The Future of the Football Fan‏

[GCallaghan]

Football MP, Steve Rotheram (best known for his Hillsborough speech www.steverotherammp.org.uk) is compiling a parliamentary report on the future of the football fan. He wants to know how fans can become more involved in their clubs and what you think clubs should be doing to make themselves more accessible to fans.

If you would like to take part, or if you have an idea about what you would like the future of the football fan to look like, please get in contact with me (Steve's press officer), Gavin Callaghan on gavin.callaghan@parliament.uk or on twitter @gavin_callaghan.

Steve is a former bricklayer and is the only MP to have two Premier League football clubs in his constituency. He passionately believes that football is a working man's game and that we need to tackle the problem of disaffected fans sooner rather than later.

Regards,

Gavin Callaghan

[moonwalklikebas]

Just get the names of all the fans who have been kicked out of games. Put them in a building. With one pasty. and let them all fight to the death!

[GSY-Royal]

Being allowed to stand up when something exciting happens in a play-off final.

[Tad Showbiz]

Welcome

Clubs in the modern era are far less approachable than they were and quite possibly have lost the personal service they used to provide (eg ticket office support). Players too hide themselves away although a lot of them may do so to avoid celebrity culture which seems to be sweeping the nation.

Personally I believe that football followings at the highest level have become more middle class due to all seater stadiums and higher ticket prices. I will eventually get round to reading the website and hopefully finding a copy of the speech so until that time it's difficult for me to comment against Mr Rotheram's views.

Personally if following football is to remain a working class then a joint cross party campaign for safe standing areas for both home and away supporters as seen in Germany allowing for reduced ticket prices would be a good start.

I'll think of some more as the thread builds!

[SLAMMED]

I'll think of some more as the thread builds!

That's a bit optimistic.

[Albert Spangler]

Being allowed to stand up when something exciting happens in a play-off final.

I look forward to this never ever applying to Reading ever again.

[Royal Biscuitman]

Let the clubs die and let the fans build their own from the ashes #AFCReading

The problem is, A Football club isn't a club, It's a company. The fans are not the biggest customers as most of the money comes from the television companies broadcasting around the world.

[HoneyRoastHoax]

If only we had some kind of supporters association for our club. One that listened to the fans and made their voice clear to the club. One that shared the info they found and was well respected by the fans for their hard work on our behalf.

[Green]

Steve is a former bricklayer and is the only MP to have two Premier League football clubs in his constituency.

Sorry to be a pedant but I can't let this pass.

Greg Hands MP, the conservative member for Chelsea and Fulham has two in his (you can probably guess which ones).

[Green]

Oh, and:

He passionately believes that football is a working man's game

Why are you posting on a Reading forum then

This might sound hard to believe but down here it's pretty much a family game now.

[melonhead]

is it exeter and plymouth?

[Green]

Shepshed Dynamo and Kettering

[Stuka]

Steve is a former bricklayer and is the only MP to have two Premier League football clubs in his constituency.

Sorry to be a pedant but I can't let this pass.

Greg Hands MP, the conservative member for Chelsea and Fulham has two in his (you can probably guess which ones).

The local papers must have fun with that MP's name. I'm thinking "Bite the Hands that Feeds" and "You have to Hands it to him" after an election victory.

[Green]

"Safe pair of Hands" whenever he's seen with another family member.

[Stuka]

"The Devil Makes Work for Idle Hands" -caught in bed with a good time girl

[melonhead]

hands job- for when he gets a cabinet position

[RepressedRoyal]

Steve is a former bricklayer and is the only MP to have two Premier League football clubs in his constituency.

Sorry to be a pedant but I can't let this pass.

Greg Hands MP, the conservative member for Chelsea and Fulham has two in his (you can probably guess which ones).

Go on tell me.....who are they?

[Green]

Shepshed Dynamo and Kettering

Been posting a bit more on the team board of l8 but it's a difficult transition.

[Green]

Should sexist bricklayers be running the country

[floyd__streete]

Steve is a former bricklayer

So as a former manual labourer this proves he is the down-to-earth type best suited to represent the football supporter?

What an irrelevant comment. You may as well have written 'Steve holidays in the Dordogne' or 'Steve's favourite Stevie Wonder album is 'Music In The Key Of life''.