End of Season Reflections 25/26

The dust has settled on what has been a challenging season for Tranmere Rovers. We’re pleased that the Club has secured its EFL status, but on the pitch it has been a difficult year, including one of the poorest home league campaigns in the Club’s history: just four wins at Prenton Park, a difficult run of defeats, and fewer home goals scored than home matches played. The season also brought another managerial change, alongside a squad impacted by injuries to key players. There were, nevertheless, a few bright moments away from home, most notably the away win at Bristol Rovers and the victory at Cheltenham.

Despite all this, we still saw the biggest paying home league crowd at Prenton Park for almost 20 years on the final day, showing the huge potential our club has. We now look ahead with hope that the coming season will bring improvement and renewed optimism. 

Against that backdrop, we also think it is important to look back on what has continued to happen off the pitch, and on the views and concerns supporters have shared with us. The Trust’s work has carried on throughout a demanding year, supporting members, fans and the wider community. These reflections are not just a record of what the Trust has done, but a reminder of what your support, generosity and commitment have made possible.

From the pop-up and food parcel work to the Boot and Trainer Scheme, the 500 Club and brand new memberships, this season has shown once again that the strength of Tranmere’s support extends well beyond matchdays. We also want to explain how we are listening to members and supporters, and also share a response to some questions that have been raised with us about mediation and the Fan Park.

The Trust Pop-Up

In September, we launched the Trust pop-up in the car park at Koala NW, the children’s charity on Woodchurch Lane. Operating on home matchdays, it quickly became a welcoming space for both home and away supporters, while also helping us to donate to Koala NW and raise awareness of the important work they do locally.

Alongside a wide selection of drinks, we’ve served hot food and sold merchandise, and the response has been fantastic. Demand has continued to grow throughout the season, and we’re now exploring how we can develop the pop-up further. We’re extremely grateful to everyone who has supported the pop-up, whether by buying a drink, purchasing merchandise, volunteering their time or simply helping to spread the word. If you would like to get involved next season, we would greatly appreciate your help. Setting up and packing down requires a committed team, and even occasional support makes a real difference.

Emergency Food Support

This season, the Trust has continued to support fans and local people facing hardship through two key strands of work: matchday food donation collections and the distribution of emergency food parcels.

Our matchday collections received a fantastic response from supporters, with donations going to Wirral Foodbank and the Prenton Tenants and Residents Association Foodbank. Alongside this, we delivered more than 450 emergency food parcels to fans and local residents who needed extra support, working in partnership with the Wirral Deen Centre to pack and distribute parcels to those most in need. This work with the Wirral Deen Centre was profiled by BBC North West Tonight, helping to highlight the importance of community-led support at a time when many people are facing hardship.

We were also delighted to work with staff and pupils at Oldershaw Secondary School in Wallasey, who supported our Christmas collections after hearing more about the Trust’s food parcel work.

We’re extremely grateful to everyone who donated food, volunteered their time, packed parcels or helped deliver support across the community. As demand for food support continues, we hope to build on this work next season and encourage even more supporters to get involved. Hunger wears no football colours, and our presence in the community remains vital.

Boot and Trainer Scheme

Launched at the start of the 2025/26 season, our Boot and Trainer Scheme received a fantastic response from the SWA. Thanks to the generosity of supporters, we were able to deliver good-quality boots and trainers to local schools before the start of the school year. We will be running the scheme again, so if you have any spare trainers or football boots, please bring them along to the pop-up at the start of the new season. For many young people, not having the right equipment can stop them from taking part in sport. This initiative helps remove that barrier and gives more children the chance to play the game we all love. Who knows — it might even help develop future Rovers players and stars.

The 500 Club

Over the past 12 months, we’ve distributed over £15,000 in prize money to members of the 500 Club. The 500 Club remains an important way of supporting the Trust while giving members the chance to win in our monthly draw. Some winners have used their prize money for holidays, treats or to help with day-to-day expenses, and others have generously donated some of their winnings back to the Trust. That generosity is hugely appreciated, though never expected. For just £5 per month, you can be in with the chance to win while supporting the Trust at the same time. Not yet part of the 500 Club? Sign up here.

The Trust Store

We’ve added new ranges of merchandise as well as brand new memberships to our online store this season, including T-shirts, hoodies and gift boxes. Whether you have a birthday coming up, want a new T-shirt for your holidays, or simply want to show your support, there is plenty available through the store. We’ll also be adding new ranges over the summer, so keep an eye out for further updates.

Fan Engagement and Supporter Voice

Alongside our community work, the Trust has also continued to listen to supporters and seek their views on the issues that matter to them. During the year, we carried out a comprehensive fan engagement survey which received more than 550 responses, and we’re grateful to everyone who took the time to contribute. That feedback has been shared with the Club and has helped inform our thinking, our priorities and the way we represent members and supporters.

We recognise that this has been a difficult time for supporters, and that many people will want a period of reflection before the new season begins. The Trust is actively considering the views and concerns being shared with us, and we welcome further reflections and feedback from members, the wider fanbase and other fan groups. Supporters are looking for clarity and reassurance as attention turns to next season. We remain open to working constructively with other fan representatives so that shared supporter priorities can be identified and expressed in a clear, constructive and unified way.

Relationship with the Club and the Fan Park

We think it is important to respond to questions about our relationship with the Club and the Fan Park. Specifically, we have been asked, both formally and informally, by a number of fans and fan representatives, whether we would be prepared to enter into settlement negotiations such as mediation.

We want to place it on record that we have always been willing to mediate with the Club to resolve this issue. However, we have always been clear that, due to the funding and significant amounts involved, plus the additional resources and time that have been invested in the project by Tranmere Rovers fans, Trust members and bondholders; any mediation must be undertaken with due process and on terms agreed by both parties – namely the Club and the Trust.

Looking Ahead

Tranmere’s season on the pitch may have come to an end, but the work of the Trust continues with energy and purpose. We have some exciting events and opportunities planned for members over the coming months, and we look forward to sharing more details soon. 

Most importantly, we want to say thank you. Whether you donated, volunteered, attended an event, shared our work, supported a campaign, joined the 500 Club, visited the pop-up, bought merchandise or simply continued to stand with us as a member, your contribution matters.

This season has brought its challenges, but it has also been hugely rewarding, and the continued backing of our members has made all the difference. The Trust is proud to keep moving forward, even in difficult circumstances, and we remain committed to promoting the very best of Tranmere Rovers and our community. We are nothing without our members, and we are grateful for the trust, encouragement and support you continue to give.

Win, lose or draw, we will still be here — working with you, for Tranmere and for our community.