| Company type | Private Limited Company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Market Research |
| Founded | 2002 |
| Headquarters | London , England |
| Parent | Football Fans Central Ltd |
| Website | footballfanscensus.com |
Football Fans Census (sometimes known as FFC), is the trading name of Football Fans Central Ltd, a small[1] market research company which specialises in research into the views and opinions of English football supporters.
When the free-to-air digital sports channel ITV Digital collapsed in 2002; it reportedly owed £178.5m to Football League clubs. Two football fans began a campaign for ITV Digital's parent entities, the regional ITV companies Granada Television and Carlton Television to repay this money to the clubs.[2][3]
The campaign, under the name Football Fans Union, took the form of a protest against the companies resulting in the 'Can the Commercials' petition and direct action.[4] The group asked football fans to boycott ITV's World Cup 2002 coverage, and in particular to switch channels during advertisements; so that advertisers would bring pressure on ITV and impact on the companies' advertising revenues.[5]
The fans' campaign ran alongside legal action by the Football League; but it proved to be unsuccessful when the Court of Appeal threw out the Football League's action in 2006.[6]
The impetus created by this campaign led to the Football Fans Union developing into the Football Fans Census; and a desire to be a voice for football supporters through online surveys and opinion polls.
Past surveys include:
- the return of terraces[7]
- the quality of food at games[8]
- the cost of following a football team[9]
- the state of English football[10][11]
- ^ WebCHeck – Select and Access Company Information
- ^ "ESPN.com Soccernet Column by Patrick Collins: Bonnie and Clyde face lesson in commercial sense". Archived from the original on 25 May 2011. Retrieved 18 August 2007.
- ^ League concern over potential loss of TV cash – Football News – Telegraph
- ^ Football Fans Union
- ^ Football Fans Union
- ^ BBC NEWS | UK | Football League loses damages bid
- ^ BBC Sport | Sport Homepage | Football | Calls grow for return of terraces[permanent dead link]
- ^ Fans pan U's food[permanent dead link]
- ^ Football fans go into extra time
- ^ "News".[permanent dead link]
- ^ Football Fans Central Limited Research Reports