Supporters Direct Scotland August E-Mag

supporters direct scotland www.scottishfans.org August e-mag - #6

Inside this issue:

- Conference round up - Trust news and updates - Sustainable legacy funding - colours of our scarves update - fans want governance reforms

OUR Mission sTATEMENT, “TO PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE SPECTATOR SPORTS CLUBS BASED ON SUPPORTERS’ INVOLVEMENT AND COMMUNITY OWNERSHIP” HAS BEEN OUR GUIDING PRINCIPLE SINCE WE WERE ESTABLISHED IN SCOTLAND IN 2002.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON SUPPORTERS DIRECT SCOTLAND, PLEASE VISIT US AT: ROOM 4, BETA HOUSE, INNOVATION PARK, UNIVERSITY OF STIRLING STIRLING, FK9 4NF T: 01786 845 606 OR CONNECT WITH US THROUGH:

FACEBOOK.COM/SCOTTISHFANS TWITTER.COM/SCOTTISHFANS some of the photos used in this magazine were taken for the colours of our scarves project and taken by stuart roy clarke

that time again

Dear friends, It is that time of the year again when enthusiasm and excitement for the new season kicks in. Our love of the game is at its peak; after a spectacular World Cup and an exciting summer of sporting events, our emotions turn to the possibilities of what might be in store for our own beloved team in the 2014/15 season.

period and it will be critical for us as an organisation to demonstrate just how valuable we can be, not just for fans, but for the football industry as a whole as well. Part of that process means that we will need to evolve and offer all our fans a more democratic and robust structure. We firmly believe that all the funding in the game, almost without exception, is generated in one way or another by fans and it is only right and proper that fans have an organisation that can represent them. Over the coming months we will be talking to lots of you as we seek your help and support in taking our organisation to the next level.

Of course, we all know that the expectations of our heart do not necessarily translate into on-field success and that there can only be a few successful clubs this season. For some there will be disappointment and pain and for others just mediocrity. Part of that re- Thank you for your continued support alisation is what I think makes football and good luck for the coming season. fans united in their love of our game and having the ability to share in the Yours in football joys of other clubs - except those bitter local rivals - and sympathising when it all goes wrong with others. We have all been here before.

It is just over two years since Supporters Direct Scotland established Scottish Fans. We were awarded Scottish Government funds to build an organisation that would eventually be a strong, independent fan-focussed organisation. Much has been achieved in that period of time as we seek to Paul Goodwin, represent not just Supporter Trusts, but Head of Supporters Direct Scotland also other groups and individual fans.

We are nearing the end of our funding

trust news

trust news

Patron – Graham Taylor OBE PatronFC,–Airdrieonians Graham Taylor OBE Trust, and BSB Structura In association with Airdrieonians Supporters

Airdrieonians trust partner with kit aid to deliver successful unique under 16s F OO Tand B AL L offer KI TforAMNEST Y

Disabled Fans Now Better Protected at east end park

Airdrieonians Supporters’ Trust have been the fans of tomorrow and strengthening links involved in a unique and innovative scheme with the local community. in which young people under the age of 16 KitAid is a registered charity collecting and sending no longer wanted could trade in a football strip for a free sea- Willie Marshall, Chairman of the Supportkit to children and adults who also love would son ticketfootball at Airdrieonians FC. ers Trust said: football “The trustbut was delighted to be only ever dream of owning their own kit.

1998 this theyunique have season-ticket able toSince announce The initative has been a complete success scheme thanks to the support of the club donated more than 220 000 items of kit across the world. If you’d like with almost having been andwho is proud be supporting the excellent to 400 bringseason smilestickets to children and adults are astopassionate about given out to Under 16’s through the scheme. work of charity KitAid; we’ve had a great refootball as you are, it’s time to ‘tackle’ your own boot rooms! sponse. We haven’t fully counted it yet but Delivered in partnership with the club, under over 3000 pieces of football kit have been 16s could convert anDonate unwanted kitstrip into(orfree handed in since launched the campaign a football as many as you can!) in goodwe condition and receive a entry to games and cheer on Gary Bollan and it’s still coming in”.

FREE UNDER 16 SEASON TICKET FOR AIRDRIEONIANS FC! and his players during the SPFL League One Strips donated can be from ANY team!

Rangers, Airdrie, 10,000 Boys’ Clubs, campaign.

The trust hopesCeltic, to donate strips by Amateur Teams etc ! Goodie bags available for the 1st 100 children to the end of the year – and potentially enter ! Mystery Prizes to find!the Guinness Book of World Records!

The trust teamed updonate with the charity KitAid us break record by reaching more than 10,000 Strips! All other which has donatedHelp more thanthe200,000 football kit poorest (shorts, socks, boots, shin padsthe etc Trust ) gratefully received. strips to people in some of the counWe wish all the best in their efforts tries in the world. and congratulate forthem Terms and conditions apply – visit http://www.airdriefc.com/trust/ details.on their campaign’s Follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/kitamnesty?fref=ts success. and Twitter @kitamnesty Email us at kitamnesty@yahoo.co.uk The non-profit organisation, which is based in Hatfield, Hertfordshire, is celebrating its You can follow the Airdrieonians Supporters 15th anniversary this year and boasts former Trust on Twitter: @AirdrieTrust England manager Graham Taylor as its patron.

One of the working groups set up by Pars United in recent months is the Disabled Facilities Group. The group had been set up to look at improving facilities around East End Park for disabled fans and one of the first requests from Pars fans who are wheelchair users was to have better protection from the biting winds which whistle around the viewing platforms at the front of the Norrie McCathie Stand.

Launching on 28 June at Airdrie Fair Day and running throughout July

Thank you for your support!

If you would like to know more about KitAid log on to

The trust were keen to support KitAid’s work www.kitaid.net or www.kitaid.blogspot.com and promote the charityRegistered in Scotland while Charity No. 113968 filling the main stand at New Broomfield with Affinity Water’s home grown registered charity

After consultation with fans who watch the match from these areas, the working groups Jim Henderson was tasked with finding a solution. With the help of Club sponsors Purvis Group, Jim’s idea became a reality and a large weather protection screen was erected at the side of each viewing platform.

The cost to manufacture the screens was met by the Pars Supporters’ Trust whilst Purvis fabricated the screens and provided free installation.

Wheelchair bound Pars fan Ali Carstairs, who is a season ticket holder in the Norrie McCathie Stand said “What a difference these screens have made already! Sitting here watching games through the winter months will be much more enjoyable now.

It’s great that Pars United have recognised

the needs of the disabled fans as well as able bodied ones and it’s fantastic to see requests like this turn in to reality. Many thanks to the guys from the Disabled Facilities Group not to mention Purvis and the Pars Supporters’ Trust”.

PST Vice-Chair Drew Main, who is also a member of the working group commented “It’s great to see a project like this come to fruition especially as it’s just in time for the start of the new season. The PST were delighted to provide the funding for this as, not only do we look to increase our shareholding in the Club through regular donations, but we are also keen to help out in other ways for the benefit of the fans and DAFC”.

The Disabled Facilities Group continues to assess the stadium looking at ways of improving the matchday experience for disabled fans. This not only considers wheelchair bound fans but also those with sight and hearing impairments. Consideration is also being given to providing disabled access to the Clubs popular function suites on the first floor of the Main Stand.

trust news

Kennedy sponsored by Erin Hibs Supporters Trust

trust news

donations from book sales to go to trust Tayside kickers team up with the arabtrust for fundraising

Minutes after Matthew Kennedy was announced as the clubs latest signing, the Erin Hibs supporters club snapped up his complete sponsorship ahead of the 2014/15 season. We'd like to thank Erin Hibs for their fan- Tayside Kickers, the regions Subbuteo Club, tastic continued support of Hibernian. have teamed up with ArabTRUST to promote both organisations fundraising.

The Erin Hibernian Supporters Trust was founded 15 years ago to help support the Tayside Kickers has been going since 91' and club and build up the fans stakeholding by competes in the governing bodies ( Federabuying shares. The Trust have now donated tion International of Sports Table Football; around £100,000 to the club and have do- FISTIF.) events. nated physiotherapy equipment, match analysis software and sponsored youth teams at The Club is looking to foster relationships Hibernian. We have also been slowly build- with ArabTRUST and introduce Subbuteo ing up a share stakeholding. to new and old players alike. It is planned to host introductory nights to people interested Neil Havis from Erin Hibs said "We are de- with free coaching and training on the beaulighted to continue sponsoring a first team tiful game in miniature. player and look forward to seeing Matthew score lots of goals for Hibs."

The Club is run by a group of football fans, many of who are United supporters and in fact their strips are Black & Tangerine.

Something to share? e-mail andrew.jenkin@supporters-direct.org with your latest news and activities

As a launch they will be showcasing the new Subbuteo game to the public at the Dundee United Open Day. There people can try it out and see how the game has progressed over the last 30 years into a fast competitive tactical game.

They will also be fundraising for ArabTRUST with a special Subbuteo beat the goalie, with one of Dundee United Goalies also taking part. There will also be a raffle to win a mini Subbuteo table.

Orders can now be placed for copies of a new book, which charts Dumbarton’s rise from the Third Division in 2008 to an unforgettable 2013/14 season with £2 from each sale going towards the Sons Supporters Trust.

‘The Rising Sons’, written by Andrew Galloway, details Sons’ achievements over the past six years, including the Third Division title victory in 2009 and the 2012 promotion to the First Division. The book launch will take place in the supporters’ bar at the Bet Butler Stadium at 1pm on Saturday, August 16, before Dumbarton play Queen of the South.

well society fundraiser

wee gers supporters give club shop new look Berwick Rangers Supporters Trust members Isla Barber, David Spence, Andrew Neville and Michael Smyth, along with Berwick Rangers F.C. Financial Officer Lyndsay Flannigan and her son Stuart, spent time last Saturday, June 14th, repainting the ceiling and interior walls of the club shop at Shielfield. This was the first stage in giving the shop a new look in time for the start of the 2014-15 season.

Membership to dee 4 life outstrips expectations

A busy couple of weeks at Dees 4 Life has seen Board Members and other volunteers Please join the Well Society at Hamilton Park working spare hours to process the sheer Race Course at Hamilton Park Race Course volume of applications to the Society & Club on Saturday 27th Sept for a McLean and Dundee Membership.

KirkSportsman’s dinner to celebrate. “The Tommy McLean Era”.

Since the launch of annual membership on the 1st of June 2014, the Society has Tommy who spent 10 years with Mother- accumulated just shy of 900 paid adult well as our Manager will be joined by special members, a fantastic achievement that guests and personalities from his time with far outstrips expectations. The new look MFC culminating in his legendary Scottish DFCTV has proven to be a major hit with the Cup Win in 1991. Bookings and payments Dundee Support and is something they say can be made by contacting Alison on wellso- they are keen to continually improve. ciety@motherwellfc.co.uk or 01698 338006

so that more people in Pakistan can benefit from Fairtrade.

This is not the only thing that’s different about Bala Sport. We’re a Glasgow based industrial and provident society which doesn’t take profits from the business – setup with help from the Co-operative Glasgow Development Fund. As well as levelling the playing field for the workers in Pakistan – our aim is also to bring people here at home from all backgrounds together through sport. We’re in the very early stages of this game and we’re having our current batch of training and match balls trialled by the likes of the players and Youth Academy at St Mirren along with their excellent Street Stuff programme team. The more Bala balls we can sell – the more orders we can place helping more people in Pakistan – and the more amateur clubs and tournaments we can support. So help us spread the word about Bala on social media and let’s make the beautiful game even better.

At last Britain has the balls to play fair! a guest blog from bala sport uk We at Supporters Direct Scotland have been proud to be involved in the establishment of Bala Sports UK, a new cooperative set up to expand the availability and use of ethically produced Fairtrade sports balls (focusing initially on footballs) in the UK and beyond. Here, Bala offer us a guest blog on their start-up.

cuts from the large needles used. Thankfully since an outcry in the mid 1990s child labour has been stamped out and the work is now done only by adults. It’s skilled work and should be fairly rewarded – that’s what Bala does – through Fairtrade we pay a fair price and ensure fair and safe working conditions – but not everyone else does.

According to the SFA the beautiful game should be all about fairness and respect for players and for fans – as it should be. But what about the people who make the balls we all take for granted? They don’t always get a fair go. That’s why Bala Sport was setup – to level the playing field for the factory workers and skilled hand-stitchers in Pakistan who produce our balls.

We also pay an additional 10% Fairtrade Premium for the workers to decide amongst themselves on what development projects to invest this cash payment in.

It used to be that children were used to stitch footballs at home being paid a pittance to do the painstaking work . This often resulted in them sustaining back injuries whilst stooping on low stools and straining their eyes to make sure the stitching was done correctly. They would also suffer from

Bala balls are made at a factory In Sialkot in the Punjab, in Pakistan. 70% of all the world’s hand-stitched footballs are made in Sialkot. The big brands like Nike, Puma and Adidas have their balls made there – some are even made in the same factories as Fairtrade certified balls like ours. The big brands

At our factory a Fair Price shop was set up using the Fairtrade Premium to help the workers and their families afford essential food and household items.

There’s no reason why even the higher level of the game shouldn’t be played with Fairtrade certified balls. FIFA doesn’t allow the Fairtrade Mark or any other mark on FIFA Approved or FIFA Inspected balls – but they do allow the International Matchball Standard (IMS) to be used. Fairtrade certified balls can be made to exactly the same specifications as the big brands’ high end balls – where there’s a will there’s a way!

can obviously place large orders, so it’s not surprising that less than 8% of balls made in the factory Bala uses for instance are made to Fairtrade standards. This means that most of the time the factory workers and men and women employed in the hand-stitching centres earn considerably less than they do when they’re making Bala Like us over on facebook and follow us on balls. That’s why it’s essential that the Bala Twitter and Instagram and let’s kick this brand is a success – so that we can start game into shape to increase the number of Fairtrade sports balls from less than 1% of balls worldwide

earliest stage you can. Use a tool like Locality’s Community Buildings Checker to take some of the guesswork out of the process, and work out some basic scenarios to help you create ball park budgets and basic costings that everyone can agree on. This is key as having a clear understanding of what is and isn’t feasible can make or break a project.

Leaving this until later on just means that more people will have spent time fruitlessly in trying to bring an unsustainable idea to life, and the community will be disappointed and disengaged as a result.

5. Know your limitations – ask for help

10 tips for building a community hub As a Supporters Trust, it’s likely one of your aims and objectives will be to strengthen ties with the local community. While for many this might be offering schemes for cheap or free tickets to community members to your teams games, others may have aspirations to build a hub for the community. This is not an easy process but is achievable and what better vehicle to base it around than football? Here’s 10 tips written up by our friends at My Community Rights on how to build your hub.

2. Gather a positive, reliable team of people Having a team of people that can be relied upon to stand together, share the workload and show complete faith in the integrity of the project is worth its weight in gold. Try to ensure that everyone is of the same mindset and has enough available time to play their part. Work hard to keep this steering group together. It’s absolutely vital that it is focused, unified and strong. Without this basic component, any community building project will struggle to progress.

3. Get your objectives clear at the outset

There’s no question that – particularly in the early stages – there will be differing views on most elements of the project.

1. Put aside time – lots of it This has to be dealt with at the outset.

Write your objectives down and make No matter how straightforward the prosure everyone signs up to them so that ject seems, it’s easy to underestimate before you even start looking at matters the amount of time needed to progress it like legal structures, governance and the – and this time will in all likelihood, come like, you are all in agreement about what from you. So start as you mean to go on it is you are trying to do and why. This and recognise, accept and embrace the will avoid uncertainly, dead ends and fact that you will have constant phone potential bickering later on. calls, short notice meetings and tricky decisions to make during the life of the 4. Work out broad viability at a very build. That having been said, for people early stage who genuinely want to achieve a common goal, this can be inspiring and moAs in most other areas of life, issues tivating, and many people enjoy being around money can cause major probpart of something that is so interesting, lems, so try to ensure that the project exciting and challenging. stacks up in broad financial terms at the

everything Keep proper records; take copies of everything; write down the outcome of telephone conversations and confirm them in emails. Fortunately, our secretary and treasurer were diligent on this front – not everyone is. But I can’t tell you how many times our records dug us out of a hole, and how important they were as the project progressed. You might believe you can remember every piece of project discussion and every cost agreed on the hoof, but without recording it, you almost certainly won’t.

9. Don’t take it personally

Community building projects involve a very wide variety of skills and competencies. If you have people on the steering group who can provide specific skills, so much the better, but if not, understand the group’s limitations and know when to ask for help. Organisations like Locality can be particularly useful in terms of signposting to members who have gone down a similar route to yours. You may also find Locality Brokers to be relevant in terms of finding suitable professional help: localitybrokers.org.uk.

People love to criticise. They seem to revel in things going wrong and there always seems to be a small group of moaners on the sidelines ready to pick at everything you try to achieve. Don’t take it personally, because it almost certainly isn’t. This is just one facet of human nature, so try to concentrate on the others – the mostly silent majority who is pleased someone else is taking on the project and is keen to see the outcome but will hardly ever say so. Eventually, the criticism will stop and the building will become part of the local landscape – 6. Be realistic, patient and steadfast part of its history. The criticisms will fade in time, but the facility won’t. That’s what Things are complicated; they take time; it’s all about. they can be wearing. The most important factor here is to hold firm. Keep the 10. Take inspiration from others community engaged, perhaps by holding events or updates. Stick to your guns There are so many groups taking on and work for something you know you community building projects every year. can achieve but at the same time, know Some are small – some much larger, but that nothing in life worth having comes all are great examples of communities easily. Be patient and keep working toworking together to build something for wards your goal. It will come. the benefit of local people. For inspiration, have a look at the Community 7. Don’t cut corners Buildings case studies.

How tempting is it to cut the odd corner? See more here The urge to save time and money by taking shortcuts is overwhelming at times, but failing to work by the book can cost you dearly. Planning and construction is technical and demanding. Project managing requires time and attention. Put adequate resource into this. We didn’t – and had to find extra manpower to see it through. Namely, more volunteer time.

8. Record everything – absolutely

Supporters DIrect Scotland Conference Round up The 15th of June saw the Supporters Direct Scotland conference take place with fans very much at the forefront and focus of discussion. With a range of Supporters Trusts, groups and clubs represented, the event kick started with Paul Goodwin, Head of Supporters Direct Scotland, highlighting the achievements of the organisation over the past 12 months and outlining its’ future plans.

Jon Darch of the Safe Standing Roadshow got the afternoon’s activities underway with a presentation on the growth of safe standing in British football and how it provided a safe and more cost effective alternative experience to seating before attendants split into a mix of workshops and focus groups on a range of topics affecting Scottish football.

This was proceeded by Stephen Morrow, a lecturer in Sport Finance at the University of Stirling and the Chair person of the Working Group established by the Scottish Government to investigate further fan involvement in the governance of football, talking on the setup of the group and how it will feed its results into the wider community.

SDS Council member and ArabTrust member Grant McKenzie led a workshop on how Dundee United’s Supporters Trust undertook their fundraising activities while Hibs Working Together facilitated a focus group on kick-off times and the rescheduling of fixtures. The next session saw Dave Scott of the charity Nil By Mouth discuss discrimination within Scottish football while Paul Goodwin outlined Supporters Direct Scotland’s involvement in the Supporter Liasion Officer project with the Scottish Football Association.

Former Kilmarnock and Morton manager Kenny Shiels then spoke on the importance of fans to the game in Scotland and how they added value to the nation’s sport before Kate Ogram and Mark Gretton, representatives of Hull City’s ‘City Till We Die group’ detailed their campaign preventing the proposed change of their club to Hull Tigers. Mark and Kate’s presentation generated much interest and engagement among the Conference’s attendants as they spoke of their experiences dealing with single owners with plans of their own. They, along with the morning’s speakers, fielded questions from those in the audience and via the Scottish Fans twitter feed.

Dr Borja Garcia rounded off proceedings by presenting findings of the FREE Project’s research into supporter’s perceptions of the governance of football in Scotland, ensuring the day finished as it had started, with fans and their views firmly in the centre of the debate.

You can see videos from the speakers on the day at scottishfans.org/conference.

colours of our scarves update Following on from a successful pilot scheme at the end of the 2013/14 season, the Colours of our Scarves project will be continuing in the new season, visiting all remaining senior Scottish football stadiums.

itself is a deep rooted cultural issue that dates back generations and e¬ffects society as a whole. Sectarianism has traditionally been perceived to manifest itself through football supporters at football matches and football related events through language, song and From January of March of this year, SDS vis- actions which in some cases has led to vioited Falkirk, Hamilton, Dundee and Leith to lence and unfortunately even murder. deliver workshops and focus groups in the local communities, as well as presenting a Supporters Direct Scotland through the photographic exhibition on match days, with creation of The Colour of our Scarves proimages from renowned football photogra- gramme with Scottish Government funding pher, Stuart Roy Clarke. will attempt to help play a part in addressing the issue. The programme will collect In the coming weeks SDS will be at Elgin much needed research through a nationCity, Stranraer and Montrose as the project wide campaign of educational workshops is taken nationwide to canvass opinion on and visual displays utilising the services of issues relating to sectarianism in their local world famous football photographer Stuart areas.

Roy Clarke. The Colour of our Scarves will The issue of sectarianism in Scotland is one work in partnership with all senior Football that has been discussed and debated, with clubs across Scotland and football’s national countless attempts to address the issue see- governing body. ing varying levels of success from Governments, Charitable organisations, Football Visit the Colour of our Scarves page on the clubs and independent bodies. Sectarianism Scottish Fans website here.

Supporters Direct ICM poll shows that fans “want major reform of football” In a poll published today by Supporters Direct, and undertaken by leading market research company ICM Research, fans of English clubs have backed Supporters Direct’s call for fan involvement in the ownership of football clubs, with nearly 40% agreeing that football rules need to change to enable it.

Other results showed that only 18% of fans believe that their clubs are financially well run, backed up by the 100+ insolvencies in the top five divisions of the English game since 1992. There was also overwhelming backing for fans to be ‘formally consulted on any changes relating to their football club (for example name, shirt colour, badge or location of the football club), with 77% agreeing, an area that Supporters Direct led a session on at the Supporters Summit on last weekend (26th July) at Wembley Stadium, an issue of serious concern following

the cases of Hull City, Cardiff City and Coventry City.

The headline results:

Clubs and how they should be run and owned • Only 18% of fans said that their clubs were financially well run • 77% of fans agree that they should be formally consulted on any changes relating to their football club • 38% agree that football supporters should be entitled by football regulation to a role in the ownership of their football club • 54% of fans agree that “Football clubs should be run as a combination of a community business that balance results on the pitch with work in the local community”

The running of the game/governance • 44% of fans agree that “Football is broken and The FA needs to intervene to fix it” • 49% agree that supporters and their representatives should be more involved in the running of football”

Speaking about the results, Robin Osterley, CEO of SD, said: “This definitive poll – the most comprehensive ever undertaken – of the supporters of English football clubs about how they view the running of the game, shows irrefutably that the average fan

Also very significant was the recognition that ‘football is broken’ and that ‘The FA needs to intervene to fix it’, chiming with much of Greg Dyke’s video message to those attending last week’s supporters’ summit, where he also said that the FA Council fails to represent the game as it is – adding as he did that fans were ‘underrepresented’.

does care that their clubs are run badly; that they do want to see the FA get control and run it in the interests of all, not just a minority of clubs or officials at the top; and that they believe that part of that should mean a role in the ownership of their clubs.

“We want this to be a signal to all those who share the same views. Whether those in the game’s governing bodies; politicians frustrated at the slow pace of reform that they have laid out again and again; or those in grassroots football suffering from poor decisions a local level. There is now a critical mass of people who want change, and we can, working together, achieve that. This is an opportunity that we must seize.”

Always fair energy prices Because that’s our goal too

the supporters summit - a round up Supporters Direct and the Football Supporters’ Federation held their annual Supporters Summit at Wembley Stadium on Saturday July 26th.

special BT Sport Supporters’ Club Q&A with England women’s international, Alex Scott, which included discussion on her work with the Street Child World Cup.

Trusts and supporters groups from across England and Europe were represented at the event that included keynote speeches from representatives from both organisations, as well as a variety of workshops covering a range of issues pertinent to the football supporter movement.

The event was rounded off with an entertaining Q&A panel of Blizzard contributors – a quarterly football publication – chaired by Times journalist Rory Smith. Miguel Delaney, James Horncastle and James Montague fielded questions from delegates on topics including FIFA and the 2022 Qatar World Cup, domestic on-field issues and England’s post-World Cup fallout.

The event – sponsored by BT Sport – was well attended by delegates, with both SD and the FSF holding their AGMs on the Friday night before the conference on Saturday. Kevin Miles of the FSF and Robin Osterley of SD – both CEO – gave introductory speeches before an open forum was held for delegates to voice their opinions on issues regarding supporter involvement and the general governance of the game. There was also a screening of a video Q&A with FA Chairman, Gregg Dyke, who was unable to attend the event in person.

Several workshops were held throughout the day, covering topics such as Financial Fair Play, Club Licencing and Protecting Club Identity. There was also the opportunity for those in attendance to attend a

Content from the day can be viewed on the Scottish Fans website (click here).

Being a member of a supporters’ trust is about more than just loving sport. It’s about being involved, having your say, listening to others and working together as a community to secure a sustainable future for your favourite team. In short, it’s about fair play.

You may not think sport has much in common with your gas and electricity bills, but at Co-operative Energy, we’re motivated by the same values as the trusts you work so hard to support.

Sport is steeped in history, full of winners, pioneers and athletes who went the extra mile for their teammates. In a similar way, the Co-operative movement has been holding the torch for communities, ethical trading and honesty since the Rochdale Pioneers opened the doors of their first shop in 1844.

A real alternative In 2011, almost 200 years later, Co-operative Energy – part of the Midcounties Co-operative - was founded on the same principles. We wanted to

offers consumers an alternative to the Big 6 energy suppliers - a different choice based on fair prices, transparency, renewable energy sources and a commitment to customer service and Co-operative members.

Three years on, we’ve gained plenty of supporters and 200,000 customers.

And, although we’ve grown fast, we’ve kept our promises to them, offering consistently fair prices and a strong set of values.

When some energy suppliers were hiking their prices by as much as 11%, we decided to absorb rising energy industry transport and distribution costs and raise ours by a modest 2.5% on average. Our range of fixed price tariffs is designed to offer flexibility, value for money and complete peace of mind - without any early exit fees.

communities across the UK. In fact, you could say we’re team players.

Our goal for the future?

To grow without losing sight of what makes us unique, to continually offer our customers a fair energy deal and to put the ball back in the energy consumer’s court is our goal.

We’re very proud to be working with Supporters Direct, because your hard work, true dedication and team spirit are exactly what the international Co-operative movement is all about.

You’ll support your team for life.

And, as your energy supplier, we’ll be here for you for life.

A rallying cry for renewables We’ve sourced our energy responsibly (the carbon content of our electricity in 2013 was less than half the national average), hosted the UK’s first Community Energy Conference and worked with renewable energy

For more information please visit: www.cooperativeenergy.coop/sports Or call 0800 093 7535 quoting 'Supporters Direct'

Apply for Legacy 2014 funding for sustainability Legacy 2014: Sustainable Sport for Communities is a £1m Fund established with £500k of Scottish Government 2014 Legacy Funds and £500k from The Robertson Trust. The overarching goal of the Fund is to support more sports social enterprises to be able to own and/ or manage facilities and deliver sustainable services which meet the needs of their communities.

Strand 2 of the Fund, which opened for applications on 11th August, offers sports social enterprises the opportunity to apply for up to £30,000 of support towards the direct costs of employing a Business Development Officer, or similar post, with the aim of developing the organisation, its services and its financial sustainability through the adoption of a social enterprise model. Funding is available for one or two years.

Applications are invited from sports social enterprises which are at an early stage of considering how to make their community facility and/ or services more sustainable.

In addition to delivering sporting activities, applicants must also be able to demonstrate that they are seeking to make a wider difference in

their community through their work. Making a difference in areas including health and wellbeing, employment and education are key aims of the Scottish Government’s Legacy ambitions in addition to a primary aim of getting more people active.

This programme will deliver a package of support to successful applicant organisations. This means that in addition to receiving direct funding for a position, successful applicants will also benefit from a range of development support which will include including mentoring, coaching, training and networking opportunities.

Full details of the fund are available online at www.therobertsontrust.org.uk.

The closing date for application is Wednesday 8th October 2014.