AUSTRALIAN MIDFIELD STAR WANTS TOWN FANS TO KEEP FAITH WITH THE SIDE AS THEY PUSH FOR PROMOTION

A New Year and a new start? Since its inception, HTSA has been affiliated to both the leading supporters’ organisations – each with their own niche.

The advice and the guidance received from both Supporters Direct and the Football Supporters Federation has been central to HTSA’s development as an independent supporters group.

Supporters Direct is the umbrella organisation for Supporters Trusts and has always argued the case for supporter representation within sporting clubs (not exclusively football clubs) to the ultimate goal of clubs being owned by their communities.

The Football Supporters Federation, on the other hand, has always represented supporters’ rights as football supporters.

Cooperation between the two has been fundamental to the achievements of both organisations. Their contributions to the Parliamentary Expert Working Group, looking at the governance of football, demonstrated their ability to combine their efforts and work in a collaborative manner for the greater good of football supporters.

Ffunding has been an issue for both organisations; despite the upper echelons of football being awash with TV cash.

The grants and funding that has been allowed to permeate down to the lower levels of the footballing pyramid has been quite limited.

So is this the right time for a merger with achievable economies of scale, the pooling of ‘skills & experience’ and a possible move away from expensive London offices?

HTSA led the way when the Supporters Trust amalgamated with the Supporters Club and the Fight for Answers group to form a single, independent, body of Town supporters and it would be of great interest to hear the views of HTSA members and non-members regarding a formal SD/ FSF merger.

HTSA have fully supported The FSF’s ‘Twenty’s Plenty’ campaign which recognises the disproportionate costs incurred by away fans and aims to introduce a £20 cap on the cost of match tickets. HTSA were especially disappointed to note that for the Terriers visit to Hillsborough on Saturday, January 14, an adult match ticket will cost £36. Sheffield Wednesday FC do not appear to be ‘buying into’ the FSF ethos when they even exceed the maximum price allowed for a Premier League fixture.

An opportunity for a packed Hillsborough to witness one of this season’s numerous Championship derbies, featuring Yorkshire’s possible play-off contenders, will be lost as supporters get priced out of the equation.

Wednesday supporters know, from costly experience, how important it is to have a properly constituted and functional Supporters Trust and true to our own mission HTSA will be encouraging as many Town fans as possible to make the trip down the Penistone by-pass.

To this end HTSA are putting forward an offer on travel with a choice of two pick-up points. At 11.15am the HTSA coach will depart from Gooder Street in Brighouse town centre before picking up outside the John Smith’s Stadium at 12.15pm.

If you would like to book seats (£9 HTSA members, £11 non-members) please contact our travel lines 07905580784 or 07798727782. AARON Mooy has urged Huddersfield Town fans: “Keep believing.”

A 3,892-strong travelling support saw Nahki Wells notch an 81st-minute winner at Wigan Athletic to keep David Wagner’s side fourth in the Championship.

The Bermudian had scored in stoppage time to force a 1-1 home draw with Blackburn Rovers two days earlier.

And on-loan Manchester City midfielder Mooy says that neversay-die attitude is fuelling the campaign.

“We’ve won the game late on a few times now, we just keep going,” said the Australian international.

“It happened at Burton Albion last month.

“We just keep believing and keep playing. That’s all you can do.

“At Wigan it happened. Some days it won’t - but it’s great when it does.”

Town boss David Wagner, preparing for Saturday’s home FA Cup third-round clash with Port Vale, made seven changes at Wigan.

Mooy, Wells, Elias Kachunga and keeper Danny Ward were the quartet who kept their places.

And the 26-year-old former Melbourne City player added: “In Australia we play through the Christmas period as well, so it’s normal for me.

“But I’ve never played two games in three days before that’s the first time in my life, a new experience.

“It’s always better to play games than to be training.

“You enjoy the games. And you don’t feel tired when you’re on a high from winning.

“Wigan was a great result from a really tough game, especially as the fixtures were so close.

“We’re on a run now and it feels good. Hopefully we can keep it going.”

Mooy says Town’s possessionbased game provides a great platform.

“Part of the way we play is to keep the ball so the other team has to run and so flag towards the end,” he said.

“They will eventually tire and leave gaps. It’s a nice way to play - better than chasing the ball!”