Harrogate Town Supporters Trust, which has had a controversial existence since news broke of the group last month, has launched and will offer several perks to members.
Other football league clubs, such as Sheffield Wednesday and Bradford City already have fans trusts, which are democratically run and governed by the Financial Conduct Authority.
Full membership to the Harrogate Town trust costs £15 a year for an adult and £10 for concessions and under-18s. Members will receive discounts in the club shop on Commercial Street, priority tickets for cup matches, and local business discounts.
Coach travel to away matches will be provided through Murgatroyd of Harrogate.
The trust will also organise a fan base at Harrogate’s Cedar Court Hotel where fans can meet before some home games. There will be food and drink offers for members as well as discounted car parking for fans walking to Wetherby Road.
A spokesperson for the trust said:
“Our mission is to help, maintain, and support the presence of an outstanding, sustainable and modern professional football club in Harrogate by being the democratic and representative voice of the supporters of the club who, through its actions, strengthen the bonds between the club, its fans and the community it serves.
“We are an independent, democratic, not-for-profit, community-based organisation who are family orientated with the aim to provide an excellent fan experience to both home and away matches.”
Read more:
The announcement of a trust was welcomed by some fans but many members of Harrogate Town Independent Supporters Club, which has been running for several years, believe it is an attempt to undermine its work.
Leaflets about the newly-formed trust were circulated to Town fans at a pre-season friendly against Newcastle United under-23s at Wetherby Road. This alarmed many members of the supporters club, with some accusing the trust on Facebook of underhand tactics.
There was also anger about the trust’s plans to put on coaches for away games, which supporters club committee member Jordan Ford has organised for many seasons.
However, the chair of the trust told the Stray Ferret that alternative away travel was needed because some fans’ drunken behaviour deterred some families and fans from travelling.