LFC Supporters' Committee
Liverpool Football Club have unveiled plans for a new supporter consultation group that it hopes will allow fans to help shape the club's future through regular and constructive dialogue with senior LFC officials.
The Liverpool FC Supporters' Committee will consist of 18 fans who will represent all of the major stakeholder groups amongst our supporter base.
The Liverpool FC Supporters' Committee will meet four times a season in Liverpool with senior Club staff - the owners will be present for at least two of the meetings - to discuss the issues and ask the questions that most affect them and the fans they represent.
The minutes of each meeting will be published online and in print for all of our supporters to read within seven working days of the meeting ending.
The initial aims
1. To establish a forum for supporters to communicate directly with the Club in a structured manner
2. To help the Club better understand the issues that most affect and concern our fans
3. To give the Club an opportunity to explain the thinking behind key decisions
4. To enable fans to play a key role in helping the Club achieve success on and off the pitch
5. To provide a greater degree of transparency about key issues that affect supporters
The long term aims
1. To enhance the relationship between Liverpool Football Club and our supporters
2. To help ensure fans feel their loyalty is valued by Liverpool Football Club
3. To help improve Liverpool Football Club for the benefit of all supporters
The application process
Liverpool Football Club recognises that our supporters are drawn from many different communities and we are keen to ensure that as many of them are represented on the Supporters' Committee.
To apply for one of the 18 places on the Liverpool FC Supporters' Committee, fans will need to apply online. A link to the application form is available at the bottom of this announcement.
Applications will be welcomed from supporters wishing to represent the following groups:
* Fans in Anfield / Breckfield
* Fans in the Merseyside postal code area
* Fans in the UK (Outside of Merseyside)
* International fans (Two fans)
* Season Ticket Holders
* General Admission Anfield attendees
* Official Supporters' Club Branches
* LFC Official Membership Members (Fans belonging to the official Club membership scheme)
* Corporate fans (Fans who have enjoyed corporate facilities watching LFC)
* Fans who attend away games
* Families
* LGBT Supporters (Fans from the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender communities)
* Female Fans (Dealing with issues specific to women)
* Ethnic Minorities
* Disabled fans
* Under 18s
* Over 60s
We realise many supporters may fall into a number of the groups listed above but we feel it is important to ensure all of our fans feel represented on the committee.
While fans are entitled to apply to represent any group for which they qualify, only one application is allowed per supporter. Please only apply for the group you feel you would best represent.
The deadline for all applications will be 10am on February 27.
The selection process
In March, a seven-person selection panel will meet to review the applications and jointly nominate which supporters they feel are best placed to represent each of the groups listed above.
The selection panel will consist of the following people:
Ian Callaghan MBE
Liverpool's record appearance holder, Ian Callaghan played a remarkable 857 games for the Reds during an astonishing 18-year career at Anfield that saw him win five league titles and an FA and European Cup amongst other honours.
Karen Gill
Granddaughter of Liverpool's greatest ever manager, Bill Shankly, Karen is a passionate advocate of Supporters' rights and is the author of the book: 'The Real Bill Shankly'.
Dave Boyle
Chief Executive Officer of Supporters Direct, the organisation that campaigns for supporter involvement in sports Clubs. A former local government press officer, he supports AFC Wimbledon and has previously been a long-serving National Council Member of The Football Supporters' Federation.
Sue Johnston
An Anfield season ticket holder, Sue made her name in the Liverpool soap opera 'Brookside'. Now more famous for her roles in the 'The Royle Family' and 'Waking The Dead', the actress campaigned for the release of the wrongly-jailed LFC fan Michael Shields and has tirelessly fought for justice for the Hillsborough families.
Jack Stopforth
Chief Executive Officer of the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce, Jack was born and raised in Liverpool and has always supported his hometown Club. Jack has very strong ties with the business, commercial and a corporate community in Liverpool.
John Bishop
An Anfield season ticket holder, John played semi-professional football for Southport and worked in the pharmaceutical industry before launching a career as an award-winning comedian and TV presenter.
Ian Ayre
LFC's sole representative on the selection panel, Ian is the Commercial Director at Anfield, having joined the club in 2007.
The 18 candidates elected to the Liverpool FC Supporters' Committee will be announced on the Official Liverpool FC website at 10am on March 29.
The role of Committee Members
As an elected Member of the Liverpool FC Supporters' Committee, each individual will have a duty to liaise with fans from the group they represent and ensure they best serve their interests in meetings with the Club and the owners.
Each of the 18 Members will have a public profile set up on The Kop, Liverpool's social media platform on the official website, where they will be clearly identified as an elected Member of the Liverpool FC Supporters' Committee. Each individual will be contactable via Private Messaging and be able to solicit feedback and questions from fans they represent and also post updates after each meeting.
Each Member of the committee will be required to attend four meetings in Liverpool per season and will remain on the committee until May 30, 2013.
In June 2013, applications will be invited to help form a new committee.
The first meeting
The inaugural meeting of the Liverpool FC Supporters' Committee will take place at Anfield on May 15 2011.
Each meeting going forward will take place at Anfield on a match day prior to kick off.
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Liverpool Football Club exists to win trophies and believes our supporters are key to any success. If you want to help shape the future of the club, click here to apply to be a Member of the Liverpool FC Supporters' Committee.