http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/leeds-united/latest-whites-news/brave-new-world-for-revitalised-leeds-united-supporters-club-hay-1-6025890
a.. by Phil Hay Published on the 07 September 2013 What does the Leeds United Supporters Club do for Leeds United? I was asked that question by Ken Bates at the height of his conflict with the organisation. It sounded rhetorical but nothing with Bates was ever rhetorical. The answer? Blindingly obvious, surely. The Supporters Club mobilise the attendance of hundreds of fans at all of Leeds United's games. "Hundreds of fans who go to games aren't in the Supporters Club," Bates replied. What his point was I had no idea but he stuck to it rigidly and we went round in circles until the will to live was lost. That was several years ago. On Thursday night I attended an executive meeting of the Supporters Club in Elland Road's South Stand and found a committee revitalised. You can understand why. Eight years of criticism and marginalisation weighed heavily on the group and backed them into a quiet corner. They've been reticent for some time; very active still but wary of provoking abuse from Leeds. That by definition was not one of their founding principles. Affiliation to LUSC is not unanimous and nor is their popularity. No group is ever so lucky. I once took the hump with the Hearts Supporters Club in Penicuik after they overbooked the coach to Dundee United (technically speaking that boycott's still in place, though only because I moved away from there 15 years ago). But decent people driving a decent membership are worth more to a football club than Bates realised. Statistics prove it. Here's a fact about the Supporters Club. In the 20 or so years after 1983, they donated something close to £80,000 directly to Leeds. A chunk of that money went straight to United's academy. All in financial contributions over the course of LUSC's lifetime must exceed £100,000, a hefty sum from an independent collection of fans. They are not obliged to make donations. They buy tickets like everyone else. LUSC were also in the habit of sponsoring individual players until they were informed, they say, that their sponsorship was no longer welcome. That by any measure is a ludicrous state of affairs. They are back on board this season as the patron of Dominic Poleon, United's young striker. They have been given their own page in the matchday programme and are allowed to use Elland Road's facilities again. Leeds' acting chief executive, Paul Hunt, attended an executive meeting two weeks ago. This is simple, inclusive quid-pro-quo - something GFH Capital saw as necessary from the early stages of its takeover. At Thursday's gathering the Supporters Club discussed the introduction of a junior package for the youngest of their members; welcome letters, birthday cards, the sort of things that hook impressionable kids. These projects are self-funded and internally organised and the bottom line with LUSC and the Leeds United Supporters Trust - more on their progress next month - is that they cost Leeds nothing to administer. You might almost call it free promotion, barring moments of political confrontation. And the reasons for confrontation are increasingly scarce. There was always a suspicion that the negative portrayal of LUSC was as much about the creation of United's official members club as it was to do with valid questions about the general merit of the Supporters Club. Official membership pays cash to Leeds and in fairness to the scheme it has grown substantially since 2006. There are 52 branches in all, some in Europe and Australia. But these are limbs of the same body. Many Leeds United members are also involved with the Supporters Club; LUSC and LUST have their own crossover of affiliates. Policies and agendas differ, as the Trust's mission statement dictates that they should, but the sense in dividing and ruling all three is a mystery. Independent supporters groups remain an essential facet of a club like Leeds. The deepening storm before GFH Capital's takeover reminds us of that. It is one thing which prevents or deters a club from acting with impunity or flagrantly disregarding the views of the crowd. And in more placid times, they do their bit to sustain and expand a fanbase which can never be taken for granted. An attendance of 33,000 against Brighton falling to 23,000 against QPR three weeks later; the numbers game at Elland Road is a constant battle but one which Leeds do not have to wage alone. So what does the Supporters Club do for United? You'd have thought it was self-explanatory. The clue's in the name. _______________________________________________ Leedslist mailing list Info and options: http://mailman.greennet.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/leedslist To unsubscribe, email [email protected] MARCHING ON TOGETHER
