Notes from Aug meeting with Fulham FC
On Wednesday 13 August 2025 at 13.30, the Fulham Supporters’ Trust met with Fulham FC via video conference.
The Club was represented by:
- Alistair Mackintosh (Chief Executive, AM)
- Darren Preston (Chief Operating Officer, DP)
- Carmelo Mifsud (Communications Director, CM)
- John D’Arcy (Head of Safety, JDA)
- Jane Woods (Head of Ticketing, JW)
- Sean Davies (Retail & Licencing Director, SD)
- Nicola Walworth (Supporter Liaison Manager, NW)
The FST was represented by:
- Jerry Cope (Treasurer & Membership Secretary, JC)
- Steve Nicholson (Secretary SN)
- Dan Crawford (Board Member, DC)
- Tamara Dragadze (Board Member, TD)
HOW IT WORKS
At our regular monthly meetings, Trust board members normally ask questions relating to as many topics as possible in the time available, based on responses from members to the advance notification of the meeting and our own observations from interacting with the wider supporter base. The Club then gives its position, which is discussed. These notes are therefore a statement of both points of view. The Trust continues to press both the Board’s and its members’ view at this meeting and in separate meetings.
Often members ask similar questions, and, in these cases, we try to summarise, provide the Club with feedback and gain as much useful information as possible in the time available. We also prioritise new and time-critical topics, whilst also seeking updates on longer running issues. Other items are often taken up directly with Club outside these sessions.
You can access notes of all previous meetings on our web site, including the most recent information on key topics not covered at this meeting.
TOPICS DISCUSSED
Items focussed on at this meeting were:
- 25/26 Shirt Range
- Transfer Policy
- Scheduling of Games
- Ground Issues
- Scheduling of Pre-Season Games
- Fulham TV Subscriptions
- Admission to the Riverside
- Digital Ticketing
- Hoardings
JC gave apologies for the Trust’s Chair Simon Duke, who had an unavoidable conflicting appointment,
JC then opened by thanking the Club for much improved information on ticketing, with longer notice of away games on sale and where loyalty points are going to be used and not going to used and the pricing matrix.
25/26 Shirt Range
The Trust were pleased that all three new shirts for 25/26 seem to have been pretty well received – which is good news in a design sense. There are mixed views on the white shorts.
JC asked whether it was a coincidence that for both the first two kits that we have moved away from traditional colours ie black shorts and red on the 2nd strip?
SD replied that he had been with the Club for 8 years, with responsibility for designing kits for much of that time. The lead time for a new kit is at least18 months starting with a brief to Adidas. They then give pointers on strips, colours, what Gen Z likes, what other fans like, etc. resulting in a guiding framework that leads to the strips you see on sale. Fulham always try to sell a story. This year, it is a 25-year nod to the 1999/2000 away shirt at the time. The home kit has always got something there from our history. In this particular season, there is the embossing of the balcony of the Cottage – which has gone down very well on the socials, face-to-face and in emails to the Club.
SD continued that the green shirt is selling well. At the same time, it’s not for everybody. Some are calling it a marmite kit – like the pink one, which was successful. We have to try and get younger fans engage more. Our home kit will always be the traditional home colour kit. It will always have our crest on. It is however difficult to provide something new every year. Our fanbase is literally from one year to 90 years old.
JC continued that supporters got an email on Saturday saying come down to the Club shop to buy a green shirt in time for Brighton. But for those that waited they have seen today that 30% off vouchers, a good offer, were available for those that did not buy immediately. This seemed unfortunate, and there was every likelihood that next year Season Ticket Holders would wait for Club announcements before buying.
SD responded that it is something that the Club wanted to offer. We typically send these out season ticket welcome packs in the first or second week of August, which do not necessarily coincide with kit launch dates. Last year, for the first time, we tried a physical voucher, which we did for the whole of August and September – in-store redemption only, which did not suit everyone and made the shop very crowded on matchdays. This year we decided to make it an online offer only – which if the recipient had already bought kit, they could pass on to others and also use on things like training gear. SD hoped it should be seen as a nice thing that the Club have done. The third kit has just been launched, and with 54 options of training wear out as well, so there’s much more to use the voucher on, unlike previous years. There is a timeline and a third-party operator to get the ticket packs out as quickly as they can. We are not aware of other clubs providing such an early offer. In the retail world, you might often be waiting until Black Friday to get a discount.
Transfer Policy
JC said that the biggest postbag item for the Trust is transfers. Could AM provide an update on the Club’s overall approach to transfers?
AM responded that he too had received many emails with different and conflicting opinions on the subject – we all had our personal view. He then set out the Club’s approach:
This year we started off with what we think is a good team (finished eleventh last year). We haven’t lost many players. Last year saw the highest wage bill in the club’s history. We wanted to keep the squad that achieved the record Premier League points total for Fulham last season together. We have had a number of bids for our players. Generally, we are looking to resist those bids. Players also have views on whether they want to stay or go – depending on the teams that are bidding for them, how much money they have been offered and the location and leagues/competitions that the other club plays in. We have everyone here at the moment.
Secondly, we wanted to re-sign Cairney, Tete, King, De Fougerolles and Ridgeon. Some of these signings were important going into the new season. We strongly believe that it is important to show a pathway into the first-team from the academy, so we need to ensure that a path is available for them and that we should give our young players an opportunity.
Thirdly It is important that the Club is sustainable and operates within the League’s limits.
Marco, Tony and the recruitment team are working hard to try to enhance the squad.
JC thanked AM for that explanation and hoped we could see activity soon as the season starts this week. He then asked why we seem much more conservative about saying what’s going on in transfers as compared to others. Is that a deliberately conservative approach? He instanced our new goalkeeper who seemed to have been known about for some time but was only publicised when media photographs were ready.
CM responded that Ben Lecomte, the new goalkeeper, stepped on a plane immediately after signing and Fulham announced when the Club got the imagery after he travelled to Portugal. Until things are official, we also feel it important to coordinate announcements with selling club and other parties associated with the player before confirming. The announcement was made one day into the Portugal camp. He added that squad news announcements such as injury status are usually announced at press conferences; however the club informed fans about Antonee Robinson’s surgery in the close season where there wasn’t a press conference.
Scheduling of Games
JC reported that some fans, who could find it difficult to attend Sunday and/or evening games were concerned that there were going to less 3pm Saturday games this season with the new TV deal and the number of English Clubs in Europe. Is there any minimum number of games that the Club could insist were played at 1500 on a Saturday, or even 1230 that day? Also did the Club have any ability to object to (say) Fulham playing away at Newcastle on a Saturday night?
AM responded that apart from competing fixed events, such as the boat race, the Club has to comply in terms of scheduling.
Ground Issues
SN asked about yellow handrails. A member has written in that they seem to have been installed in the Riverside Stand, so was there any opportunity for more in the Hammersmith End?
DP responded that following an earlier meeting with the Trust, we put some yellow rails in the Hammersmith End, where the step changes are on a particular arc. The reason the rails are in the Riverside Stand is because the rake of the upper tier is bigger. There are no more plans to add more such handles in other stands.
SN replied that the top step as you step into H3/H4 is slightly higher than the other steps – people do trip on that step. DP agreed that the Club will look at that particular issue.
Scheduling of Pre-Season Games
SN said it was great that news of the Portugal trip was put out quite early, but clearly ‘a likely two games’ had not materialised to the disappointment of a number of fans – is there some way to make communications clearer?
CM responded that the Club do want to give supporters as much notice of our arrangements. The Club are obviously not looking deliberately to misinform supporters with information. When we announced in early June, we gave the information that we would be in the Algarve, and it was ‘likely that there would be two games.’ The Club’s plans can only be confirmed when everyone has signed up. We were aware that the Algarve is a popular destination and in the school holidays. It felt right to say ‘likely’ but we will of course look carefully at information going forward, trying to balance timing with certainty.
Fulham TV Subscriptions
SN said he and many others had paid £5 a month for FFCTV since its inception, but only now learnt that unless we paid for a season’s pass, we could not watch the pre-season games online.
CM responded that:
- Keeping friendly games in the seasonal product is designed to provide that product more enhanced value than for the more cost-effective product.
- The strategy on why live pre-season matches are not included in the monthly product is due to high levels of churn; monthly subscriptions at the cheaper price of £5 could access multiple matches before cancelling.
- Pay-Per-Views – this is standard for pre-season, most if not all clubs tend to sell individual match passes and Fulham’s price point of £6.99 is middle of the road in comparison to other EFL and PL clubs.
- There is a varying cost to delivering a live stream; some matches we do receive a live feed from a host broadcaster and others we are in control of the cameras – both come at different costs to the club. However, all matches then have replays/highlights and live commentary applied which also comes at cost.
- Next season the FFCtv pass will have enhanced PL2 coverage along with the regular live matchday commentary at every Men’s PL game, full match replays and archive library.
Admissions to the Riverside
SN asked about admission to the Riverside for the recent friendly where fans had to use scanners to access their seats, and about the long queues to access the Johnny Haynes stand
JD responded that for last Saturday’s game the Club operated a trial of the Riverside/Fulham Pier as a dual venue with the pier open all morning and all evening, hence the need for the scanners. It was also an opportunity for the staff to receive pre-season training. In the Johnny Haynes four turnstiles were lost because the need to put the away fans in that stand with building work in the Cottage at the Putney End. There were also a lot of new stewards in terms of safety and security. So sadly some queues were inevitable because of the particular circumstances.
TD then asked about stewarding in the Riverside post-match given the difficulties that arose following last season’s Man City game.
JD replied that within thirty minutes after the match, the Riverside Stand reverts to Fulham Pier. The Club was aware of the Man City game issues. There is CCTV and security staff around the D deck area, and the Club will deploy those resources appropriately on a game-by-game basis, starting with Manchester United at home.
Digital Ticketing
TD then asked about the arrangements for those exempt from digital tickets to receive paper tickets for digital away games and Cup games.
JW said that even for away Clubs with a full digital policy, Fulham have asked for paper tickets until at least the end of the year. The Club will then pick two matches to trial all-digital ticketing, but there will always be paper tickets for the exemption groups. Supporters with any queries should email tickets@fulhamfc.com at the time they buy such tickets
TD enquired whether there was any issue at the moment with downloading this season’s digital season tickets. JW said a few supporters had not first deleted their 24/25 passes which was causing issues on a few phones but generally downloading had been going well. JC said it was not clear on the club web-site that 24/25 passes should be deleted before downloading the new season.
Hoardings
TD asked whether the perimeter hoardings were bigger this season as had been reported eg for the Hammersmith end. DP however confirmed that there had been no changes to the advertising hoardings since they were put up 8 or so years ago.
The meeting closed at 14.25
