My Manifesto
I have been a Liverpool Fan for 36 years. For 15 years I was a committee member of the London Branch of the Supporters’ Club and the Branch Secretary from 1997-2003. Since moving to Australia in early 2004, I founded the Adelaide Official Liverpool Supporters Club Branch, which has helped Adelaide based fans to meet and share their passion. In 2009 I organised for Ian Rush to visit Australia – a dream came true for many people to spend time with one of the Club’s icons.
At a local level, I have been on the Executive Committee of a semi professional team, as President and Secretary. In these roles, I have liaised with players, parents, supporters, the Football Federation of South Australia, as well as local State and Federal Government personnel. Knowing how to communicate with different stakeholders is vital and our State MP, has mentioned the work I have done in Parliament as an example of a successful volunteer.
I communicate regularly with fellow fans on Forums (YNWA.tv, Twitter, and FaceBook) and meet with football fans of all teams, ages and ethnicity. This has given me insight into what people think, and more importantly, what fans who live so far from their club want.
Unity is important to me. When I was a supporter in England, I attended all games, but living in Australia has given me an appreciation of long-distance supporters. There are many die-hard Liverpool fans in the Eastern region who have never attended a live game, but they are just as committed as those who have had this privilege.
The role of the East Region committee member is to ensure that we ‘long-distance’ supporters have all the latest information from the Club, are able to communicate with each other and feel an integral part of the LFC family. It is vital that this region is well represented at committee level so that our region’s fans can have a voice in the Liverpool Football Club. I will make this happen through:-
- Open communication through various forms of social media and regular ‘live’ chat sessions covering different time zones to ensure your voice is heard;
- All comments and queries will be responded to in a timely manner;
- Canvasing opinion for suggestions raised and then bring forward matters that are important to the region;
- Providing regular feedback on progress on matters that are importance to us.
I see this position as very important to LFC and us, the fans, as we grow in this region, and I intend to be both a spokesperson for us as well as an effective conduit between the Club and it’s fans.
My many years as a committee member and Branch Secretary of LFC Supporters Club in the UK, founder and chairman of the Adelaide Supporters Club, and experience with football committees at a local level demonstrate a proven ability to communicate with and represent the views of others clearly. These roles have equipped me well to be the International, East representative.
Matthew Selby 