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 of almost 600.  It benefits from membership of The Football Supporters’ Federation, 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 and at concessionary rates which are lower than the cheapest fare generally available (e.g. our fare from Kings Cross direct to Sunderland is currently £34, 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. 

Members also have the opportunity to meet together on a social basis and occasionally meet representatives from the football club (Niall Quinn and Charlie Hurley joined London Branch members in 2007 to celebrate our 40^th Anniversary).  Cricket, darts, pool, quiz and soccer 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.  Fund raising schemes are operated, both to support Branch activities and through which money has in the past been donated to various equipment purchases and other developments or sponsorships at the football club. 

All members will receive upon enrolment a Members’ Handbook which provides a permanent reference to membership details and Branch procedures, and will be sent our occasional newsletter “Wear Down South” (a spare copy of an old edition is enclosed with our compliments) and/or bulletins, which provide full details of current and future Branch events, club news etc.  A Travel & Ticket line telephone information and reservation service is provided, supplemented by group e-mail messages to those who have access to the internet.  Membership also includes optional free individual membership of the Football Supporters’ Federation.  (Please indicate your wishes on this on your application form) 

We are now accepting applications for the period through to 30^th June 2011 at the following rates :  

               Adult : £12.00                        Under 16’s : £7.50                     Over 65’s : £7.50 

Other members of the same family, or additional applicants not requiring a separate copy of each newsletter may join at the reduced rates of £2.50 for Adults and £2.00 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 enclosed form and return it to me 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