Chelsea announce establishment of a fan advisory board

Chelsea have announced the establishment of a fan advisory board as part of the club’s bid to fulfil their promise to be pioneers in fan engagement.

Premier League clubs agreed to improve the league’s collective offer for fans in June. This includes the introduction of fan advisory boards and the development of a fan engagement standard.

Chelsea’s move has been endorsed by the Chelsea Supporters Trust (CST), although they have more demands. However, Chelsea’s move to install the board has been praised.

A statement from the club read: “Chelsea Football Club is delighted to announce the establishment of our new Fan Advisory Board (the “FAB”). The FAB is an initiative to help fulfil our promise to be pioneers in fan engagement.

“Building on successful consultation and engagement mechanisms the club already has in place, the FAB will engage in discussion, exchange information and share insights on potential decisions that impact Chelsea FC supporters.

“The focus will be on the club’s strategic vision and objectives, as well as medium- and long-term decision-making. The FAB will meet at least three times a year with Chelsea FC board members, with additional senior club executives also in attendance at all meetings.

“The FAB will be made up of six supporters. Three places are reserved for our Supporter Advisors to the Board and the club is looking to identify a further three supporters via an open application process.”

Chelsea announced that their Fans’ Forum and Accessible Fans’ Forum had made significant strides in enhancing the overall experience for the club’s supporters. The club showed appreciation for the work they had done.

These forums will continue to operate and provide valuable feedback on matchday and operational matters.

The appointment of Cat Smith as the head of supporter relations underscores Chelsea’s commitment to engaging with their supporters. They want to ensure that the owners hear supporters at all levels.

With these measures in place, Chelsea can look forward to a bright future of collaboration with their passionate fan base.