City Fans United have received nine nominations for the Board. As the number does not exceed the number of places available (nine) there will be no need for an election.

In accordance with our rules as a registered Industrial Provident Society, we do need to hold a ratification meeting. The Special General Meeting to ratify the nominees below will be held at 8pm on 10th December in the Home Guard club. Full agenda to follow.

The nominees are:

Jeff Banks
David Evans
James Green
Mark Howell
Keith Musson
Chris Pilsbury
Campbell Smith
Mike Vickers
Richard Wightman

Congratulations to all. I wish them every success in their roles at this exciting time for the club and fans of Chester City.

 

Mike Poole

Personal statements from nominees

Jeff Banks

I would like to put myself forward to be elected to the committee of City fans United as I believe I have the enthusiasm, drive and experience to help take the supporters group forward.

Having been involved with the city fans United working group since August, I believe that I have gained an understanding of how the group functions and also been able to build links with the local media which I believe is essential to the future initiatives of CFU.

I have also been responsible for taking on the membership details of the CFU along with the setting up of the group’s Facebook and Twitter sites to help to broaden the appeal to a wider range of supporters, and would love to continue to do this.

My own website, Chester City TV, has also proved a benefit to the CFU by installing a link to enable fans to become members online, donate online, buy tickets for CFU events and also helped set up the forthcoming Legends Night, all of which helped boost funds by over £400.

Securing professional football in the City of Chester is of course the main objective and on a personal note I would do anything to help satisfy that aim being a supporter of the Blues for nearly 30 years.

David Evans

It would be an honour to serve on the Board of CFU. As an exiled Chester supporter living in south London my availability to attend meetings would be more limited than Chester based members. But if elected I would undertake to attend as many Board meetings as possible and I believe I could add value to the Board in the following ways:

• As a member of the Exiles Committee I could provide a direct link with the Exiles, harnessing the support of fellow exiles to support the aims of CFU where appropriate
• In the late 1990s I was involved in the establishment and subsequent activities of the ISA. That experience was invaluable and I learned a great deal about the potential of supporter led activity and crucially the pitfalls of working with owners. Developing the strength of the supporters voice is essential for us to move forwards.

I work professionally in communications. I would like the opportunity to support the exciting CFU priorities of building a support base for the future.

I have been involved in campaigns for three decades. I hope I have developed expertise that could be of value to CFU.

James Green

I was born and bred in Blacon and still live within a stone’s throw of the Highfield. I first became a regular at the Deva at the age of 10 in 1993 and believe that in order to progress it is imperative that our club embraces the community and strives to restore its reputation with the people of Chester.

Aside from being a football nut I also enjoy darts and Rugby League. I am a regular on the terraces at St Helens RLFC during the summer and I’m the chairman of Chester Gladiators RLFC. Through my involvement with Chester Gladiators I have forged strong relationships with the local press, businesses and key stakeholders which I believe can benefit the future development of our club.

City Fans United represents a fantastic opportunity for our fan base to work towards building a strong football club that the city of Chester can be proud of. We cannot afford to waste this opportunity and I hope that you will give me the opportunity to contribute to the future success of CFU.

Mark Howell

Fan for 31 years, I live in Blacon, where I was born and bred, with my wife and two sons. I have graduated from the Sealand Road End to the back of C Block, via the Harry Mac and the Bramble End at Moss Rose.

I am a fiercely proud Cestrian, and find the current situation absolutely heartbreaking. I have a strong desire to try to bring back the soul and spirit that sadly seems to be lacking at the Deva, and try to reignite the links between the Club and the communities of Chester, West Cheshire and Deeside that will hopefully see it bloom once more, and make those communities support the Club like they used to do.

We owe it to our children and our grandchildren to act now, before it is too late.

Keith Musson

I am 57 years old , a resident of Ellesmere Port and work as a process operator at the Shell oil refinery at Stanlow. I saw my first City game at the age of 9 back in 1961 and have supported the club ever since.

For the last 3 years, I have been treasurer of the ISA and as their bank account is still ‘live’ I still hold that role. I am also treasurer of the Junior Blues, the children’s section of CFU.

I believe that the long term future of Chester City Football Club is as a community based club owned by the supporters in partnership with the locally based business community.

For too long we have been at the mercy of individuals with their own agendas and I believe that the CFU should take necessary steps to be in a position to take control should the opportunity arise.

Chris Pilsbury

Having supported City for longer than I care to remember – since the days of Stan Pearson’s time as manager – the current problems have been a cause of great concern to me.

My background is in teaching – something that perhaps has little to do with the possibility of helping to save a football club. However, I have had a range of administrative experiences both in my professional role and as for ten years or so the school’s representative of the NASUWT (National Association of Schoolmasters, Union of Women Teachers); the Secretary of the Chester Cathedral Old Choristers Association; currently I am the Chairman of our residents association and the membership secretary of our local CAMRA branch.

Campbell Smith

I am currently on the working committee of CFU and had previously served on the Board of the old Trust for most of its duration. I have a good knowledge of Supporters Direct rules and have attended Supporters Direct events as a representative of Chester City fans.

My expertise is in Information Technology. I am the webmaster of the CFU website and have previously been involved with the Trust and club’s websites. I also run Devachat, the main fans forum for city fans.

Following 20 years of disastrous stewardship under a number of owners, I believe that Chester City fans should have the ambition to take charge of their own destiny when the correct opportunity presents itself to invest in or even own the club outright. CFU should aim to raise a large capital sum which should be ring-fenced for this purpose and should not under any circumstances be used to bail out or prop-up a failing regime.

I believe we need to move away from the sugar-daddy ownership to build a community- focussed, sustainable club which works with the authorities to protect the club for the long-term and restore our pride in our club.

Mike Vickers

I am 50 years of age and currently employed as a community liaison officer. I have been a supporter of the club all my life and started going to matches at Sealand Road in the early 1970’s.

I believe that a successful City Fans United is vital to the chances of the club existing in some form in the future.

In my professional life I have gained experience in finance, local government and communicating with the public. I have developed skills from this experience which I believe could be put to good use. Being employed part-time I have the time to give the role of Board member the commitment it deserves.

Chester is a city which should have a well-run and relatively successful football club. I would like to be given the chance of helping to make this a reality and provide all Chester supporters with a club they can be proud to support.

Richard Wightman

I would really like to be considered for a place on the board as I am very passionate about the future of Chester City and want to be able to take my future children and grandchildren.

I have supported the club for many years and they have always struggled, but nothing like this and it is heartbreaking. I have served on a number of boards in the past when both the ISA and the Supporters Trust were formed. I have also in the past tried to set up a disabled supporters association but unfortunately, despite my best efforts, struggled to lift this off the ground.

I have recently started a Facebook group with over 1,800 members. This has not only had local publicity but other clubs have been in contact in support of our plight due to the publicity of the Facebook group.

I would love this chance to be able to serve on the board of this group so that I can try and spread the word and encourage people of this city that we do have a football team. We do care and we want to see it go from strength to strength.