Northampton Town Supporters Trust lead calls for fans groups to be recognised in law
It's ahead of the forthcoming Football Governance Bill.
Last updated 16th Jun 2025
FAIR GAME has joined a coalition of 22 Supporters Trusts, from all levels of the English game, in lobbying legislators to guarantee primacy for Trusts and other democratically-constituted supporter groups in the forthcoming Football Governance Bill.
The Trusts First campaign, led by the original Supporters Trust at Northampton Town, is asking for the unique status of Trusts to be recognised and enshrined in law.
The 22 members of The Trust First Group include Trusts from Barnsley, Birmingham City, Blackburn Rovers, Bradford City, Doncaster Rovers, Exeter City, Fulham, Leicester City, Leyton Orient, Manchester United, Morecambe, Northampton Town, Plymouth Argyle, Reading, Scunthorpe United, Southend United, Swansea City, Swindon Town, Torquay United and Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Fair Game will be hosting a meeting with democratically-elected supporter groups next week to hear their concerns for the future of football first hand.
The Trusts First group has made a submission to MPs sitting on the Football Governance Bill committee.
Andy Roberts Chair of Northampton Town Supporters Club said:
"It's a bit of legacy and it's a little bit of opportunity which has sort of led to where we are today. Not many people may know that Northampton actually was the birth place of the Supporters Trust movement in English football.
"That was back in 1992. So quite a while ago a a significant year, obviously because that was also the formation of the Premier League and we all know that football has changed out of all recognition really in the last 33 years.
"Essentially supporters trust was set up to put fans really at the heart of their their football clubs and they were given unique status in that they were. Sort of regulated bodies, independent bodies from the football club itself, with the proper constitution and elections.
"We feel this is probably a once in a generation opportunity with football reform coming in, a fan lead review for supporters to be placed at the heart of their football clubs and have a meaningful say in what goes on.
"We're hopeful that with Fair Game and hopefully also the Football Supporters Association and the body of Supporters Trusts already signed up that hopefully someone will listen and make that change."
Niall Couper, the CEO of Fair Game, said:
“Fair Game is proud to stand alongside Trusts First, a coalition driven by the original Trust at Northampton Town.
“This is about putting fans at the heart of football. Supporters’ Trusts, and democratically-run fan groups, must be given proper recognition and primacy in the Football Governance Bill.
"It’s time to ensure that meaningful fan engagement isn’t just a slogan, but a reality.
“Clubs belong to their communities. This campaign is about giving those communities a real voice in the game they love and Fair Game is proud to support it.”