Supporters Direct

Supporters Direct was an umbrella organisation set up originally by the British government (with cross-party support) to provide support and assistance for its member trusts to secure a greater level of accountability and deliver democratic representation within football clubs and within football's governing structures. Its first managing director was Brian Lomax, founder of the first supporters' trust at Northampton Town F.C. Supporters Direct also worked in other sports, most notably rugby league, as well as ice hockey. It was also funded by UEFA to work in football across Europe.

Supporters Direct
FormationJanuary 2000
Location
  • London
Region served
United Kingdom
Chief Executive
Ashley Brown
Websitewww.supporters-direct.org

Amongst other things, Supporters Direct promoted the value of supporter and community engagement and helped supporters' trusts to secure influence and become a constructive voice in how their club is run. There are now over 200 supporters' trusts in the UK; clubs owned in partnership with supporters' trusts such as Swansea City A.F.C. and over 50 clubs owned by their supporters including Enfield Town FC, the first ever supporter owned football club in the United Kingdom, AFC Wimbledon, Exeter City F.C., Newport County and Wrexham F.C.[1][2]

Existing as a Community Benefit Society,[1] Supporters Direct was owned by its members and funded by a combination of the Fans Fund of the Football Stadia Improvement Fund, The RFL, UEFA. the Scottish Government, and member trust subscriptions. The consultancy Club Development allowed SD to expand its work in other sports at all levels of the game.

Unfortunately SD ran into some financial difficulties and was placed under pressure by the Fans Fund (which is run by the Premier League to merge back office operations with the Football Supporters Federation. Some felt that this was due to Supporters Direct often being critical of the way football is governed. However on 28th July 2018 a full merger was approved by both organisations at their AGMs. On 22nd November the merger was finalised at an EGM with the former FSF chair elected as chair of the newly merged organisation.[3]


Competitions

The Brian Lomax Supporters Direct Cup

The Brian Lomax Supporters Direct Cup is an annual invitational, pre-season friendly competition established by Supporters Direct. The cup is competed for between supporter-owned clubs and was first won by AFC Wimbledon, who beat Enfield Town, 3–2, on 12 August 2002 at Cheshunt. Other winners have been AFC Telford United, Brentford, Enfield Town and FC United of Manchester. AFC Wimbledon have featured six times in the match and FC United made their fifth appearance in 2011.

In 2013, the Supporters Direct Cup featured a fixture between Scottish sides for the first time, with Dunfermline Athletic going head to head against Heart of Midlothian at East End Park on 13 July. Both sides at the time were in administration however, Dunfermline Athletic have since exited administration and are owned by fans group, Pars United. Hearts won the match 2–1.

The cup itself was paid for by subscriptions from supporters' trusts and individual fans, and is inscribed with Jock Stein's maxim, "Football without fans is nothing." In the spirit of the fixture, gate receipts from the match are split between competing clubs.

Finals
Date Winner Scorers Runner-up Scorers Score Venue Attendance
12 August 2002AFC WimbledonSheerin, Cooper, SidwellEnfield TownAlleyne, St Hilaire3–2Cheshunt Stadium521
2003Not held
20 July 2004BrentfordBurton, PetersAFC Wimbledon–2–0Griffin Park2,562
23 July 2005AFC WimbledonCraceF.C. United of Manchester–1–0Kingsmeadow3,301
22 July 2006F.C. United of ManchesterBrown, TorpeyAFC WimbledonBarnes2–1Gigg Lane2,136
4 August 2007Enfield TownEdmundsCambridge CityMidgley1–1Goldsdown Road244
19 July 2008BrentfordConnell, ElderAFC WimbledonMain2–1Kingsmeadow1,361
25 July 2009AFC WimbledonJudge, RapsonF.C. United of Manchester–2–0Kingsmeadow1,772
24 July 2010AFC Telford UnitedBrown, MeechanF.C. United of Manchester–2–0New Bucks Head803
16 July 2011ChesterOrmrod, BrownF.C. United of ManchesterNeville2–1Deva Stadium1,927
8 July 2012Enfield TownKirby, Hope (2)WrexhamSalathiel3–1Queen Elizabeth II Stadium306
27 July 2013Enfield TownWallace, Hope (2), Campbell (2), Osei, O'Brien, GreenYB SK BeverenVaerenberg (2)8–2Queen Elizabeth II Stadium330
2 August 2014Merthyr TownMcLaggon, Taylor, McDonaldWrexhamTerrell, Bell3–2Penydarren Park
1 August 2015F.C. United of Manchester/WrexhamFallon (F.C. United), Smith (Wrexham)None–1–1Broadhurst Park2,022
28 July 2016Ton PentreReed (2), Jacka, Shepherd, MorrisNewport County–5–0Ynys Park
14 July 2017Exeter CityTaylor, HarleyBath City–2–0Twerton Park330
8 August 2018Enfield TownHockney (3), Blackman (pen.)Clapton Community—4–0Queen Elizabeth II Stadium250

Supporters Direct Shield

The inaugural winners of the Shield were Scarborough Athletic who beat Merthyr Town 2–0 on 24 July 2010 at AFC Telford United.[4]

Finals
Date Winner Scorers Runner-up Scorers Score Venue Attendance
24 July 2010Scarborough AthleticPhillips, GibsonMerthyr Town2–0New Bucks Head803
8 July 2012LewesBreachFisher1–0Queen Elizabeth Stadium306
13 July 20131874 NorthwichHendley, Stewart, WildingAFC Rushden & Diamonds3–0Select Security Stadium130
30 July 2014AFC Rushden & DiamondsGearing, DunkleyHinckleyO'Connell, Facey2–2 (4–2 pens)Dog & Duck Stadium301
25 July 2015Tonbridge AngelsBlewden, Miles, Elder, Whitnell, ParkinsonFisher5–0Longmead Stadium165
14 July 2018Merthyr TownCity of Liverpool4–2Penydarren Park
23 July 2019ChesterDudley(2,pen.),Grand, Elliott1874 NorthwichHare1–4Offside Trust Stadium361

See also

References
  1. "About SD – Supporters Direct". supporters-direct.org. Retrieved 11 April 2017.
  2. "Facts & Figures – Supporters Direct". supporters-direct.org. Retrieved 11 April 2017.
  3. https://www.sportsthinktank.com/news/2018/11/football-supporters-and-supporters-direct-merge
  4. "Supporters Direct Shield: Merthyr 0 Boro 2". scarboroughathletic.com. 25 July 2010. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 26 July 2010.
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