Manchester United publishes Fan Engagement Plan

Manchester United Fan Engagement Plan

Manchester United has published its Fan Engagement Plan for the 2023/24 season.

The document’s publication is a requirement for all teams as part of a league-wide initiative to foster meaningful, long-term interaction with supporters.

United released its strategy ahead of the end-of-month deadline for teams to do so, demonstrating the club’s commitment to fan interaction ahead of the start of the Premier League season.

The club’s engagement with its two fan representation groups – the Fans’ Advisory Board (FAB) and Fans’ Forum – is at the core of the strategy, ensuring that supporters’ ideas assist drive decision-making on matters affecting fans

United manager Erik ten Hag spoke on the fan engagement plan.

“Ever since I came to Manchester United, I have been impressed by the support of our loyal fans. We see and hear them at every game, home and away, wherever in the world we play,” he stated via press release.

“The strong bond we have established between the team and the fans is an advantage to us on the pitch, and something we want to continue to strengthen. Working together with our fans and listening to them is part of that process, so I am pleased the club will continue to make fan relations a priority.

Fan groups of United include, Manchester United Supporters Trust, Manchester United Supporters’ clubs, Rainbow Devils, Manchester United Women Supporters Club, Manchester United Disabled Supporters Association, The red army and Manchester Munich Memorial Foundation. Catering for all different types of fans involved in the club, ensuring all keep engaged.

Richard Arnold, chief executive officer of Manchester United also offered his thought on the strategy.

“Our strategy is a simple one, to put football and fans first,” he said via press release.

“Everything we do, and every decision we take, is viewed through that lens and should contribute to improving our on-field performance and the experience for our fans. I hope this plan has provided you with assurance about the huge amount of work already underway and our plans for the future.

We are working hard to strengthen the role of fans at the heart of the club, and I can promise you that we will continue to invest time and resources in to strengthening our engagement with fans and ensuring you can have your say and be listened to. I am proud of the great progress we have made in the last twelve months but can assure you we have big plans and an unwavering determination to get even better.”

Manchester United’s goals before the end of the season include:

  • Reviewing the first year of operation of its FAB and make any relevant updates to its terms of reference.
  • Publish their first Annual Report and an updated Engagement Plan to cover the 2023-24 season.
  • Consider the contents of the government’s recent White Paper on Reforming Club Football Governance and consequent developments, where they impact directly or indirectly on fan engagement.
  • Undertake a review of the clubs Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) commitments and delivery to ensure fan engagement processes are fully representative.
  • Launch a twice-year communication to fans from the clubs CEO.

These goals are set in place to maximise and improve the level of fan engagement and give back to the community in a matter of different ways.

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Driving Health Forward: Melbourne Victory partners with Hydrodol

Melbourne Victory has celebrated a new partnership with Australian wellness brand, Hydrodol. The deal will see both parties collaborate for the rest of the 2024/25 A-Leagues season.

Hydrodol is a significant supplements provider across Australia, New Zealand the Asia Pacific, supplying customers with cutting edge products tailored to assist with hydration and a range of other health concerns.

Together, Melbourne Victory and Hydrodol will join their philosophies of driving health and fitness forward in order to bring attention to healthy living practices among the Australian football community.

Melbourne Victory Managing Director, Caroline Carnegie, expressed admiration for the partnership.

“We are delighted to welcome Hydrodol to the Melbourne Victory family,” she said in a press release.

“This partnership reflects a shared vision of supporting individuals to perform at their best whether they’re on the pitch, in the stands, or in their daily lives. Together, we aim to provide meaningful benefits to our fans, players, and the broader Victory community.”

Hydrodol Marketing Manager, Jenn Leung, echoed Carnegie’s applause.

‘Hydrodol is passionate about empowering people to feel their best, whether they’re elite athletes or everyday Australians,” she said via press release.

“Partnering with Melbourne Victory, Australia’s biggest football club allows us to connect with a vibrant community that values health, performance, and well-being.”

Melbourne Victory Director of Football, John Didulica, outlined the significance of the club’s collaboration with Hydrodol in a press release.

“To lead successful football programs, it is essential that we look to partner with companies like Hydrodol, who can help maintain and improve our players’ recovery from the demands of professional football and readiness to compete each week,” he said via press release.

For the remaining games of the 2024/25 season, fans and spectators will be able to see Hydrodol advertisement material at the Home of the Matilda’s and AAMI Park, as both Melbourne Victory and Hydrodol work to bolster the health and wellbeing of the community.

FIFA set new global benchmark for Women’s Football Development

In a landmark initiative for women’s football, FIFA has unveiled an ambitious strategy aimed at reaching 60 million female players worldwide by 2027.

The comprehensive plan, supported by 13 distinct development programmes, is available to all 211 FIFA Member Associations, marking a significant step forward in the sport’s global evolution.

FIFA also took the announcement to highlight the achievements for women’s football in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and Oceanic Football Confederation (OFC).

The recently enhanced FIFA Women’s Development Programme underscores the organisation’s strengthened commitment to expanding the women’s game.

The upcoming 2025 calendar promises several groundbreaking developments for women’s football.

The Philippines will host the inaugural FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup, while Morocco makes history as the first African nation to stage the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.

The latter tournament sees significant expansion, growing from 16 to 24 teams and shifting to an annual format.

International competition reaches new heights with continental championships scheduled across multiple confederations.

The pathway to the FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027 commences with African qualification matches, while major regional tournaments including the UEFA Women’s EURO and OFC Women’s Nations Cup will crown new champions.

In a significant advancement for club football, all six confederations will host their respective continental club championships for the first time.

This renewed focus comes amid unprecedented growth in participation rates, particularly evident in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup co-host nations.

New Zealand has reported a remarkable 27 per cent surge in female participation since 2022, with particularly strong growth among Māori and Pasifika communities, showing a 14 per cent increase.

A strategic partnership between New Zealand Football and Māori Football Aotearoa further strengthens grassroots development.

New Zealand Football CEO Andrew Pragnell voiced the federations successful results.

“The expansion of football and futsal in Aotearoa New Zealand has been extraordinary, with the Women’s World Cup serving as a genuine catalyst for growth,” he explained via official FIFA press release.

Across the Tasman, Football Australia’s Growing Football Fund Community Grants programme continues to foster development at the grassroots level.

The latest round of funding benefits 118 recipients, complementing the 121 projects supported in March 2024.

This initiative particularly emphasises regional development, with nearly half the grants allocated to areas outside major metropolitan centres.

The grants provide essential support for women’s football development, encompassing coach education, introductory programmes, and vital equipment procurement, further cementing the sport’s foundation at the community level.

Also within the AFC, footballing powerhouse Japan has successfully hosted the continent’s first female-exclusive Pro Licence coaching course.

A collaborative effort between FIFA, AFC, and the Japan Football Association (JFA), represents a significant milestone in professional football development.

The intensive seven-day course attracted participants from fourteen nations, featuring presents such as AFC Technical Director Andy Roxburgh and Japan men’s national team coach Hajime Moriyasu.

Participants gained valuable practical experience through observations of pre-season training sessions at both J.League and Nadeshiko League clubs.

JFA Technical Director Masanaga Kageyama emphasised the programme’s strategic importance and inclusivity.

“This course is a joint AFC/JFA initiative to increase the number of top-level, professionally licensed female coaches in Asia. It aims to provide existing talents with additional advice to help them achieve greater success in their current coaching positions and secure future success,” Kageyama explained via official FIFA press release.

This initiative aligns with JFA’s renowned long-term development philosophy and a significant advancement in creating pathways for women in professional football coaching.

This newly improved strategy at the global scale will hopefully allow for more women in both professional and amateur spaces to get the opportunities they deserve in football.

It also highlight’s that AFC & OFC nations, including Australia, will have a strong place within the growth of women’s football.

Read more on the FIFA Women’s Development Program here.

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