Back to basics with Kevin Rye

About this episode

The episode discusses the fundamentals of fan engagement and its evolution since 2019, featuring a conversation between Kevin Rye and Natasha Simms.

We’re returning the pod to a regular episode. From now on we’ll be publishing an episode once a month on various subjects.  This week is a chat between me and my new colleague Natasha Simms, our new Fan Engagement and Communications Associate, who was appointed in the summer. In it we go ‘back to basics’, asking what is fan engagement, what some of the misconceptions are about it and how fan engagement has evolved since the first Fan Engagement Index in 2019. We also discuss some of the challenges for supporters’ trusts, and fan advisory boards in particular, and I give my view on what I think a newly appointed fan engagement officer at a football club should focus on in their first six months in the job. Don’t forget to book for Life with Football Legislation; preparing for meaningful fan engagement & consultation at the Wesley Hotel, Euston on the 5th of November. Go to fanengagement.net/events to read more and signup. We’ve got special ticket deals when you buy two together. Like, share and subscribe, on all major podcast platforms and at fanengagement.net We’re releasing the first of these today because we couldn’t wait, but from Series 2, Episode 2, it’ll be once a…

People in this episode

Host: Kevin Rye

Guest: Natasha Simms

Topics covered

• fan engagement
• misconceptions
• evolution
• supporters' trusts
• fan advisory boards
• football clubs

Keywords

• fan engagement
• misconceptions
• supporters' trusts
• fan advisory boards
• football clubs
• Fan Engagement Index
• Life with Football Legislation

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Fan Engagement Index, Life with Football Legislation

Places: Wesley Hotel, Euston

More episodes of The Fan Engagement Pod

• Fan Advisory Boards have been misunderstood. This is why it matters · June 11, 2026 · 4 min
• Rewind: Dan McGeachie (ex-Man City/Bradford City) · February 9, 2026 · 28 min
• Rewind: State of Fan Engagement | How to establish an FAB/Shadow Board · January 12, 2026 · 44 min
• We discuss our groundbreaking new research paper · December 8, 2025 · 44 min
• Joined up thinking and growing gates with James Gibbins · November 10, 2025 · 34 min
• Aaryaman Banerji, LCP: Fan Engagement Under the Regulator · October 13, 2025 · 28 min