The club has announced the release of their Fan Engagement Plan ahead of the 2024/25 Sky Bet League Two campaign.The plan underpins our commitment to strengthening a bond with our supporters, ensuring your voices are integral to the club's future.
Developed following a consultation process with supporters, our plan aligns with EFL Regulation 128, the EFL’s Supporter Engagement regulation, and also demonstrates our support for the new government’s plans to introduce an independent football regulator, with fan engagement forming a key component.
We are committed to being proactive in our approach to supporter engagement, and in January 2024, we announced our plans to produce an inaugural Fan Engagement Plan and subsequently launched a survey to gather insights from our supporters. By March 2024, the survey results were unveiled, revealing key areas of focus and next steps. Survey participants were invited to a fan engagement forum, hosted by the Fan Experience Co., which provided further valuable input into the development of our plan.
Key Highlights of the Fan Engagement Plan:
1. Regular Communication and Consultation:
Fan Forums: Hosting at least two fan forums per season for direct discussions between supporters and senior club representatives.
Surveys: Conducting an annual fan engagement survey to gather feedback on various club matters.
2. Key Personnel:
Supporter Liaison Officer (SLO): Graham Whittaker remains the main contact for supporter concerns and suggestions.
Disabled Supporter Liaison Officer: Samantha Page continues as the dedicated contact for disabled supporters.
Fan Engagement Lead: James Gibbins is the club’s appointed representative for fan engagement, and will be responsible for the delivery of the club’s fan engagement plan.
3. Fan Focus Groups:
Areas of Focus: Three groups focusing on Matchday Experience & Stadium, Fan Engagement & Communication, and Ticketing, Retail & Commercial.
Membership: Open to all supporters, with a mandatory 30% rotation of members each season to ensure fresh perspectives. The application process is managed by a club panel to ensure fair and diverse representation.
Meetings: At least three meetings per season for each group, attended by relevant staff and a representative for fan engagement.
4. Transparency and Accountability:
Annual Reports: Publishing a fan engagement report as part of the club’s annual report and accounts.
Action Tracker: Summarising and publishing focus group meeting outcomes on the club’s website
5. Ongoing Engagement Activities:
Events: Continuing various engagement events such as open training sessions, and seasonal events with players.
6. Heritage Assets:
Preservation: Ensuring the club crest and home kit colours are not changed without thorough supporter consultation.
The Fan Engagement Plan is designed to ensure continuous dialogue and collaboration with our supporters, making informed decisions that enhance the overall experience for everyone involved with Walsall Football Club. We are committed to evolving our strategies and actions in response to supporter feedback, ensuring that we remain a club that truly values and listens to its fans.
For more details on the Fan Engagement Plan, please click here.
Details of the Fan Focus Groups will be released later this week