SUNDERLAND A.F.C. SUPPORTERS’ ASSOCIATION  

(London and Southern England Associate Branch) 

www.weardownsouth.com 

(President : Steve Cram) 

(Vice Presidents : Kate Adie, Sir Tim Rice, Denise Robertson) 

I am grateful for the opportunity to tell you a little about Sunderland A.F.C. Supporters’ Association and, in particular, its London and Southern England Branch. 

The parent Association, formed in 1965 and officially recognised by the football club, is controlled by a Governing Committee which is responsible for ensuring that Association business is properly managed and that high standards of conduct are maintained by members.  The London and Southern England Branch is one of a number of Associate Branches, administratively independent but subject to the same rules as the parent body, under whose ultimate control it remains.  The Branch was formed in 1967, has grown steadily since and currently has a membership approaching 500.  It benefits from membership of The Football Supporters’ Federation (F.S.F.), one of whose Vice-Presidents is on our Branch Committee, and was a founder member of The Association of Provincial Football Supporters’ Clubs in London. 

The principal object of the Branch is to promote support at all Sunderland’s games and this is done by arranging group travel, most commonly by rail (e.g. our fare from Kings Cross to home games this season is £38.00, with half-price for children and Senior Railcard holders).  Coaches are used where they will be more convenient and there is sufficient demand for them to be economic (e.g. for midweek games when there are no trains back to London afterwards or there is severe disruption to train services due to engineering work).  The Branch also receives an allocation of tickets for away games – a service to members which is especially important when these are in high demand.

Members also have the opportunity to meet together on a social basis and occasionally meet representatives from the football club; e.g. Niall Quinn, Charlie Hurley and Steve Cram attended a celebration of our 40^th Anniversary in April 2007 and Niall and Steve Walton (then Chief Executive) met us in May 2011.  Cricket, darts, football, pool and quiz teams exist and a variety of both individual and team competitions are arranged with other clubs through A.P.F.S.C.I.L.  A Sales service is available for the purchase of both Branch items and those available from the Supporters’ Association shop in Sunderland.   

All members will receive upon enrolment a Members’ Handbook which provides a permanent reference to membership details and Branch procedures, and will be sent regular newsletters and/or bulletins, which provide full details of current and future Branch events, club news etc.  A group email service is provided for speedy publication of travel and ticket information.  Free individual membership of the F.S.F. is available as an option.

As we are now in the second half of the current season, membership applications through until 30^th June 2013 are now being accepted at the following rates :  

               Adult : £15.00                        Under 16’s : £8.00                     Over 65’s : £8.00 

Other members of the same family, or additional applicants not requiring a separate copy of each newsletter may join at the reduced rates of £3.00 for Adults and £2.50 for Under 16’s and Over 65’s.  Branch lapel badges are available for an additional £2.50 each.  Members are required to agree to abide by the Branch rules, one of which is that membership cards have no validity unless they bear a current photograph of the member. (Do not send photo. with application.) 

I hope you will offer us the opportunity to prove the benefits of membership of the London Branch and will complete the form on the website and submit it as soon as possible so that you I can add you to our mailing list and advise how you can participate in Branch activities. 

Ian Todd

Enrolment Officer