The All Party Parliamentary Group for Football Supporters aims “to represent the interests of match-going football fans and to support the aims and objectives of the Football Supporters’ Association”.

LAST MEETING

The AGM of the APPG for Football Supporters took place on Tuesday 23rd May 2023.

The APPG and its members continue to be fantastic supporters of the FSA’s goals and it is vital that continues as the Government’s White Paper on football governance progresses through Parliament.

A great example of that support was the APPG’s role in launching a new report in November 2022 which secured national media interest (Guardian, Sky Sports News etc) and kept the fan-led review in the spotlight.

This is a generational opportunity to change football for the better and your support in that process is absolutely essential to ensure the proposals are not blocked or diluted by the football authorities.

The next meeting of the APPG will be confirmed in due course.

APPG MEMBERS

The cross-party group is chaired by Gateshead MP Ian Mearns (Labour), a season ticket holder at St James’ Park, and aims to strengthen the voice of football fans in Parliament and help influence things for the better. APPG members are match-going fans with a big interest in the game. The FSA is secretariat to the group – contact: [email protected]

Group officers

• Chair: Ian Mearns MP (Labour)
• Vice chair: Damian Green MP (Conservative)
• Vice chair: Grahame Morris (Labour)
• Vice chair: Ian Lavery MP (Labour)
• Vice chair: Justin Madders MP (Labour)
• Vice chair: Marsha De Cordova MP (Labour)
• Vice chair: Paula Barker MP (Labour)
• Vice chair: Rachel Hopkins MP (Labour)
• Vice chair: Richard Burgon MP (Labour)
• Vice chair: Tracey Crouch MP (Conservative)

All APPG members:

• Alan Brown MP (SNP)
• Alex Norris MP (Labour)
• Bill Esterson MP (Labour)
• Chi Onwurah MP (Labour)
• Chris Green MP (Conservative)
• Chris Stephens MP (SNP)
• Clive Betts MP (Labour)
• Clive Efford MP (Labour)
• Damian Collins MP (Conservative)
• Damian Green MP (Conservative)
• Dan Carden MP (Labour)
• Dawn Butler MP (Labour)
• Derek Twigg MP (Labour)
• Dr Rosena Allin-Khan MP (Labour)
• Gareth Thomas MP (Labour)
• Gavin Newlands MP (SNP)
• Grahame Morris (Labour)
• Ian Blackford MP (SNP)
• Ian Byrne MP (Labour)
• Ian Lavery MP (Labour)
• Ian Mearns MP (Labour)
• Ian Murray MP (Labour)
• James Sunderland MP (Conservative)
• Jamie Stone (Liberal Democrats)
• Jason McCartney MP (Conservative)
• Jeff Smith MP (Labour)
• Jo Stevens MP (Labour)
• John Cryer (Labour)
• Jonathan Reynolds MP (Labour)
• Julie Elliot MP (Labour)
• Justin Madders MP (Labour)
• Justin Tomlinson MP (Conservative)
• Kate Hollern MP (Labour)
• Lord Collins of Highbury (Labour)
• Lord David Triesman (Labour)
• Lord Faulkner (Labour)
• Lord Goddard of Stockport (Liberal Democrats)
• Lord Taylor of Warwick (Non-affiliated)
• Marsha De Cordova MP (Labour)
• Matt Western MP (Labour)
• Mike Amesbury (Labour)
• Owen Thompson (SNP)
• Paula Barker MP (Labour)
• Rachel Hopkins MP (Labour)
• Richard Burgon MP (Labour)
• Richard Holden MP (Conservative)
• Rosie Cooper MP (Labour)
• Scott Benton MP (Independent)
• Sharon Hodgson MP (Labour)
• Stephen Morgan MP (Labour)
• Toby Perkins MP (Labour)
• Tony Lloyd (Labour)
• Tracey Crouch MP (Conservative)

PREVIOUS MEETINGS

APPG AGM (Tuesday 23rd May 2023) AGM and discussion on the Government’s Football Governance White Paper.

The Fan-led Review – one year on (Tuesday 15th November 2022) How can we all ensure that the game’s vested interests do not derail proposals that can safeguard football’s future and protect against a future European Super League? Speakers will include the Fan-led Review’s chair Tracey Crouch MP and other members of the panel.

Will the Government act on the Fan-led Review of Football Governance? / APPG AGM (Wednesday 27th April 2022) The APPG for Football Supporters backs the Fan-led Review’s recommendations wholeheartedly and this meeting gave MPs an opportunity to evaluate the Government’s response and plan for progress through Parliament.

Fan-led Review of Football Governance (Wednesday 1st December 2021) Joint meeting of the APPG for Football Supporters, Football APPG and Women’s Football APPG with Tracey Crouch MP who discussed the fan-led review which was published in November 2021.

Promoting LGBT+ representation and combatting discrimination in football (Thursday 13th May 2021) To mark 2021’s International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, both the All-Party Parliamentary Groups for Football Supporters and for Global LGBT+ Rights joined forces for a panel featuring Damian Collins MP, Chris Paouros (co-chair of Proud Lilywhites and Kick It Out trustee), Luke Tuffs (manager of Ashford Town (Middlesex) Football Club) and ex-rugby star Gareth Thomas.

Fan activism & the women’s game – a new era (Tuesday 27th April 2021) What are the campaign priorities for fan groups in the women’s game? What role do fans have in growing the game? Do clubs put match-goers or the TV audience first? Can fans fend off the hyper-commercialisation which afflicts the men’s game? With Tracey Crouch MP, D-M Withers (Bristol City Women FC board member at Bristol City Supporters Club & Trust), Rodney Cyrus (On And Off Pitch Podcast) and Suzy Wrack (The Guardian)

Mass extinction event? (20th October 2020) We heard from football finance expert Kieran Maguire on where football has gone wrong in the past and what can be done to save it. Kieran presents the Price of Football podcast, teaches the Football Industries MBA (University of Liverpool Management School), and is a regular guest in the national media on this subject.

APPG AGM (5th February 2020) FSA chief executive Kevin Miles gave a run down on the latest news relating to football governance, standing at the match, and more. The APPG looked at events for the upcoming year and identified football and policing costs, facial recognition technology and its use at football, Qatar 2022, agent fees, and Fans for Diversity as subjects they’d like to hear more about.

Club emergencies – How do we prevent more Burys? (4th September 2019) FSA chief executive Kevin Miles and vice chair Tom Greatrex launched our comprehensive Improving the Regulation of Professional Football Clubs paper.

What is the future of lower league football? (9th January 2019) Accrington Stanley majority shareholder and chairman Andy Holt told MPs that not enough revenue trickles down the leagues, with the Premier League’s solidarity payments to the EFL being received predominantly by Championship clubs with League One and League Two clubs receiving far smaller amounts.

Safe standing: Coming to a ground near you? (1st May 2018) Celtic FC’s Ronnie Hawthorn (Head of Safety, Security and Operations) explained how well the rail seat area worked at Celtic Park to interested MPs.

Fans for Diversity – because football is for everyone (24th January 2018) Launched in 2014 Fans for Diversity has led the way, supporting the creation of new groups around the country, helping unlock the passion and desire many had to engage with their local clubs and traditional supporter base. The event launched our Annual Review.

​Football and TV: Won’t someone think of the fans? (12th December 2017) THST co-chair, FSA National Council member and (then) FA Council rep Kat Law has led supporter efforts in lobbying broadcasters to be more considerate towards the needs of match-going fans. She outlined what role supportive MPs could play.

Can the FA reform itself? (15th March 2017) A Commons debate on football governance saw a motion of no confidence in the FA’s ability to reform and backed proposals to increase supporter representation on football’s governing body. The FA’s Robert Sullivan appeared in front of the APPG to discuss the merits of FA reform.

• Contact: [email protected]