Millwall Supporters Club - Committee Update

As the season begins with a decent away record but work still to do at home, a host of new talent on the pitch and all to play for in a challenging Championship, we’ve seen several changes within the Millwall Supporters Club Executive Committee, too. Although that hasn’t stopped us from representing your interests with the club or progressing with planned activities and promotions for our fans, including some exciting new initiatives and offers for members that we think you’ll enjoy.

After eight years as Chair of the MSC, Kathryn Gale has decided to step down and watch the season from the Dockers, along with her son Tom Gale, who has recently been promoted to a headteacher role. We want to thank Kathryn and Tom for their passion, commitment, and determination to get things done in a club not known for moving quickly on certain matters. We also congratulate Tom on his new role and wish him all the best as he watches from the stands.

Despite recent changes within the club, under Kathryn’s leadership, we addressed longstanding issues and re-engaged with our fanbase. We put forward several ideas on how to improve the matchday experience while rebuilding a relationship with the club. With the support of the late John Berylson and Steve Kavanagh as Chief Executive, the MSC funded the main gate signage, Millwall murals under the arches, and the memorial painting of Matija Sarkic. We are proud that our constructive feedback on behalf of the fans, along with our proposals to enhance the matchday food and drink options, increased the number of toilets in the fan zone, and, after many years, introduced shelving across the concourses, have been implemented by the club over the past few seasons.

The relationship built between Kathryn and the club has been continued with James taking the helm in the boardroom and Mark Fairbrother replacing Steve as Managing Director.

Kathryn has added: “It has been rewarding to have made a positive difference for the Millwall fans here and around the world. Encouraging the club to improve its facilities around the ground, as well as the choice of food and drink, has been a good step forward. Helping individual fans with issues and difficulties will always be important, and I hope the MSC will continue that work. A good relationship with all levels of club staff is also vital, and this has been achieved and will stand as a basis for the future. - Most importantly, marking the death of John Berylson as we did will remain one of the proudest achievements”

We’ve asked Kathryn if she would like a position as an Ambassador for the MSC and our fans. We’ll keep you informed on how this develops.

We have also said farewell to Michael Avery, Vice Chair, and Jamal Allan, Community Engagement Lead, who have had to step down due to heavy work commitments and, in Michael’s case, a young family rightly demanding more of his time. We thank them both for their fantastic contributions over many years and wish them all the best for the future.

In light of these changes, several of us have taken on new roles for the season while encouraging you, our members, to get more involved. We aim to build a strong, diverse committee that can work together to promote our members’ interests both with the club and within the wider football community. You may have recently seen an online survey from us on our social channels, seeking your views on key issues. Please take some time to complete it. If you’d like to get involved, have experience in a relevant area, or simply wish to discuss an issue with the club, please come and speak to us at the MSC stall on matchdays, located in the fan zone.

Finally, we are pleased to introduce the new roles of our committee members: Steve Turner, Chair and Football Supporters Association Liaison; Joe Gushlow, Vice Chair and Club Engagement; Jamie Cole, Fan and Community Engagement; Dave Lane, Joint Treasurer and Distance/Overseas Fans; Wayne Stoneham, Joint Treasurer and Merchandiser; Claire Frewin, Media and Communications.

Regards,

Steve Turner – MSC Chairman