Portsmouth FC have been shortlisted as a finalist for the Supporter Engagement Award at the Football Supporters Association (FSA) Awards next week.
The nomination recognises the strong bond that exists between the club and its supporters, having worked closely with fan groups including the Pompey Supporters' Trust across the year.
To celebrate Portsmouth’s 125th anniversary season, the club set up the ‘125 Committee’, bringing together the PST, Pompey History Society and other key stakeholders to organise events and projects which would celebrate the club’s heritage and leave a lasting legacy for its supporters.
The PST organised, crowdfunded and delivered a statue of club Legend Jimmy Dickinson, and worked with the club to commission a street art mural on the side wall of the club shop, immortalising six Pompey icons chosen by supporters in an online poll.
Throughout the season, key club staff regularly met with the Tony Goodall Fans’ Conference, answering questions on a wide range of topics with an agenda set by fans. The minutes were also published in full for the wider fanbase to read.
The club’s owners met with supporter representatives on the Heritage and Advisory Board, ensuring supporters’ voices were heard on key issues.
The club was nominated for the Fan Engagement Award at the EFL awards for the impact the Matchday Experience Working Group had after meeting with the club’s catering provider Piglet’s Pantry, which led to an improved offering of food and drink at the stadium.
In March, the PST carried out a supporter survey of over 2,400 fans, and then recorded a video interview with Andy Cullen to discuss the main findings.
The club’s players and staff regularly attended meetings with different supporter groups, travelling to regional groups to meet in person with fans.
Donald Vass, Chair of the Pompey Supporters’ Trust, said: “I’m really pleased that the club’s commitment to regular, meaningful and transparent supporter engagement has been recognised by this award nomination.”
“Last year, the club’s well-established fan forums and working groups were complemented with some exciting one-off projects, which have seen supporter groups and the club working closely together to leave a lasting legacy of our special 125th campaign”.
The FSA Awards will take place in London on Monday 2nd December 2024.