TOPIC: Candidates for fans rep

Good to see that three of the four are already communicating with us on this site.
Nice to know a little bit more about them before voting.

Only 1 regular poster though.

Happy to answer any questions people may have or give any info people want from me - within reason, of course. I won't be disclosing bank card details.

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@mspoonz
Find me on Facebook - Matthew Spooner
Ask me on here

Mouldy, can you punch JN for me if you come across him at a meeting?

Ellbell wrote:
I'm not a violent man - will a consistent fan representative verbal presence do?

boo not good enough, mouldy out

Ellbell wrote:
I have to get in first!

When does the vote end?

I would like to hear what everyone has to say as I don't know anyone personally. Ideally I would like to have someone represent us that:

1. Doesn't receive any business benefit from the club for being the Fans Rep.
2. Hasn't or doesn't have any links with the club. So it can be a fresh relationship for both sides from the start.
3. Has a history of running a fan group or social club that has increased members through the years.
4. Local so can be around at matches / town etc to answer fans and promote.
5. Is fairly young so that (he /she) can be in touch with the new generation of potential fans.

Good luck to all 4 and I hope you have great success in your role.

you should be a cert for the role with my 500 text votes

I know mouldy is 1, who are the others on this site? Can we have a TV debate, but on this forum instead of TV like they did for the general election?


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Edit: just seen Claire like eh further down the board


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SquarePass wrote:
1) Although I'm part of the local business community, I don't see this having an immediate impact on the business. I doubt SP saw an increase in sales or a stronger balance sheet as a result of his connections, likewise with AJ and Pioneer - if anything, it could potentially hinder me on that front if my hypothetical performance isn't as good as some would hope.

2) All of the shortlist have a strong link with the club - in so far as we are fans - fans who are wanting the best interest. My links with the club other than that are from my membership of CUOSC and briefly when I was involved with the Trust Youth leg which I was aiming to redevelop the Trust - in a very similar way to how CUOSC has came about. Other than that, historically the business have supported CUFC but I have not personally been heavily involved.

3) I have no real experience in running a fans group. However, I did manage a football team from the under 16's through the 18's league. I am sort of the 'ring leader' in our social group and through my line of work I am comfortable in talking to a mix of generations.

4) Harraby lad, happy to be there at 9am if that's what fans feel they need.

5) Under 25. Don't let age be a deterrent that said - older hands will offer their benefits too. However, I think I am well suited to open comms and interactions with all age groups - including the younger groups who will keep the seats and terraces filled (hopefully to a larger tune) for the next few decades.

Mouldy can delete the other candidates' posts!

What I want to know is which can get me a ticket for Liverpool away. They have my vote.

Tom wrote:
As much as it could benefit me - I'm just too honest a guy! Sure Deano would give me a disapproving ticking off.

SquarePass wrote:
Hi Square Pass

Ok, here goes...

1) Definitely no benefit from the club. No business relationship. I am a fan and season ticket holder. I do sponsor a player and have done for the past 6+ years. My wife and I have also sponsored the matchball and programme at other times.

2) I have no affiliation with or family connection to anyone working for CUFC. I'm just a fan who watches as many Carlisle games as I can and who takes an interest in the team, of course, and how the club is managed.

3) Can't say that I have run either a fan or social club. However, I worked in Customer Relations for the BBC for 22 years and worked my way up from answering the phones to the BBC Chairman's office managing the Editorial Standards Committee. I am committed to giving fans a clear and loud voice at boardroom level. I have ideas for improvement and have visited numerous clubs in the UK and Europe watching how they interact/communicate with fans. I can assure you there are many things CUFC could do to start improving fan relations and it won't cost them anything.

4) Although, born and brought up in Carlisle, with family I am close to still living in the city, I live outside of Cumbria. Nevertheless, my wife and I have been season ticket holders for the past 5 years and attend up to 40+ matches a season, doing day trips from the South to Carlisle for every home game. I will always be available to meet fans when in Carlisle, will attend events organised by fans, media or the club and can always be contacted on Twiiter @BruceVander, Facebook (Bruce Vander) or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. If I get the post I will canvas fans in as many ways as possible to garner their views and represent them honestly to the board.

5) What do you mean by fairly young..? Ok, I'm over 50 play football regularly and am very lucky to enjoy an early retirement. However, I recognise that youth is the only way a club can survive long term and that is why I believe significant effort by the fan rep should concentrate on making this group welcome at games and heavily involved in outreach programmes. I would want to visit ticket prices for the under 18s and look at how other clubs have attracted younger fans, especially the smaller clubs surrounded by big clubs. I would also want to find out what our community team are doing about getting involved with younger fans using football as the doorway to engage with our community.

I hope this helps you and other supporters with their vote.

Baggersblue. When you say you trip from the south to Carlisle, can I ask what area is meant by South? Would travel to/from meetings be any hindrance?


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Out of interest, as a big fan of European Football, and having been many places myself, what Clubs would you use as examples?

Thanks, CCU

CCU wrote:
He has mentioned Aachen and Bochum previously.

Happy to answer any questions..

Chopper: We live in Surrey and we do a 620 mile round trip whenever there's a home game. Mostly we do a day trip - 5 hours up and 5 hours back. We start at around 7 and return 22.30. When in Carlisle we usually pop into the ground to pick-up away tickets and see Jenny in the club shop, then go into town for lunch. If elected I will stay around the ground meeting fans before games in the bars or around different sections of the ground. As we are at most away games as well, I'll be able to meet anyone going to those games. Travelling to meetings isn't a problem as I usually travel to midweek games by train staying overnight and would do so for any meetings or events (fan meet-ups, media etc). I also get 25% off virgin trains being a season ticket holder which cuts down costs. I am lucky in that I have taken very early retirement and have the time to get to Carlisle whenever possible.

CCU and Wazza: As Wazza mentioned I would use examples such as Aachen, a tier 4 German club, who have fantastic facilities and club shop. Dortmund for their website and how to represent fans and, given their size, be welcoming to their fan base to meet and greet players. They, and other German clubs, have a distinctiveness about their identity and work hard to build relationships with their fan base. It's something, in my view, we should be working towards given our unique geographical position.

BaggersBlue wrote:
The mentality of German Football Fans to English ones is incredible like, as is the way they are treated. Personally I think it will take a very long time to change it to the point where fans can stand with no trouble and have a beer in full view of the match as well as having a say so in Club matters etc... but it is something the Sport in England should be aiming towards. The biggest issue at Carlisle seems to be ticketing to me, seems to be one error after the next - not really sure that those working in the Ticket Office have any experience of being fans themselves in all honesty. That about the identity can also relate to the players, from Bundesliga to Oberliga the players will stay behind after the match and applaud the fans and get barracked or applauded themselves, in England they are off - no relationship between players and fans at so many Clubs.

620 mile round trip for home games? I'm not voting for you you're obviously mental.

SquarePass wrote:
Hi SquarePass,
1. I wouldn't receive any benefits at all. I work in the NHS & have asked whether this role would be a conflict of interests before I applied. It was agreed that there wouldn't be.
2. My brother-in-law was on the panel for shortlisting, he declared this before agreeing to be on the panel. He isn't employed by the club, he works for Virgin Trains.
3. While I lived down in Northampton I worked for a weight loss company in addition to my role in the NHS. This gave me 2 yrs experience of talking to large groups of people. I grew each meeting, exceeded targets and supported people to successfully change their lives. (I need to remember what I did then for my own health!) Although a recent development, taking on the managing/ coaching of my sons team is also an example of me working with groups of people. Thankfully there are great parents & support from the club the team plays!
4. I live in Carlisle.
5. I proudly announce my age as 28. Which, isn't technically true I can't bring myself to accept my true age!!

Do we know if the Club will be publishing the full results at the end of the vote or just the name of the successful applicant. I for one would be interested to see the split of the vote, and more importantly how many people actually bothered themselves to vote on what is quite possibly the most positive thing the club has done for the fans for a long time.

Claire_Like_Eh wrote:
How much to keep the truth about your age a secret? Or am I now classed as 31?!

This seems very tricky. The 3 who have spoken on here come across as genuine fans with a passion for the role and any of them would make a great fan rep.
It is a pity it is only one position.

Whoever doesn't get it, I think they should be given some senior position within the ongoing work with fans and club as they already are great ambassadors. I hope the ones that don't win remain as committed and as proactive as they are now. Good work everybody!

bruntonpete wrote:
Absolutely, I've no problem in being as proactive and passionate if not selected. My support and services would be on offer to help out wherever needed.

bruntonpete wrote:
I agree, its good to know that Suzanne Kidd said shed take on board my critisms and happy to debate them which is good, seems to be a lot more open this season which is only a good thing.

I certainly wont be backing down if things don't improve

bruntonpete wrote:
This is spot on. All three candidates here have great energy, ideas and commitment. It'd be a crying shame if the club couldn't find a way to harness all of it.

Bruce's ideas from Germany and Claire's on community engagement are really great, and it feels like they could probably do some work on this with the club, while Mouldy's business nous would be a great asset too!

To avoid confusion, I'm locking this topic.

You can use the individual topics to ask questions etc:

Bruce Vander:
www.thecumbrians.net/index.php/cufc-foru...ntative-bruce-vander

Claire Winder:
www.thecumbrians.net/index.php/cufc-foru...andidate-for-fan-rep

Matthew Spooner:
www.thecumbrians.net/index.php/cufc-foru...vote-matthew-spooner