Author: Jeff Banks

CFU AGM Review

The City Fans United Annual General Meeting took place last Thursday at the Swansway Chester Stadium, inside a packed Blues Bar.

 

On the night, Calvin Hughes and Jeff Banks, both of whom stood for election to the board saw their applications ratified by the members who had voted either by proxy or on the night itself. Both will now commence a minimum three year term on the board of directors of CFU.

 

Laurence Kirby, who stood down as a director of the board on the night, presented his financial report to the audience both in the room and watching online.

 

Laurence confirmed that CFU had made a £45k loss in the financial year June 2017-May 2018 but that prospects of a brighter future were indeed in place following some fantastic fundraising by volunteers since January 2018. Laurence also indicated that he would be prepared to maintain his financial reporting to the board in the interim whilst a permanent replacement is sought in due course, which the board have wholeheartedly thanked Laurence for.

 

The Chair of CFU, David Harrington-Wright, also gave a detailed report on the year itself too, and fielded questions from the audience relating to the club’s current financial position, and also with regards to the water damage to the Stadium too, even though this was experienced after the previous financial year had ended.

 

Minutes of the meeting will be published shortly on the CFU website.

 

Thanks to everyone that attended on the night, and we look forward to keeping the membership updated with the progress made as we go through the next financial period, June 2018-May 2019.

 

CFU launch new Life Membership package!

CFU Life Membership form

City Fans United are delighted to announce the official launch of a new Life Membership package available to new and existing members of City Fans United.

 

Members were asked in the Big City Census earlier this year on their thoughts on the life membership and the fee to join, and following feedback we are now in a position to release full details of the scheme which will allow you to be an owner of Chester FC for the rest of your life.

 

Life membership will carry a number of benefits (with some more still to be added as we progress through the season) including a Legends Lounge Experience for two people, a first team squad training session exclusively opened up to Life Membership holders with a chance to meet the managers, staff and players of Chester FC, a special open evening with a discount on items in the Club Shop available to members. A new pin badge has also been commissioned for Life Membership.

 

The fee for Life membership will be £1000, which will help the club build for the future, is payable by debit/credit card, cash, cheque, or by a maximum of four instalments on Direct Debit.

 

We would therefore like to invite those interested in taking up the Life membership to email membership@cityfansunited.com with their full contact details in order for us to contact you regarding signing up. You can also print off the Life Membership form, complete, and return it to Chester FC’s Swansway Chester Stadium together with payment.

 

Existing Life Members from the original Chester City Supporters Trust & Chester City ISA will continue as Life members of City Fans United, and can access the benefits of the new Life Membership package by upgrading from their current status, and are invited to sign up to the new CFU Life Membership package should they wish to do so.

 

We would like to thank those who have already registered an interest in becoming life members and naturally encourage more to join this new scheme.

AGM Packs sent out

The City Fans United AGM is fast approaching, and the AGM packs have been sent out via email to those who have email addresses listed on their membership profiles.

 

Those members that don’t have valid email addresses listed on their profile, will have been sent these via post today.

 

Any members who haven’t received their packs by early next week should contact CFU secretary Marion Needham via the email address marion.needham@chesterfc.com

 

Due to the damage sustained at the Swansway Chester Stadium, the previously planned formal meeting will now not take place, and as such the next meeting will be the AGM and will take place in the Blues Bar on Thursday 27th September, commencing at 7.30pm.

 

CFU Meeting Postponed

Please note that owing to the water damage incurred at the Swansway Chester Stadium on Sunday, a decision has been made to postpone Thursday’s night’s City Fans United members meeting.

 

Safety is of course paramount in this situation, and at present several areas of the ground are deemed as ‘Out of Bounds’ due to the water ingress and the board are currently in the process of trying to resolve the issues currently being faced and ensuring there is no risk to anyone’s safety within the ground.

 

We will announce a revised date once we are in a position to do so, but we’d also like to remind those interested in standing for election that they will need to submit their application by Friday 17th August. Please refer to our recent mailing for further details on this. or by reading our previous announcement regarding the upcoming AGM.

 

Cameron Rowley

The board of City Fans United would on behalf of everyone connected with Chester FC like to express it’s sincere condolences and offer its support to the family of young Blues fan Cameron Rowley, who sadly passed away yesterday aged just 11 years old.

 

Cameron endeared himself to everyone he came to meet at the club, and will be greatly missed. He also made a great number of friends amongst the playing squad and management team over the last few years in addition to many Chester fans too. The determination and spirit that Cameron displayed whilst dealing with his illness was second to none, and that spirit has been and will continue to be an inspiration to everyone who knew him.

 

We’re sure the Chester FC family will join us with sending all of our thoughts and prayers to Cameron’s family and friends at this time, and the club will certainly be paying tribute in the very near future once we have spoken with Cameron’s family, at an appropriate time.

 

Rest in Peace, Cameron.

City Fans United Members Meeting (Formal) – Thursday 16th August

The date for the next CFU Members meeting has been set for Thursday 16th August 2018, commencing at 7.30pm in the Blues Bar at the Swansway Chester Stadium.

 

This meeting will be a formal one, and an agenda will published in due course, but please make a note in your diaries for the time being.

 

The date for the CFU AGM has also been set, this taking place on Thursday 27th September, in the Blues Bar at the Swansway Chester Stadium, too.

 

Further details on both meetings to follow shortly…

CFU AGM set for Thursday 27th September 2018

The 2018 City Fans United Annual General Meeting has been set for Thursday 27th September, commencing at 7.30pm, and will take place in the Blues Bar at Chester FC’s Swansway Chester Stadium.

 

Due to resignations in 2018, and expiry of tenure there will be a total of five vacancies, to bring numbers on the board back up to ten.

 

To be eligible to stand for election, you must be 18 years of age or over and must have been a member of City Fans United for at least 60 days prior to the closing date for nominations which is 17th August, 2018.  This means that you must have been a fully paid up member since 18th June, 2018.   The same eligibility rule applies if you are nominating someone to stand for the board.

 

A notification has been sent out by email or by post to all current members. If you have not received this mailing by Wednesday 1st August, please email marion.needham@chesterfc.com in the first instance.

 

Details of how to stand for election are contained within the information sent out in the email/post by Marion and also contain links to Director Duties and also a nomination form and manifesto template.

 

 

Season Tickets Collection Event – Thursday 26th July 7.30pm

Thursday 26th July sees the first chance for Season Ticket holders to claim there much awaited 2018-19 season ticket books, in an event being staged by the Fan Engagement Working Group (FEWG) taking place in the Blues Bar at the Swansway Chester Stadium from 7.30pm.

 

Those who have purchased Season Tickets will need to bring proof of ID or their till receipt that they were given at the time of purchase with them, to enable them to redeem for the Season Ticket.

 

The FEWG are extremely thankful to the volunteers from the Ticket Office, who are putting the Season Ticket packs together prior to Thursday night.

 

We will also have Bern & Jono coming down after they have finished training to give an update as we get closer to the big kick off, and each of the Working Groups will also be represented in the Blues Bar, so please come down and have a chat and see how you can get involved in helping your club.

 

Naturally we hope that as many Season Ticket holders as possible come down to the event on Thursday night, but if unable to do so, then the Season Tickets will be available to collect from the Ticket Office at the ground from Friday 27th July 9.30am-4.30pm, and then from Monday to Friday the following week.

 

Please note, that if you have purchased a season ticket in the last 7 days then this may still be in the process of printing, and will be unavailable to collect on the evening.

 

We look forward to seeing you there!

 

Draw made for Season Ticket winners!

 

Chester FC’s Season Ticket target of 1000 is getting closer and closer!

 

A few weeks ago, you may recall that two of our Legend Lounge members came forward and wanted to help boost the number of sales by offering to reward one lucky fan who purchased a Season Ticket before the Earlybird deadline, and both Ian Swettenham of Swettenham Chemists and Alan Case have not just honoured that offer, but have actually tripled their offer and offered to cover the cost of 3 season tickets purchased!

 

The Draw, sponsored by Swettenham Chemists and Alan Case, was made independently on Wednesday 18th July, and saw the following names drawn out of the hat:

 

Margaret Bithel
Ray Shaw
Felix Wright

 

All three lucky winners have been notified and will be offered the refund of their season ticket!

 

Ian Swettenham said, “Swettenham Chemists were pleased to support the Season Ticket prize draw. We hope it encouraged fans to purchase their tickets in the Early Bird window and contributed to all the efforts from volunteers to push the season ticket number towards the 1,000 target.”

 

Jeff Banks, Director of Fan Engagement, thanked both Ian & Alan for their contribution and generous offer, “When the Fan Engagement Working Group (FEWG) were initially approached by both Ian and Alan, we were blown away by their generosity, but the fact that they have tripled that offer and rewarded three fans is just brilliant. I’m sure I speak on behalf of everyone connected with the club that we thank both Ian and Alan for their very kind offer, and I’m sure the winners were absolutely delighted when they heard the news!”

 

Remember, you can still help us reach that target of 1000 season tickets sold, by contacting the club on 01244 371376 during office hours and also prior to our pre season friendlies too at the club’s ticket office.

 

Season Tickets can also be collected on Thursday 26th July, at a special event taking place in the Blues Bar at the Swansway Chester Stadium. The event will also see Bern & Jono appear after their training session to give an update on pre season training and latest signings.

 

CFU Informal meeting – live stream

Tonight’s City Fans United meeting will be streamed live on the Chester FC You Tube channel.

 

Please find the link below:

Chester FC TV – Watch the CFU meeting live

 

 

We will be testing this platform to see what the quality is, so please bear with us if any quality issues arise during the meeting.

 

 

Our normal streaming service platform has started charging and we are looking at other options for streaming.

 

As this is an informal meeting there is no log in required to view the meeting other than a normal you tube log in.

 

 

The meeting will set underway around 7.30pm tonight.