Charlton Athletic has launched its Advisory Board (CAB) as part of a new framework for the club to engage with its supporters and other stakeholders.
Charlton aspires to become 'the most cohesive and sustainable community-driven club in the UK competing at an elite level'. The club has spent recent months meeting with relevant stakeholders to determine a new fan engagement strategy that will give all supporters - both existing and new - the opportunity to play their part in the club's future and growth.
It will have a key role in protecting the proud heritage of the football club, shaping its fan engagement and using its advanced community development strategy to widen and diversify the fanbase.
The strategy, which has included consultation with the Football Supporters’ Association, incorporates:
- An Advisory Board, to include elected supporters and other key independent stakeholders
- Fan Advocate Role (formerly known as Fan Adviser), representing fans on day-to-day operational matters
- Bi-annual online Fan Meetings with Charlton Athletic Directors, allowing every fan the opportunity to put their questions direct to the club's decision-makers
- Bi-annual Supporter Forum meetings to give fan representatives the opportunity to feedback on operational opportunities for improvement and development - next event Thursday, November 14th at The Valley led by the Fan Advocates
- Working groups to be set up, with club and supporter representatives to drive forward key projects e.g. the recently established Club Shop Merchandise Working Group
- Supporters can continue to liaise with the club on day-to-day matters through Charlton’s Supporter Liaison Officer Lisa Squires or by emailing fans@cafc.co.uk
Charlton Athletic Board member and lifelong fan Gavin Carter said: “A football club is nothing without its fans, and for too long there has been too much unmet opportunity to improve our fan engagement. Our new fan engagement framework has been carefully designed to be a best-in-class way to ensure that every supporter can have the opportunity to be heard, to be involved and to help us make the right decisions.
"A critical part of this framework is the establishment of an Advisory Board to counsel the Charlton Board. We have been diligent in our approach, and I am delighted we are now at the stage where we can move to the application, selection, and election process of the democratically mandated fan seats, which will sit alongside representatives from the Supporters’ Trust, the Community Trust and the Ex Players’ Association on the Advisory Board.
"The Advisory Board will have a two-way dialogue with the Charlton Board, and the CEO of the club will attend the Advisory Board meetings.
"We are striving to be the most cohesive club in English football operating at an elite level, and this is another important step."
Ashley Brown of the Football Supporters’ Association added: “We were pleased to be given the opportunity to work alongside our member Charlton Athletic Supporters’ Trust (CAST) and Charlton Athletic on the development of their Advisory Board. The club took on board our input at every step of the process, but more importantly for us the outcome is supported by CAST. We look forward to following the progress of the Advisory Board and hope that it provides a voice for Charlton fans in relation to the club's strategic decision making. “
