Voting open for non-executive director Fan Representative
The shortlist for the position of non-executive director Fan Representative on the Carlisle United AFC (1921) Ltd board of directors has been finalised, with personal statements from each of the candidates shown below.
The non-executive Fan Representative director will attend board meetings at Brunton Park on a six-weekly basis, and will contribute fully to decision making and strategic development from a fan perspective.
Finance director Suzanne Kidd said: “We see this as a key position and we want our supporters to choose the person they feel will give them a strong voice, both at the club and in the boardroom.
“This is a fantastic opportunity to bring the club and fans closer together and we hope as many people as possible vote and get involved as we go on from here.”
Your vote can be registered for your preferred candidate via the following methods:
Text message* – Text the full surname of your preferred candidate and, to assist with voting integrity, your surname and postcode (in block capitals please) to 07786 209 191 as follows:
IRVING {YOUR SURNAME}{YOUR POSTCODE}
SPOONER {YOUR SURNAME}{YOUR POSTCODE}
VANDER {YOUR SURNAME}{YOUR POSTCODE}
WINDER {YOUR SURNAME}{YOUR POSTCODE}
Email – Send the name of your preferred candidate in the ‘Subject’ box to media@carlisleunited.co.uk
In person – Pop along to Brunton Park and register your vote with us. We will have a voting slip for you to fill in at main reception.
By post – Write to us, naming your preferred candidate, at Fan Representative, Brunton Park, Warwick Road, Carlisle, Cumbria, CA1 1LL.
Voting closes at midnight on Friday 4 September 2015.
* Text messages are charged at your standard text message rate.
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Stuart Irving
The next generation is key to Carlisle's future. I want the children of Carlisle and Cumbria to be worshipping the likes of Dean Walling, rather than the likes of Wayne Rooney.
If I was elected as Fan Representative, I would look at how to keep and encourage the fans we have, whilst builiding up the next generation of fans. To develop and grow, the club needs to increase fan engagement. The key areas I would like to improve are encouraging the stay away fans to return, and improving the fan experience before and during the match.
I would like to receive other fans' views on how the club could improve off the pitch, through a number of different methods including face to face, message boards and Social Media; everyone has their ideas.
We as fans can move the club forward off the pitch, whilst the players do so on the pitch.
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Matthew Spooner
As a passionate supporter with the desire to see CUFC succeed on and off the pitch, I will offer a sensible business brain, alongside a representative voice for supporters.
I will provide passion, time, confidence and more importantly a commanding voice that won’t be shy, or back down from a challenge. I’ll actively seek to make improvements at every opportunity, in a way which will mutually benefit the community and the football club.
I will work endlessly to produce a strategy that will see the club communicate, cooperate with and consider the fans in order to eliminate the risk of further disengagement, whilst also making up the lost ground and building a strong, appreciated fan-base.
I will use local media, social media and fan forums plus a number of other methods to communicate with supporters regularly to create and maintain a strong community and club link.
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Bruce Vander Taylor
The fans are not only customers of our club, they’re also the long-term owners – their commitment and patronage is what keeps the club going.
The football is important to all of us, but each individual supporter experience has to provide what every loyal and committed fan is looking for – value for money and an enjoyable experience when visiting, communicating or engaging with the club.
Having worked in customer relations for 22 years, I understand the importance of listening to the supporters and the need for action to be taken in response, at all levels within the club. We can all list things we’d like addressed – ticket pricing, choice and quality of food and drink, general facilities, communications between the club and the fans – but there’s more to it.
Let me work with you to improve your experience with the club and build our fan base to secure our future.
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Claire Winder
We want to be proud to be Carlisle United supporters. For the last few years our loyalty, hope and passion have been stretched to their limits. I have been concerned about what is happening to our club and I want to ensure my son has a team that he can support for a lifetime.
I am confident, resilient, approachable, determined, assertive and talk to anyone. Those of you who have seen me speak at CUOSC meetings, forums or have seen what I have written on social media (@Claire_Like_Eh) would say that I am unfazed by expressing my opinion, even if it’s not the popular opinion.
Carlisle United have recognised that they need to work hard to reduce the significant gap there is between the club and its supporters. I am ready for this challenge and would be honoured if you chose me to be your representative.