Welcome to the Fan Engagement Pod.

Don’t forget the first event of the Fan Engagement Network is on the 26th July at Bristol Rovers. It’s a joint event with Rovers and CEO Tom Gorringe will be speaking.

If you work or volunteer in a fan engagement role at a club, a CEO, MD, director or owner and want to attend, drop us a line at hello@fanengagement.net and we’ll reserve you a place.

This episode is with the aforementioned Tom, Liam Scully, CEO of Lincoln City, and Ryan Sparks, CEO of League Two Bradford City.

The three of them have done impressive jobs with each of the clubs they run, placing structured and strategic Fan Engagement at the heart of what they do, ensuring it feeds into decision making and key commercial decisions.

They tell us their lessons from their time in charge, including the learning curve, how each club is unique, but how to apply experiences from elsewhere - including other sports, and how winning only papers over the cracks of a creaking structure.

As Liam himself says, this is an exciting time to be in charge of a football club. We’re seeing genuine changes in how clubs are run, with good Fan Engagement now being seen as a positive opportunity. All three are clear that reform - financial and administrative - through the new Independent Regulator will make that opportunity even greater, especially when it comes to staffing in key Fan Engagement roles.

If you want to get in touch, ask a question or suggest a topic or guest, drop me a line at hello@fanengagement.net

Episode links

• Independent Regulator White Paper: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/a-sustainable-future-reforming-club-football-governance/a-sustainable-future-reforming-club-football-governance
• Bristol Rovers Fan Engagement section: https://www.bristolrovers.co.uk/club/fan-engagement
• Bradford City Supporter Services website: https://support.bradfordcityafc.com
• Lincoln City Supporters Board & new 'Four Party' group: https://www.weareimps.com/club/policies

Keep an eye out on https://fanengagement.net and find our socials on https://linktr.ee/thinkfanengagement

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