Posted on 29th January 2021
Today Liverpool have unveiled their new supporters board and the creation of a “legally-binding commitment to strategic-level supporter engagement” – a first in the Premier League.
West Ham United unveil new engagement model
West Ham United have unveiled their reformed model for fan engagement, replacing their Official Supporters’ Board with a new, independent supporter-led committee.
The Independent Supporters’ Committee (ISC) has been created following regular dialogue and meetings with the club and the FSA, and it’s structure and format has been created independently by several West Ham United supporters’ groups.
The ISC brings together supporter representatives from across the club’s fanbase: BAME (Lee Vehit), bondholders (Steve Applebee), Disabled Supporters (Cathy Bayford), Hammers United (Andy McConnell), Over 65s (Don Adams), Pride of Irons (Jim Dolan), West Ham United Independent Supporters’ Association (Sue Watson) and West Ham United Supporters’ Club (Paul Christmas).
West Ham United vice-chairman Karren Brady said: “I am delighted that we have been able to make this important step in our approach to supporter consultation, which has been developed and created independently by supporter groups working together with the club.
“On behalf of everyone at the Club, I would like to put on record my thanks to the Football Supporters’ Association, particularly Ashley Brown and all of the supporter groups and their representatives involved for their hard work, and the huge amount of commitment they have dedicated to enable us to reach this point.”
The FSA has been working with both the club and fans to help reform supporter engagement at West Ham United over the last 12 months – offering advice and guidance to all parties – you can read more about that work in our latest Annual Review (P28).
Our Head of Supporter Engagement and Governance Ashley Brown said: “We see engagement between football clubs and supporters as an essential part of day-to-day operations, something recognised by many progressive clubs across the pyramid.
“Collaboration across supporter groups helps to build a united voice, at West Ham United we have seen groups work together over a number of months on the common goal of creating an ISC for the fans.
“With the club sharing the same goal, we’ve worked with all parties to help build an engagement model to last. We are committed to working closely with both the club and supporter representatives to ensure that is the case.”
Following its formation, the supporter representatives on the ISC issued the following joint statement:
“The representatives of West Ham United supporters groups and the club have established and agreed a memorandum of understanding, together with the required protocols, to facilitate the formation of the Independent Supporters Committee (ISC).
“It is hoped that the ISC will quickly evolve into a vigorous forum to bring meaningful change for the mutual benefit of all supporters and the club.
“The ISC will immediately begin to identify the priorities of West Ham United supporters, to investigate resolution actions and establish action plans to implement changes for improvement.
“We welcome the opportunity to collaborate with the club to identify the opportunities for changes for the benefit of all West Ham United Supporters.”
The first official meeting between the club and ISC will be taking place next month.
