The first answer is simple: by joining the Pompey Supporters’ Trust (PST), you become part of an organisation that once owned our football club. As a result, the PST is fundamentally different from a traditional supporters’ club.
As part of the sale of Portsmouth Football Club to Tornante and the Eisner family, an important condition of the transfer of the community shares was that the Pompey Supporters’ Trust would retain a formal role in the future direction of the club.
The Heritage and Advisory Board was established to provide a regular forum for Tornante, club representatives, former Presidents and the PST to discuss matters affecting the football club and its supporters. These include the club’s future plans, the stadium, finances and other significant issues.
Importantly, the PST also retains a veto over fundamental matters relating to the club’s identity, including its name, colours and location. In addition, the PST has the ability to ask questions of the club and seek clarification on matters of importance to supporters.
It could reasonably be argued that many of these things would continue to happen whether anyone is a member or not. However, there is significant value in being part of an organisation that has a direct, formal and recognised relationship with the football club - a relationship that no other supporters’ group has.
More Than Membership
There are a number of additional benefits to becoming a PST member. Members receive monthly updates on the Trust’s engagement with the football club. Each year, we also hold an exclusive, free Q&A event for PST members, providing an opportunity to hear directly from decision-makers at the Football Club and to ask questions. These events have proved extremely popular in recent years.
Our established relationship with the club also enables us to raise supporters’ concerns directly with those responsible for running the Football Club. We have a positive and constructive relationship with the club - acting as a friend and, where necessary, as a critical friend. Our role is to support the club while ensuring that the interests and views of supporters remain firmly represented.
Have a say in the club’s future
The PST exists to represent the interests of our supporters and provide them with a collective voice on issues affecting the football club.
Our purpose is to help ensure that our supporters continue to have a meaningful role in the future of the football club.
Strength in numbers
One supporter raising an issue can easily be overlooked. Thousands of organised supporters are considerably harder to ignore.
The PST currently has around 2,500 members, but we believe there is considerable scope to grow that number. The stronger our membership, the stronger the collective voice of Pompey supporters.
Protect the long-term interests of Pompey
Football clubs inevitably go through periods of change. Managers, players, owners and circumstances may come and go, but the club and its supporters remain. The PST provides a mechanism for supporters to take a long-term perspective and consider what is best for the football club and its supporters for generations to come.
Be part of something beyond what happens on the pitch
The PST has a long history of supporting projects that benefit Portsmouth and the wider football community.
The John Jenkins Stadium is a particularly important example of the legacy of PST ownership. We should also remember the Jimmy Dickinson statue, a project funded by supporters and managed by the Trust.
These initiatives demonstrate that the PST’s contribution extends beyond matchdays and the results on the pitch.
Your Voice Matters
Ultimately, joining the Pompey Supporters’ Trust is about more than receiving a particular benefit or attending a specific event. It is about protecting and strengthening the voice of our supporters and helping to ensure that they continue to have a meaningful influence on the football club we all care about.
The more Pompey supporters who join, the stronger that voice becomes.
Annual Membership Fee
And at the cost of annual membership being £5 we believe this represents excellent value for money.
Join the Pompey Supporters’ Trust and help protect the long-term interests of Portsmouth Football Club and its supporters. Simply go to the home page and click the red button "Join Us"