Updates on:
THST Annual General Meeting – 28 February
THST Annual Report
Meeting with the Board of THFC – 20 February
Next THST Members’ Meeting – 12 March
FSF Premier League Network Meeting – 8 February
April TV Picks
Met police statement on fixture scheduling
Catering update
THST Annual General Meeting – 28 February
THST Annual Report
Meeting with the Board of THFC – 20 February
Next THST Members’ Meeting – 12 March
FSF Premier League Network Meeting – 8 February
April TV Picks
Met police statement on fixture scheduling
Catering update
Other:
1. THST ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING –28 February 2018
A last-minute defensive lapse away at Rochdale in the Cup led to an extra game for Spurs, an extra trip to Wembley on a cold night for fans, and a major headache for THST. Our AGM had originally been scheduled for the evening of 26 Feb, but Sky moved our away game against Palace to the same night. So we moved the AGM to the 28th – the only available date left for us to comply with our rules. Unfortunately, that was the only available date for the FA Cup replay. We couldn’t move the date once we’d sent convening notices out, so we had to go ahead on the 28 February.
Kat worked her contacts on the FA Council to see if we could get a room at Wembley, and we secured the FA Boardroom for 6pm on the evening of the match in order to complete the formal parts of business needed to comply with our rules.
Thanks to Jon Sellins at Wembley for finding us a space, to the Club for allowing us use of their inventory on an event day and to Jonathan Waite at THFC for getting everyone in on the night.
All resolutions were passed on the night and full details can be found in the AGM section of our website.
The THST Board now comprises Adam Bailey, Martin Buhagiar, Martin Cloake, Kevin Fitzgerald, Michael Green, Pete Haine, Katrina Law, Rachel Martin, Keith Sharp.
2. THST ANNUAL REPORT
Our annual report for 2017-18 was prepared for our AGM on 28 February, and can be found in the AGM section of our website and via this link. We introduced the idea of a full annual report on our work three years ago. We believe it’s important to let members know what we have been doing, and also that providing a detailed account of our work could persuade more people to join.
It’s a long read – we’ve been busy – but we’d recommend it if you want to know the background to some of the work we do. There’s quite a lot in there explaining various policy decisions, and you’ll also find out about the many different strands of work we are involved in.
Producing the annual report and running the AGM have taken up a significant proportion of our time over the last month, so now we’re free to relax and enjoy the football. There’s nothing else particularly important on the horizon, is there….?
3. MEETING WITH THE BOARD OF THFC – 20 February
Representatives of the THST Board met formally with members of the THFC Board on 20 February for the first time since last spring. The agreed minutes of the meeting can be read here. THFC fielded a larger number of people than usual, including their Head of Communications and Commercial Director. We are taking this as an encouraging sign.
The minutes attracted considerable media interest, and generated lots of positive response from fans saying how much they valued the insight they get from these meetings. We also saw an encouraging upsurge in new members in the wake of publication, and very high levels of traffic to our website.
4. NEXT THST MEMBERS’ MEETING – 12 March
As we explained in point 1, the staging of our AGM wasn’t ideal, with attendees having to confirm in advance and us only having time to run through formal business. So we’ve called a members’ meeting on Monday 12 March at which you can ask us about the work we’ve done in a bit more detail. We’d also like to ask you a few things too, about things such as winter breaks and kick-off times. Please do come along prepared to discuss. Your feedback is vital for us to be able to work effectively.
Date: Monday 12 March 2018
Time: From 7pm
Venue: CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang LLP, 1st Floor, Cannon Place, 78 Cannon Street, London EC4N 6AF
We look forward to seeing you on the night.
5. FSF PREMIER LEAGUE NETWORK MEETING – 8 February
Kat Law attended the latest regular Premier League Trusts network meeting, held this time in Manchester on 8 February. Martin Cloake was unable to attend because of illness. At a well-attended meeting a number of issues were discussed and preparations made for the next meeting between fan reps and the Premier League.
Items discussed were VAR, campaigning on the price and sale of restricted view tickets, the forthcoming TV broadcast deal, safe standing and kick-off times. There was also a club by club roundup of progress on the structured dialogue recommendations. The feeling strongly expressed by the fan groups represented was that there had not been sufficient progress on the recommendations made by the government’s Expert Working Group on structured dialogue, and that the national fan organisations should be telling the government it needed to do more to ensure its own recommendations were implemented. The point was made that relationships between clubs and fan groups still depended on the goodwill of the clubs, who could withdraw from the process at will.
The FSF and Supporters Direct are seeking meetings with the minister to push this.
6. APRIL TV PICKS
The picks for April’s TV schedules were released a day later than promised and those picks contained some shockers for Spurs fans. Our away game at Brighton has been moved to a Friday night, but may move again if we make the FA Cup semi-final. And our home game against Manchester City has been moved to a 7.45pm slot on the evening of Saturday 14 April.
In addition, our home game against Newcastle United still cannot be confirmed due to both potential TV coverage and FA Cup games.
In all, 11 of the 21 games moved for TV in April may be subject to further moves. Another 5 are without dates and ‘will be scheduled by 19 March”.
THST has been working hard with other fans groups and the FSF to get the Premier League, clubs and TV companies to consider fans more prominently when making TV picks. We were also told by Premier League CEO Richard Scudamore at a meeting earlier this year that there was “no appetite” for a Saturday night TV slot (point 4.5). Someone somewhere has obviously become quite peckish since our discussions. We will be asking the Premier League and TV companies exactly how we are supposed to convince you, our members, that there is any point having these discussions.
We’ve noted and passed on to THFC the observation made by a number of our members that none of the home games in April are now particularly easy for juniors to attend; juniors who paid £300 for their season tickets. Ticket exchange has opened for 8 of 14 games, but often not until two days before the game. We made the point to the THFC Board in our recent meeting that fans were paying in advance for a package in which up to 70% of games could be moved, and that this should be borne in mind when setting pricing.
7. MET POLICE STATEMENT ON FIXTURE SCHEDULING
At the recent meeting between London-based fan reps and the Metropolitan Police we asked, through the FSF’s caseworker Amanda Jacks, if the police could give a definitive statement on their influence over fixture scheduling. In the many discussions we have over scheduling, there has appeared to fans to be a tendency for all those involved to point the finger at everyone else when the question ‘who decides?’ is posed. So we wanted to start getting some clear answers from each of the agencies involved.
The police supplied this statement, which will be very helpful to us as we pursue discussions.
8. CATERING UPDATE
We have continued to monitor feedback around the catering provision at Wembley. Although there is some variation across different areas of the stadium, refreshments have generally been well received. Pricing has been at the lowest tariff used at Wembley (acknowledging the difference between showcase events and regular matches) and the variety and good quality of food has generally been acknowledged by supporters. We were particularly pleased that the price of bottled water was reduced, following our request when we met recently.
Rachel Martin will be meeting with the catering team for our new stadium at the beginning of April and would be pleased to receive your questions about provision in the general admission areas. We know that contracts are currently being agreed with outside providers but that the aim is for the range and price of food and drink to compete with the high street. The market place in the South Stand will be available to all home supporters before and after the game, but the food will also be distributed from catering points around the stadium. We have also been assured that there will be provision for all specific dietary requirements in all areas of the stadium.
We have asked that season ticket holders receive a map of the stadium, including different catering outlets, with their renewal packs to help with seat selection.
We have been told that there will be at least two test events prior to the official stadium opening, and we will be asking for your support with these. Similarly once we are playing our matches in N17, we will be asking for supporters from around the stadium to give regular feedback on a range of subjects to do with catering, so that we can work together with the Club to iron out any teething problems and ensure that there is a world class provision to match our world class stadium.
OTHER:
During this month's Business and Community Liaison meeting the Club updated members on the latest news from the stadium development.
There are currently just under 2,100 workers active on the stadium site on a daily basis.
The installation of the pre-cast concrete terraces will be completed next, now two of the tower cranes have been removed from the site, while the cladding on the east and west side of the stadium will be installed in the next few months, with cladding on the east stand starting this month.
The stadium is now connected to a permanent power supply; the elevation of the stadium roof will commence this month – depending on wind conditions – and a further 89 pitch trays will be delivered by April.
The council's delegates confirmed Haringey Council was happy with the latest round of dust and noise monitoring reports submitted by Mace.
A number of questions concerning match-day parking were submitted with the Club confirming the next BCLG meeting will focus on LAMP (Local Area Management Plan) which will answer questions on the ongoing CPZ consultation and other transport-related queries.
The Club said it was doing all it could to ensure LB Haringey and LB Enfield engage with each other to ensure their respective consultations and CPZ plans are co-ordinated and have as little impact as possible on the local community.
It is also working with TfL and Network Rail to minimise disruption and diary clashes once the new season kicks off and the new stadium is in use while station and rail works continue.
Tottenham Hotspur Foundation update
The total number of local residents (from the four boroughs) currently employed on site stands at 449, or, 19.2% of all employees on site. To date, the Construction Academy has offered 101 places which 67 people attended and completed.
Recent Activity
Participants from the Club's Premier League Works employment programme had the chance to put the skills they had learnt during their employability sessions into action. They organised a football tournament for over 40 children at Duke's Aldridge Academy.
First team player Erik Lamela visited one of the Foundation's Shape Up with Spurs sessions, which aims to help local people who are above a healthy weight to get fit and lose weight.
Tottenham Hotspur Manager Mauricio Pochettino launched the new Passion 4 Coaching programme with the Tottenham Hotspur Foundation. The programme sees 16 to 24 year olds with a desire to become football coaches recruited through the Foundation's existing outreach work.
The Tottenham Hotspur Foundation welcomed the Minister of State for Employment, Alok Sharma MP, to its new enterprise and skills hub at Percy House on February 22.
Goods Yard presentation
The Club also shared a presentation on the Goods Yard with local residents at LB Haringey's Development Management Forum (DMF) on February 19.
We were also pleased the Club opted to charge the lowest prices possible under competition rules for the replay at a reduced capacity Wembley.
We will begin a full promotion of the event shortly.
This is why the Trust has, for the third year running, named PCUK as a chosen charity and why more than 20 Spurs fans will set out from the Olympic Velodrome to Amsterdam on 1 June.
So, next time you see that distinctive badge on the lapel of a club manager on Match of the Day, if you haven’t already done so why not visit the team fundraising page here and make a donation.
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.
MEDIA
1 February
Inside Welsh Sport: What did Kat think of Newport?
15 February
Evening Standard: Reference to THST meeting with THFC Board
26 February
Independent: Tottenham set to play early games of 2018/19 season away from home as final touches made to new Spurs stadium
Daily Mirror: Tottenham set to play the first few matches of 2018/19 season away from new White Hart Lane
27 February
Football London: Daniel Levy's update on Tottenham's new stadium naming rights negotiations may surprise fans
Evening Standard: New Tottenham stadium will be called the ‘Tottenham Hotspur Stadium’ if club starts season without naming-rights deal
BBC Sport: Tottenham to ask Premier League if they can play opening games away
Sky Sports News: Tottenham could ask to start 2018-19 Premier League season away from new stadium
Football London: Daniel Levy reveals giant Spurs wages bonuses nobody mentions which help keep Harry Kane & co
The Sun: Tottenham set to play first ‘three or four’ Premier League games away from home with new stadium not ready
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 March 2018
For more exclusive and live updates follow us on our social media sites:
Twitter: @THSTOfficial
Facebook: www.facebook.com/THSTOfficial
LinkedIn: Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust
TO BECOME A TRUST MEMBER, PLEASE CLICK HERE.
- Business Community Liaison Group Meeting – February
- FA Cup Fifth Round v Rochdale
- THST Quiz night including Studio 306 Collective – 19 April
- The Color Run – 8 July
- PCUK Football 2 Amsterdam – 1-3 June
- Zeelo coach travel to Wembley
1. THST ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING –28 February 2018
A last-minute defensive lapse away at Rochdale in the Cup led to an extra game for Spurs, an extra trip to Wembley on a cold night for fans, and a major headache for THST. Our AGM had originally been scheduled for the evening of 26 Feb, but Sky moved our away game against Palace to the same night. So we moved the AGM to the 28th – the only available date left for us to comply with our rules. Unfortunately, that was the only available date for the FA Cup replay. We couldn’t move the date once we’d sent convening notices out, so we had to go ahead on the 28 February.
Kat worked her contacts on the FA Council to see if we could get a room at Wembley, and we secured the FA Boardroom for 6pm on the evening of the match in order to complete the formal parts of business needed to comply with our rules.
Thanks to Jon Sellins at Wembley for finding us a space, to the Club for allowing us use of their inventory on an event day and to Jonathan Waite at THFC for getting everyone in on the night.
All resolutions were passed on the night and full details can be found in the AGM section of our website.
The THST Board now comprises Adam Bailey, Martin Buhagiar, Martin Cloake, Kevin Fitzgerald, Michael Green, Pete Haine, Katrina Law, Rachel Martin, Keith Sharp.
2. THST ANNUAL REPORT
Our annual report for 2017-18 was prepared for our AGM on 28 February, and can be found in the AGM section of our website and via this link. We introduced the idea of a full annual report on our work three years ago. We believe it’s important to let members know what we have been doing, and also that providing a detailed account of our work could persuade more people to join.
It’s a long read – we’ve been busy – but we’d recommend it if you want to know the background to some of the work we do. There’s quite a lot in there explaining various policy decisions, and you’ll also find out about the many different strands of work we are involved in.
Producing the annual report and running the AGM have taken up a significant proportion of our time over the last month, so now we’re free to relax and enjoy the football. There’s nothing else particularly important on the horizon, is there….?
3. MEETING WITH THE BOARD OF THFC – 20 February
Representatives of the THST Board met formally with members of the THFC Board on 20 February for the first time since last spring. The agreed minutes of the meeting can be read here. THFC fielded a larger number of people than usual, including their Head of Communications and Commercial Director. We are taking this as an encouraging sign.
The minutes attracted considerable media interest, and generated lots of positive response from fans saying how much they valued the insight they get from these meetings. We also saw an encouraging upsurge in new members in the wake of publication, and very high levels of traffic to our website.
4. NEXT THST MEMBERS’ MEETING – 12 March
As we explained in point 1, the staging of our AGM wasn’t ideal, with attendees having to confirm in advance and us only having time to run through formal business. So we’ve called a members’ meeting on Monday 12 March at which you can ask us about the work we’ve done in a bit more detail. We’d also like to ask you a few things too, about things such as winter breaks and kick-off times. Please do come along prepared to discuss. Your feedback is vital for us to be able to work effectively.
Date: Monday 12 March 2018
Time: From 7pm
Venue: CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang LLP, 1st Floor, Cannon Place, 78 Cannon Street, London EC4N 6AF
We look forward to seeing you on the night.
5. FSF PREMIER LEAGUE NETWORK MEETING – 8 February
Kat Law attended the latest regular Premier League Trusts network meeting, held this time in Manchester on 8 February. Martin Cloake was unable to attend because of illness. At a well-attended meeting a number of issues were discussed and preparations made for the next meeting between fan reps and the Premier League.
Items discussed were VAR, campaigning on the price and sale of restricted view tickets, the forthcoming TV broadcast deal, safe standing and kick-off times. There was also a club by club roundup of progress on the structured dialogue recommendations. The feeling strongly expressed by the fan groups represented was that there had not been sufficient progress on the recommendations made by the government’s Expert Working Group on structured dialogue, and that the national fan organisations should be telling the government it needed to do more to ensure its own recommendations were implemented. The point was made that relationships between clubs and fan groups still depended on the goodwill of the clubs, who could withdraw from the process at will.
The FSF and Supporters Direct are seeking meetings with the minister to push this.
6. APRIL TV PICKS
The picks for April’s TV schedules were released a day later than promised and those picks contained some shockers for Spurs fans. Our away game at Brighton has been moved to a Friday night, but may move again if we make the FA Cup semi-final. And our home game against Manchester City has been moved to a 7.45pm slot on the evening of Saturday 14 April.
In addition, our home game against Newcastle United still cannot be confirmed due to both potential TV coverage and FA Cup games.
In all, 11 of the 21 games moved for TV in April may be subject to further moves. Another 5 are without dates and ‘will be scheduled by 19 March”.
THST has been working hard with other fans groups and the FSF to get the Premier League, clubs and TV companies to consider fans more prominently when making TV picks. We were also told by Premier League CEO Richard Scudamore at a meeting earlier this year that there was “no appetite” for a Saturday night TV slot (point 4.5). Someone somewhere has obviously become quite peckish since our discussions. We will be asking the Premier League and TV companies exactly how we are supposed to convince you, our members, that there is any point having these discussions.
We’ve noted and passed on to THFC the observation made by a number of our members that none of the home games in April are now particularly easy for juniors to attend; juniors who paid £300 for their season tickets. Ticket exchange has opened for 8 of 14 games, but often not until two days before the game. We made the point to the THFC Board in our recent meeting that fans were paying in advance for a package in which up to 70% of games could be moved, and that this should be borne in mind when setting pricing.
7. MET POLICE STATEMENT ON FIXTURE SCHEDULING
At the recent meeting between London-based fan reps and the Metropolitan Police we asked, through the FSF’s caseworker Amanda Jacks, if the police could give a definitive statement on their influence over fixture scheduling. In the many discussions we have over scheduling, there has appeared to fans to be a tendency for all those involved to point the finger at everyone else when the question ‘who decides?’ is posed. So we wanted to start getting some clear answers from each of the agencies involved.
The police supplied this statement, which will be very helpful to us as we pursue discussions.
8. CATERING UPDATE
We have continued to monitor feedback around the catering provision at Wembley. Although there is some variation across different areas of the stadium, refreshments have generally been well received. Pricing has been at the lowest tariff used at Wembley (acknowledging the difference between showcase events and regular matches) and the variety and good quality of food has generally been acknowledged by supporters. We were particularly pleased that the price of bottled water was reduced, following our request when we met recently.
Rachel Martin will be meeting with the catering team for our new stadium at the beginning of April and would be pleased to receive your questions about provision in the general admission areas. We know that contracts are currently being agreed with outside providers but that the aim is for the range and price of food and drink to compete with the high street. The market place in the South Stand will be available to all home supporters before and after the game, but the food will also be distributed from catering points around the stadium. We have also been assured that there will be provision for all specific dietary requirements in all areas of the stadium.
We have asked that season ticket holders receive a map of the stadium, including different catering outlets, with their renewal packs to help with seat selection.
We have been told that there will be at least two test events prior to the official stadium opening, and we will be asking for your support with these. Similarly once we are playing our matches in N17, we will be asking for supporters from around the stadium to give regular feedback on a range of subjects to do with catering, so that we can work together with the Club to iron out any teething problems and ensure that there is a world class provision to match our world class stadium.
OTHER:
- Business Community Liaison Group Meeting – February
During this month's Business and Community Liaison meeting the Club updated members on the latest news from the stadium development.
There are currently just under 2,100 workers active on the stadium site on a daily basis.
The installation of the pre-cast concrete terraces will be completed next, now two of the tower cranes have been removed from the site, while the cladding on the east and west side of the stadium will be installed in the next few months, with cladding on the east stand starting this month.
The stadium is now connected to a permanent power supply; the elevation of the stadium roof will commence this month – depending on wind conditions – and a further 89 pitch trays will be delivered by April.
The council's delegates confirmed Haringey Council was happy with the latest round of dust and noise monitoring reports submitted by Mace.
A number of questions concerning match-day parking were submitted with the Club confirming the next BCLG meeting will focus on LAMP (Local Area Management Plan) which will answer questions on the ongoing CPZ consultation and other transport-related queries.
The Club said it was doing all it could to ensure LB Haringey and LB Enfield engage with each other to ensure their respective consultations and CPZ plans are co-ordinated and have as little impact as possible on the local community.
It is also working with TfL and Network Rail to minimise disruption and diary clashes once the new season kicks off and the new stadium is in use while station and rail works continue.
Tottenham Hotspur Foundation update
The total number of local residents (from the four boroughs) currently employed on site stands at 449, or, 19.2% of all employees on site. To date, the Construction Academy has offered 101 places which 67 people attended and completed.
Recent Activity
Participants from the Club's Premier League Works employment programme had the chance to put the skills they had learnt during their employability sessions into action. They organised a football tournament for over 40 children at Duke's Aldridge Academy.
First team player Erik Lamela visited one of the Foundation's Shape Up with Spurs sessions, which aims to help local people who are above a healthy weight to get fit and lose weight.
Tottenham Hotspur Manager Mauricio Pochettino launched the new Passion 4 Coaching programme with the Tottenham Hotspur Foundation. The programme sees 16 to 24 year olds with a desire to become football coaches recruited through the Foundation's existing outreach work.
The Tottenham Hotspur Foundation welcomed the Minister of State for Employment, Alok Sharma MP, to its new enterprise and skills hub at Percy House on February 22.
Goods Yard presentation
The Club also shared a presentation on the Goods Yard with local residents at LB Haringey's Development Management Forum (DMF) on February 19.
- FA Cup Fifth Round v Rochdale
We were also pleased the Club opted to charge the lowest prices possible under competition rules for the replay at a reduced capacity Wembley.
- THST Quiz Night – 19 April
We will begin a full promotion of the event shortly.
- The Color Run – 8 July
- PCUK Football 2 Amsterdam – 1-3 June
This is why the Trust has, for the third year running, named PCUK as a chosen charity and why more than 20 Spurs fans will set out from the Olympic Velodrome to Amsterdam on 1 June.
So, next time you see that distinctive badge on the lapel of a club manager on Match of the Day, if you haven’t already done so why not visit the team fundraising page here and make a donation.
- Zeelo coach travel to Wembley
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.
MEDIA
1 February
Inside Welsh Sport: What did Kat think of Newport?
15 February
Evening Standard: Reference to THST meeting with THFC Board
26 February
Independent: Tottenham set to play early games of 2018/19 season away from home as final touches made to new Spurs stadium
Daily Mirror: Tottenham set to play the first few matches of 2018/19 season away from new White Hart Lane
27 February
Football London: Daniel Levy's update on Tottenham's new stadium naming rights negotiations may surprise fans
Evening Standard: New Tottenham stadium will be called the ‘Tottenham Hotspur Stadium’ if club starts season without naming-rights deal
BBC Sport: Tottenham to ask Premier League if they can play opening games away
Sky Sports News: Tottenham could ask to start 2018-19 Premier League season away from new stadium
Football London: Daniel Levy reveals giant Spurs wages bonuses nobody mentions which help keep Harry Kane & co
The Sun: Tottenham set to play first ‘three or four’ Premier League games away from home with new stadium not ready
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 March 2018
For more exclusive and live updates follow us on our social media sites:
Twitter: @THSTOfficial
Facebook: www.facebook.com/THSTOfficial
LinkedIn: Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust
TO BECOME A TRUST MEMBER, PLEASE CLICK HERE.