This month, we share updates from the latest Fan Advisory Board meeting with new CEO Vinai Venkatesham, details of our annual Supporters Survey, an overview of discussions from the recent meeting with the Club’s ticketing team, and the results of the Five Principles for Club Owners survey. The Trust continues to represent fans through media, forums, and national platforms such as the FSA AGM. We also celebrate the return of The Ghost of White Hart Lane play, which honours John White’s legacy while exploring themes of grief and mental health.
Update from the Fan Advisory Board Meeting
THFC’s Fan Advisory Board (FAB) met on 24 June 2025, and the report of the meeting and the minutes can be here. THST has two representatives on the FAB.
This was the first FAB meeting attended by the Club’s new Chief Executive Officer, Vinai Venkatesham. Vinai shared his motivations for joining the Club and his ambitions for THFC. It was encouraging to hear him stress the Club’s ‘football first’ focus and his commitment to demonstrating that focus in practice.
We also welcome Vinai’s emphasis on supporters and his commitment to regular engagement, based on openness and transparency. He confirmed that this will include communications from the Board and senior staff to the wider fanbase throughout the year. Vinai agreed with the FAB on the importance of collaboration between the Board, staff, and supporters to create and communicate a genuine sense of shared endeavour.
The Club also confirmed that the Bill Nicholson Gates will be in place for the start of the new season. This is something the Trust has lobbied for over several years, and we are delighted to see they are to be unveiled imminently. Fans may also be interested in the related exhibition of Peter Robinson’s classic photographs at the OOF Gallery – see here.
Tottenham Hotspur Supporters Survey – Summer 2025
Our annual survey of supporter opinion is now open. This is available to all Spurs fans – not just THST members. Please complete the survey and encourage your Spurs friends and family to do the same:
👉 https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/X3L6PMD
This year we have reduced the number of questions, so it will take only around five minutes to complete. Your responses will inform the questions – and challenges – we put to THFC.
Have YOUR say on the things that matter most to you, and the feedback you’d like us to give to the Club. The higher the number of responses, the louder the fans’ voice will be heard by the Club.
THST/FAB Ticketing Meeting
On 1 July 2025, representatives from THST and the FAB met with the ticketing team at THFC. Minutes of the meeting are currently being produced. We have requested that they be published for supporters, and we will share a link on our website once they are available.
Key issues discussed included:
- Season ticket renewals and relocations
- Senior concessions
- Changes to Ticket Share for 25/26
- European Super Cup and Champions League pricing
- Champions League away ticket collections
- Rolling QR codes (spoiler: not coming in 25/26)
- Measures to prevent ticket misuse (home and away)
Some points of discussion remain unresolved, and further meetings are planned.
Five Principles for Club Owners – Survey
Thank you to the huge number of supporters who completed the survey. We encourage continued participation in future surveys to strengthen the collective voice of the Spurs community.
This data was presented to THFC directors, including new CEO Vinai Venkatesham, at our recent meeting, as part of ongoing efforts to hold the Club’s leadership accountable to these key principles. They accept the following as sound measures on which they should be judged:
- Commit to Winning: Invest at a level needed to secure league and cup success.
- Attract & Retain Talent: Build a transfer policy and offer competitive wages to secure top players.
- Future-Proof Success: Develop elite youth talent to strengthen the squad and ensure long-term excellence.
- Lead with Integrity: Uphold ethical standards, strong governance, and financial sustainability — reinvesting in the team while keeping tickets affordable.
- Fans First: Engage, consult, and collaborate with supporters and their representatives to build loyalty, passion, and success on and off the pitch.
We believe the Club has a real opportunity — with a new CEO and new manager — to make significant progress, on and off the pitch. The results show minimal improvement from the last time these questions were asked, making it clear that much work remains to be done. You can read more here.
Trust Forum – Have Your Say
Full members can leave feedback and ideas on our Forum:
👉 https://thstofficial.com/forum/
The CheeseRoom Podcast
It was, as always, a pleasure to appear on The CheeseRoom Podcast with Franco and Bren. It gave us a great opportunity to talk about:
- Our two meetings with the Club’s new CEO, Vinai Venkatesham
- Our initial impressions
- Our end-of-season review of what went well at Spurs — and where change is still needed
- The results of our Five Principles survey
- Our hopes and aspirations for the coming season
This episode was recorded on Wednesday 2 July. Do give it a listen — links are here.
The Ghost of White Hart Lane
Spurs and Scotland star John White was one of the best footballers of the 1960s. In July 1964, he was tragically killed by a lightning strike at the age of just 27. From humble beginnings outside Edinburgh to football fame and his sudden death, The Ghost of White Hart Lane captures John’s cheeky humour and follows the journey of his son (and former Trust Board member), Rob White, who was only five months old when his father died.
The play premiered at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in July 2024 — the first live play performed at the venue — before a sell-out month-long run at Underbelly, Edinburgh Fringe. Based on the Sunday Times bestseller by Rob White and Julie Welch, the play marks 60 years since John White’s passing. This deeply personal and nostalgic story offers a fresh perspective on grief, growing up without a father, and male mental health.
Back by popular demand, The Ghost of White Hart Lane returns to North London this summer.
🎟️ Tickets can be booked here.
FSA AGM
This year’s FSA AGM took place on Saturday 14 June at Manchester Metropolitan University. While the Trust was unable to attend in person, we participated virtually and cast proxy votes on submitted motions following discussion by the Board.
The conference, hosted by Sam Matterface, included formal constitutional business (e.g. approval of financial statements), along with speakers such as Martyn Henderson, interim COO of the Independent Football Regulator, and referee Rebecca Welch. Workshops were held on issues including:
- Ticketing
- The 3pm TV blackout
- Experiences of women fans
- Promoting younger supporters
- Supporter engagement in governance
- Football and the climate crisis
- The women’s game
- Diversity initiatives
FAB Co-Chair and Proud Lilywhites Co-Chair, Chris Parous, was elected Vice-Chair of the FSA for a three-year term. Congratulations, Chris!
Motions supported by the Trust and passed at the AGM:
- Support for three-up, three-down between League Two and the National League
- Increasing younger supporter participation and activism in the FSA
- A “No Fault Stand Down” policy for anyone under active investigation for serious sexual misconduct
- Support for fair pay and conditions for football industry workers
- Defending football’s community foundations (motion seconded by the Trust)
- Opposition to facial recognition technology
A motion recognising the primacy of supporters’ trusts was not carried. Two further motions — on recognising Fan Advisory Boards within FSA structures and the regulation of football agents (the latter seconded by the Trust) — ran out of time and will be passed to the FSA National Council for further consideration.
