OSC and 1894

What a week it's been.

Saturday 24th April might have SEEN demonstrations outside the stadium from fans who were completely against the establishment of the European Super League and of City's participation in that.

The very fact that Manchester City are now regarded as being at "the top table" shows how far we have come under the owners.

In reply to the apology sent out to everyone this week, both the Official Supporters Club and 1894 have asked the club to meet Ferran Soriano to talk about a range of issues , including passing on our members' concern over the expansion of the UEFA Champions League from its' present format (which also includes guaranteed places for clubs based on historical performance). This is something which could damage domestic football including the Premiership and the League Cup , with an extra number of games being scheduled in the calendar from 2024. The fans across Europe don't want it, the players across Europe don't want it and we are both already working with other supporter groups across Europe to put pressure on Uefa to go back to the drawing board over this.

In recent years and notably this week, the OSC and 1894 have worked very closely together to represent the interests of their members. Although we sometimes campaign for different things and have a different structure to our organisations, it's been proved once again that City fans have their strongest voice when the supporters organisations act together and the fan base is together behind them. Many members of the OSC are in 1894 and vice versa.

Another thing we agree on is that there's a need for City to reach out to fans in a genuine way. Our requests for discussions is their first opportunity to show they really do care.

The league cup is up for grabs this weekend. It would be a shame if this competition which City fans thoroughly enjoy was to disappear from the calendar.

To have your voice heard join your local branch of the OSC or join 1894

Our Response to the Demise of the European Super League

This morning we met together to discuss the actions and subsequent reactions of our respective clubs regarding their so-called Super League. We are relieved and delighted that this ridiculous proposal is now dead but there is so much more we now need to do together. We also want to thank every other supporter group and all of the fans, from many clubs not just our own, for the amazing groundswell of campaigning we saw to deliver this initial success. We have shown that fans are the true custodians of the game. Building on the meeting yesterday when supporter group representatives met with Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Labour Leader Keir Starmer to discuss the proposed Super League and a proposed governance review, which is being led by Tracey Crouch. This morning we agreed that now (more than ever) it is vital the supporter groups have the opportunity to shape this reform and that it covers the ownership issues the Prime Minister promised us it would. We know and understand the importance of this so will be requesting that an FSA working group is established immediately to coordinate work on this. We will also help all fans make their voice heard on this review. FIFA, UEFA, The English Premier League, the FA, politicians, broadcasting companies have told everyone this week how important supporter consultation is. Now is the time to act like you mean it. Engage with us. Do the right thing from this point onwards - overall governance, competition formats, ticket prices, allocations, kick off times. Everything should be on the table for discussion. We're fairly sure that this won't be the end of this murky episode. We would therefore humbly request that any disciplinary action or sanctions imposed by football's governing bodies be directed at the respective club's owners, rather than any action that would impact the team and supporters. It would be grossly unfair to penalise supporters for the mess that a greedy few have created. If nothing else, the past few days have shown how important unity is and that if we do all work together, great things can be achieved. Each of our respective groups will commence a Consultation process with our members to discuss the next steps at a local level and, through the FSA, we will seek to work closely with supporter groups from the other clubs in the Premier League and across the football pyramid to deliver the changes that will create a better game for everyone. Football is for everyone. The game belongs to the fans.

1894 Group Man City Arsenal Supporters Trust

Chelsea Supporters Trust Manchester City Official Supporters Club Manchester United Supporters Trust Spirit of Shankly (Liverpool Supporters Union) Tottenham Hotspur Supporters Trust

THE BATTLES ARE NOT OVER

On social media a million and one different takes on what could have happened. We are being fed spin through the media that somehow it could all be a clever ploy all along.

Let’s just stick to facts. City’s behaviour during Project Big Picture indicates the opposite and that actually they were quite happy to jump into bed with the Glazers and Fenway Sports. There’s no moral high ground to claim here.

The owners should not have agreed to join a closed competition which would have killed domestic football. Fans were treated with contempt. The hurt was real.

This is one battle won but until City and other clubs can categorically say they will never attempt this again then a lot of things fundamentally wrong with football remain.

1894 were part of a number of supporters groups brought together through our membership of the FSA -and we have worked well together for years. Our combined experience helped here.

We’ve been on zoom calls with the government and the shadow cabinet. The long awaited review of football will finally take place. The pressure put on clubs by governments across Europe made an impact. Pressure put on governments by fans.

Long term strategies were in place. Demos, boycotts and more.

Ceferin the head of UEFA got in touch on Monday morning . The combined group including ourselves told him to sling it as we don’t support his expanded Champions League plans either.

Fans donated thousands to a banner against UEFA and we stuck our necks out to call out the instigators when we were told by the club they’d done nothing wrong regarding FFP. Yet the club jumped into bed with some of the very same people who were signing us up to this Super League.

We set up 1894 to try and improve the atmosphere at home games and if possible give fans an independent voice but a relationship with the club has to work on mutual respect.

Out displays and efforts to support the team clearly mean nothing to the board and many within 1894 will understandably take time now to consider whether they want to actually commit their time to this if , as we now know, they couldn’t care less.

We want the club to engage with the fans so we will do the same with our members over the next few weeks and see what kind of organisation they want.

Finally a quick mention for Kevin Parker from the OSC. That guy works tirelessly for City fans and hasn’t put a foot wrong in 20 years. We as a group also benefitted from his time , experience and level headed-ness.