FOOTBALL OUR GAME!
Your chance to have your say

Sunday 13 October 2002
National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham

Fed up with high ticket prices? Looking forward to that long midweek trip from one end of the country to the other because the game's been moved for television?

Worried about some of the people running football clubs, maybe even YOUR club?

Would you like to crank up the volume once again at football grounds?

What can supporters do to ensure that we can keep the passion but lose the poison like in Japan 2002?

Would you like to have the choice to stand safely at First Division and Premiership grounds?

What do you think of Wimbledon being allowed to move to Milton Keynes?

Well now's the chance to have your say. The newly-formed Football Supporters' Federation, representing over 100,000 individual and affiliated members in 124 supporters' organisations, is convening the first-ever Football Fans' Parliament. The conference is open to all football supporters everywhere. Attendance is free.

Sunday 13 October 2002
National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham

Debates on

•     who should run football?

•     money and football

•     television and football

•     atmosphere at grounds

•     treatment of away fans

•     safe standing

•     franchise football

Chaired by John Monks, TUC General Secretary

10.00am Registration

11.00am - 4.30pm Conference

Open to all supporters. Attendance is free. To register return form to:

Fans' Parliament
FSF
PO Box 25874
London N5 1WR

Email sl.powell@virgin.net

Ring Steven Powell 07881 950613

Debates on:

•     Financing and governance of football
There's more money in the game than ever, but is it being used wisely and distributed fairly? Should football club owners and directors have to pass a "fit and proper person" test? Should more money flow down from the top of the game to support its grass-roots?

•     Football and television
Have we reached saturation point with football on TV? What can be done about constant switches of matchdays and kick-off time to suit television? Should football supporters say we want to "Keep Saturday Special"?

•     "Oh, What An Atmosphere!"
Football's special. The atmosphere and passion that can be generated at grounds can send a tingle down the spine. But are racism and racist / xenophobic chants making a come-back? Are there too many "prawn sandwich" merchants at football these days? Are there lessons to be learnt from the experience of England supporters at the World Cup in Japan?

•     Franchise Football
Should Wimbledon have been allowed to move to Milton Keynes? Is it the thin end of the wedge? Should the Old Firm be allowed to play south of the border?

•     "Is that all you take away?"
Away fans have been described as "distilled essence of football supporter". Impossible odds, impossible journeys, fantastic "runs" of consecutive games. But what about being forced to pay higher ticket prices than home fans when you finally get there? What about away fan bans? What about changes to kick-off times and days? Is it time for a new deal for away fans at home and abroad?

•     "Stand Up For Your Rights!"
After Hillsborough, standing was banned in the top two divisions. Yet many supporters continue to want the choice to sit or stand. Is there such a thing as a safe standing area? What about the German experience?

 

I would like to register for the Football Fans' Parliament

 

My surname

 

My first name

 

Postal address

 

Postcode

 

Email

 

Phone (h)

 

Phone (w)

 

Phone (m)

 

I support the following team(s)

 

I also support the following national team

 

I am a member of the following Supporters Club / Trust / ISA (please specify)

 

I hold the following posts in this / these organisations

 

Please return this form to Fans' Parliament, FSF, PO Box 25874, London N5 1WR or to sl.powell@virgin.net