SHARELIVERPOOLFC Gets Heavyweight Backers At Liverpool Lighthouse Event
Written by Administrator
Friday, 29 August 2008 16:26
Secretary of State for Culture, Media & Sport, Andy Burnham, endorsed the prospect of fans taking ownership of their clubs at a meeting to launch the next phase of ShareLiverpoolFC’s bid to takeover Liverpool FC.
The meeting took place before the second leg of Liverpool’s Champions League qualifier on Wednesday 27 August, at the Liverpool Lighthouse in Anfield with a high profile list of speakers, and was covered by local, national and international press, radio and TV.
Lifelong Everton fan and MP for Leigh, Mr Burnham put aside his personal allegiance to back a principle that he championed in his former role as Chairman of Supporters Direct.
Mr Burnham said: "I think it would be good for any football club. I think the principle is a good one, that the people who have built up these clubs over the generations and have invested millions of their money should control their future."
The minister spoke passionately about how clubs belonged to their communities, and that the prospect of the Premiership becoming simply a financial league table of the world’s richest billionaires would render football a pointless and ultimately soulless exercise.
The minister gave encouragement to the audience, saying that over 140 Supporters Trusts had been set up since Supporters Direct was launched in 2000, and that 14 clubs, including Notts County, the oldest club in the league, were now run by their fans. “If we all believe, then this is achievable” he concluded.
He also joked in how some of the players on the stage behind him had given him psychological scars as teenagers, with their regular beating of Everton
Some of those former players players, John Barnes, Phil Thompson and ShareLiverpoolFC board member, John Aldridge, spoke alongside the organisation’s founder member, Rogan Taylor.
John Barnes spoke up for the passion and commitment of those fans based all around the world, saying that he had met many himself in the far-east and elsewhere who were as committed as many kop regulars, even though they never had a chance to get to Anfield. “We need to harness that support if this is going to succeed” he said, urging local fans to work in partnership with fans from around the world to make this dream a reality.
Paul Rice, who Chairs the Spirit of Shankly, and Nicky Allt (founder member of SOS) also spoke in favour of a change of regime at the club, in a show of solidarity amongst Liverpool FC supporters’ groups. Both appealed against apathy amongst supporters, and spoke of the direct benefits of fan empowerment of the club, and the responsibility the club has in the community. This is sadly lacking under the present ownership, but is at the heart of the ShareLiverpoolFC constitution. Paul also underlined the significance of the ‘local culture’ – and the local fans largely responsible for it – for the attraction LFC has for its world wide fan base.
SLFC wholeheartedly agree. It’s the character that local fans (and the City too) have stamped on our club that is at the heart of its special place in the football world. The marketing men may call it ‘brand’ – but it really means ‘personality’ – and LFC’s distinctive identity is what we local fans have made it, especially over the past fifty years and more. It is a tightrope walk for such a great club to balance both the local & global demands upon it, but it should never forget where it all came from – if we ever lose our roots, we’ll wither and die.
Supporters took the opportunity to ask questions on how the concept will work in a Q&A session with the ShareLiverpoolFC board. Joining the speakers on the platform were board members Chris Talavera, Barry Baxter, Liz Crolley and Martin McEwan.
Some of the questions included:
· How was the decision to make shares £5000 each made?
· How would transfers and the new stadium be funded?
· How can this benefit the local fan and why should fans from different parts of the world have as much say in the club?
· How well were ShareLiverpoolFC’s marketing and communications working?
· Whether any of this really mattered with the reality of billionaires’ involvement in football?
· The timescale – what will happen next?
· How could we make use of the website to provide resources to ShareLiverpoolFC supporters who wanted to spread the word, eg on the coaches to away matches?
These questions and others will be collated and published on this website along with the answers, and the audience was invited to send in further questions to the board. The meeting wrapped up in time for everyone to head off to the match – the Reds ultimately overcoming a difficult challenge. That’s exactly what ShareLiverpoolFC needs to do.
Here’s a selection of the media coverage of the event:
Liverpool Echo (including video clips)
http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/videos-pictures/videos/liverpool-fc-videos/2008/08/28/shareliverpoolfc-scheme-backed-100252-21624485/
Liverpool Daily Post
http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-news/regional-news/2008/08/28/minister-shows-support-for-fans-to-buy-liverpool-64375-21622709/ International Herald Tribune
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/08/27/sports/EU-SOC-Liverpool-Sports-Minister.php
BBC News
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/merseyside/7584470.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/merseyside/7585507.stm
The West Australian
http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=4&ContentID=94663
China Post
http://www.chinapost.com.tw/sports/soccer/2008/08/29/172372/Minister-backs.htm
Fox Sports
http://msn.foxsports.com/other/story/8494598/Burnham-to-back-Reds-fans-takeover Dam still cant pic,s onto this site, can someone tell me how you do it.
Many Thanks