NORWICH
CITY
SUPPORTERS TRUST “TWINS”
WITH THE “LES CANARIS” SUPPORTERS TRUST
Norwich
City Supporters’ Trust and A la nantaise, l’association des amoureux du FC
Nantes, have officially become twinned organisations, in a meeting held at the
offices of Supporters Direct, the umbrella organisation for supporters’ trusts.
The team
from Nantes in Brittany have in the past been French
Champions and French Cup winners but are currently in Ligue2, equivalent to the
Championship.
As well
as sharing the same colours of yellow and green and being known as the
Canaries (Norwich City were first referred to as ‘The Canaries’ in the early 20th
century, whilst Nantes adopted the yellow and green as a nod to one of their
founders, Jean le Guillou – who raced horses in those colours), there is other common ground.
NCST and
ASSO-ALN both share a common vision of football – what it means, how it should
be run, and how supporters should be involved. Both football clubs are seen as
having strong links with their respective communities, and both NCST and
ASSO-ALN are intent on preserving and strengthening these ties.
The
trusts are at different stages in this process – NCST was formed in 2002, and
has developed a useful relationship with Norwich City Football Club, whilst
ASSO-ALN was born in 2009, and continues to aspire to the status that NCST
enjoys. However, both organisations share an understanding of their respective
regions, communities, and the power of the co-operative model advocated and
promoted by Supporters Direct.
As a
medium sized shareholder in the club, NCST play a role in ensuring that the
views of City fans are represented, and that the club’s values and spirit are
preserved for current and future generations. ASSO-ALN is committed to securing
the same level of influence at their club, and is the first French groups to
take up the task.
Mike Reynolds, on behalf of
Norwich City Supporters Trust said
“As football across Europe becomes a bigger and bigger business, few fans are
able to retain a share in the ownership of their clubs. The result has been
that the fans’ voice on matters affecting their clubs’ futures grows weaker.
The region, its community
and a co-operative approach is central to both Clubs unique characters. Looking
after the club’s values and spirit, and keeping them safe for future generations
is the responsibility of the respective fans.
City fans are lucky in that
the current majority shareholders and the Board are all huge fans and
understand the true ethos of the community club; this is one of the aims of our
friends supporting FC Nantes.”
Ronan
Evain, ASSO-ALN Secrétaire, was also effusive about the twinning. He said
"Norwich
City Supporters’ Trust is an organisation to which we at A la nantaise can
aspire. Both of us want our clubs to be at the heart of their communities, and
both of us believe in the importance of democracy, transparency and good
governance in football."
Ben
Shave, Development Officer at Supporters Direct, was delighted to host the
meeting. “Since Supporters Direct began our European work in 2007, we have seen
the way in which co-operative values of supporter ownership can be used to
create lasting change across the continent. It is great to see two like-minded
organisations formalising their friendship – hopefully they will be the first
of many.