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THST News - November 2017

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Updates on: 
THFC Fans’ Forum – 11 December
Tottenham Hotspur v West Ham United fixture
Catering at Wembley: Meeting with Delaware North – 25 November
THST Q4 Board Meeting – 27 November
Arsenal away – 18 November
Dortmund away – 21 November
Subsidised travel to Leicester, Burnley and Swansea
Football/ Rail round table meeting – 30 November
Zeelo coach travel to Wembley and Boxing Day travel

Other:
  • Business Community Liaison Group Meeting – 7 November
  • Premier League Schools Enterprise Challenge
  • Mayor’s Winter Gala Ball – 1 December
  • Football to Amsterdam 2018 – June 2018
  • Goods Yard consultation
  • Premiere of the Lane – 30 November
  
1. THFC FANS’ FORUM – 11 DECEMBER
The Club is organising a Fans’ Forum for the evening of Monday 11 December featuring Chairman Daniel Levy, Manager Mauricio Pochettino and Captain Hugo Lloris. The Forum is being held at the London Academy of Excellence Tottenham (LAET) in Lilywhite House, N17 from 6.30pm.
 
THST has three places at this event for full Trust members. We’ll allocate those places to the first 3 full members to email us with the subject heading ‘FANS’ FORUM’. So, if you have a burning question for Poch, Hugo or the Chairman, be sure to email us NOW!
 
2. TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR V WEST HAM UNITED
As we went to press, our game against West Ham United over the Christmas and New Year holiday period was still to be confirmed. This situation is utterly unprecedented and is one of the most complex we have ever encountered. We have publicly registered our concern at Sky announcing a fixture change before it was confirmed that the fixture could actually go ahead, pointing out that the commitment to confirming fixture changes at this stage of the season is six weeks in advance. We’ve emphasised the effect continued non-confirmation will have on fans’ ability to travel to the game, and on the prices they will be charged for that travel.
We have been in touch with our contacts at the Premier League and Sky TV, and maintained daily contact with THFC, since the fixture change was announced. We’ve also kept in touch with our colleagues at the West Ham United Independent Supporters’ Association. We want to stress that both Clubs have been as keen to see this situation resolved as we are. We have also sought information from Brent Council’s Safety Advisory Group via the Freedom of Information Act.
With negotiations still continuing, we are not at liberty to say any more at this stage. Our position remains as it has always been, that the kick-off time must be confirmed as early as possible and that as many fans as there are seats available in the stadium should be able to attend the game.
As soon as the situation is resolved, we will tell fans via our Twitter feed and website.
 
3. CATERING AT WEMBLEY: MEETING WITH DELAWARE NORTH
On the back of regular feedback on the General Admission catering offering at Wembley, THFC facilitated a meeting between THST representatives and Delaware North ahead of the West Bromwich Albion game on 25 November. Pricing, stock availability, speed of service, menu choice, incentivising early arrivals with meal and drinks deals, publicising the Spurs Foundation kiosk and improving general communications were all covered. We will publish a fuller report on our discussions in the next few days.
Delaware North are keen to receive as much feedback as possible so please do let us know if you have any comments around the catering offering from your upcoming trips to Wembley.
We’ll be following up on the actions from this meeting over the coming weeks.
 
4. THST Q4 BOARD MEETING
The Board of THST held their Q4 Meeting on Monday 27 November. We are pleased to report that the financial year ending August 2017 ended with a surplus for the Trust. Our accounts are now off to be audited and will be available as part of the AGM process starting in January. We have also seen an increase in membership numbers in 2017; again this will be covered at the AGM.
In addition to supporting Prostate Cancer UK for the third year running, THST wanted to work with a smaller, local charity and Board members were invited to submit suggestions. We’ll be confirming our new charity partner in the next week or so.
The Board received updates on all major work streams including ticketing, policing and safety and catering and all ongoing campaigns, including Safe Standing and Kick-off times.
Sub group work on member recruitment, retention and conversion was also advanced.
There was some discussion around the scheduling of the Spurs v West Ham game, still not resolved as we go to print, and around the Freedom of Information requests pending response.
There was also discussion around the Trust’s relationship with the Club Board and agreement to maintain our general approach as an independent organisation with a remit to represent the interests of fans at all times.
The Trust Board discussed preparations for the upcoming Annual General Meeting, including intentions to continue or stand down from the Board and agreeing which of the longest serving members will stand for reappointment in 2018. The AGM will be held on 26 February and full members will formally receive notice on 19 January.
The next Board meeting will take place ahead of the AGM, with the first meeting of the new Board to be scheduled for early March 2018.
 
5. ARSENAL AWAY
There was no dedicated meeting for the police, Clubs and fan reps ahead of this game, but we did manage to get some information for fans in advance and issued this a couple of days before the game. We also pushed hard for alcohol to be served at half-time, and this was agreed for the first time in a number of years – subject to behaviour on the day. We’re pleased to report that the bars stayed open during half-time, showing that it is possible for paying customers to be treated like grown-ups without major problems.
A number of fans contacted us about problems experienced on the way in over the main bridge, with the police sending Spurs fans into the midst of home fans, then holding fans back so that many missed the start of the game. Police on the ground are reported to have said there was confusion over a late change of plan, and we’ve raised this with our Football Intelligence Officer. We were waiting for a response as this newsletter went to press.
We’re told there were no arrests and no major incidents, aside from the problems mentioned above.
We’ve asked THFC for a breakdown of the away allocation for this game. The Club’s response is that it won’t confirm ‘granular details’ of allocation to players, staff and commercial partners. But it gave an assurance that nothing has changed in terms of how away tickets are allocated for the Derby this season, apart from an increase in wheelchair bays, to 22. We’ve asked THFC to confirm the number that went to General Admission fans without breaking down specifics. It should be possible to do this without providing the details the Club is unwilling to disclose.
We’ve also repeated a request for the Loyalty Point table to be updated. We appreciate the pressures on the ticket office this year, but it’s important fans have confidence in the system, and at the moment the figures shown on the table do not tally with the allocations to a number of games.
We’ve also raised the fact that communication and consultation with fan groups ahead of these games seems to have dropped off a little this season, and suggested what may be a more practical way to get things back on track. We’ll update in the next newsletter.
 
6. BORUSSIA DORTMUND AWAY
This game passed off very successfully on and off the pitch. Following the significant problems travelling fans experienced last time, we pushed hard before the game for assurances that the changes we had been promised after last time had been implemented. We opted to do this in a relatively low-key manner in order to avoid raising tension.
Detailed pre-match advice was issued, which we appreciated. However, on the night itself it soon became clear that some of the pre-match information didn’t tally with what was happening. There was no sterile zone outside the gates, and no dedicated away fan entrance. Bags were also allowed into the ground at a number of gates even though we had been instructed to check them in at bag drops. We should emphasise there were no problems on the night, but we did make the point to the Club that if fans saw that pre-match information didn’t match their experience, it would be harder to convince them to take notice of future information.
We also noticed quite a number of people falling on the very slippery stairs and floors inside the stadium, and have asked the Club to raise this with their colleagues in Dortmund.
We understand some fans had problems on the train back to Dusseldorf after the match, and we’re investigating the best way to address this.
Overall, it was a much, much better experience than last time.
 
7. SUBSIDISED TRAVEL TO LEICESTER, BURNLEY AND SWANSEA
THFC laid on a chartered train to Leicester on 28 November as there was no public transport option home. This has been very popular in previous years and sold out again this time. Thanks to the Club for delivering this.
 
The Club was unable to run a train to Burnley on 23 December, owing to the closure of the West Coast line for scheduled engineering work. THFC is running coaches at £5 instead, as there is no viable public transport option home after the game. Those coaches can be booked here.
 
Scheduling this game on the day of planned engineering work is another example of the lack of joined-up thinking on fixture scheduling, and it’s something we’ll be raising through our work with the Football Supporters federation’s Kick-off Times Working Group – more on which in item 8 below.
 
THST has also requested a chartered train for Swansea away on 2 January. This is being explored by THFC. However, those who took the train to the corresponding fixture last year will remember the difficulties encountered on the trip home and we are keen to ensure this is not repeated this time round! We’ll have more news on this shortly.
 
 
8. FOOTBALL/ RAIL ROUND TABLE MEETING
 
Reps from THST, CST, Spirit of Shankly and the Football Supporters Federation were present at a round table meeting with senior Premier League executives, management from the Rail Delivery Group and senior Labour politicians to discuss the issues faced by football fans using the rail network. This meeting was arranged by Tom Watson MP, Deputy Leader of the Labour Party and Shadow Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, and was facilitated by Dr Rosena Allin-Khan, Shadow Sports Minister. It was held in the Palace of Westminster on 30 November.
 
The meeting focused on how to help fans within existing rail timetables, with the flexible train ticket – Fan Fare – being discussed; how to help fans when no normal rail services are available and how to better communicate planned track, line and station closures to all decision makers at the point of fixture compilation or broadcast selection.
 
This is an ongoing work stream and we hope to advance talks in the New Year.
 
9. ZEELO COACH TRAVEL TO WEMBLEY AND BOXING DAY TRAVEL
 
Coach company Zeelo continues to move an increasing number of Spurs fans to Wembley from an increasing number of locations across Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Essex.
 
We’re pleased to be able to inform fans that Zeelo is continuing to expand the routes it offers on Boxing Day. While the London Underground is running on the day, we appreciate there is a restricted rail network outside London, and we are pleased to publicise the additional help Zeelo is providing.
 
New Boxing Day routes are:
  • M1 Corridor, capturing Luton, Milton Keynes, Hemel Hempstead, Dunstable
  • M40 corridor, capturing Banbury, Bicester, Oxford, High Wycombe
  • Reading, Maidenhead, Slough/Windsor
 
Full details can be found here. Get in touch directly with Zeelo with any route requests or queries via email, live chat on their website or by tweeting @gozeelo.
 
 
OTHER:
  • Business Community Liaison Group Meeting – 7 November
  • Premier League Schools Enterprise Challenge – 12 December
  • Mayor of Haringey’s Gala Dinner – 1 December
  • Football to Amsterdam 2018 – June 2018
  • Goods Yard consultation
  • Premiere of The Lane – 30 November
 
  • Business Community Liasion Group Meeting – 7 November
Board member Martin Buhagiar attended this month’s Business and Community Liaison Group meeting at Lilywhite House on 7 November.
An update was given on the latest news from the stadium development where the Club advised that the majority of work from November until January 2018 will be focused on assembling the steel structure of the new South Stand.
Residents discussed how far window cleaning should go due to the dust levels during the stadium development.
An update on dust levels around the stadium site was then given where it was revealed Mace's boundary monitors had indicated the levels had been exceeded on three occasions. This means that during the intensive demolition period over the summer, the dust was below suggested levels set by Haringey Council 99 per cent of the time.
A jobs and skills update was given when it was reported that since the start of the stadium development 1,082 jobs had been created to date, 214 apprenticeships, 3,470 total job opportunities created via THFC partnerships with a total of 4,766 total opportunities created overall.
It was confirmed that Percy House, the Foundation’s new employment hub, is expected to open in December 2017.
THFC also held a jobs fair at Wembley recently which the Club said had been successful.
 
  • Premier League Schools Enterprise Challenge
For the fourth year running, the Trust will be represented on the judging panel for the Spurs Foundation eliminator of this annual Premier League schools contest, with Board member Kevin Fitzgerald once again acting as Len Goodman*. (*or Shirley Ballas?)
Each year, Premier League clubs are invited to work with local schools to encourage teams of 14 year old school students to make presentations on a given topic. This year’s challenge focuses on diversifying the Club’s fan base.
Teams of five from five local schools will be presenting at Lilywhite House on 12 December and the other judging panel members will be Chris Paouros from the Proud Lilywhites, Lee McQueen - former winner of The Apprentice, a manager from Wembley’s Learning Zone and probably a London based Spurs journalist.
Last year’s successful team, Enfield Grammar, were runners up in the national final so let’s hope we can go one better this year.
 
  • Mayor of Haringey’s Gala Fundraising Dinner – 1 December
THST Secretary, Pete Haine, will be present on behalf of THST and has arranged for Paul Stewart to attend and be interviewed by Theo Delaney. Spurs legend Ossie Ardiles, three members of the current Spurs ladies team and members of the Armed Forces Spurs Supporters will also be attending the Mayor’s Gala Dinner, taking place this evening.
 
  • Football to Amsterdam 2018
To date, sixteen Spurs cyclists are signed up for the ride from the Olympic Park to the Ajax arena, Amsterdam on 1-3 June 2018, raising money for Prostate Cancer UK. If you would like to sign up and join us and around 400 other football fans representing pretty much every level of football club in the land, here’s all you need to know.
There’s plenty of time to get the training in and the fundraising done. Make it top of your list of New Year resolutions.
If you would like more information or have any questions then contact Kevin at the Trust.
And, most importantly, as our team fundraising is getting underway right now, did you know that one man dies every 45 minutes from Prostate Cancer? You can donate to this vital cause here.
 
  • Goods Yard consultation
On 4 November, Trust Board member Keith Sharp went to the ‘Goods Yard’ project public initial consultation at the Haringey Irish Centre. 
The ‘Goods Yard’ is a slice of land between White Hart Lane train station and the High Road, stated to provide 330 new homes (40% affordable; mix of family and single accommodation) along with retail and office space. It is one component of the London Borough of Haringey's 2014 master plan for regenerating the whole area as far south as Park Lane. Currently used for equipment and vehicle storage for the new stadium works, planning approval for the site is expected by the end of 2018.
Regenerating the Tottenham area, including housing, enterprise and transport, is key to the new stadium development and Goods Yard has the backing of the Club. Trust members will keep watch on these types of developments, on behalf of supporters and local residents.
 
  • Premiere of The Lane, the film
Co-chairs Martin Cloake and Katrina Law were invited by the Club to represent the Trust at a screening of the film “The Lane” on 30 November at BT Sport’s studios in Stratford. This will be aired on BT Sport immediately after the Manchester City match on 16 December. It's a beautiful piece of film making and we'd encourage all fans to watch this if they can. With tissues close by.
 
Media:
November 11
BBC Sport website - Premier League festive fixtures: Which clubs have toughest schedule?
November 17
Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur – Martin Buhagiar’s view – Asia Eurosport
Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur – Martin Buhagiar’s view – Euro news
Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur – Martin Buhagiar’s view – NY Times
November 20
Tottenham Hotspur v West Ham, 31 December – Hammers chat
November 24
Tottenham Hotspur v West Ham, 31 December – Ghana Soccernet
SFR Sport followed THST secretary Pete Haine during his journey to Wembley for the recent game against AFC Bournemouth
 
 
The Club has also set up a dedicated information portal online which answers many of the questions we are frequently contacted with. We’d urge fans to read and familiarise themselves with the details available on the portal as we continue to receive a high volume of questions asking for this information.
 
THST Board
1 December 2017

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