Following the FSA General Meeting in February 2025, changes were made to the constitution which altered the criteria for each FSA membership category.

• All FSA membership categories are free and members agree to our fundamental principles as set out on the Join The FSA page.
• Supporter organisations can join as FSA affiliate, associate or allied members – please email [email protected] for further information.

This explainer describes the different categories, and sets out what organisations or individuals need to do to qualify for each category. Further support can be provided to any group who wishes to recategorise or join the FSA in a particular membership category. Email: [email protected] 

Quicklinks

• Individual Members
• FSA Allied Member
• FSA Associate Member
• FSA Affiliate Member
• Which category should my group be in? A checklist

Individual Members

FSA Individual Member (voting): For any individual football supporter who wishes to join the FSA and be eligible to vote in FSA elections, AGMs and stand for election as an independent representative to the National Council. Voting members provide their name, club, email and postal address.

FSA Individual Member (non-voting): For any individual football supporter who wishes to join the FSA. Only basic details (name, club and email address) are needed to register. Non-voting members are not eligible to vote in FSA elections, AGMs or stand for election to the National Council.

Individuals can update their membership status from non-voting to voting by visiting their account here.

Supporter Group Members

FSA Allied Member

FSA Allied Membership is for supporter groups who would like to engage with the FSA but who do not meet the criteria for FSA Affiliate Member or FSA Associate Member status. 

FSA Allied Members can still engage with the FSA through its networks, and access its resources, but they cannot vote at network meetings, stand for election to the FSA National Council or vote at general meetings.

When registering to become a FSA Allied Member you need to provide basic details for your group (name, club, admin contact details, general contact details and website/social media handles), and agree to the FSA terms of membership. 

Groups who may fall into this category include:

• Fanzines, fan websites, social media groups, podcasts, etc; 
• Groups who are not independent of the football club; 
• Groups which do not have open membership; 
• Entities which are solely or mainly comprised of other supporters groups who could be members of the FSA in their own right.

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FSA Associate Member

FSA Associate Membership is for football supporter groups representing a recognised constituency of supporters which they can demonstrate regular engagement with, fulfil all of the criteria, accept the conditions of membership and provide the details required by the application form. An organisation may be an FSA Associate Member if their primary functions are limited to only a subset of their interests such as matchday experience or matchday travel. 

Criteria:

• Can demonstrate that they have a process for signing up members, hold basic details of each current member and the membership is open for all; 
• Can provide a statement or governing document outlining the groups aims and objectives;
• Have some online presence;
• Have been operational for at least 12 months;
• Are independent of the football club, and not solely or mainly comprised of other supporters groups who could be members of the FSA in their own right.
• Hold their decision-making meetings in England or Wales;
• Support clubs or national teams in England or Wales or be constituted as an interest group relating to football;
• Grant the FSA corporate membership of their organisations;
• Ensure its representatives on the network(s) join as full voting individual members.

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FSA Affiliate Member

An FSA Affiliate Member is either a football supporter group who are a supporters’ trust/community-owned club; or a group whose primary purpose is to support the broad interests of all supporters and represent them to their club; or whose primary purpose is to represent supporters’ interests in relation to equality and diversity; and who fulfil the requirements laid out below:

Criteria:

• The organisation must have a satisfactory written constitution, complying with any minimum standards approved by the board; 
• Can demonstrate that they have a process for signing up members, hold basic details of each current member and the membership is open for all; 
• Have some online presence;
• Have been operational for at least 12 months;
• Are independent of the football club, and not solely or mainly comprised of other supporters groups who could be members of the FSA in their own right.
• Hold their decision-making meetings in England or Wales;
• Support clubs or national teams in England or Wales or be constituted as an interest group relating to football;
• Grant the FSA corporate membership of their organisations;
• The organisation must have a democratic structure and decision-making process, based on one member, one vote; 
• The majority of the organisation’s governing committee must be elected by the Membership, either at a General Meeting or by postal or online ballot; 
• The organisation must publish annual accounts which are audited or certified annual accounts or, if annual income and expenditure do not exceed £100, a simple written statement and such audited or certified accounts or written statement must be approved or received by its Membership at a General Meeting;
• Provide the FSA with sight of accounts for the previous accounting year; 
• Adopt a diversity policy and a complaints policy and procedure, which meet minimum standards laid down by the board;
• Agree to regular governance auditing by the FSA and participate in FSA governance training;
• Be compliant with any statutory demands as required by its legal form;
• Ensure its representatives on the network(s) join as full voting individual members.

Groups who are applying to be a FSA Affiliate Member must provide the requested documentation and information before their membership is approved. They must also accept the FSA terms of membership. 

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Checklist

• It is free to join the FSA as an Individual, Affiliate, Associate or Allied member and all members agree to our fundamental principles as set out on the Join The FSA page.

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