Following the publication of the Club’s Fan Engagement Plan in September 2023, we are pleased to announce details of how supporters can become candidates to serve on a new official Fan Advisory Board (FAB).
FORMATION OF THE FAB
The formation of the Fan Advisory Board (FAB) follows the launch of the Premier League’s Fan Engagement Standard (FES) last year.
The Standard, which embraces the unique identity of each club and its supporter base, is part of league-wide measures designed to ensure long-term meaningful engagement underpinning clubs’ commitment in this area. The Fan Engagement Standard establishes a clear required framework for supporter engagement.
Fulham FC’s Fan Advisory Board, which will officially be established before the end of the current 2023/24 season, will consist of up to eight fan members who will meet formally with Club officials - including the Club’s Nominated Board Level Official for fan engagement - to discuss a range of off-pitch topics and issues of importance to both the Club and supporters.
Having successfully worked with supporter groups over many years, the FAB will serve as Fulham Football Club’s official advisory organisation and be recognised by the Club accordingly. The creation of the Club’s first FAB reinforces our ongoing commitment to fan engagement.
The introduction of the FAB also presents an exciting opportunity for a wider representation of fans to collaborate with the Club and help inform key strategic decisions.
COMPOSITION OF THE FAB
The FAB will meet three times per season, and will cover any one or more of the following areas:
- The Club’s short and long-term strategic vision & objectives;
- Important Club general updates & commercial matters;
- Matchday & non-matchday operations - including the home and away Fulham fan experience for Men’s, Women’s and Academy matches;
- The Club’s local community commitments & EDI strategy;
- Fan engagement and developing and continuing to build the Club’s domestic and international fanbase;
- Fan behaviour & support;
- Proposals of significant changes to any club heritage items; and
- Environmental sustainability.
The selection of members for the Club’s FAB will be reflective of our diverse community and fan base. The Club welcomes representation from supporter groups who currently meet monthly with club representatives. Correspondingly, each of the following groups are welcomed to put forward a selected board member who will represent each organisation within the FAB:
- x1 representative from the Fulham Supporters’ Trust (‘FST’); and
- x1 representative from the Fulham Disabled Supporters’ Association (‘DSA’)
To ensure representation from across the Fulham supporter base, the remaining membership of the FAB will be selected via an open application system which seeks to include:
- x4 representatives from domestic Fulham supporters (e.g. Season Ticket Holders for Fulham Men’s and/or Women’s teams, Club Members, Seasonal Hospitality Members);
- x1 representative from an international Fulham supporter (e.g. part of a registered overseas Fulham supporter’s group); and
- x1 representative who is a Fulham supporter and participates in Fulham FC Foundation’s programmes (excluding Club or Fulham FC Foundation staff).
Applications are welcome from all supporters aged 16 years and above.
The Club, acting through the Selection Panel described below, shall determine any applications in its absolute discretion. Once the FAB is fully constituted, the Selection Panel shall appoint the Chair of the FAB.
Any applications made by persons under 18 must be accompanied by written consent of their parents / guardians. Should a junior supporter be selected to join the FAB, we would ask that they attend meetings with an accompanying adult.
FAB APPLICATIONS
Supporters are now invited to apply for a position on the FAB, with applications open until Friday 8th March 2024.
Once the application period closes, a Selection Panel consisting of members of the following groups will carefully review, shortlist and select candidates for the FAB:
- The Club’s Nominated Board Level Official for fan engagement;
- Fulham FC’s Management Board;
- The Club’s Supporter Liaison Officer;
- Representative from Fulham FC Foundation; and
- Representative from the Club’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion group.
APPLY NOW
To apply, please complete the FAB Membership form via the button below, sharing why you would like to sit on the Fan Advisory Board.
Supporters will need to demonstrate that they have read and understood the Fan Advisory Board Terms of Reference, also available to view below.
We politely ask that anyone who applies does so with the desire to actively participate and engage with the Club on fan-related matters.
High demand is expected, and therefore the Club will only contact those supporters who have been shortlisted.
We would like to thank all supporters who apply, and updates will be shared across Club channels throughout the process.
Fan Advisory Board: Terms of Reference
1. Purpose
The Fulham Football Club Fan Advisory Board (the “FAB”) shall provide a forum for supporters to meet with senior representatives from the Club to engage in meaningful dialogue on relevant issues relating to the Club.
The FAB aims to promote discussion and engagement between the Club and supporters on important matters relating to the Club. The FAB will also act as a consultative body as part of the Club’s equality, diversity and inclusion (“EDI”) strategy.
2. Membership
2.1 The FAB shall represent Fulham supporters at FAB Meetings and in all issues raised by the FAB. The FAB shall be composed of eight persons (referred to below as “Members” and “Membership” shall be construed accordingly), who are Fulham supporters and who shall be selected from the following supporter groups:
(a) x1 representative from the Fulham Supporters’ Trust (the “FST”);
(b) x1 representative from the Fulham Disabled Supporters’ Association (the “DSA”);
(c) x4 representatives from domestic Fulham supporter groups (e.g. Men’s or Women’s Team Season Ticket Holders, Club Members or Seasonal Hospitality Members);
(d) x1 representative from international Fulham supporter groups (e.g. part of a registered overseas Fulham supporters group); and
(e) x1 representative from a group who engages with Fulham’s work in the community (i.e. a Fulham supporter who participates in Fulham FC Foundation’s programmes).
2.2 Members shall be selected by the Selection Panel (as described below) in accordance with paragraph 3 of these Terms of Reference.
2.3 Once appointed, Members shall act in accordance with these Terms of Reference and shall serve on the FAB for a duration of 3 years (the “Maximum Term”), save where a person ceases to be a Member before the expiry of the Maximum Term.
3. Selection Process
3.1 All persons applying to be Members should complete the Fan Advisory Board Application Form within the deadline specified (the “Application Form”). The Club shall ensure that, when it seeks new Members, its official website at www.fulhamfc.com (the “Website”) includes a link to the Application Form and specifies the relevant deadlines by which applications must be submitted.
3.2 Any applications which: (i) are made outside the Application Form process; (ii) do not comply with the requirements of the Application Form and/or (iii) are made outside the deadlines specified for submission, may be deemed invalid.
3.3 All valid applications for Membership of the FAB shall be submitted for consideration to a panel of four members, (the “Selection Panel”), who shall be responsible for selecting Members and appointing the Chair of the FAB. The Selection Panel shall comprise representatives from the following groups:
(a) 1 x member of Club Management Board;
(b) 1 x member Fulham FC Foundation; and
(c) 1 x Representative from the Club’s EDI Team.
3.4 The Selection Panel shall determine valid applications within 30 calendar days of the deadline for the relevant application process. Once Members and the Chair have been appointed, the Club shall publish the identity of the FAB Members and its Chair on the Website.
3.5 Whilst the Selection Panel shall determine the validity of applications and select Members and the Chair in its absolute discretion, the Club encourages applications from underrepresented groups and/or which reflect the diversity of the Club’s supporters and the community with which it engages. Further, when considering applications, the Club shall give due regard to any one of more of the following factors:
Any Applicant should, at the time of his/her application and all material times while serving on the FAB:
(a) be a Fulham supporter;
(b) be available to attend at least three FAB meetings per season (with the exception of 2023/24 season, where there will be one meeting following the formation of the FAB);
(c) be willing and able to use their personal time to meet with and/or discuss matters with fellow supporters and the Club on matters raised by FAB;
(d) make a valued contribution to the matters discussed by the FAB;
(e) demonstrate a willingness to approach all FAB matters in a respectful and inclusive manner;
(f) be a positive role-model to other Fulham supporters;
(g) embrace the Club Values of being Open and Inclusive, Confident Custodians, Pioneers, Action Oriented and providing Service Excellence;
(h) respect confidentiality, when required;
(i) must not have any unspent criminal convictions, be the subject of any current or pending criminal investigation or charge, or be the subject of any football banning order or other ban or suspension issued by the Club; and
(j) comply with the reasonable instructions and with any policies, procedures or regulations of the Club from time-to-time.
3.6 For the avoidance of doubt:
(a) the Selection Panel shall determine the validity and success of any application in its absolute discretion;
(b) the determination of the Selection Panel shall be final and binding;
(c) save that the Selection Panel shall be formed in the numbers set out in this paragraph 3, the composition of the Selection Panel may change from time-to-time;
(d) the Selection Panel will notify successful applicants by email and publish their names on the Website within the times specified in this paragraph 3; and
(e) whilst the Club will use reasonable endeavours to acknowledge applications, it shall not be required to notify unsuccessful applicants, whether in writing or otherwise.
3.7 The Selection Panel shall be responsible for ensuring the effective composition of the FAB on an ongoing basis. To this end, the Selection Panel shall:
(a) use reasonable endeavours to ensure that the FAB is composed of 8 Members, selected from the supporter groups and in the numbers suggested in paragraph 2.1 above. However, where it is not reasonably practicable to do so, the Selection Panel shall determine the composition of the FAB in such manner as it deems necessary, being mindful to ensure that Members are selected from appropriate supporter groups;
(b) use reasonable endeavours to replace any Member who reaches the Maximum Term or whose Membership is resigned by the Member or terminated by the Selection Panel;
(c) be entitled to terminate the Membership of any Member, who, in the opinion of the Selection Panel, fails to comply with these Terms of Reference and/or brings the FAB and/or the Club into disrepute; and
(d) be entitled to make such alternations to these Terms of Reference as it deems appropriate, save that it must ensure that the updated Terms of Reference are promptly published on the Website.
4. Chair
4.1 Upon selecting the Members of the FAB, the Selection Panel shall appoint a Chair, who shall be one of the Members.
4.2 The Chair shall be appointed for a duration of 3 years, save where his/her Membership is resigned or terminated in accordance with these Terms of Reference.
4.3 The Chair’s responsibilities will be to ensure (whether through his/her own work or delegation to other Members) that:
(a) FAB meetings are properly organised and administered, including as set out in paragraph 5;
(b) FAB business is conducted in an orderly and inclusive manner; and
(c) Members and Club representatives are given proper opportunity to raise and discuss matters.
5. Meetings
5.1 The FAB shall meet with the Club on not less than 3 occasions each season, save for the 2023/24 season, where there shall be not less than 1 such meeting.
5.2 FAB meetings shall be attended by Members and 3 or more Club Representatives, chosen from the following pool:
(a) 1x member of the Club’s Board of Directors;
(b) 1 x the Club’s Management Board;
(c) 1 x Member of the Supporter Liaison Team;
(d) 1 x member Fulham FC Foundation; and
(e) 1 x Representative from the Club’s EDI Team.
5.3 FAB meetings will be for not more than 2 hours and shall start no later than 6pm (UK time) on a determined weekday.
5.4 FAB meetings will be located at the Club’s Training Ground at Motspur Park or its Stadium at Craven Cottage. Meetings should be attended in person, where possible. For any overseas Members, attendance may be on a remote basis, by telephone or online.
5.5 FAB meetings shall be administered and conducted such that:
(a) not less than 10 working days prior to the date of each meeting the Chair shall submit proposals for discussion items at the meeting to the Club Representatives. The Club Representatives shall thereafter shall work with the Chair to agree an written agenda for the meeting;
(b) not less than 5 working days prior to the date of the meeting the Chair shall circulate the agreed written agenda to Members and Club Representatives;
(c) one Member is designated to take written minutes of the meeting;
(d) not less than 5 working days after the meeting, the designated Member shall circulate draft written meeting notes to Members and Club Representatives;
(e) The Club Representatives shall thereafter shall work with the Chair to agree the form of the final written minutes, which shall be published by the Club on the Website.
5.6 Whilst the agenda for each meeting shall be agreed between Members and Club Representatives, the FAB may, from time-to-time, have due regard to one or more of the following topics:
(a) the Club’s short and long-term strategic vision & objectives;
(b) Club updates on important and/or commercial matters;
(c) matchday operations, including the home and away Fulham fan experience for Men’s and Women’s matches;
(d) the Club’s local community commitments & EDI strategy;
(e) fan behaviour and fan engagement;
(f) proposals for any material change to club heritage items; and
(g) environmental sustainability.
5.7 FAB meetings and FAB business will not be concerned with matters relating to:
(a) on-pitch performance;
(b) team selection, tactics or coaching; and/or
(c) player recruitment or transfers.
6. Conduct and Rules
6.1 For the avoidance of doubt:
(a) all Members shall comply with these Terms of Reference;
(b) no Member shall be an owner, director, employee, worker, sponsor or partner of the Club or any other football club;
(c) no Member shall disclose to any third party any confidential information regarding the Club, any of its players, employees or business which he/she receives during the course of his/her Membership;
(d) each Member shall treat the written minutes of meetings as confidential unless and until approved in writing by the Club Representatives;
(e) each Member shall treat FAB business and the contents of FAB meetings as confidential, save where the Club Representatives have approved the disclosure of the relevant information writing, in which case such disclosure shall be limited to the manner specified in these Terms of Reference or in writing by the Club Representatives;
(f) no Member shall use his/her Membership as a platform to make any comment, directly or indirectly, on behalf of the Club, save where such comment is approved by the Club Representatives in writing;
(g) no Member shall be entitled to use any intellectual property owned by the Club without the written approval of the Club Representatives; and
(h) the FAB shall not (nor shall any Member) set up any official social media account in the name of the Club or the FAB without the prior written approval of the Club Representatives. Where such approval is given, the Club Representatives and the FAB shall work together, before such account becomes available for public viewing, to:
(i) appoint a Member or other person to administer the account; and
(ii) create policies and procedures governing the use of such account and the information posted on it.
7. Review
These Terms of Reference shall be reviewed not less than once per year.