FAQ's

Wednesdayite is the trading name of Sheffield Wednesday Supporters Society Ltd. - a Supporters Trust registered under the Industrial and Provident Society Act of 1965, registration number 29202R.

At present, the Society holds 5,037,017 shares in Sheffield Wednesday Football Club which represents 10.07% of the issued share capital, making us one of the largest shareholders in the club.

Importantly, Wednesdayite is a means to bring together supporters of Sheffield Wednesday and it's community.

We aim to be a democratic and inclusive organisation, with the only pre-requisite of becoming a member being that you are a supporter of Sheffield Wednesday Football Club.

Our remit is to benefit our football club and community, with many schemes and facilities aimed at assisting supporters both locally and around the world, on both matchdays and non-matchdays.

Wednesdayite are a member of Supporters Direct - the government-led supporters trusts initiative, and the Football Supporters Federation.

Originally known as the Owls Trust, elections in early 2005 witnessed the arrival of a majority of new Board Directors and a new Chairman.

It was felt that a complete new re-launch and a re-branding of the Trust, along with a new emotive name that the ordinary fan could readily identify with, was necessary to maximise the Trusts real and exciting potential and 'Wednesdayite' was born.

Wednesdayite are always appreciative of volunteers for any of our projects, events and initiatives. Do you have any particular expertise that can be of help to Wednesdayite or the club?

Please e-mail or phone us - or better still come to see us at our Portable Office on matchdays at the Wednesdayite Car Park on Penistone Road, one of the regular meetings or an organised event. Make yourself known to us and be part of a modern, dynamic and inclusive supporters organisation which really will give the fans a real voice and a real say in the future of SWFC.

Together we can make the difference and be a force for change, so take the initiative and get involved!

Yes. Supporters Direct is a Government initiative which exists to promote and support the concept of democratic supporter ownership and representation through mutual, not for profit structures.

More information about Supporters Direct can be found at http://www.supporters-direct.org/.

Possibly, but we do not currently seek that as an objective. This model has succeeded at a number of clubs, and of course there’s always Barcelona!

We encourage members to consider joining the Wednesdayite board and there's nothing stopping any member from being nominated for a board position at the annual elections.

Members who are thinking about joining the board should seriously consider the time and commitment to do the job in the first instance. Should you be able to cope with the workload and demands of the membership then you are encouraged to become nominated at the annual elections - details of how to become nominated are available to members just before the election each year.

Of course, valid nominations are then put to the membership who vote in a democratic ballot  (should the election be of a contested nature) - ultimately the members will decide who is elected to the board.

If you have any questions or feel you may be of value to the board or the society in any way then please do contact us for details.

There are usually around 12 directors (including the chairman) on the board at any one time and therefore it is impossible for one-or-two people to control the direction or policies of the organisation.

Wednesdayite are run in a wholly democratic fashon and therefore the members ultimately decide who runs the organisation and members will always provide mandate for the boards actions through votes, surveys and meetings.

Moreover, the society rules govern the number of directors and any amendment to those rules requires the consent of the membership

In the first instance, Wednesdayite directors always try to be approachable and will attempt to accomodate any reasonable request for dialogue with members through email, personal or written communication.

Should you disagree with any aspect of Wednesdayite, then please contact us where possible. Members are also encouraged to have their say through regular meetings and surveys - as well as being encouraged to stand for election to the board of directors themselves.

Ths society rules determine how many of its directors will stand up for re election each year, a usual figure being 33% of the board.

This enables new blood and fresh impetus, but it also relies upon members being proactive and wanting to come onto the board to help with the future of both Wednesdayite and the Club.

Additionally, the board do carry powers to dismiss or discipline any Directors that are found not adhering to the Board rules of conduct.

 

Wednesdayite board members will always be accoutable to it's members through various methods. Communication between members and the board is paramount to the success of Wednesdayite and that in turn affords accountability.

We hold regular meetings and surveys to constantly guague members views as well as our Annual General Meeting and regular events and facilities, where a Wednesdayite director will always be available to talk to members.

Communication with Members is vital and we produce regular newsletters as well as post all our latest news on our website.

On major issues the board will always and should always consult its members before taking any actions. The Board Directors should represent the collective views of its members on all designated and key issues.

A board of directors, who are elected by means of a full and democratic annual ballot, run Wednesdayite day-to-day.

The elected board then decides the chairman who through consultation decides where best and what areas to distribute and place the array of skills, abilities and experience that the board directors possess.

Any board votes therafter are democratic and final with the chairman casting a final and deciding vote should there be a stalemate.

Of course members are encouraged to take part as and where possible, please contact us to find out how and where your skills can be utilised for the benefit of your organisation and your football club.

All full members (Over 18) of Wednesdayite have an equal vote in any elections or other ballots on a one member, one vote basis.

Wednesdayite are an inclusive organisation and value wider participation. We believe a supporter of Sheffield Wednesday is a fan whether you attend every game or just catch SWFC news as and when you can, wherever you are.

As such, we also believe that all supporters around the world should feel included in their club and that all fans should have a voice where possible - oversees fans are encouraged to take part in all surveys and votes by means of electronic ballot (via email) and we aim to communicate with all fans through various methods, such as webcasts and podcasts - as well as on this website.

Absolutely - Wednesdayite place great importance on the future generations of Sheffield Wednesday supporters and actively encourage youngsters to join.

Members under 18 are classed as 'Associate Members' under society rules. As they are not full members they do not have voting rights but otherwise enjoy full membership benefits.

We believe addressing the issues raised by young Wednesdayites is vital to the long term future and stability of not only Wednesdayite but also SWFC.

No - All time given by the directors is free and entirely voluntarily.

We have abolished the paid role of CEO and Admin Assistants and will continue to operate on a voluntary basis.

Of course, we appreciate any help given by members also - if you feel you can assist us in any way on a voluntary basis, whether it be helping out at our Lounge or Car Park on a matchday, or assisting in exciting projects for the benefit of our club, please contact us.

The first pound of your membership fee buys you a share in Wednesdayite and allows you to cast your vote. The remaining money goes towards covering the costs of running Wednesdayite in a cost effective and professional manner. All Directors work is voluntary and there are no paid employees.

Any profits thereafter and funds raised are used in several ways. For example, buying shares if/when appropriate, funding supporter facilities, contributing towards club initiatives and financing community projects like primary school football coaching.

The unique method used at Wednesdyite is that these funds are targeted by the very people that raise the money, so if you raise the money then you choose where you’d like your money to go, on which specific cause or project. You the member, decide. We believe this to be of tremendous benefit and a great example of our commitment to member inclusivity and involvement.

Your personal data will never be sold. It is for internal use only.

Wednesdayite takes data protection very seriously and will never make your details available to any external entity.

Wednesdayite are all about supporting Sheffield Wednesday and it's community for the good of everyone, as well as promoting inclusion and togetherness which would in turn befit the team and the wider fanbase.

We believe Wednesdayite is an ideal conduit for fans to communicate with our football club. If you want your voice to be represented then joining us is a great way to make it happen.

We’ll represent the Owls fan in general, where possible, but our members in particular. The greater the membership the stronger we become and the more influence we have.

We’ve created a whole new, modern and exciting look to the organisation with a new members pack, including great new benefits and exciting member services like our own Lounge, our Away Coach travel, Car Park and exciting events. If you want to part of a fresh and dynamic organisation which looks after the people that really count, the fans, then join Wednesdayite today.

In the last decade many people, fans and commentators alike, have questioned the relevance of the local community to a modern football club, feeling that the age old community roots of many a club have been lost or are disappearing fast.

Nowadays clubs seem far more interested in money and sponsors than local fans and the community that live within the area. We strongly believe that SWFC should be a shining symbol of the community and as such, one for everyone to support.

It is tremendously important for local people to have pride in their Club, its heritage and its sustainable future. We believe this future must include the local community and Wednesdayite will continuously strive for this to be realised.

Yes it can. An aim of Wednesdayite is to encourage closer ties between supporters and the club and improve the matchday atmosphere and experience for all.

A football club which readily involves its fans and demonstrates inclusivity will realise a much better atmosphere and comraderie within the ground, a greater sense of belonging, of unity and pride in the Club.

This will inevitably lead to the team being cheered on and supported with greater enthusiasm.

With regards to actual policy of Wednesdayite, one of our funding areas is that of Squadbuilder - devised to assist the improvement of the playing squad at the Club, where possible.

Wednesdayite board members absolutely do NOT receive perks form the football club and never knowingly will.

We believe that such perks would be detrimental to the true independence of a Supporters Trust - something which is important to Wednesdayite and the Supporters Trust movement.

Fan representation on the Football Club board would be an ideal conduit for mutual understanding between supporters and the people running the club.

Such representation can involve many benefits, including the wider promotion of facilities for fans and supporters as well as promoting practical initiatives and also communication fan confidence in each aspect of our football club.

Fan representation is something that has been realised at around forty other football clubs through their relative Supporters Trusts and remains an aspiration for most Supporters Trusts, as well as a longer-term aim of Wednesdayite.

Such a person would ideally be an experienced, constructive and positive person who through powers of persuasion and debate would be able to convey to the rest of the board the views and concerns of the fans. We feel this would be hugely positive and effective for both Club and fans alike.

Interestingly, the abilities and experiences that exist amongst the massed ranks of fans is far wider and more varied than that of any club Board of Directors. We believe that members whose skills and abilities are used by the Club could easily make a major contribution and difference to the future of SWFC.

Wednesdayite is a totally independent supporters organisation but would happily seek to work with the Club on various issues (though never at the cost of that independence).

With the growth and success of Wednesdayite the Club would always recognise the considerable benefits to be gained through dialogue and co-operation with Wednesdayite.

However - as an organisation made by the fans, for the fans - if the club board refused to acknowledge Wednesdayite we would still carry on with many initiatives that support the fans and the wider Sheffield Wednesday community.

Definitely not. Wednesdayite is about safeguarding the future of the Club, our Club irrespective of who the Chairman / Board / Manager is at the time.

As we all know the fans are the only true constant in football yet all too often their opinions are not sought and their voices go unheard and the Supporters Trust movement aim to address the balance.

Through Wednesdayite we can provide a conduit for communication to the senior management of our club in a democratic and organised way, providing valuable 2-way feedback, ideas and practical help.

A supporters trust is a democratic,not for profit organisation of supporters who are committed to increasing the voice of supporters in the decision making process at a football club and improving the links between the Club and the Community it serves.

As a supporters trust, Wednesdayite is a member of Supporters Direct, a government initiative with the aim to aim is to help people "who wish to play a responsible part in the life of the football club they support".