What does the FST actually *do*?
We know it’s hard to sometimes understand the inner-workings of the FST – or any supporters’ trust for that matter – from the outside, and we are always looking at ways to improve communication between us, our members and the wider Fulham fanbase. We also get a lot of lovely praise and thanks from our members when we’re speaking to them.
But to those that perhaps aren’t as familiar with our work, what better time than the close season to give some insight into how we try to serve our aims of always ensuring our club remains at its historic home and safeguard the best interests of all Fulham fans. Any fan is welcome to join – you can do so here – but equally, we do our best to represent everyone with the work that we do.
So, other than monthly meetings with the Club, what exactly does that entail? Well, seeing as you asked….
THE TRUST SEASON 2024/25 IN NUMBERS
1 AGM
1 Visit to Stockley Park to attempt to understand VAR better
2 Lively WhatsApp groups
2 Trophy presentations
4 Premier League Network meetings attended to align our work and opinions with those of other supporter groups
8 IAG and SAG meetings attended in-person
9 Meetings with the Club and the write-up of subsequent meeting notes
10 Member newsletter updates
11 Board meetings – via Zoom, attended in various locations between SW6 and Spain…
…plus countless emails responded to (nice one, Steve) and a helluva lot of care to ensure that we represent the views of our fans, we listen to the answers we get from the Club, and that we take a nuanced, independent, balanced view on all topics that arise throughout the season. This now also means working alongside the newly formed FAB whilst maintaining our position as Fulham FC’s only independent and democratically elected fan body.
THIS VOLUNTARY WORK ISN’T FOR THE FAINT-HEARTED.
And we don’t always have one agreed-upon opinion, either. Which is good, it shows our board is made up of Fulham fans who bring a different mindset to our board meetings. Thankfully, we all manage to disagree respectfully and even meet socially when we can around matchday.
WE ENJOY IT BECAUSE IT FEELS LIKE GIVING BACK TO THE CLUB THAT WE LOVE.
Our pre-match guide to Digital Ticketing wouldn’t get written without countless meetings and calls with the Club to understand the process ahead of the Leicester game. Robert Wilson doesn’t appear at our AGM and reel off some amazing Fulham anecdotes without hours of tech prep to ensure our software works without a glitch on the night. Neither does the election that ensures we have a fully voted-for, independent board each year, formed of nine wonderful, kind Fulham fans offering their time. We don’t understand the role policing and safety have for our fans on matchdays without Sue attending an IAG meeting on a cold, windy Tuesday night in Stoke (OK, it was Brixton, but it was still in January).
We try to make reasoned arguments about ticket pricing strategy based on countless databases we hold that track ticket prices for Fulham fans, comparisons with other clubs of similar structure to ours and spend too many hours reading and listening with deep interest to articles, books and podcasts on the rising cost of being a football fan today. And let’s not start on the Football Regulator Bill discussions that we’ve had, it hasn’t even come into existence yet.
IT’S A LABOUR OF LOVE.
As we’re sure you can hear from reading, the behind-the-scenes work is a lot. But our Zoom meetings are paid for by our members, as are the purchase and upkeep of trophies, the wreaths laid on Celebration Day and the accountant that ensures our status as a Community-Benefit-Society remains intact. So we are forever grateful to their continued commitment, and we always welcome new members to strengthen our collective voice.
Thanks to everyone who has supported us throughout season 2024/25 – we hope this gives you an idea of how the FST and other Trusts work, and will continue to do so in season 2025/26 and beyond!
