The West Ham Fan Advisory Board (FAB) held its first meeting of the new season in August. For the meeting, the club rolled out its big guns: Baroness Karren Brady, CBE, the club’s vice-chair, alongside executive director Tara Warren and director of ticketing Nicola Keye. Keye’s attendance was crucial, with ticketing always a hardy perennial for the supporter groups, collectively called the Independent Supporters Committee (ISC). Her presence also acknowledged the growing lobbying campaign to get a West Ham women’s match played at the London Stadium.
A Step Forward: Introducing New Sub-Groups
The big step forward was the setting up of sub-groups on specific areas, designed to share the burden of work and inject expert opinion. There will be groups for:
- Ticketing
- Matchday Experience
- Supporter Conduct and Restorative Justice
WHUST was particularly pleased to see so much support for its proposal for the justice committee. The idea is that the sub-groups bring in experts and those passionate about the subject under discussion to work with the main FAB members and relevant third parties.
FAB Life: An Interview with WHUST Rep Kevin Hind
We caught up with Kevin Hind, WHUST’s rep on the FAB, to find out about his work and what it’s like dealing with the club.
From Upton Park to the London Stadium
Kevin’s passion is generational: “I don’t think that I could have supported any other team apart from West Ham, given that my dad was born near Upton Park and several members of my family were season ticket holders.” He recalled his best experience at the old ground as “the victory over Man U at the last ever match,” and the best so far at Stratford being the “European Cup run in 2023.”
Assertive, Honest, and Clear
Since taking on the role, Kevin sees his primary function as helping the fan groups present a united front. Drawing on his experience as a councillor and school governor, he explains: “Behind the scenes, I am always assertive, honest and clear when I believe we, the fan groups, or the club are doing something wrong.”
Dealing with the Club Hierarchy
When asked about dealing with the club, he replied diplomatically: “Sometimes, dealing with the club is a bit like wading through treacle, as it can be when dealing with any large organisation.” He highlighted Head of Supporter Services Cat Smith as a “credit to the club” for going “above and beyond to facilitate dialogue.”
The FAB Report Card: 5/10
Kevin’s final assessment of the FAB’s effectiveness so far is blunt but hopeful:
“I would say collaboration between fan groups is a 10/10 but meaningful consultation from the club is 5/10.”
The Regulator’s Role
Looking ahead, he concluded: “The relationship with the club will continue to develop, but I think real change will come when the independent regulator gets up and running.” He predicts that the regulator will be “setting standards for fan engagement and I think that the different personalities at the club will need to up their game.”
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