thing or person constitute its fanbase or fandom...
who attempt to strengthen the influence of supporters over the running of the club they support. There are over 140 supporters’ trusts across England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
and Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
and the majority of these are affiliated to football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
clubs, however trusts also exist for Rugby League
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
and Rugby Union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
.
With government
Government
Government refers to the legislators, administrators, and arbitrators in the administrative bureaucracy who control a state at a given time, and to the system of government by which they are organized...
and with cross-party support, Supporters Direct
Supporters Direct
Supporters Direct are an umbrella organisation set up originally by the United Kingdom government to provide support and assistance for its member trusts to secure a greater level of accountability and deliver democratic representation within football clubs and within football's governing structures...
was established to encourage the formation of supporters' trusts to promote democratic supporter ownership. Supporters Direct encourages these bodies to be formed as Industrial and Provident Societies (IPSs)
Industrial and Provident Society
An industrial and provident society is a legal entity for a trading business or voluntary organisation in the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, and New Zealand...
and assists with their formation, legal and start-up costs.
Supporters' trusts were commonly founded in response to a financial crisis which threatens the future of a team, as was the case at Chesterfield
Chesterfield F.C.
Chesterfield Football Club is an English football club based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The club currently plays in Football League One, the third tier of English football. Despite being the fourth oldest Football League club in England, they have spent most of their existence in the lower...
, Lincoln City
Lincoln City F.C.
Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League....
and York City
York City F.C.
York City Football Club is an English football club based in York, North Yorkshire. The club participates in the Conference National, the fifth tier of English football. Founded in 1922, they joined the Football League in 1929, and have spent most of their history in the lower divisions...
. Their involvement has reportedly ensured the survival of over 20 different clubs entering into administration, particularly during the period of crisis as a result of the collapse of ITV Digital
ITV Digital
ITV Digital was a British digital terrestrial television broadcaster, which launched a pay-TV service on the world's first digital terrestrial television network as ONdigital in 1998 and briefly re-branded as ITV Digital in July 2001, before the service ceased in May 2002. Its main shareholders...
. Supporters' trusts are now more commonly founded in order to increase influence at clubs through a financial stake in the club.
The first trust established was at Northampton Town
Northampton Town F.C.
Northampton Town Football Club are an English professional football club based in Northampton, Northamptonshire. They currently play in Football League Two, the lowest league division, after being relegated from League One on the last day of the 2008–09 season...
in January 1992. The largest is the Manchester United Supporters Trust, which used to be known as Shareholders United and currently has over 163,000 members. Other large trusts such as Dundee United
Dundee United F.C.
Dundee United Football Club is a Scottish professional football club located in the city of Dundee. Formed in 1909, originally as Dundee Hibernian, the club changed to the present name in 1923...
, Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
, Spurs
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
and Glasgow Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
have between 3,000 and 4,500 members.
Methods for influencing clubs
The main objective of a supporters' trust is to provide a vehicle for fans to influence the running of their club. This is achieved by a number of different strategies, including gaining control by fundraising to finance the acquisition of shares in the club or direct board representation.Club ownership
The most effective method of influencing the running of a club is club ownership. More than 110 supporters' trusts currently hold equity within their football clubs while supporters' trusts have outright or majority ownership or control at three Football LeagueThe Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
and 13 non-league
Non-league football
Non-League football is football in England played at a level below that of the Premier League and The Football League. The term non-League was commonly used well before 1992 when the top football clubs in England all belonged to The Football League; all clubs who were not a part of The Football...
clubs in England, plus two non-league clubs in Scotland. Recently, they were joined by a rugby league club. These are as follows:
League clubs:
- AFC WimbledonAFC WimbledonAFC Wimbledon is a professional English football club that traces its origins to Wimbledon in the London Borough of Merton. Based at Kingsmeadow, Kingston upon Thames, the club are members of Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football....
- The Dons Trust - Brentford F.C.Brentford F.C.Brentford Football Club are a professional English football club based in Brentford in the London Borough of Hounslow. They are currently playing in Football League One....
- Bees United - Exeter City F.C.Exeter City F.C.Exeter City Football Club is an English football club, based in Exeter, which is owned by its fans through the Exeter City Supporters Trust.The club was a member of the Football League from 1920 to 2003...
- Exeter City Supporters Trust
Non-League clubs:
England
- A.F.C. Telford UnitedA.F.C. Telford UnitedA.F.C. Telford United are an English football club based in Telford, Shropshire, playing in the Conference National league at the fifth level of the English football pyramid. The club plays its home matches in Wellington, which forms part of the new town of Telford...
- Telford United Supporters' Trust - A.F.C. LiverpoolA.F.C. LiverpoolA.F.C. Liverpool is a semi-professional English football club set up by 1,000 Liverpool football club fans in 2008. Fans are able to buy into the club on a 'one member-one vote' basis. The club kicked off the 2010–11 season in North West Counties League Division One...
- (club established as an IPS itself) - Cambridge City FC - Cambridge City Supporters Trust
- Chester FC - City Fans United
- Dorchester Town F.C.Dorchester Town F.C.Dorchester Town Football Club are a semi-professional football club, based in Dorchester, Dorset, England, and currently playing in the Blue Square Bet South...
- Dorchester Town Supporters Trust - Enfield Town F.C.Enfield Town F.C.Enfield Town F.C. is an English football club from Enfield Town, Greater London. Established in 2001 as a fan-led breakaway from Enfield FC, the club currently play in Division One North of the Isthmian League and are based at the Queen Elizabeth II stadium....
- Enfield Supporters' Society Ltd - FC United of Manchester - (club established as an IPS itself)
- Fisher F.C.Fisher F.C.Fisher F.C. are a non-League football team based in Bermondsey, London Borough of Southwark, England who play in the Kent League.-Formation:...
- Fisher Supporters Association - Forest Green Rovers FC - Forest Green Rovers Supporters Trust
- Gloucester City AFC - Gloucester City AFC Supporters Trust
- Hendon F.C.Hendon F.C.Hendon Football Club are an English football club based in Hendon, in the London Borough of Barnet. They currently play in the Isthmian League Premier Division.In the 2003-04 season they finished fourth in the Isthmian League Premier Division...
- Hendon Football Club Suppoters' Trust - Newport (IOW) F.C. - Newport (Isle of Wight) Supporters' Trust
- Runcorn Linnets F.C.Runcorn Linnets F.C.Runcorn Linnets F.C. are an English football club based in Runcorn, Cheshire. The club currently plays in the North West Counties Football League Premier Division, the ninth tier of English football, and is a full member of the Cheshire County Football Association...
- Scarborough Athletic F.C.Scarborough Athletic F.C.Scarborough Athletic Football Club are an English football club formed on 25 June 2007 following the winding up of Scarborough. Although they bear the name of Scarborough in North Yorkshire, they ground-share with Bridlington Town...
- (club established as an IPS itself)
Scotland
- Clydebank F.C.Clydebank F.C.Clydebank Football Club are a Scottish football club based in the town of Clydebank, West Dunbartonshire, near Yoker. The present club, formed in 2003, is a member of the Scottish Junior Football Association, and currently plays in West Super League Premier Division...
- United Clydebank Supporters - Gretna F.C. 2008Gretna F.C. 2008Gretna F.C. 2008 is a football club from the town of Gretna, Dumfries and Galloway. It was founded in 2008 after the bankruptcy and demise of Gretna F.C., which had existed since 1946...
- Stirling AlbionStirling Albion F.C.Stirling Albion F.C. are a Scottish football club currently playing in the Scottish Second Division. The club are nicknamed The Binos . They play at Doubletree Dunblane Stadium in Stirling, on the outskirts of the city near the River Forth...
Rugby League Clubs:
- Rochdale HornetsRochdale HornetsRochdale Hornets RLFC is an English professional rugby league club from Rochdale, Greater Manchester, England. They currently play in Championship One...
- Rochdale Hornets (RL) Supporters Trust
Board representation
Over 40 football clubs currently have supporter representation within the boards of their football clubs, such as the Lincoln City Supporters' Trust at Lincoln City F.C.Lincoln City F.C.
Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League....
, ArabTRUST at Dundee United F.C.
Dundee United F.C.
Dundee United Football Club is a Scottish professional football club located in the city of Dundee. Formed in 1909, originally as Dundee Hibernian, the club changed to the present name in 1923...
, the Oldham Athletic Supporters Trust
Trust Oldham
Trust Oldham is a Supporters' trust, for the English football club, Oldham Athletic based in Oldham, Greater Manchester.-Background:The trust was formed in 2003 after previous Latics owner Chris Moore left the club in dire financial straights...
and the Swans Trust at Swansea City A.F.C.
Swansea City A.F.C.
Swansea City Association Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Swansea, Wales. One of the most successful clubs in Welsh football, it has won 10 Welsh Cups and led the English Football League First Division in December 1981, before finishing the season in 6th position...
.
About 100 football trusts currently have shares in their clubs.
Supporters' trusts in other sports
The following are Rugby Union supporters' trusts currently in the UK: -- Bristol Rugby Independent Supporters (BRIS), representing Bristol RugbyBristol RugbyBristol Rugby is a rugby union club based in Bristol, England. The club currently plays in the RFU Championship and competes in the British and Irish Cup. They rely in large part on the many junior rugby clubs in the region, particularly those from 'the Combination'...
. - Friends of Newport Rugby, representing Newport RFC.
- CRYS16 - The Scarlets Supporters Trust, representing Llanelli RFCLlanelli RFCLlanelli Rugby Football Club is a Welsh rugby union club founded in 1875 and its senior team is one of the leading club sides in Wales. The club began the 2008-09 season at their historic home ground of Stradey Park in Llanelli, but moved in November 2008 to the new Parc y Scarlets in adjacent...
and the Scarlets.
The following are Rugby League supporters' trusts currently in the UK:
- Swinton RLFCSwinton LionsSwinton Lions is an English professional rugby league club from Swinton, Greater Manchester. The club has won the Championship six times and three Challenge Cups. They currently play in the Championship.-Early years:...
Supporters' Trust, SwintonSwinton, Greater ManchesterSwinton is a town within the City of Salford, in Greater Manchester, England. Located on the A6 road it stands on gently sloping ground on the southwest side of the River Irwell, and within the bounds of the orbital M60 motorway. It is west-northwest of Salford, and west-northwest of Manchester...
, near ManchesterManchesterManchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, LancashireLancashireLancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
. (Trust website http://www.lionstrust.co.uk/)
External links
Fresh Players, New Tactics: Lessons from Northampton Town Supporters Trust published by The Football Governance Research Centre