Football Supporters' Federation

Last updated

FSF
The Football Supporters' Federation
Merged into Football Supporters' Association
Founded2002
Location
Members
500,000+
Key people
Kevin Miles, Chief executive
Malcolm Clark, Chair
Affiliations FSE, The FA
Website www.fsf.org.uk/

The Football Supporters' Federation (FSF) was an organisation representing football fans in England and Wales. It campaigned across a range of issues and supports fan representation on clubs' boards, lower ticket prices, and the introduction of safe standing areas at grounds in the top two tiers of English football. The organisation was free to join and acted as a singular voice for football fans.

Contents

The FSF represented more than 500,000 members made up of individual fans and affiliated supporters' organisations from every club in the professional game and footballing pyramid. [1]

Founding

The FSF was founded in 2002 after the amalgamation of two separate bodies, the Football Supporters' Association (FSA) and the National Federation of Supporters' Clubs (NATFED). The FSF was a democratically structured organisation with a National Council made up of elected individuals, officers and divisional representatives. The FSF's current chair is Malcolm Clarke, who also sits as the supporters' representative on The Football Association (FA)'s Council.

Functions

The Federation had regular meetings with the football authorities and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, discussing a wide range of issues, many of them placed on the agenda by the FSF to take forward their policies or in response to concerns raised by supporters. The FSF also had detailed meetings on specific topics with the relevant authorities or other bodies such as the Premier League, FA, Football League, Professional Footballers' Association, Independent Football Ombudsman and the Police Match Commanders. They also met with government and the All-party parliamentary group on football [2] of MPs when necessary.

The organisation regularly took specific complaints and cases which were raised with it by individual members or affiliated organisations and they encouraged the participation of all supporters in this process. The FSF was free to join and held an annual conference called Fans' Parliament where members could make their views known. At the 2010 Fans' Parliament, a national policy was adopted to oppose parts of the Football (Disorder) Act 2000 which was introduced by the Government to prevent certain football supporters from attending matches and travelling overseas, by imposing Football Banning Orders.

In the August 2010 issue No.22 of The Football Supporter - an FSF publication - the FSF Chairman explained why they took this stance whilst maintaining that the organisation is totally opposed to any form of football violence. "We have major concerns about the use of the so-called Section 14(b) provisions (also known as Football Banning Orders or FBOs) for gaining civil banning orders against football fans. These cases are heard in a civil not criminal court which means that there’s no jury, the burden of proof is lower and the police can introduce evidence of previous convictions which need not even be in a football context".

The organisation also helped promote the work of its affiliated supporters' organisations and supported the Internet Football Association's annual tournament WorldNET since 2009 and has provided a free programme for all participants and spectators of that tournament. [3]

In 2017, a unanimous motion to promote boycotts of The Sun , proposed by Spirit of Shankly and supported by all 20 Premier League clubs and around 50 other football teams passed at the organisation's annual summit. The boycott is in response to the newspaper's false claims in the days after the Hillsborough disaster and its response since, and followed a 2016 inquest around the incident. [4]

FSF Player of the Year Award

The Football Supporters' Federation Player of the Year is an annual award, presented at the FSF Awards ceremony in association with William Hill, given to the player who is adjudged to have had the best year in all of the divisions of Welsh and English football. The award has been presented since 2013, when the inaugural winner was Liverpool striker Luis Suárez. The award later became the Football Supporters’ Association Player of the Year award in 2019 upon the new organisation name being decided as the Football Supporters' Association (FSA) after the merger between the Football Supports' Federation (FSF) and Supporters Direct (SD). Winners were selected by public vote following a nominations process. [5]

The table indicates where the winning player also won one or more of the other major "player of the year" awards in English football, namely the Professional Footballers' Association's Players' Player of the Year award (PPY), [6] [7] [8] the Football Writers' Association's Footballer of the Year award (FWA), [9] the PFA Fans' Player of the Year award (FPY), [10] the Premier League Player of the Season award (PPS), [11] and the PFA Young Player of the Year award (YPY). [7] [8] [12]

YearPlayerClubAlso wonNotes
2013 Flag of Uruguay.svg Luis Suárez Liverpool FWA, PPYInaugural winner of the award [13] [14]
2014 Flag of Argentina.svg Sergio Agüero Manchester City [15] [16]
2015 Flag of Chile.svg Alexis Sánchez Arsenal FPY [17] [18]
2016 Flag of Brazil.svg Philippe Coutinho Liverpool [19]
2017 Flag of England.svg Harry Kane Tottenham Hotspur [20]
2018 Flag of Egypt.svg Mohamed Salah Liverpool FWA, PPY, FPY, PPS, FSA [21]

Awards are issued in a variety of other categories, including pundits, podcasters, writers and other football media. [22]

See also

Related Research Articles

The Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) is the trade union for professional association footballers in England and Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Milton Keynes Dons F.C.</span> Football club in Milton Keynes, England

Milton Keynes Dons Football Club, usually abbreviated to MK Dons, is a professional association football club based in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, England. The team competes in EFL League Two, the fourth tier of the English football league system. The club was founded in 2004, following Wimbledon F.C.'s controversial relocation to Milton Keynes from south London, when it adopted its present name, badge and home colours.

The Football Writers' Association (FWA) is an association of football journalists and correspondents writing for English newspapers and agencies. It presents the Footballer of the Year Award, the oldest and most distinguished award given in the domestic game. In 2018, recognising the growth of the woman's game, it announced a Woman's Footballer of the Year Award.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PFA Players' Player of the Year</span> Annual award

The Professional Footballers' Association Men's Players' Player of the Year is an annual award given to the player who is adjudged to have been the best of the year in English football. The award has been presented since the 1973–74 season and the winner is chosen by a vote amongst the members of the players' trade union, the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA). The current holder is Erling Haaland of Manchester City, who won the award for the first time on 29 August 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PFA Young Player of the Year</span> English football award

The Professional Footballers' Association Young Player of the Year is an annual award given to the young player who is adjudged to have been the best of the season in English football. As of 2021, players must have been aged 21 or under as of 1 July immediately preceding the start of the season; in the past the age limit has been 23, which led to criticism in the media over whether a player who was 24 years old at the end of the season could really be considered "young" in footballing terms. The award has been presented since the 1973–74 season and the winner is chosen by a vote amongst the members of the players' trade union, the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA). The first winner of the award was Ipswich Town defender Kevin Beattie. The current holder is Arsenal player Bukayo Saka, who won the award on 29 August 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PFA Scotland Players' Player of the Year</span> Sports award in Scotland

The PFA Scotland Players' Player of the Year is an annual award given to the player who is adjudged to have been the best of the season in Scottish football. The award has been presented since the 1977–78 season and the winner is chosen by a vote amongst the members of the players' trade union, the Professional Footballers' Association Scotland. The award was formerly known as the Scottish Professional Footballers' Association Players' Player of the Year, but was renamed after the SPFA became affiliated with the (English) Professional Footballers' Association and rebranded PFA Scotland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">FWA Footballer of the Year</span> Annual award

The Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year is an annual award given to the player who is adjudged to have been the best of the season in English football. The award has been presented since the 1947–48 season, with the inaugural winner being Blackpool winger Stanley Matthews. The latest winner of the award as of 2022–23 is Erling Haaland of Manchester City. Nine players have won the award on more than one occasion, with Thierry Henry having won the award on the most occasions, with three wins in four seasons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sergio Agüero</span> Argentine footballer (born 1988)

Sergio Leonel Agüero del Castillo, also known as Kun Agüero, is an Argentine former professional footballer who played as a striker. He is regarded as one of the best strikers of all time and one of the greatest players in the history of the Premier League. He played for Manchester City from 2011 to 2021 and is the club's all-time top goalscorer and holds the record for most Premier League hat-tricks, with 12.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Senegalese Football Federation</span> Governing body of football in Senegal

The Senegalese Football Federation is the governing body of football in Senegal. It is based in the capital of Senegal, Dakar, and was founded in 1960. The FSF aided in the development of football in Senegal, specifically for its professional and amateur leagues, youth and women's football and academies. Currently the FSF oversees the professional leagues, run by the Ligue Sénégalaise de Football Professionnel (LSFP) and fully organises the national teams, youth, women's and amateur football and all football administration.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PFA Fans' Player of the Year</span> Football award in England

The Professional Footballers' Association Fans' Player of the Year award is given to footballers in the top four flights of English football, the Premier League, the Championship, League One and League Two.

The Ipswich Town Player of the Year award is voted for annually by Ipswich Town's supporters in recognition of the best overall performance by an individual player throughout the football season. Towards the end of each season, fans are invited to cast their votes for this award either on-line or with one of the volunteers outside the stadium prior to a home game. The winner is the player who polls the most votes. The recipient is awarded a rosebowl trophy, presented at an awards ceremony immediately after one of the last home games of the season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sadio Mané</span> Senegalese footballer (born 1992)

Sadio Mané is a Senegalese professional footballer who plays as a forward or winger for Saudi Pro League club Al Nassr and the Senegal national team. Known for his pressing, dribbling and speed, Mané is considered by some sources to be one of the greatest African players of all time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Virgil van Dijk</span> Dutch footballer (born 1991)

Virgil van Dijk is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Premier League club Liverpool and the Netherlands national team. Widely regarded as one of the best defenders of his generation, he is known for his strength, leadership, speed and aerial ability.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PFA Team of the Year (2010s)</span> Annual award

The Professional Footballers' Association Team of the Year is an annual award given to a set of 55 footballers across the top four tiers of men's English football; the Premier League, the Championship, League One and League Two, as well as the women's FA WSL, who are seen to be deserving of being named in a "Team of the Year". Peter Shilton currently holds the most appearances in the PFA Team of the Year in the top division with 10 appearances. Steven Gerrard currently holds the most appearances in the PFA Team of the Year in the Premier League era with eight appearances.

The Anfield Wrap is a collective of podcasts, radio shows, videocasts, live shows, magazine and website articles predominantly about Liverpool F.C. as well as the culture and music in the city of Liverpool.

Rory Smith is a journalist, broadcaster and author. He is the chief soccer correspondent of The New York Times, having taken up the role in 2016. Smith is a former journalist of The Times, The Independent, and The Daily Telegraph,

Jonathan Liew is a sports writer for The Guardian. Liew has been named the sports writer of the year, and sports columnist of the year, at the annual SJA Awards.

The Game podcast is a free to download association football podcast produced by The Times newspaper and co-hosted during the 2018-19 season by Natalie Sawyer and Gabriele Marcotti.

The Football Supporters' Association is the national, democratic, representative body for football supporters in England and Wales. They are the leading advocates for supporter ownership, better fan engagement, cheaper ticket prices, the choice to stand at the match, protecting fan rights, good governance, diversity, and all types of supporter empowerment across both the men's and women's game.

References

  1. ↑ "The FSF Annual Review 2015" (PDF). Football Supporters' Federation. p. 3. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
  2. ↑ "All-Party Parliamentary Football Group". Houses of Parliament . Retrieved 23 February 2012.
  3. ↑ "FSF Support WorldNET 09".
  4. ↑ Kentish, Benjamin (3 July 2017). "Hillsborough disaster: Fans from 70 football clubs pledge to boycott The Sun over its coverage". The Independent . Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  5. ↑ "The FSF Awards in association with William Hill (Monday 16th Dec)". FSF.org.uk. 14 October 2013. Archived from the original on 22 July 2015. Retrieved 18 July 2015.
  6. ↑ "Only here for the peers". BBC. 20 April 2001. Retrieved 14 March 2008.
  7. 1 2 "Gerrard named player of the year". BBC. 23 April 2006. Retrieved 14 March 2008.
  8. 1 2 "Ronaldo secures PFA awards double". BBC. 22 April 2007. Retrieved 14 March 2008.
  9. ↑ "England – Players Awards". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. 4 October 2007. Retrieved 18 March 2008.
  10. ↑ "PFA's Official Fan's Player of the Year: Previous Winners". The Professional Footballers' Association. Archived from the original on 20 February 2008. Retrieved 14 March 2008.
  11. ↑ "Premier League Awards, View Season–by-Season Stats". Premier League.com. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
  12. ↑ Frank Keogh (20 April 2001). "Too much too young?". BBC. Retrieved 17 March 2008.
  13. ↑ "WINNERS: FSF Awards in association with William Hill". FSF.org.uk. 17 December 2013. Retrieved 18 July 2015.
  14. ↑ Winter, Henry (16 December 2013). "Liverpool's Luis Suarez a humble winner of FSF Player of the Year award". The Daily Telegraph. London.
  15. ↑ "Agüero scores again with FSF Player of the Year". FSF.org.uk. 2 December 2015. Archived from the original on 16 June 2018. Retrieved 18 July 2015.
  16. ↑ "Manchester City's Sergio Aguero wins Player of the Year award in Football Supporters' Federation vote". Sky Sports.
  17. ↑ "Alexis Sanchez wins FSF 2015 Player of the Year award". FSF.org.uk. 7 December 2015. Archived from the original on 16 November 2017. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
  18. ↑ "Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez wins Player of the Year award in Football Supporters' Federation vote". Sky Sports.
  19. ↑ "Philippe Coutinho wins FSF Player of the Year Award | Football Supporters' Federation". fsf.org.uk. Archived from the original on 30 August 2017. Retrieved 30 August 2017.
  20. ↑ "Harry Kane wins FSF Player of the Year". The Football Supporters Federation. 4 December 2017. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
  21. ↑ "Mohamed Salah wins FSF Men's Player of the Year award". Liverpool F.C. 3 December 2018. Retrieved 3 December 2018.
  22. ↑ "Guardian wins FSA newspaper of the year award for seventh time in a row". The Guardian. 17 December 2019. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.