TOPIC: Fan Representative - Claire Winder

Hello, woman from Twitter here!

I thought as an introduction I should post my letter that resulted in the shortlisting. I am happy to answer questions and of course elaborate further on how I see the role developing, my skills and experience.

Thanks for reading.

Congratulations and good luck to Matthew, Bruce & Stuart as well.

.....

I would like to apply for the position of non-executive director - fan representative.

As fans, we often justify our experience and opinion by how long we have supported the football club. Personally I find all opinions should be considered. The length of service to the club, how many season tickets people have had or how many cold Tuesday nights stood in the Paddock in torrential rain are extra details.

The reason I would like this role is because I'm worried about my club, others are too but I have a 7 year old son. I decided from day 1 he would be a Carlisle United fan. I owe it to him to do my bit for the club so he has a football club that he can proudly announce in the future that he has supported for 43 years, had 27 season tickets and got drenched standing in the Paddock on cold, wet Tuesday nights 216 times.

I believe my knowledge and current use of social media (both Twitter @claire_like_eh and Facebook) are an advantage to me. Due to my work in the public sector I am also aware of my responsibilities on social media.

Over the last 2 years I have developed good relationships with CUOSC and I'm aware of the other supporter groups you would expect the post holder to engage with and work closely with. I expect this role to be what the supporter liaison officer role could have been.

I am an Occupational Therapist and I work in a local community mental health team. I fully appreciate the role and responsibilities a football club can have on the local community's health and wellbeing. My professional background would be an advantage as I could liaise with my NHS Trust I work with to support any schemes you would like to implement. My work requires me to work with high levels of integrity, dignity, confidentiality, motivation and determination. These are all qualities that are transferable to this role.

Football is often described as being an 'old man's club'. Well I'm female, youngish and know what football means to 'ordinary' fans. I have recently taken on a new role of being the manager / coach for my son's football team. I did this because they needed someone to stand up and do it. In only 7 weeks I have gained the support of other parents, organised training, kits, sponsorship and most importantly enabled 10 young boys to become a team and develop friendships which could last a life time. Football is powerful. Football can grip a community and make exiled fans feel a strong bond with their community many miles away. I know this because I lived in Northampton for 10 years until 4 years ago. There was something very special about walking to an away game and people asking me about my son wearing a Carlisle United shirt. We want to be proud to be Carlisle United supporters again.

I believe being a parent of a young child, already active in the community would assist you to develop the fan base of the Junior Blues. I have experience of the matchday mascots, football in the community soccer schools, after schools coaching, shirts for sevens and the matchday experience (home and away).

If given this opportunity I am unlikely to agree with everything you say, I am likely to ask why (a lot) and I would question missed deadlines or no progress (whether actual or perceived). What I will bring to the role is a friendly, approachable, reliable and humorous character who will endeavour to get the opinion of fans across to you and work hard to help you bridge the significant gap between the club and your customers.

I nearly forgot ... This is my 21st season, never had a season ticket and I only got drenched 3 times in the Paddock as my dad moved us into the Warwick Road End in 1995.

Living in Northampton must have been a load of cobblers.

Your new found ability to run a team already puts you ahead of Curle.

Your work with the local mental health team will stand you in good stead should you be elected.

I had 10yrs of people telling me how northern I was then when I moved back 2yrs of people telling me how Southern I was!!

The boys team is fun, I am still just finding my feet but they're happy so I am happy!! Trying to get 10 7yos to follow an instruction is my toughest challenge to date. Ever!

melbourneblues wrote:
I am incredibly proud of the work I do. We work hard to develop trust with some very vulnerable people to achieve goals which mean they can do ordinary things some of us wouldn't think twice about doing. Like watching football for example.

I also at reducing stigma so more people seek help & support.

Keep doing your work in the community, you sound like a lovely caring person.
I want this particular post to be filled by someone who can give the dedication that you give to these under privileged people, to my football club.
I don't believe that you can give the time that I want this fans rep to give to this post because or your dedication to caring. I wish you well. If ever I need help I am coming to you (name with h eld)

stu wrote:
Thanks Stu, I'd like to think so too. I think I finally have the balance right between work & home. I understand your point of view though I wouldn't have applied if I didn't think I could put the time in that the role deserves. I asked a question about this to the club before I submitted my application to ensure i wasn't wasting anyone's time.

Well Claire, this is a once in a lifetime position and I don't see that balance comes into it. You have your family and your your job, and I respect you for that.
I don't want this fans rep to balance anything. I want this fans rep to be totally committed to the cause.

Well thanks for taking the time to read my information.

stu wrote:
Is having a family and job any more time consuming than running a business, or whatever else the other candidates do?

Oh god, I thought my vote was safe with another candidate before reading this.

Claire, I don't mean this to come across as the opposite of the way I'm meaning this question (I'm only a mid 20's male fan that struggles to ask something I mean in a good way but use words that can be twisted to mean the opposite), but if you are successful and do get elected, along with your work being demanding (my sister is a psychologist so I know how many hours she has to dedicate to that), along with running a boys football club do you feel like you have the time available to fulfil the role (I imagine that it will be demanding both mentally, and time consuming?)

Regards, and good luck in your election


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

No,it isn't, and I don't care about their family / business commitments . This is a once in a life time chance and I want 100% commitment from this rep. Which candidate can do that?

stu wrote:
Probably none of them can offer 100% all of the time, so are you able to vote for anyone?

stu wrote:
They are only there for a year so I'm guessing there is another vote next year for a fans representative. If the one voted in fails to live up to expectations someone else will take over next year, unless of course, those in charge say otherwise.

I'd also like to say thanks to the panel in their impartiality in their choice of 4 candidates for consideration.

You got my vote young lady due to the fact you come across as a very strong willed and determined supporter i also fear young fans may not see a local club of any worth in the future and the current regiem have done nothing to ease my fears .

Good luck claire .

chopper wrote: Hi Chopper!
I have worked hard at getting the balance right between home & work life. I couldn't obv respond to things while I was at work, which, I would imagine the other candidates would have similar commitments. My job can be stressful, I don't work at weekends or in the evenings. I presume running a business is time consuming and stressful as well. The support I have from the other parents & the club my sons team plays for is brilliant. I see it as a hobby so I can share something with my son. I don't think it's more time consuming than if I went to the gym a few times a week. Before applying I asked the club a question about the meeting times & flexibility around this, which there wasn't a problem with.

Hope this answers your question & makes your decision a little easier!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Alan wrote:
Thank you Alan, much appreciated. I don't know if we can post pictures on here but I have a wonderful picture of my son & his friends off to the football. You're right, they are the future. I'll post it on FB if I can't go it on here.

stu wrote:
Must've missed the bit where it said the Fan Rep would be required to be on call 24/7.

Mashie Niblick wrote:
Yep, would be a bit harsh bearing in mind it's a "non-excutive" position... ie you get paid nowt!

chesterviabothel wrote:

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

What's your email address please?

JackCUFC wrote:
Hi Jack,

It's This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. I'm happy for anyone to email me any questions they have.

Hi Bumble

It's not possible for me to go to all of the home & away games. Obv the successful candidate will have a season ticket so I would aim to go to all of the home games, but from a financial point of view & due to personal circumstances it isn't feasible for me to attend all games, though particularly the away games. While I admire the commitment & effort those who do attend all games I don't believe this role requires attendance at all games.

I agree that only using the Internet as a forum for communicating wouldn't be sufficient. I already attend CUOSC meetings & have regularly attended fans forums or feedback meetings. I have found that these have a wider age range and so attendance at these, organising meetings would be necessary. I would also utilise the opportunity to request a regularly column in the News & Star and communicate via the radio Cumbria sports shows.

Your final question Bumble is where I see this position being most important. I have been very disappointed & annoyed by the Supporter Liason Officer. I believe this was a role the club received a financial reward for. I am independent of all groups. I am a member of CUOSC because this is where the fans shareholding in the club lies and so when we are asked to vote on important issues like we did with the Andrew Lapping deal I want my vote to count.

If successful I would develop relationships with each group & use each group to inform opinion for the the board meetings & therefore where we want change to occur. Of course I have my own opinions on what I think needs changing but this role isn't about my opinion, it's about what's important to us all. It's about ensuring that we are no longer taken for granted.

As this first rep role is until June 2016 it is vital that the successful candidate puts in place the procedures to ensure this isn't lip service. It's what we make of it. I have seen this as the club giving us as opportunity to engage as much as the club engaging with them.

Hope that answers your questions!

FAO BruntonPete.

I've just seen your msg on the locked thread for the candidates. Thank you!

If I'm successful or unsuccessful I will continue to support CUOSC in their role & supporting the changes they are making. I purposefully didn't apply to be a board member this year as I believed I could offer more being independent.

I will join the team of greeters at BP when I attend games without my son and continue to attend the forums & meetings for supporters.

FAO RsBlue on your post on the other thread - "I would like to know what the 4 reps think about yesterday's trouble and how you would handle this with the media and those involved."

I'd ask people to consider whether 2 minutes of daftness is worth risking a football banning order and point out that it is confusing & scary seeing that for younger or vulnerable supporters.

There's already good work already being done by the away travel - 'dry' busses, and an expectation of a certain standard of behaviour so reinforcement of that good work & highlight more of that.

We are representing the Club as much as the team are, we have a brilliant reputation as away fans and it would be a huge loss to lose that.
Aggressive / drunken behaviour has a knock on effect to the club are higher costs for policing for the return fixture, which ultimately gets passed onto supporters.

I'd also ask fans to challenge others' behaviour - I reported racist conversations fans around me a few yrs ago. I think we can say what is / isn't acceptable.

Then personally I would liaise with eg. Hartlepool fans' groups for our home fixture. Give them advice about travel etc & on match day utilise the greeters that CUOSC have organised would be valuable in setting the scene before the football match.

Hope this answers your question!

Surprised nobody really picked up on this from the locked thread...

"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."

Regardless of declaration, a massive conflict of interest?

If you were to benefit at say Council Level on an issue, you'd withdraw or abstain?

Possible to declare the connection and that you will not vote for that person.

CCU wrote:
Hi CCU,

I have been open & honest about this, as has my BIL. I don't think I can be anything other. There were no restrictions on who could apply & he wasn't aware until I had sent off my application.

Best wishes,
Claire

CCU wrote:
Hi All, yep this issue was raised and had the voting for the shortlisting been close then my votes for Claire wouldn't of counted. That said the other 11 who had voted turned out to be the same 4 regardless of how I voted. Now it is over to the fans to vote and I would have one vote like everyone else as a fan.

Thought I'd copy & paste all of the questions that were asked & all of my responses.

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SquarePass wrote:
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.

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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!!

I would like to congratulate all those who have made the final four, they all seem like good people, true fans and people who are in it for all the right reasons; I was skeptical about this post but have come to the conclusion that it's a positive move.

I'm going to be voting for Clair Winder, this is down to working with her and knowing how she operates; getting to know her personal skills and abilities and her views and opinions on Carlisle United and how the club is run. I am in a position to give an advocation of why a vote for Clair would be positive.

Firstly it is my observation that Clair cares about Carlisle United. In the time that i have come to know her (since January 2015) i have been aware that she is concerned about the manner in which the club is run and in particular how supporters are treated. She has been active in not only criticism of the club and it's runnning but has been keen to shake fans out of their apathy and aim to empower themselves. Clair has previously felt that more fans being more active could shake up the trust and instigate change. She has held a view that fans should not just complain and crititise but should get involved and bring about change.

Secondly, Clair Winder is a 'down to Earth' person with no airs or graces. She really cares about CUFC, she is not taking on this post for her own personal glory, she wanted to do this as she believes that CUFC has significant untapped potential and for the sake of the future of the club. Clair is proud not only of being a Carlisle fan but proud that her seven year old son loves the club. She is proud of 'inheriting' supporting the club and sees it as her own personal duty to ensure that CUFC continues to attract and retain young fans. She is desperate to safe guard the future of our club.

Thirdly Clair is an assertive and skilled communicator, at work she acts in a role of assisting people to empower themselves. She is frequently engaged in a role of speaking up for people who lack a vocie or are excluded. Clair is assertive in that she is not overraught by expressing her views or advocating for others in meetings involving senior consultants psychiatrists, doctors, consultant psychologists or managers. Clair is assertive in that she can express ideas and opinions; gets things done but is able to do this without being argumentative or confronatational. I have disagreed with Clair at times but have always felt that she has made me think and has made me reflect. It is to be noted that Clair will stick up for people and never hides.

On matters CUFC; prior to asking for a refund on my season ticket Clair made me well and truley consider my actions; i went through with this but Clair made some good points in making me think about my actions. Interesting i have heard Clair negociate with John Nixon, she spoke with him after he promised to make up for the disappointment felt by her son at a defeat last season. Clair took up this offer and called 'John' she made her points well and expressed her concerns well. She was assertive, analytical she was determined that he understood the peril the club was in and the frustration of fans. She did not get wound up or abusive, but good points were certainly well made.

Clair sees this as a major task but i get the impression is massivley committed to it as a menas of ensuring her own son's future she sees this as being bound up the destiny of our club.

I sure will listen to all the others involved in this election but my knowledge of Clair ensures that it is my view that if she was lucky enough to have the honour of representing fans she would do so with pride, diligence, dedication and tenacity.

That is quite some commendation.
Shame you couldn't get her name correct though.

inthecity wrote:
I've had far worse than a missing 'e'!!

Crikey O'Reilly Mr Quint!! Thank you very much & I promise to do that recommendation justice if I'm successful. Plus I'll make you a brew!