Changes to CFU Membership

Posted by Charlotte Walker on

City Fans United members have overwhelmingly backed an increase to the annual membership fee, with supporters now able to become an owner of Chester FC for only £2 per month or £24 per year.

More than 90% of the 500 members who responded to the recent survey indicated their support for raising the membership fee for the first time since 2013, giving the board of directors a strong mandate to proceed.

Joining City Fans United is now even easier with rolling memberships available through Fanbase and, having listened to feedback from members, we are offering three simple contribution options, making it simpler for owners who wish to pay more than the minimum.

• CFU Base: £2 per month or £24 annually
• CFU Seal: £3 per month or £36 annually
• CFU Seal Plus: £1 per week or £52 annually

JOIN OR RENEW NOW

All members will have one share and one vote, and access to the same benefits, including priority ticket access, however, any contributions you make on top of the £24 membership fee will help make your club stronger.

With the move to Fanbase, members will have a digital membership card stored in their Fanbase wallet, but physical membership cards will also be available for members who prefer these.

Should you require a physical membership card, please forward your confirmation email to membership@cityfansunited.com.

There are currently just over 1,500 members of City Fans United, and our target is to grow this to 2,000. You do not have to be a fan of Chester FC; we encourage anyone who believes in our ethos and the history of our club, to become an owner.

By putting supporters and community at the heart of our club, we’re showing that fans can have a powerful say in the way football should be run. That’s why we need you to join the CFU today, as the more owners we have, the louder our collective voice will be.

Why you should join City Fans United

  • Be a co-owner of your club
  • Supporting your club financially
  • Voting rights for the AGM, kit choices and annual awards
  • Chance to stand for election to the board of Chester FC
  • Priority ticket access for selected fixtures
  • Discounts and offers including the Lifestyle Card
  • Monthly CFU e-newsletter

Existing members can renew now by registering on Fanbase and selecting their chosen membership, which will be matched to your previous membership records.

New members can sign up through Fanbase and your membership will start immediately.

JOIN OR RENEW NOW

I have already renewed for 2024/25. Do I need to do anything?
No, we will be in touch with you soon to transfer your membership across to Fanbase.

I currently pay my CFU membership via monthly Direct Debit or recurring payment via PayPal or GoCardless. What do I need to do?
Please do nothing for the moment. We will be in touch with you soon with further details about how you can transfer across to Fanbase. Please don’t cancel your Direct Debit or recurring payment yourself, as this may impact other payments that you make to Chester FC.

I make an additional donation to CFU on top of my membership. What do I need to do?
Please sign up for new membership options through Fanbase and we will then match this to your existing membership.

If you wish to make an additional one-off donation, this can still be done, but as this option is not yet available through Fanbase, please email nick.phillipson@chesterfc.com and we can explain how to do this.

I am a CFU Life Member. What should I do?
Nothing! We will be in touch with you soon to transfer your life membership across to Fanbase.

How many memberships can I buy?
CFU has a democratic system of one share, one vote. Each individual can have only one membership under their name. However, you can buy a membership for a family member or friend.

How old do I have to be?
CFU membership is open to anyone aged 16 or older. Supporters aged under 16 can join the Junior Blues, but will not have membership rights, including voting.

Do I have any liability issues as an owner?
No. We are registered as a Community Benefit Society (CBS) with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). This means the club is a legal entity in its own right, independent of the owners, and the liability of owners is limited to a nominal £1 shareholding, taken from your membership fee when you join.

The Board of City Fans United Canvas Members

Posted by Charlotte Walker on
City Fans United is the supporters group that owns Chester Football Club.
We have 1500 members, represented by an elected board of directors, who are responsible for running the club in line with the CFU constitution and our aims of being a community-focused, financially sustainable football club playing at the highest level possible.
To support our ambition for on-field success, the board recognises the need to grow and enhance CFU membership, making it easier to join and renew, simpler to make additional contributions for members who wish to do so, increase the number of members aged under 30, and ensure the benefits meet expectations.
The current membership fee of £12 has been in place since 2013, and we therefore wish to canvas members’ views on increasing this for 2024/25. We believe this has the potential to generate an extra £18,000, which would help towards the club’s running costs, allowing additional funds to be directed into football budgets.
We would appreciate CFU members taking the time to provide their feedback through a short survey, which has been emailed to the membership today. If you do not receive this email by Saturday 20 April, and you are a current CFU member, please contact membership@cityfansunited.com.

Neil Berry Joins as Treasurer

Posted by Mike Day on

City Fans United are pleased to announce that Neil Berry has been co-opted to the Board of Directors as Treasurer.

Neil is a recently retired Chartered Accountant, having spent over 30 years working in management positions within the financial services industry, his last role being Financial Controller at M&S Bank.

Neil has been a Chester FC supporter since 1979, and has been a CFU member and loan note sponsor since the club reformed in 2010, as well as being a Season Ticket Holder.

Neil will be replacing Matt Dickenson as Treasurer. Matt is relinquishing the role but remaining a part of the CFU Board to support the Directors with their respective portfolios.

Welcome Neil!

Adrian Rattenbury joins CFU Board

Posted by Charlotte Walker on
The Board of City Fans United is pleased to confirm the co-option of Adrian Rattenbury as our Governance Director.
Adrian has vast experience in governance through his role with Fair Game, where he is a Director of the football charity that is striving for financial fair play.
He has been involved in professional sport and education for more than 40 years and is another welcome addition to the CFU Board.

CFU Board Appointments

Posted by Charlotte Walker on

Following the 2023 Annual General Meeting (AGM) held at the Leap76 Stadium on Thursday, November 23rd, City Fans United is pleased to announce our newly elected and re-elected board members.

We extend our congratulations to newly elected members, Steve Jones and William Lamb. We’re also delighted to announce the re-election of continuing board members, Mike Vickers and Jim Green.

City Fans United would also like to place on record our thanks to Adam Langan, who leaves the board following the end of his three-year term. Adam has served admirably on the board, contributing his time, expertise, and passion over the past three years. His work on the Fundraising and People portfolios has been outstanding, with the Boost the Budget campaigns being a key element of our success on the field in recent seasons.

In addition to the news of our newly elected and re-elected board members, we are pleased to confirm the re-election of key officer roles within City Fans United.

Kieron Shiel continues in his role as Chair, alongside Jim Green who continues as Vice Chair, Matt Dickenson as club Treasurer, and Christine Robson who will continue as Secretary.

The first formal meeting of the newly formed City Fans United board will be held on Saturday, December 16th.