TOPIC: Fan Representative - Matthew Spooner

Now that the shortlist has been announced I am thrilled to say I am on the 4 person vote.

I'm Matthew Spooner, and I want to do all I can to help us, as fans, have a say and involvement in helping out beloved club grow both on and off the field.

Please, please, please follow this link and vote. Alternatively, text SPOONER {YOUR SURNAME}{YOUR POSTCODE} to 07786 209 191.

I am open to answer any questions you all might have about how I can help - my e-mail address is This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. I am on Twitter @mspoonz or by all means message me on here.

If I get the chance to represent our wonderful fan base, I will not let us down.

Can you copy and paste your application on here? Be useful to see what you put.

Mullen, can you do the same, just to give us a laugh.

can any fan vote or is it only for certain groups ie: trust members, supporters club members etc as i am not a member of any organisations.just a normal fan who turns up on match days.

Bluefox1963 wrote:
All fans welcome to vote.

jelly wrote:
I've already put it on here on a previous thread, I wont hijack Mouldy's thread as he made the final 4 I didn't. But please vote for Mouldy, he's the only one so far that's introduced who he is and he posts a lot of good stuff on here.

cheers deano

Mullen103 wrote:
23 Aug 2025 20:22
Claire_Like_Eh
Claire_Like_Eh's Avatar
Woman from Twitter
Hello!

I am "woman from Twitter" who has applied for the fan rep role but you can call me Claire if you want to.

I have popped up on here a couple of times in the last year, I've said my piece at the CUOSC meeting when Andrew Lapping was there, I've asked questions at the recent Roadshow in Foxy's and I sent a very challenging question into JN on the radio after my son cried at the Exeter game last season. Those who know me certainly wouldn't describe me as a "yes man" or yes woman.

I've...

jelly wrote:
"Evening *******,

I’m Matthew Spooner, Director of local and moderately established family business World Group – more commonly known as Window World – who have, historically, had a long standing relationship with the club, more personally Dick Young, spanning back to the pre-Knighton era. I am writing to express my interest in and apply for consideration for the Fan Representative role.

I started off following the club around 14/15 years ago when Claire Brown encouraged my sister to sign me up to the Junior Blues. Once I ran onto the pitch trying to keep up with Ryan Baldiccino (and failing!), I was hooked. After that, when I was about 11 I set up a ‘fan site’ and Andy Hall very kindly gave me the opportunity to interview Matty Glennon and Simmo for the site – so to coin a phrase, CUFC really is ‘in the blood’. I believe one of the keys to growing and sustaining support is to give families the memories (like above) that I’ve grown up with and give them some involvement, a voice that is heard and a reason to be there on a match day.

I feel my business insight, alongside my passion for both the club, but football in general and my desire to help the club connect with the customer base in more dynamic fashion stand me in good stead to fill the position.
________________________________________

Over the last 12-18 months, I have grown more and more intrigued into how I can be a part of the football club, and how I can positively (and mutually) impact the local community and the football club. Going back around 12 months I was briefly involved with the United Trust working alongside Norman, Nigel and various other of the board members looking at the possibility of joining the Trust and overseeing the formation of the ‘United Trust Youth’ branch.

As above, I see the Fans’ Rep role as an ideal opportunity for me to combine my two biggest passions – business and football – in a role that will mutually benefit club and community.

So why do I see myself as a good candidate for the role? Well, I am Carlisle born, Carlisle bread active member of the diehard faithful and I am well connected within various fan-base circles covering many age groups. I am also a moderator on theCumbrians.net fans forum, which gives me access to some brilliant positive and constructive feedback whilst having the ability and professionalism to stay impartial on some of the more controversial topics.

My business background, in terms of Marketing and Customer Service, offer me a great skill base to communicate and liaise with fans via all platforms – print, social networking and of course, face to face. I feel the same business involvement and experience also gives me the level of professionalism that comes with a sensitive position, like this. The need for confidentiality of some topics, along with the way the club needs (and deserves) to be represented in the media, around the ground and via all other platforms is something I am well skilled in.

My marketing background inside our business sees me using a wide range of mediums – social networks, print media, research groups, e-surveys etc. I see all of these as vital tools to achieving and obtaining the fans feedback and being able to collate data/stats to present to the 1921 Ltd Board in a useable and professional manner to work with. Understandably, not all feedback can be actioned and some fans will be left disgruntled or a bit disheartened. This can be escalated by the way the information is relayed back to them – or in some circumstances the lack of information given out to them. I am not scared of a challenge and my shoulders are wide enough to take a bit of a heckling from time to time when people do need to vent frustrations. I feel I am well suited to work in a professional and a casual manner when each different approach is required

I think the key to this role is getting a perfect blend of your business mind and being the fans voice. Unless you can appreciate things from both sides of the spectrum, you’re never really going to offer the club, or the fans the respect and honesty they deserve. I feel I am the person to take this forward and would relish the potential involvement.
If you have any questions or require any further information, please don’t hesitate but to contact me on any of the below details.

Thanks in advance for your consideration."

I'm surprised Ali Ross hasn't applied. She's the most dedicated football fan of any club that I know. Anyone who is hellbent on getting Nixon out completely gets my vote!

Urban Designer wrote:

Matthew you have my vote. Good luck.

Mouldy wrote:

Surprised you got in after addressing them as something that got censored on here.

Cheers for putting it up.

Hi Mouldy

I'm a pretty new user but have followed the boards for a while. Impressed with what you have said but more importantly in the manner you have approached it. Best of luck, I've voted for you,

Good luck Matthew if you are chosen, if you are take no S H I T!!!!

But Stuart Irving gets my vote, know him well and is a great bloke

I've been told off somebody on the panel that you're looking to be a shareholder in the club - would this compromise in any way your role as a fan Representative? If true, by the way(?)

Ellbell wrote:
Each to their own, Ellbell, whoever gets in has the same aim - get the club and the fans driving our wonderful team forward on and off the pitch.

spaffhead wrote:
Hi Spaff, realistically, that isn't achievable for me at present. I've not the capital to do so. However, down line, if my business plans all go as I intend, I do aim to be a shareholder in the club. This could be 10, 15, 20 years down line that said - if ever possible.

If anything I think that would be a positive sign to voters - I'm not just doing this for any personal recognition - I genuinely love the football club and want to help in any way I can. At present - this is the best way I can support things. From a business angle, having a huge fan base that are fully involved with things around the club and all help where possible is dream. There's no hidden agenda on my behalf as to shareholdings - just an ambition if I end up in the fortunate position to do so.

Fair play, that's why I put at the end if it was true as I didn't know the facts etc. Was just a concern as obviously that sort of thing could influence decisions and relationships due to personal goals, but for something that isn't in the pipeline immediately it shouldn't be an issue.

I am casting my vote elsewhere (Claire) but wish you the best of luck.

spaffhead wrote:
No hidden agenda here - just a fan who loves the club and feels he can offer something.

Go well, Spaff.

Mouldy what do you mean by stay impartial on the more controversial subjects?

Mouldy wrote:

Think you come across really well mate as do all candidates to be honest but you get my vote.... Good luck the final four they seem a good passionate bunch! Good luck mouldy

Just had a chuckle at your photo.
Like what Irving pitched,like sound of other fella.
So why am i voting for you? What will you do for the dog? Are you going to stand your ground,speak up?

TopDog74 wrote:
If I didn't think I could make a difference for the fans I wouldn't have applied. I'll do the same for the dog as I will for all other CUFC fans - in Cumbria, London, overseas - work endlessly to appropriately represent the most important people involved with our beloved football club, the fans.

Standing up and being heard is something nobody has done for the fans for too long. I've had to stand up and be counted for quite a lot over the last 5 years entering the family business and being appointed a director on name alone - but, I stood up, I was heard and now I'm ready for another challenge: getting our club closer to us.

I'll also let you use the picture as your background on your phone, should you wish, dog.

Edit to add - or of course your cumbrians.net avatar

Mouldy wrote:
Voted before i posted good luck!

TopDog74 wrote:
I must admit, that podgy fellow in your avatar would make a fine fans rep...

Mouldy - are you any relation to Cliff Spooner??

beefsister wrote:
He's me old man

Hi mouldy.

I have no personal knowledge of any of the 4 so my vote could go any of 4 ways.

As the fan representative on the board if elected, what would be the first and foremost item on your agenda to bring up on behalf of us fans in your first meeting, firstly on the match day and on off the field issues?

What kind of thing would you be looking for for not only the Carlisle city community, but the exiles as well?

If elected, how would you see your position as a respected moderator on this forum going forwards, or would you think that there'd be any conflict within your duties sitting on the board and being moderator on this board?

Thankyou,
A 'sitting on the fence' voter


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thank you Spaffhead! (Is a sentence I'd never thought I'd say!!)

chopper wrote:
First of all, I think it's really important to note that the fans rep role is meant to do exactly that. So in order to bring up the first pressing matter, I would need some assistance from the network of fans I currently have access to. Once I know what are the urgent issues are in the fans eyes I can take it from there. Obviously in following meetings and with my ability to communicate with a broader audience, I would grow in terms of representation and how much I can do.

As I see it, there are a few items currently causing pain on a match day: Ticket queues, cash gate (or lack thereof) and postcodes being taken. In order to fully address and explain that situation back to fans, I need to understand the club's motives. Once all that is in order, I'll be able to digest and feedback to the faithful. After gathering opinions and us all coming to an opinion of what we'd like to see I can begin work on seeing how plausible that is with the current systems - technology, staffing, financials etc... No doubt you, and others, have your own views of what would be the key issues - I'd be grateful if you let me know.

Away from match days, I feel the main areas that require improvement are overall communications with the fanbase - from activities and meet a greets through to general acknowledgement and keeping us 'in the loop -, community presence and lack of activity to engage new support - whether that be from here, or further afield.

I think it's vitally important that the club are as involved with the 'non local' community as they are with the Carlisle based fans. The roadshows are already taking place, alongside CUOSC - I see this continuing, and looking for ways to grow the events in popularity. Perhaps player appearances or meet + greets would be of interest? With those further afield, it's a bit more of a logistical dilemma to be present, however, with the length of time we're travelling, as a club, this season there's every opportunity for the more southern based fans to have road-shows or events after games or other forms of more 'personable' contact with the club. We could always look at how we welcome the 'exiles' or 'non locals' back to BP and how we can help to get them here more often to see the team they love.

Sometimes it's the simple things that are effective - the mailing list being of interest, the social media/website continuing to grow and include interesting articles etc. Again, this is something that of course will be more representative given a few weeks of gathering ideas.

With regards to the message-board and fans rep role, I don't see there being any conflict of interest. Being an active contributor to this site gives me a great ability to interact with over 850 fans all in one place - with access to this 24/7, wherever I am. It may be the case that we get down to business and it becomes apparent that the majority of fans would like to see more from the club on here - interviews with players, articles from the club if necessary - etc. I talk to CUFCDeano through this site regularly and see my role as moderator opening up new opportunities that the club haven't previously explored. However, there obviously would be some items that I couldn't comment on - sensitive club issues that I would be duty bound to keep private wouldn't be mentioned on here and it would be important to note that all views would be my own and not representative of the football club - unless I was posting in an official capacity and feeding back to fans. I would possibly look at setting up a secondary account for that purpose to avoid confusion - with CUFCDeano's approval to stay in keeping with 1 name per poster guidance.

It's hard to put into few enough words that people don't snooze off through boredom - but hopefully this will give you a good feel for me and help in your decision making process. By all means, any further questions, ask away.

Matt

Mouldy wrote:

Cheers for that Matt.
Number 1 thing I think the club could do with, is to get rid of the price increase on match day tickets. Also, have a nice round number (£20, £15 ect) rather than £22 and £15 but that's just my OCD going into overdrive


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

It's not a price increase on match day. It's a discount if you buy in advance.

chopper wrote:
I'll make sure to keep that in mind - I'm aiming to fill a position representing all fans - even those with pricing OCD

Giving this a cheeky bump

While you are the fans rep do you intend going to all games home and away?

Whilst it's vital that the younger generation are involved, if you look round at the moment, The present fanbase is of the older variety.

Time and again I hear from fans, that they didn't know about something and time and again the reason they haven't heard about some thing is "Oh we don't bother with that internet thing" So how are you going to bring the people who don't bother with social media into the loop?

Our fanbase has been in decline for a few years and it also seem to be very split, with loads of different factions. We just have to read the posts on here to see the dislike of various groups by some posters and the reverse.

Do You feel you can communicate and bring together the various groups to make one strong supporters group, or do you feel that is not part of your remit?

That's three questions for you all to answer. I really haven't made a final decision yet, so there may be more questions to come

Bumble wrote:
I intend to go to all games I can, Bumble.

That said, there will be some I'm unable to attend - however, in the event I can't make games I do intend to make arrangements for someone (or a group) to be availablefor comms and feedback in my absence. I don't see this as just a one man mission - I fully aim to have a web or network so to speak of people committed to the cause and to strengthen the position of fans.

Bumble wrote:
The youth alone will not push this club to the next level we deserve as fans. The older generations still have a hugely important role to play. I'm open to be guided as to how they'd like communications to go. I am very old fashioned in so far as I still think the best way to communicate with people is to sit with them face to face. I intend to hold monthly 'forums' and would invite people to come and give their thoughts, meet some other fans and spend time chatting through what we feel is important.

Obviously this is not always possible for those further afield and I feel print media is a great way to get into a larger audience at the same time - however can become costly if not done effectively. Whether that be a club sent mailer, using Jon Coleman's fan reach as support, using the match day programmes, making flyers available at the ticket office or food huts etc. From a work point of view, I actually find the best way for me to get messages out to all staff is on the noticeboards that they all see on a daily basis. There's very much scope for a fan area at BP, IMO, with space for important messages.

Let's not forget the London Branch and the influence they can have in getting info out in their newsletters and through meetings.

For those overseas, it's a little bit harder to meet face to face, however, I am keen to set up strong links to those - Facebook, Skype (or similar) are the obvious options. I also would look at other set ups and see how they currently interact with fans further afield.

I will use all mediums that would be immediately at my disposal, whilst I look at setting up facilities for newer methods of comms to make sure fans can access the information as they so wish. It would be disrespectful of me to turn my back on a group of supporters due to how they prefer receiving information.

Bumble wrote:
I feel communicating with our fans is going to need a different approach dependant on the individual fans - where they live, language they speak which platforms they have access to etc. The key for me is simple - get the fans passionate about CUFC and their individual quirks just add to the brilliant club that is CUFC

It's worth noting that the one thing that does unite all fans, no matter what views they have of each other, an individual player, an opposition or of someone's opinion is Carlisle United.

I'm not claiming that I'll be able to unite ALL fans, because you will always find disagreement, and to coin a phrase "You can't please all of the people, all of the time". What I am committed to doing is welcoming different ideas, taking advantage of the disagreement over topics or ideas to come to the best solution for the fans and club to move forward.

I will be out of the country from Tuesday on a trip booked in March - timing wise it couldn't really be much worse!

I will still have access to here and emails should there be any further questions.

Football League jolly..........buffet.........Lisbon......etc.

At least that makes the voting decision a little easier.