CUSG: January meeting briefing

Upperby School kindly offered the venue for the meeting. If you have anything you'd like your representative to bring to the meetings please contact them. Your representatives will make themselves known through communication to you directly about the group. 

Phil King updated the meeting on the current state of the restoration work at Brunton Park. The club were 100% confident that their insurance covered everything lost or damaged. Club staff were based at Pioneer, Cumberland Building Society and in portakabins at Brunton Park while work was ongoing. 

The work was being divided into two phases: Phase 1 is aimed at getting football played in the stadium again by 23rd January 2016. This includes restoration of the dressing rooms, electrics, running water and catering. Phase 2 is non-football areas such as the admin offices and the Family Zone.  Esh Border Construction had been appointed as contractors for phase 1, work for phase 2 will go out to tender. The club's insurers who had been working closely with senior staff to sort out a restoration timetable were Bluefin Insurance. 

The pitch was going to be taken up and completely re-laid following damage from silt and other debris. This was estimated to take two weeks to turn around and work was about to start. 

The 3G pitch at the flooded Neil Centre was being replaced. This was expected to be done by February 2016.

The club shop was hoping to be back in operation by the end of the month. 

Later in the restoration process, there could be opportunities for volunteer labour to carry out tasks such as painting work. 

WIFI access for fans is being looked at and how to provide this. 

CUSAT have made a donation from members to the Cumbria Flood Appeal and the London Branch have donated £1500. The West Cumbria Travel have collected £660. It is planned for a donation to go to the Cumbrian Flood Appeal and a Sponsorship deal for the Carlisle United Ladies Team. 

There was generally positive feedback from the 'home' games played at Deepdale and Ewood Park. The stewarding at these games was praised. Plymouth fans attending the match at Ewood Park had given positive feedback, too. (The meeting took place before using Blackpool.)

The donations organised by Welling United and Oxford United were recognised. 

Money has been made available for Carlisle United. A further sum of money can be applied for, which could be used for additional projects such as improvements to facilities for disabled supporters. CUOSC to lead on the project. 

Season Ticket Holders 

Issue of compensating season ticket holders discussed. The club are committed and already planning how this can be done.

Fundraising for CUSG 

Designs for 500 CUSG branded pin badges; 350 of the white design and 150 of the blue design. Billy Atkinson kindly agreed to cover the cost of production.

 

They would go on sale at £2 each. 50% of profit would go to the Cumbrian Flood Appeal and 50% to funding commentary equipment for supporters with visual impairments. 

CUSG representatives would sell them, predominantly on match days. 

Communication about this will be released.

Any Other Business 

Criticism was voiced about the late postponement on Boxing Day of the Accrington Stanley match, given the ongoing problems with their pitch, which was badly waterlogged. The Football League encouraged clubs to leave games on until the last minute and no real fault could be attributed to Accrington themselves. 

The Junior Blues will either have a party around Easter or their own end of season awards celebration. 

Prizes at Foxy's were discussed. Some are more popular than others. Agreement that the quality of the food, atmosphere and experience was overall positive. 

Andy Hall put on record the thanks of the club for the 70-80 volunteers who had helped in the initial clean up.