Author: Jeff Banks

Members Meeting – Thursday 18th July

The next City Fans United members meeting is set to take place on Thursday 18th July, in the Blues Bar at the Exacta Stadium, commencing at 7.30pm.

The meeting is open to any members, and you can also renew your CFU membership on the night itself.

During the meeting, the board will provide an update from the Club, and there will also be the chance to hear from the West Cheshire Credit Union, who are due to attend to give a short presentation on how they can help Chester fans spread the cost of Season Tickets.

We hope you can join us on the evening, the Club Shop will also be open for purchases too.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Company Secretary appointed

The board of directors of City Fans United and Chester FC are pleased to announced the appointment of Marion Needham to the position of Company Secretary.

Marion has been working with the board in an unofficial capacity for a number of months, and for some time as an administration volunteer in the stadium office and has now agreed to accept the position formally.

Campbell Smith our former secretary will work with Marion during a handover period to ensure a smooth transition of working documents and procedures.

The board would like to take this opportunity to thank Campbell for all his hard work during his years in office and to wish Marion good luck in her new role with our club.

Celebrations for Exiles in Seals Lottery Draw!

The Seals Lottery Draw for April was made at the CFU Members Meeting in the Blues Bar last night with our 3 lucky winners sharing winnings of over £1200, and it was certainly a great draw for some of our exiled supporters!

 

Congratulations to the following winners who will shortly receive their winnings:

 

 

1st Prize – Mr Adrian Lee, Brighton – wins £555.00

 

2nd Prize – Mr Alan Astbury, Lancashire – wins £416.25

 

3rd Prize – Mr Alan Matthews, Southampton – wins £276.00

 

As you can see, we now have over £1200 per month in the prize fund, which is also matched by funds going to the development of Chester FC.

 

To get involved, download the Seals Lottery Application form today via this link and you could be the next big winner on the Seals Lottery!

Members back Recommendations

City Fans United members voted overwhelmingly to back the recommendations set out in the Big City Census 2013, with important decisions being made on both the price structure for next season, and also the membership fee increase from £5 to £12 per year.

 

The full report will be issued shortly, but 85% of respondents to the Census backed the suggested prices for the 2013/14 season, with 10% against the recommendations.

 

Based on a suggestion from Blues fan and CFU member Mark Beeton, who asked the question about Season Tickets in the previous City Fans United meeting, there is a ‘cashback’ incentive for Season Ticket Holders, where those purchasing have the chance to claim cashback on Adult season tickets, if they purchase their season ticket by Friday 9th August 2013, and the target of 750 Adult season tickets is hit.

 

Prices for next season will be as follows:


Season Tickets

Adult seated £299 (£268 with cashback incentive)

Concession seated £209

Youth 16/17 £99

Child 5-15 £40 (or £60 with junior sized shirt package, £65 if adult sized shirt required for Child)

 

Adult standing £259 (£233 with cashback incentive)

Concession standing £190

Youth £99

Child 5-15 £40 (or £60 with junior sized shirt package, £65 if adult sized shirt required for Child)

 

Legends Lounge

Individual £499

Corporate £599

 

On the Day Prices are as follows:

Adult seated £16 (previously £14)

Concession seated £11 (previously £10)

Youth 16/17 £6 (previously £5)

Child 5-15 £3 (previously £3)

 

Adult standing £14 (previously £12)

Concession standing £10 (previously £9)

Youth 16/17 £6 (previously £5)

Child 5-15 £3 (previously £3)

 

Nearly 82% of those completing the survey also supported the idea of a Family Stand, and the board will now look at the viability of that idea.

 

The CFU membership fee is currently £5 per year, and the recommendation of moving this to £12 (or £1 per month) was supported by 89% of respondents, and now the board will look to introduce an option whereby fans can obtain their membership via Direct Debit to help with future membership periods.

 

It was also announced that the CFU Player of the Year Award will be revealed and presented on the day of the Town Hall celebration, on Saturday 11th May, allowing all fans to congratulate the winner at the Civic Reception.

 

The Census results will be issued in full shortly, as we now collate all the comments that go with the results, and get in touch with all those who would like to help with both volunteering at the club and with the fundraising efforts, as well as participate in the income generating schemes currently ongoing.

 

Thanks to everyone for completing the Big City Census 2013 and for having their say on how the Club moves forward.

 

 

CFU Meeting – Tuesday 23rd April

A reminder that it’s the City Fans United members meeting tomorrow night, kicking off at 7.30pm in the Blues Bar at the Exacta Stadium.

 

There will be updates from the board on the night including the latest on the financial situation at Chester FC, as well as a look at the results from the Big City Census 2013 which closed at 5pm today. Thanks to everyone that completed the survey.

 

New members are always welcome on the evening, so if you’ve not renewed or you want to join for the first time tomorrow night then new memberships will be accepted on Tuesday night.

 

We look forward to seeing you at the Exacta for our latest meeting, remember we kick off at 7.30pm and the Blues Bar will be open nice and early, come and celebrate St George’s Day with us!

 

The Big City Census 2013

This weekend, The Big City Census 2013 has been sent out to City Fans United members, either by e-mail or by post, depending on what details we hold for you.

 

CFU & Chester FC Chairman, Tony Durkin, emphasized the importance of this year’s Survey being completed by members:

 

“I would like to say a big thank you to all our members for the efforts that have been put in this year.  We have had an unbelievable three years since the misery of going out of business.  We have all been learning how to run a football Club and I can assure you that the Board are striving to improve our performance off the field.

Now things get serious.  We know that we are stepping up a level next season and we all need to raise our game.  That means building income streams through matches, sponsorship and growing our presence in the wider community.  Our model relies on us all pulling together and each giving what we can to build our Club.  Some are in a position to give money and others can give time.  Even if you are in a position to do neither, your support by simply being a CFU member means more than you might imagine.  Thank you.

You will find questions in the Census about next year’s admission prices and CFU membership fees.  Please consider these carefully – the Board have made recommendations but ultimately it is up to you as owners of the Club.

There is also the chance to vote for your CFU Player of the Season in the Census!

The information you give us will be vital in helping us to shape our strategy for the coming season.  Please just click on the link below and complete the survey by 5pm on Monday 22nd April.”

 

Click here for the link to the Survey

 

CFU WORKING PARTY WANTS TO HEAR YOUR VIEWS!

At the CFU AGM held last November, members voted to set-up a Working Party to review the Club’s current structure and organisation. The aim is to make sure that we have the best possible arrangements going forward; that they are fully fit for purpose and afford openness and democratic accountability consistent with our fan-owned model.

A number of fans came forward to volunteer to be on the Working Party and since the New Year they have been working closely with the present Board and staff from Supporters Direct. A part of their work has been looking at the structures of other fan-owned clubs to assess their arrangements to see if there are any best practice models or ideas out there that we could adopt.

The Working Party are now conducting a major survey of CFU members in order to gather your views and comments. The survey has been designed for us by Supporters Direct and should take around 10 minutes to complete.

You can access the survey on the link below.

CFU Working Party Survey

We would be grateful if you could complete this survey by Thursday 25th April.  Thank-you for assistance in helping to shape our future.

CFU Structure Working Party

 

Bill Smith resigns as Director

City Fans United board of directors have this evening received and accepted the resignation of CFU and Chester FC board member Bill Smith, and will step down with immediate effect.

The board would like to thank Bill for his efforts during his time as a Director, after being elected to the board in 2011.