Blues Trust is a democratic, non-profit organisation set up for supporters of Birmingham City Football Club. Blues Trust is one of many Supporters’ Trusts that exist at football clubs right across the footballing spectrum.

Blues Trust was registered with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) on 21st February 2012 and is by law required to produce annual, independently examined accounts.

The Blues Trust Board is made up of elected Board members, some of whom were appointed at the Trust’s last Annual General Meeting (AGM). We are always looking for help with research and development. Elected Board members are to serve for a minimum period of two years.

The trust has secured the long term future of our stadium as an Asset of Community Value, as well as establishing itself as a credible and respected supporter group. We have also acquired some ordinary shares in Birmingham City Plc. If you really care about BCFC and want to affect positive change then we want you on board.

Yes. Blues Trust is a member of the FSA which is the national, democratic, representative body for football supporters in England and Wales.

It is the leading advocate for supporter ownership, better fan engagement, cheaper ticket prices, the choice to stand at the match, protecting fan rights, good governance, diversity, and all types of supporter empowerment.

The FSA has helped to establish supporters’ trusts at many clubs and it helped us register our Rules on 21 February 2012.

The easiest way to become a member of Blues Trust is by completing the on-line application form in the Members section. Some BCFC fans do not have internet access so we provide a number of alternative methods to make the sign-up process as quick, easy and hassle free as possible.

Please visit the Members Information page in the Members section here.

There is also a page of Membership FAQ’s here.

Full membership is £5 per annum and all members will be entitled to vote provided that you are or over 16 years of age. Your membership fee includes the purchase of an obligatory £1 ordinary share in the Trust.  Your contribution helps us cover essential administrative costs such as the hiring of meeting venues, the hosting of our website, etc, etc.  It ensures that your supporters organisation operates on a stable financial footing in both the short and long term.

All Trust Board members are volunteers and do not receive any remuneration for the work they undertake on behalf of Trust members.

It’s unlikely that Blues Trust would be able to generate the required financial capital to fund a complete buyout of Birmingham City Football Club without assistance from other sources. Aims and objectives vary at different Supporters’ Trusts. Blues Trust’s principle aim is to establish a unified voice for Birmingham City supporters, secure representation and influence within Birmingham City Football Club and help safeguard the Club’s long term future. Blues Trust only speaks and acts on behalf of its members.

Whilst we believe that the Birmingham City Board and employees should be allowed to run the club without interference, we also believe that as temporary custodians of the club, they have a responsibility to engage with Birmingham City supporters in an equal, mutually beneficial partnership.

It is true that some Supporters’ Trusts have been established at clubs during times of financial instability or administrative issues. Notable examples include Swansea City (Swans Trust), Portsmouth (Pompey Trust) and Leicester City (Foxes Trust). However Supporters’ Trusts can play and have played a much bigger role in improving football’s overall governance. Trusts have been established at Manchester United, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea, none of whom are currently suffering from a prolonged period of financial instability.

Given the uncertainties over Birmingham City’s finances and ownership, we would like to ensure that supporters have a structure through which they can work with the club both now and in the future. We believe that, whilst the club’s Board have a duty of care to run the club in the interests of the supporters, we as fans have a duty to make sure there is an open and transparent mechanism in which problems can be addressed and issues dealt with. The Supporters’ Trust model is a successful way that allows supporters and football clubs to work together.

The accounts of BCFC currently show that the club is running at a loss. The club would be classed as insolvent without the statement from the owners that they will not call in the loans within the next year. This means that a change of heart from the owners could cause an insolvency. The Trust’s legal position and organisational structure ensures that if the club becomes insolvent then the Administator is required to consider proposals from the Trust – in such dire circumstances the Trust may be the only organisation able to save the club (This is the ultimate reason for maintaining the Trust.)

Blues Trust is not a protest group. As supporters, we can successfully engage with the club in a positive manner. We aim to create an open, transparent and democratic structure through which fans can raise their own concerns. However this does not mean that we are anti-protest should a particular situation warrant it.

Each supporters’ Trust has its own individual issues and priorities. Some have succeeded in securing fan representation on their respective clubs’ Boards, others have been successful in securing a stake in their clubs. Some Trusts still exist solely to deal with their own unique circumstances. It will be up to the Blues Trust membership as a democratic organisation to decide its priorities and success level indicators. 

If the recommendations from the recent Fan Lad Review are adopted, something which is looking increasingly likely, then all clubs including Blues will be required to significantly strengthen their engagement with its fans.