This is really a bit of a digression, but I felt that something needed to be said about the club's involvement with New Labour when it was in the Premier League. I am not saying that it was a right or wrong policy, something I can say with confidence as both the Labour and Conservative Governments were interested in my input. Indeed, I still recall an event at No.10 after I had chaired a commission on elected mayors when Dave Cameron, Bozza and Hezza had a ding dong.
Charlton and Raith Rovers supporters exchange views. It was like having an intellectual vacuum cleaner attached to you. After this encounter I was invited to a series of seminars at No.11 during the Blair/Brown transition, but could only go to one, so I probably had a lucky escape.The most interesting part of Charlton's engagement with New Labour may not be known until papers are released under the 30 year rule, but for now I thought I would reproduce part of an article I wrote on football for British Politics.
Charlton Athletic is taken here as an example of the
politics of cooption and engagement, describing itself as ‘more than just a
football club.’ As Banks notes (2002, 192),
‘The pioneers of supporter activism were undoubtedly the supporters of Charlton
Athletic.’ Cooption refers to strategies to involve fans
in the agenda of the club, while engagement refers to efforts to relate to
contemporary government policy agendas.
Cooption in the case of Charlton is exemplified by the device of a
supporters’ director elected by season ticket holders, although after a process
of screening candidates. However, a
supporters’ director is only one voice on the board and is subject to the
constraints of commercial confidentiality.
At best, they can act as an ombudsperson for fans, and could be seen by
management as a way of conveying their perspective on issues to supporters.
Charlton
Athletic has followed what amounts to a conscious strategy of engagement with
New Labour policies, although the club would no doubt prefer to describe them
as government policies. New Labour
pursued ‘a desire to use mass sport as an instrument of social policy, notably
as a way of combating social exclusion and promoting public health.’ (Moran, 2003, 89). It is no accident that the phrase ‘social
inclusion’ appears four times in the club’s latest annual report, along with
other buzz phrases such as ‘sustainable’ and ‘successful outputs’. (Charlton Athletic, 2005, 17-19).
The club
has pursued a multi-level governance strategy at local, regional and national
political levels. Activities such as
providing football training for children in the school holidays are perceived
as ‘an innovative way of meeting the Government’s social objectives and the new
Respect Policy.’ (Charlton Athletic, 2005,
14).
Gordon Brown with CurbsFor its part the government has
sent the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the then Health Secretary ‘and a
delegation from the Home Office to discuss how football and sport can improve
community cohesion and lead to a healthier and safer environment.’ (Charlton Athletic, 2005, 17).
Unfortunately he chose Aston Viilla over Charlton
Add in a delegation from the Belgian
Government and Prince William and the club can claim:
Such
heavyweight and high profile visits have positioned the club and the
Community
Trust as a highly imaginative pathfinder contribution that can be used
as an
excellent model of best corporate social responsibility practice to roll out on
a
much wider
scale in the future. (Charlton
Athletic, 2005, 13-14).
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