FSF

The Football Supporters’ Federation awards are back for their third year, and will be held on 16th December at the Emirates stadium. We’re after nominations from fans of all clubs across a range of categories detailed below. Categories: * Away Day of the Year * Blogger of the Year * Commentator of the Year * Fanzine of the Year * Independent Website of the Year * Newspaper of the Year * Player of the Year (from your club) * Podcast of the Year * Pundit of the Year * Writer of the Year You can nominate up to three entries to be shortlisted in any category, apart from Player of the Year. This is the first time that we have included a Player of the Year award in the FSF awards, so we’re keen to see whose performances you thought most stood out for your side in 2013. Unfortunately, you are restricted to just one nomination from your team for this award, so choose wisely. All nominated entries will be considered by the shortlisting panel, whether they have been nominated once or a hundred times. Nominations should be sent to awards@fsf.org.uk no later than 9am on 28th October. Shortlisting will take place once nominations close, and the winners will be decided by a public vote in November. For more details, visit www.fsf.org.uk

The Football Supporters’ Federation regularly asks for fans' views on a range of subjects, and we hope that you'll be able to help us out by giving us a minute of your time to answer a couple of very quick questions about next year’s season tickets. You can find the survey here: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/season-tickets-2013 Many thanks, The FSF

We realise that this is an emotive subject for some supporters, but hope that any debate can be constructive and factual, and respectful of all views. For more on some of the legalities, myths and facts behind safe standing, please visit our website. The Football Supporters' Federation's campaign for safe standing is reaching a critical point. A number Premier League and Championship clubs have already given their backing to the campaign, including Aston Villa, Bristol City, Crystal Palace, Derby County, Hull City, Peterborough United, as well as the Scottish Premier League, who have approved pilots of safe standing areas in their competition. There is an Early Day Motion (EDM 573) proposed by Roger Godsiff MP calling on the government to allow pilot schemes of safe standing in the Premier League and Championship. We are calling on fans to get involved if they back the idea of safe standing, by completing any or all of the following four steps on our website - http://www.fsf.org.uk/campaigns/safestanding/index.php:'>http://www.fsf.org.uk/campaigns/safestanding/index.php: Step 1 - Sign the FSF's Safe Standing Petition (if you haven’t already) Step 2 - Email your MP to let them know you back safe standing (there is a easy to follow process to do this through our website) Step 3 - Let us know what response you get from your MP via safestanding@fsf.org.uk. Step 4 - Spread the word. Send this page to your mates via email, Facebook, Twitter or whatever other social media you prefer. If you’re involved with a supporters’ organisation, fanzine or website, use your links to promote the campaign. The safe standing campaign is as much about those with a wish to sit as those who wish to stand - standing in seated areas happens every week, forcing those who are either unwilling or unable to stand to either miss the match or be forced to stand. The creation of standing areas would help improve the matchday experience for both types of supporter, and improve the safety of those who stand - it is surely safer to be standing in an area specifically designed for the purpose than to be standing behind seats in an all-seated stand? The campaign is not about a re-introduction of terraces. The campaign is not about 'bringing back' anything. We would insist the requirements laid down in the government's 'Green Guide' are strictly adhered to. To find out more of the facts, see images of the type of safe standing that we are proposing, as well as busting a few 'myths' to do with standing, simply visit our website - http://www.fsf.org.uk/campaigns/safestanding/index.php We believe that fans should have the choice to sit or stand. We believe that the technology is there to allow fans to stand in safety. If you agree with us, please follow the steps above today. Thanks, The FSF

The Football Supporters' Federation is conducting a quick straw poll of fans up and down the country for their views on a couple of issues, including whether or not you’re planning on renewing your season ticket next season (or if your attendance match-by-match is going to change, for those who don’t have season tickets), and whether you feel inhibited in taking your children to the game as a result of cost of tickets, swearing in the stand or any other reasons. We'd really appreciate if anyone who hasn't filled it in already will give us literally one minute of their time (and not in the Jamie Redknapp sense, but it is actually very, very short; there's only a couple of questions). Just visit: http://tinyurl.com/6gza78h Thanks, The FSF

The Football Supporters' Federation are conducting a quick straw-poll of fans up and down the country. There's only two questions, and it will only take a minute to fill in. We'd be much obliged if you could. Just follow the link below http://tinyurl.com/3ad6lau For your troubles, everyone who fills it in gets entered into a free draw to win a copy of Football Manager 2011, just because we're that nice.

The Football Supporters’ Federation are running two fantasy football competitions for our members this season through the excellent, and free, premierleague.com and fantasy.football-league.co.uk websites. But it's not just bragging rights up for grabs; we’re throwing in a bunch of prizes into the bargain, too, if you’re good enough to win them, that is. If you’ve not played before, simply register at http://fantasy.premierleague.com/ and come join us. If you’re already on the site and have picked your team for this coming season, or are planning on doing so, then just add yourself to our league (The FSF League), the code for which is 129744-45449. We will also be running a Championship version, for fans of Football League clubs, through http://fantasy.football-league.co.uk. Come and join our league there - to sign up to the FSF League, simply enter the PIN 1071. Pit your wits against football fans from across the country and be in line for weekly and monthly prizes. In our Premier League game, the manager of the month each month will nab themselves a free year’s subscription to our excellent (if we do say so ourselves) magazine The Football Supporter. If you doubt your ability for sustained success and feel your chance is more likely to come with a one-off fluke, then don’t worry - the individual with the top score each and every gameweek will win themselves a copy of the magazine too, absolutely gratis. In our Football League game, the manager of the month will also receive a free year's subscription to The Football Supporter, while those finishing second and third will bag themselves a free copy of the magazine. And in case you were wondering, if there is a tie in any week/month then all the players with the top score will win the prize, because we’re just that generous and giving. We’ll also be announcing regular extra prizes throughout the season: loads of football books, fanzines, DVDs or whatever else we can find down the back of the sofa at FSF Towers. The best way to keep in touch with it all is through our Facebook page, so join us there today at www.facebook.com/thefsf. To be eligible to claim your prize you must be a member of the FSF. If you’re already a member then you’re clearly someone of good taste, but if you’re not but then you’ll be pleased to know that that’s absolutely free as well – all it takes is 30 seconds at www.fsf.org.uk/join giving us your name, the club you support and your email address. Dead simple. And yes, we will be checking – if you’ve not joined the FSF before the week or month you win, the next person down the list who is a member will get your prize. No ifs, no buts. So get along to The FSF Leagues online, and test yourselves against the football geniuses of Britain (and one or two FSF members of staff, too).

We'll be doing what we can to change that 'low profile' bit!

No, your eyes don’t deceive you, this actually happened. Forgive us for blowing our own trumpets, but it’s not as if the police are going to do it for us on this occasion For more on this, see the full story: http://www.fsf.org.uk/news/police-say-sorry-to-fans.php The Football Supporters Federation stands up for fans across the country, and it’s good to see that our work is beginning to pay off. We campaigned successfully against the misuse of Section 27 legislation last season, we’ve been working with Sunderland fans in an ongoing investigation into police brutality by Northumbria Police this season, as well as helping fans in individual cases week-in, week-out. The FSF is there for when the sh!t hits the fan, but we’re far more than that – find out more about getting involved and join for free (and get yourself a couple of freebies) at www.fsf.org.uk/join.php

No probs, I'm used to more than my fair share of 'grumpy' posters on internet forums, given that I have to flit about them from time to time and publicise whatever it is we're up to. I'll doubtless be popping back here when we give a big push to our free membership which we've just announced and are working out the finer details of at the minute, and for local issues and whatnot. All the best for the upcoming season.

Glad that one was sorted out to replace it, and good luck on the drive.

Also, completely off-topic, but that England flag in the fella's signature above - was that the one that was nicked in Seville? If so, did you ever get it back or hear any more of it?

Ah, my apologies, hadn't noticed the typo in what you'd written - at least I know how to spell it! I'll change it for you straight away - how's that for customer service?

As mentioned on the Ground Guide homepage we're waiting for a re-design of the website (due around the start of the season) before we get onto the kit issue - there's a fair few that are out of date, sadly, but we've got it sorted for when the new site goes live in a month or two's time. So apologies for that one. And I thought your nickname was the Latics? I mean, it's on the main news item on the official site at the moment, and most of the internet seems to agree with us, too? And this is the Latics forum... Or is it just the 'the' that's wrong? If there's other nicknames, just fill in the form on the ground guide and let us know, and we'll do the necessary (same goes if there's anything else wrong on the Ground Guide).

The Football Supporters' Federation has produced its first National Supporters' Survey this summer. We're looking to get a snapshot on fans' views on all facets of the game. Launched on 1st July we've already had well over 2,000 respondents - we'll be running this through the summer to the beginning of the season, which should make it one of the largest fans' surveys ever conducted. It doesn't matter if you attend 50 games a season, 5, or none, we want to know what you think. The survey touches on TV scheduling, ticket pricing, policing, and other matchday experiences. Get along to http://tinyurl.com/l9v2vw and give us 10 minutes of your time to let us know what you think about the state of the game today. Thanks, The FSF. FSF

Just a little note about Fans' Parliament, the annual event for all football fans from across the UK to come together, which is happening this weekend in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. www.fsf.org.uk/fans-parliament/2009/index.php Saturday’s registration begins at 9.30am with Fans’ Parliament starting at 10am. Please arrive in good time to help our volunteers from the Northeast Division register everyone as quickly and smoothly as possible. Fans’ Parliament closes at 5.30pm. We’d like to remind delegates that we also have loads of social events arranged around Fans’ Parliament including: * The FSF’s talk-in on Saturday night. Think Never Mind The Buzzcocks or QI but with more football banter featuring ex-pros and journos. It’s totally free and we welcome all delegates but you must register for this if you haven’t already. * The Northeast Division has also arranged a pub crawl on Friday night with a timetable to suit all arrivals – call the FSF’s weekend hotline on 07599 842 477 to find our which pub we’re in! * Sunday sees the FSF’s five-a-side competition and the Quayside ramble. Fans’ Parliament itself opens with FSF chair Malcolm Clarke’s welcome at 10am which will be followed by a keynote speech from The Guardian’s David Conn. We then move onto breakout sessions which cover ownership & governance, diversity, safe standing, ticket prices, and policing & stewarding. These sessions give everyone the chance to have their say on what matters most to them and will feature experts in their particular field – see more here. Morning sessions (11am-12.30pm) will entail analysis and debate of the relevant issues whilst afternoon sessions (1.30pm-2.45pm) will be devoted to deciding what future action fans should take. From 3pm onwards we move into the FSF’s Awards and AGM (members only can vote here although non-members are welcome to attend), including policy discussions from the breakout sessions, before the close at 5.30pm. There’s obviously a lot going on over the weekend itself, so we do hope we’ve covered everything, but if not there’ll be plenty of helpers around on the day and there’s also a vast array of information on our Fans’ Parliament homepage - www.fsf.org.uk/fans-parliament/2009/index.php We hope to see you there! www.fsf.org.uk