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The Football Supporters’ Federation have again joined forces with Supporters Direct in hosting a joint annual conference. The Supporters Summit will be held at The FA’s National Football Centre, St George’s Park, on Saturday 22nd June 2013. The event is aimed at bringing supporters and other stakeholders together to discuss key issues for fans and the various challenges facing the national game. Alongside Swansea City FC Chairman Huw Jenkins, the event will also hear from Andy Burnham MP, former Secretary of State for Sport, and Roisin Wood, Director of anti-racism campaigners Kick it Out. Malcolm Clarke, Chair of The FSF, said,  “As the supporter’s representative on the FA Council I am delighted that The FA is backing the Supporters Summit and we look forward to visiting their excellent facilities at St George’s Park in their 150th year.”

March 2013 was a busy month for England’s travelling fans with long journeys to San Marino and Montenegro.

Documentary maker Ryan Chapman looks at the legacy of the South Africa World Cup and Cape Town’s White Elephant.

Kick It Out is seeking to recruit a Chair and individual members for each of its new Guidance Groups, to advise and support the campaign’s strategies, objectives and actions. Kick It Out is also seeking an Independent Trustee to join its Board of Trustees, read more here.

(Credit @Hull_City_Fans)

A campaign to posthumously award Walter Tull the Military Cross is gathering momentum. Tull was one of the first black footballers to play in the English top-flight and lost his life in the battlefields of France during the First World War.

UPDATE – Minutes from the Southern Division’s AGM on Sunday 7th April are now available here. A standard Southern Division meeting also took place on Sunday 7th April, you can download those minutes here.

If you’ve spent any time following your club around the country you’ll have encountered that sense of dread when unexpected roadworks or train delays give you “the fear”. The fear you’ll miss kick off. The fear you’ll miss that all important connection home. The fear you’ll miss last orders (heaven forbid).

Malcolm Clarke is Chair of the Football Supporters’ Federation (FSF). Last November the FSF held a Special Conference which approved a package of organisational and constitutional changes. Malcolm explains why below.

Premier League managers constantly talk about the need for squad rotation and resting players, but while they typically have the resources to cope with a ‘fixture pile-up’, spare a thought for those lower down the football pyramid.

Despite being prohibited by both law and ground regulations, you’ll have noticed that the use of flares, smoke bombs and firecrackers is on the increase at matches.  Many fans, young and old, like them and feel they contribute to the atmosphere, but just as many don’t appreciate the possible danger they pose.

Wales play Scotland at Hampden Park (Glasgow) on Friday 22nd March 2013. The match is a World Cup 2014 qualifier and the volunteers at FSF Cymru have produced their usual away fans’ guide. If you have any problems in Scotland contact them on the FSF helpline number +447905 861848.

Hull City have released a club statement slamming the “draconian restrictions” placed upon their supporters by West Yorkshire Police for their upcoming match at Huddersfield Town on Saturday 30th March.

England’s travelling fans face long trips to San Marino (Friday 22nd March) and Montenegro (Tuesday 26th March) come the international break and, as ever, the FSF Fans’ Embassy team will be out there providing help and support for Three Lions followers. Have a safe trip!

Our Safe Standing Campaign is going great guns – 22 football clubs now officially back it along with the Scottish Premier League. An ever-growing list of football industry figures, politicians and safety experts are clambering on board too.

While this week has seen season ticket price rises at Spurs and Liverpool (“an insult” say Spirit of Shankly) receiving unfavourable comparison to much more affordable season tickets offered at Barcelona and Bayern Munich, it’s not all bad news for fans.

Sunday’s Swiss Super League game between FC Thun and Zurich saw a pretty unusual pitch invader as a pesky pine marten ran amok. Players and officials gave chase although they couldn’t get near it until Zurich defender Loris Benito got touch tight with the furry fiend. 

Liverpool fans’ group Spirit of Shankly have branded season ticket price rises at Anfield an “insult” and accused the club of “pricing out many of those that kept the club on its feet during its darkest days”.

Following yesterday’s story on Liverpool’s season ticket price rise being branded ‘an insult’, Arsenal fanzine writer and blogger Vic Crescit gets his teeth into the issue of ticket prices on the continent. Is the grass really greener on the other side of the channel?

A big round of applause for Barnsley – the 22nd club to formally support the Football Supporters’ Federation’s Safe Standing Campaign.