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Guest Post

New WHUISA Committee Elected

Guest Post by George Mann

Ten new members have been elected to the West Ham United Independent Supporters’ Association (WHUISA) committee for the next year.

Those joining the committee will bring a breadth of experience to WHUISA. They include an ex-policeman, professional campaigners, an FOI expert and an ex West Ham United employee (but not that one).

WHUISA will now have people who live in Newham, supporters who were in favour of the move, people who are new Season Ticket Holders at the London Stadium and people who have experience on race, LGBT and disability issues on the committee.

They will sit alongside re-elected founder committee members Paul Christmas, Nigel Kahn and George Mann.

Here’s a rundown of the committee members and with a few details of why they got involved. They are all lifelong fans.

Paul Christmas
Current WHUISA joint chair. Founding (joint) chair of WHUISA and is heavily involved in reviving the Hammers Social Club. He has worked hard to make sure fans are represented with police and safety groups and has built a working relationship with those inside the club. (PC Hammer on KUMB, @MrPaulCrimbo on Twitter)

Dan Coker
Dan is a season ticket holder in the East Stand and attends matches with five family members from three generations. He also attends most away matches and is a former SAB member. Dan is one of the lead contributors to the ‘West Ham Till I Die’ website and has written on the history and tradition of the club (@dan_coker on Twitter)

Bill Edwards
Soon to retire Met Police Officer who will be able to bring an expert eye to issues surrounding crowd control and stewarding. (@billyboy5757 on Twitter)

Mark Gower
Season ticket holder in the East Stand with his two daughters. Mark is a disabled supporter who has campaigned to improve accessibility at the London Stadium. Academic, artist and designer. (@MarkSGower on Twitter)

Nigel Kahn
Founding WHUISA member, long time SAB member. The club regard him as the ‘friendly face’ of WHUISA. (Mywhufc on KUMB, @mywhufc on Twitter)

George Mann
Current WHUISA committee member. Committed to make supporting West Ham an activity for everyone regardless of race, gender, sexuality or disability. Journalist. (Big George on KUMB, @sgfmann on Twitter)

Nila Patel
Life-long Newham resident, new season ticket holder at the LS. Primarily interested in disability but also has experience dealing with race and LGBT issues. Nila feels she can “bring some advocacy in terms of equality, diversity and inclusion” (@missnpatel on Twitter)

Kim Perryman
Sits in the 1966 area at the LS and is an away season ticket holder. Kim is a member of the Football Supporters Federation and supports initiatives such as Twenty is Plenty and safe standing areas being re-introduced. (@KimWHU on twitter)

John Ratomski
New LS season ticket holder who travels from Crewe for each home game. John wants to grow the membership and learn from other successful trusts and ISAs in the Premier League. Works with the emergency services in the North West as part of his business. (BM Jon on Hammers Chat, @Jasiu9 on Twitter, Northern Iron on KUMB)

James Rutherford
Ex West Ham United employee but not that one. James believes it’s “disappointing how the club are always reacting to fans’ disappointment following decisions instead of taking them into consideration in the decision making process” and is eager to work to change that.

Paul Turner
Paul is an FOI expert as well as being a forensic examiner of minutes and records. He say says he wants to use WHUISA to ‘build bridges’ to heal the “discord and fragmentation between the fan base and the current ownership” Engineer (Sanchoz on KUMB, @P_Tizzle31 on Twitter)

Mark Walker
Long time campaigner on many issues including West Ham. Mark was behind the WHU’s View campaign when we were at the Boleyn. Successful professional campaigner who has excellent contacts at Newham and at City Hall. (E1Hammer on KUMB, @marktw2 on Twitter)

Sue Watson
Sue got involved with WHUISA because she “feels the owners are not working effectively with the fan base, along with not consulting widely or around the issues and concerns fans have”. Sue says she keen to see the needs of disabled fans met. Teacher with experience of team working. (@susieteach2 on Twitter)

AGM
We will elect/allocate committee roles at the AGM which is due to take place at midday on Saturday 12th August at the Hammers Supporters Club.

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