What better way to spend an idle summer weekend during the close season than together with other football supporters from all over the United Kingdom discussing key issues affecting all fans. This is exactly what happened on 20th June 2009 as voicesinfootball.com (V.I.F) webzine took its place alongside a host of other figures at the annual event which this year went ahead at The Live Theatre in Newcastle Upon Tyne's picturesque and historical Quayside area.

With the event in 2008 taking place in London at Arsenal's new ground the 2009 variety of the event went ahead in the far north of England at the Live Theatre in Newcastle-upon-Tyne's Quayside. Whilst primarily directed at members of the FSF, the event was absolutely free to all interested parties and at its core was the aim of settling upon the FSF’s strategic policy and campaign focus areas for 2009-2010.   Every delegate at the event, far from booted and suited, was made to feel important and welcome whilst an excellent agenda brochure with items for discussion was distributed prior to the event.

One welcome aspect of the event was the introduction of a format designed to ensure a maximum input of opinions from all supporters attending the event.   With many conference type events being a talking shop for a small minority of people this format gave newcomers and all attendees a large opportunity to make points, give opinions and speak out.   Pertinent key issues issues such as diversity, safe standing, club ownership and governance, ticket pricing and policing and stewarding were debated in 'breakout sessions' in various rooms within the Theatre.  These were split into morning sessions which were discussion groups where a host of fans and key speakers analysed and debated key points. After lunch further breakout sessions took place which summerized all the talking points and established points of action on key areas discussed in the morning. The breakout sessions were as follows and summerized below:

Diversity in Football:  A variety of guest speakers representing minority groups attented this session. They discussed modern football as a game that is played and watched by people of all colours, creeds, sexes, orientations and physical abilities. But a key talking area and point of discussion was whether the game’s current condition reflected this diversity? Moreover a  key area of discussion was whether homophobic or Islamophobic chanting a problem at football matches.

Safe Standing:  A panal of prominent fans alongside a selected panel discussed why standing is allowed at rugby union, rugby league, horse-racing and speedway but not in football.   The question was raised as to whether all supporters should have the choice to sit or stand in comfort and safety. Moreover what was a sensible way of getting the growing case for standing through to the FA, Lord Triesman and Premiership?  ClubOwnership/Governance: Key speaker and prominant journalist David Conn of the Guardian along with reps from the Football League, Premier League and Supporters direct discussed why football was awash with TV money yet why were clubs entering administration still a remaining problem.

Ticket Prices: The key questions were whether football was in danger of pricing out the next generation of fans to clubs and what fans can try to do about it.   Also discussed was what was being done about ticket touting in football.

Policing and Stewarding: Another key breakout session was the policing and stewarding focus group. A guests from civil-rights group Liberty Anna Fairclough spoke very well and respresented Liberty with supreme professionalism.  Julian Young a solicitor and Arsenal supporter was joined by a prominent member of the UK Football Policing Unit, the PFA and the head of the Football Safety Officers’ Association. With a variety of opinions and forthright views aparent from fans of clubs such as Reading, Cardiff City and Man United, the session was moderated and skillfully held together by prominent FSF member Kevin Miles.   

Those present discussed whether football policing in the UK was better or worse than in the past in light of current issues involving use of Section 27.    Other issues included an exploration of whether unfair extra-judicial punishment for fans was becoming more common as clubs rather than courts ban fans. One key decision made as regards this issue was whether this was an an argument for an independant right of appeal for an individual to be heard before club bans on supporters are enforced.   As well as discussion groups such a parliament would not be complete with acknowledgment being made of other areas such as Services to Supporters, Football Writer of the Year and Fans’ Publication of the Year.  

The Services to Supporters Award: Liberty won the award for their work in conjunction with the FSF for obtaining a redress for the Stoke City and Plymouth supporters who had been prevented from attending games by what has been accepted by police as a misuse of the Violent Crime Reduction Act. 

Football Writer of the Year award: This was won by football writer David Conn from The Guardian who also made a good presentation on the current game when excepting his award.  He mentioned some opinions on the current Premiership and club ownership issues within it.

Award for club good practice:  Both Burnley and FC United of Manchester earned praised for fan initiatives with respect to season ticket sales for the new season.

The FSF fans parliament was far from a dull and prententious business networking event or a corporate conference.   Real issues currently affecting real football supporters were discussed with not a business card in sight.  The event was sociable, warm and friendly with the opportunity to meet and discuss with important figures from the PFA and the media.  Social activities such as a five-a-side football tournament, a post parliament pub crawl and a late night quiz session saw laughs as well.   A team of panelists including former footballers, journalists and actors participate in a “Have I Got News For You type style quiz”.   The Live Theatre in Newcastle's Quayside proved to be an excellent intimate venue for the event with good food and a relaxing close knit ambiance meaning that wherever the 2010 event takes place will have a great deal to meaure itself against.