Response to Mayor Anderson
Spirit of Shankly are angered by comments made by Liverpool City Mayor, Joe Anderson.
The Mayor has chosen to speak out on a hypothetical matter, namechecking Liverpool FC supporters without discussion with those fans or fan groups.
There is no evidence to support the Mayor’s perception that Liverpool supporters will break any lockdown regulations and gather outside of Anfield should football be resumed and played behind closed doors.
LFC, in their statement on the matter, refer to their engagement with supporters’ groups.
SOS raised this issue with the club, back on 13 March, ten days before lockdown began. We agreed then a determination to respect social-distancing measures and, in the event of a resumption of football, we would continue to work together, along with other key stakeholders, in achieving this objective.
Rather than disparaging words about football fans, it would have been more beneficial for the City Mayor to acknowledge the work being done by those same people in easing pressures on the city’s old and vulnerable at this time. SOS alone up to now have delivered more than 1,000 food parcels, and are active partners in helping with the supply of PPE and @SFoodbanks
We ask the Mayor to retract his statement and work with fans to support all during this time of crisis.
Other news
Fans to have a voice at UEFA
FSE to sit on UEFA Committees Spirit of Shankly welcome the recent news that supporters are, for the first time, to be integrated formally into UEFA’s governance structure. In short, football fans will now have a voice within the European governing body. This follows years of SOS and other supporters' trusts advocating for fans to have a say in how the game is governed, a necessity highlighted after events in Paris at the Champions League final in 2022 and again in Istanbul in 2023. FSE, as the democratic voice of European football fans, will now [...]
Watch Paul Khan – New chair of SOS intro video
Ask the Chair Watch Paul Khan, the new chair of Spirit of Shankly, talking about SOS, his background and plans for the union. Part two has Paul answering a range of questions from those sent in by members. Due to the amount submitted we haven't been able to answer each question individually, but across the two videos, the vast majority of the questions submitted are answered. Thanks for your questions and ongoing support. Part one - Introducing Paul Khan and his plans for SOS Part two - Answering [...]
Anniversary of fans uniting against ticket prices
Anniversary of fans uniting against ticket prices Today marks the 10th anniversary of football fans putting their differences aside and uniting to march on the Premier League headquarters in protest at the rising cost of away tickets. On 19 June 2013, spearheaded by Spirit of Shankly and the Football Supporters Federation, rival fans of top-flight clubs congregated at London’s Regent Park and marched to Gloucester Place, the then home of the Premier League. It was the culmination of an ongoing campaign to make the authorities listen as away-supporter ticket prices had spiralled – at that [...]
