The Larkhall Athletic Supporters' Club
Our story
A number of regular supporters met up after the last home match of 2017/2018 season to discuss how we could contribute more effectively to the football club and the feasibility of forming a supporters’ club. In May 2018 an initial meeting was held at Larkhall Inn to discuss further and was attended by around 15 people. It was agreed to set up a small steering group with the purpose of identifying aims and objectives, developing a written constitution and opening a community bank account. A further meeting took place on 17 September 2018 and Larkhall Athletic Supporters’ Club (LASC) was formed and trustees elected.
An official launch took place in January 2019 and included the unveiling of a new Supporters’ Club logo/badge designed by a pupil from St Mark’s School. The new badge is issued to all new members on receipt of their membership fee.
LASC held its inaugural Annual General Meeting (AGM) in October 2019, with its second AGM held two years later in October 2021 and every year since. Average membership runs at between 55-65 per season (the Larks’ average Southern League attendance for 2024/25 was 215).
LASC is an independent association with a number of members elected as Trustees in key positions, including Chair (Paul Russell), Secretary (Steve Haskell) and Treasurer (Richard Hall). In addition, Claire Coombes, Terisha Burge, Anthony Waterhouse, Phil Smith, Mark Armstrong and Strider Cutts are also currently elected as Trustees (9 in all).
The purpose of LASC is:
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To build on current strengths by using our collective endeavour to develop further an inclusive, positive and welcoming environment
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To promote community engagement by encouraging increased participation in the club at all levels and improving links within the club between its various footballing sections
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To assist on supporting the club and securing its future by raising funds and participating in club-wide initiatives, to the benefit of the football club and its members
How does it work?
- LASC holds an Annual General Meeting (AGM) with regular open meetings for the membership to attend, as well as members being kept up-to-date with a regular Newsletter.
- LASC is currently an independent member of the Larkhall Sports Club Leadership Group.
- In 2023, LASC joined the Football Supporters’ Association (FSA) as an Associate Member.
The Football Supporters' Association
The FSA is the national, democratic, representative body for football supporters in England and Wales.
We are the leading advocates 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 breadth of work is huge and difficult to sum up in a paragraph or two. As the national organisation we have regular contact with the EFL, FA, National League, Premier League, Women’s Professional Leagues Limited (WPLL), as well as a whole host of other organisations within football such as the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA).
Football is for all and we work closely with organisations such as Kick It Out and Level Playing Field to ensure that core belief is happening in the real world. We have supported the establishment of scores of BAME and LGBT fans’ groups over the past few seasons.
We are founder-members of Football Supporters Europe (FSE) who represent supporters across the continent and are heavily involved in the organisation, with two members who sit on FSE’s Committee (Kevin Miles and Paul Corkrey).
As secretariat to the All Party Parliamentary Football Supporters Group we have strengthened the voice of fans within Parliament in recent years.
Our casework helps hundreds of fans every year who feel they’ve been poorly treated by their clubs, stewards, or police. We give those fans a voice, the best possible advice, and even legal support where necessary.
We pioneered the concept of Fans’ Embassies and have helped fans of both the England and Wales men’s national teams at tournaments across the planet. We are proud to have replicated this service, for the first time, for England’s Lionesses at the Women’s World Cup 2019.