Trust Board Profiles » Gary Atyes

Born just a stones throw away from the Abbey Stadium on the Whitehill Estate supporting the U's should have been on my birth certificate! The club have been part of my life since i was old enough to walk, but my earliest memories include playing "tig" on the allotment terraces and watching boyhood heroes like King Cass,Peter Leggett (a George Best look a like to me as a kid), Rodney Slack and then later Ian Hutchinson who broke my young heart when he went to Chelsea!

Following in my fathers footsteps i remember walking to Southern League home games with him, when it seemed we joined families from nearly every house on the estate in those days. And my school always had a sprinkling of players sons, my primary school football team included the names Leivers, Ward and Watson.

I've never even briefly thought about supporting any other club and have now been joined, on an equally passionate level, by son Daniel 17, and hard on his heels daughter Grace aged 6.

Greatest memories? So many but here goes... the bus tour round the city when we got into the football league, Wembley and Cardiff, the Dartford tunnel after the Maidstone match, Highbury, Forest and the defiance of our fans at Rushden and then this season our unbelievable supporters at Stevenage and Wolves... supporting this club's a privilege!

A founder committee member of CFU and Vice Chairman to Nick Pomery in the early days I am now back for a second period, this time as Will Jones Assistant! With over 20 years Sales and Marketing experience in the Automotive industry, I act as the perfect foil to the youth and exuberance of young master Jones in helping CFU drive its marketing initiative's and in particular helping attract partners for them. I have also worked with the club this season in setting up partnerships giving added value to its season ticket holders.

I would describe myself as passionate, honest, loyal, opinionated and amber to my very core! I am dedicated in helping CFU attract more supporters to our wonderful club, especially children. I am also desperate to see the club return to the football league!

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