Cambridge Fans United address Cambridge United supporters far and wide following the news that Andrew Stephen and Ben Phillips have become the new Chair and Vice-Chair respectively of the supporters group.
For almost all of its life, Cambridge Fans United Supporters Trust have been seen as a kind of RAC for the club coming out in periods of trouble, rallying fans together and working hard at saving the Football Club during difficult times. Hopefully we will never see those dark clouds descend over the Abbey again.
CFU, by our own admission in recent times has become a little stagnant by comparison. However, we are hopeful that can change as we look to rise once more with a change of structure that can lead us to become the true voice of our fans. A good supporters’ trust should be run by the fans for the fans and be proactive at working, in a close relationship, with the club to achieve things for fans and continuously look to improve the experience at the Abbey for supporter. We know the Club work hard to do this themselves, but at times there may be a stretch in resources and we want to be there to offer those pair of hands to ensure our supporters are well looked after at all times. In addition, CFU would like to work closely with other fans organisations such as CUSP, Cambridge United Supporters Trust & 100 Years of Coconuts in getting things done for our fans.
The Supporters Trust has recently recruited two new faces from their committee to lead things for CFU, in Andrew Stephen as Chair & Ben Phillips as Vice chair, both of whom are passionate fans of Cambridge United, and proactive at trying to achieve things for the greater good of the fans and the club. We believe that working together we can steer CFU in a better direction for the fanbase. We have already started to build a working relationship with both Paul Barry & Ian Mather at the Football Club who, after recent meetings, are supportive of the new leadership of the fans’ trust.
The heartbeat of a football club is its fan base and without fans a football club is nothing. In the current climate and modern day, it’s important more now than ever for a club and the organisations attached to it to communicate efficiently with you the fans. Andy and Ben both know the importance of this and will make sure fans’ voices are heard when needed, regardless of age or background.
Ben is keen to see the football club and CFU engage with younger fans more and to see young supporters become actively more involved in having a say about the football club they all love. He would like to work closely with the football club on various projects but, in particular, is keen to see something like the old Junior U’s scheme resurrected that ensures there are a new generation of fans always coming to support Cambridge United.
Shortly Cambridge Fans United Supporters Trust will be announcing an exciting new membership scheme, with exclusive incentives for new & existing members. In particular we would like to see more young fans aged between 16 years to 25 become annual members of Cambridge Fans United Supporters’ Trust, as with your support as CFU members we can work together at continuing to improve things off the pitch at the Abbey and continue to make sure their Cambridge United flourishes for years to come.
During these difficult times, we are determined to support the Foodbank and other initiatives which make the lonely, the vulnerable and the isolated feel part of the Community. The club, which is at the heart of its community is in a unique position to improve morale and to make individuals feel that everybody matters. We hope also to attract more people to the Lottery which has provided a lot of essential support and equipment for the club. In these straightened times we will do all we can to find new ways of providing new income streams while making sure that all fans’ interests are served.