About CFU
WHAT IS CAMBRIDGE FANS UNITED?
WHAT DOES IT DO
HOW DOES IT DO IT?
1. Summary
In all probability Cambridge United Football Club would not exist in the form it does today without Cambridge Fans United (CFU). CFU was instrumental in saving the Club when it went into administration in 2005, and then played a key role in turning its fortunes around and getting the Club back into the Football League.
Nothing can be taken for granted in football, however, and the Club is currently once more in a very difficult position, facing growing financial losses off the pitch (despite a huge windfall from the Manchester United FA Cup tie) and having just survived a relegation battle to avoid dropping back into the National League on it. The future of Cambridge United FC is, once again, very uncertain.
This is why a Supporters’ Trust like CFU is so important. We have saved the Club once and, who knows, we may need to do it again. In CFU the infrastructure and experience is in place to step in - should the unthinkable happen. CFU holds funds to help the Club out in the short term, as we have done in the past, if a critical need arises.
Over and above our day to day activities that help the Club and the local community, CFU exists to help safeguard the future of Cambridge United FC.
Your membership is crucial – please renew or join today.
2. History and achievements
Cambridge Fans United (CFU) is a Supporters’ Trust. It was set up by a group of United fans in 2000, inspired by the work of Supporters Direct. Supporters Direct was a recommendation of the Government’s 1999 Football Task Force “Investing in the Community”, aimed at encouraging football fans to have more of a say in the running of their clubs and involvement in their local communities. CFU operates independently of Cambridge United FC.
At its maximum CFU had 500 members. Our current membership stands at around 300
In 2004 Cambridge United ran into financial difficulties and faced administration. CFU rose to its first major challenge and launched the “Bridge the Gap” appeal. In just four weeks the appeal raised £100,000. Sadly the financial respite was short-lived and the Club then looked to sell its greatest asset, the Abbey Stadium, to a private concern (Bideawhile) that, evidently, did not have the best interests of the Club in mind. CFU recognised the worrying long-term implications of such a move, and rapidly developed an alternative option. CFU raised commitments approaching £1.5 million in just three weeks but the Club, disappointingly, went through with the sale of the Abbey to Bideawhile.
In 2005 Cambridge United did go into administration. During this period CFU put money into the Club to help keep it going. The Club subsequently faced a winding-up order, which threatened its very existence. Working closely with the other supporters’ trusts and with Supporters Direct, CFU was instrumental in successfully securing the future of Cambridge United FC by directly lobbying the Sports Minister, Richard Caborn.
In the years that followed, as the Club sought to recover, Cambridge United FC leaned heavily on CFU to help it operate. Some CFU committee members took on key roles within the Club, including Finance Director, Commercial Director and Commercial Manager. At this point in time CFU, effectively, ran Cambridge United FC. The role of Cambridge United Fans Elected Director (FED) was created, the FED elected by CFU members. CFU also took on numerous other tasks around the Club, such as staffing the ticket office and the Club Shop, running the Club’s lottery and managing teams of programme and 50/50 draw sellers. CFU managed the “South Stand Scheme” (the distribution of free tickets for low key matches to encourage new supporters) and re-established the “Junior Us”.
CFU introduced the concept of the “Community Club” to Cambridge United and has since worked closely with the local community (both in its own right and on behalf of Cambridge United FC).
3. Current role of CFU
Although, since 2005, the health of the Football Club has improved, it still faces major challenges. The turnaround was largely down to all constituent parts of the club working together with a common goal of success. Another key objective was to expand the work in the community and to gain the respect of the wider community. Dave Doggett, as a member of CFU as well as Chairman of the Football Club, facilitated the changes and valued the key contribution of CFU in turning around its fortunes. The Club has now entered a new era, of course, under a majority shareholder in Paul Barry.
The role of CFU has evolved accordingly. Today CFU is no longer needed to offer financial support to the Club or to staff many of the key Club operations that it used to. The Club now has its own Community Trust – the Cambridge United Community Trust – to work with the community. CFU now takes a much more strategic role, focussing on long-term rather than day to day issues.
In 2018 CFU successfully lobbied the Club to provide more financial information in its annual report to shareholders, to allow better scrutiny of the Club’s business performance. CFU was also instrumental in convincing the Club to undertake a full audit of its 2017-18 accounts, recognising the importance of having a full and clear understanding of the Club’s finances and in order to help restore a level of shareholder and supporter confidence in the board of directors.
In helping the Club, CFU volunteers continue to work with Ian Darler (the Stadium Manager), to keep the Abbey Stadium safe and looking its best. The volunteers refurbished “The Abbey Arms” bar and created the adjacent family-friendly beer garden. In 2018 CFU volunteers were instrumental in helping Ian ensure the home match against Luton went ahead, despite the snow and freezing weather (the “Beast from the East”). CFU and the lottery jointly funded the purchase of some snow blowers. The game was one of only two played in League 2 on that day.
The Cambridge United heritage group 100 Years of Coconuts, launched in the CUFC centenary year of 2012, is a CFU operation.
CFU has previously sponsored CRC, currently sponsors a number of players and the Cambridge United Futsal Team.
Above all, however, CFU remains a permanent, solid and independent presence that would be able to step in to provide more direct help to the Club, should it ever be needed.
4. CFU structure
CFU is a Community Benefit Society. It is managed by an elected Trust Board of up to 15 members. The Board has an elected Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary and Treasurer. The Board usually meets once a month, more frequently if need be. Any CFU member can put themselves forward to join the Trust Board. CFU holds an open AGM once a year, usually in the Spring. CFU members elect a Fans Elected Director to sit on the CUFC Board of Directors.
5. CFU aims and objectives
The role of CFU is encapsulated in its aims and objectives which address the past, present and future of Cambridge United FC.
The current aims and objectives of CFU are to:
CFU will do these things by:
CFU does not get involved in issues relating to the performance of the first team, unless this was to clearly threaten or undermine any of the CFU objectives (above). This is in line with the role of other supporters’ trusts around the UK.
6. Role of the Fans Elected Director (FED)
The Club accepted the appointment of an FED in recognition of CFU’s significant work and financial investment that helped turn around the fortunes of the Club following administration in 2005. The appointment of an FED, elected by CFU members, is included in the Club’s Articles of Association.
The FED represents CFU members and the CFU shareholding on the Club’s Board of Directors and in board meetings. The FED will monitor and influence the Club’s internal governance and decision making processes, and be involved in key business and football decisions. The FED will report back to the CFU Trust Board, with both parties fully respecting the confidences of the Club.
7. Benefits of CFU membership
Membership of CFU costs as little as £20 a year [link to membership application section]. Membership will give you, as a Cambridge United fan, the satisfaction that you are part of an organisation that has contributed hugely to the recent history – indeed the survival - of your football club and that continues to actively help the Club and the local community. Your membership will help safeguard the future of Cambridge United FC.
Additionally, CFU membership gives you:
July 2019
WHAT DOES IT DO
HOW DOES IT DO IT?
1. Summary
In all probability Cambridge United Football Club would not exist in the form it does today without Cambridge Fans United (CFU). CFU was instrumental in saving the Club when it went into administration in 2005, and then played a key role in turning its fortunes around and getting the Club back into the Football League.
Nothing can be taken for granted in football, however, and the Club is currently once more in a very difficult position, facing growing financial losses off the pitch (despite a huge windfall from the Manchester United FA Cup tie) and having just survived a relegation battle to avoid dropping back into the National League on it. The future of Cambridge United FC is, once again, very uncertain.
This is why a Supporters’ Trust like CFU is so important. We have saved the Club once and, who knows, we may need to do it again. In CFU the infrastructure and experience is in place to step in - should the unthinkable happen. CFU holds funds to help the Club out in the short term, as we have done in the past, if a critical need arises.
Over and above our day to day activities that help the Club and the local community, CFU exists to help safeguard the future of Cambridge United FC.
Your membership is crucial – please renew or join today.
2. History and achievements
Cambridge Fans United (CFU) is a Supporters’ Trust. It was set up by a group of United fans in 2000, inspired by the work of Supporters Direct. Supporters Direct was a recommendation of the Government’s 1999 Football Task Force “Investing in the Community”, aimed at encouraging football fans to have more of a say in the running of their clubs and involvement in their local communities. CFU operates independently of Cambridge United FC.
At its maximum CFU had 500 members. Our current membership stands at around 300
In 2004 Cambridge United ran into financial difficulties and faced administration. CFU rose to its first major challenge and launched the “Bridge the Gap” appeal. In just four weeks the appeal raised £100,000. Sadly the financial respite was short-lived and the Club then looked to sell its greatest asset, the Abbey Stadium, to a private concern (Bideawhile) that, evidently, did not have the best interests of the Club in mind. CFU recognised the worrying long-term implications of such a move, and rapidly developed an alternative option. CFU raised commitments approaching £1.5 million in just three weeks but the Club, disappointingly, went through with the sale of the Abbey to Bideawhile.
In 2005 Cambridge United did go into administration. During this period CFU put money into the Club to help keep it going. The Club subsequently faced a winding-up order, which threatened its very existence. Working closely with the other supporters’ trusts and with Supporters Direct, CFU was instrumental in successfully securing the future of Cambridge United FC by directly lobbying the Sports Minister, Richard Caborn.
In the years that followed, as the Club sought to recover, Cambridge United FC leaned heavily on CFU to help it operate. Some CFU committee members took on key roles within the Club, including Finance Director, Commercial Director and Commercial Manager. At this point in time CFU, effectively, ran Cambridge United FC. The role of Cambridge United Fans Elected Director (FED) was created, the FED elected by CFU members. CFU also took on numerous other tasks around the Club, such as staffing the ticket office and the Club Shop, running the Club’s lottery and managing teams of programme and 50/50 draw sellers. CFU managed the “South Stand Scheme” (the distribution of free tickets for low key matches to encourage new supporters) and re-established the “Junior Us”.
CFU introduced the concept of the “Community Club” to Cambridge United and has since worked closely with the local community (both in its own right and on behalf of Cambridge United FC).
3. Current role of CFU
Although, since 2005, the health of the Football Club has improved, it still faces major challenges. The turnaround was largely down to all constituent parts of the club working together with a common goal of success. Another key objective was to expand the work in the community and to gain the respect of the wider community. Dave Doggett, as a member of CFU as well as Chairman of the Football Club, facilitated the changes and valued the key contribution of CFU in turning around its fortunes. The Club has now entered a new era, of course, under a majority shareholder in Paul Barry.
The role of CFU has evolved accordingly. Today CFU is no longer needed to offer financial support to the Club or to staff many of the key Club operations that it used to. The Club now has its own Community Trust – the Cambridge United Community Trust – to work with the community. CFU now takes a much more strategic role, focussing on long-term rather than day to day issues.
In 2018 CFU successfully lobbied the Club to provide more financial information in its annual report to shareholders, to allow better scrutiny of the Club’s business performance. CFU was also instrumental in convincing the Club to undertake a full audit of its 2017-18 accounts, recognising the importance of having a full and clear understanding of the Club’s finances and in order to help restore a level of shareholder and supporter confidence in the board of directors.
In helping the Club, CFU volunteers continue to work with Ian Darler (the Stadium Manager), to keep the Abbey Stadium safe and looking its best. The volunteers refurbished “The Abbey Arms” bar and created the adjacent family-friendly beer garden. In 2018 CFU volunteers were instrumental in helping Ian ensure the home match against Luton went ahead, despite the snow and freezing weather (the “Beast from the East”). CFU and the lottery jointly funded the purchase of some snow blowers. The game was one of only two played in League 2 on that day.
The Cambridge United heritage group 100 Years of Coconuts, launched in the CUFC centenary year of 2012, is a CFU operation.
CFU has previously sponsored CRC, currently sponsors a number of players and the Cambridge United Futsal Team.
Above all, however, CFU remains a permanent, solid and independent presence that would be able to step in to provide more direct help to the Club, should it ever be needed.
4. CFU structure
CFU is a Community Benefit Society. It is managed by an elected Trust Board of up to 15 members. The Board has an elected Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary and Treasurer. The Board usually meets once a month, more frequently if need be. Any CFU member can put themselves forward to join the Trust Board. CFU holds an open AGM once a year, usually in the Spring. CFU members elect a Fans Elected Director to sit on the CUFC Board of Directors.
5. CFU aims and objectives
The role of CFU is encapsulated in its aims and objectives which address the past, present and future of Cambridge United FC.
The current aims and objectives of CFU are to:
- remain independent of the football club and to be accountable to CFU members;
- challenge and hold the Club to account, to ensure that the long term future of Cambridge United is protected, for the benefit of its supporters and the local community;
- protect the appointment of a Fans Elected Director and to maximise his or her influence on the CUFC Board;
- actively support the Club and its Community Trust, help market the Club and to increase its fanbase and income;
- promote a positive public image of Cambridge United FC;
- help promote diversity and inclusivity within the Club;
- help ensure that the Club acts as a good neighbour within the local and wider community;
- grow the CFU membership;
- promote and support other Cambridge United supporters’ groups and, where appropriate, other club’s supporters’ trusts;
- act as an advocate for the welfare of Cambridge United fans.
CFU will do these things by:
- electing and tasking a Cambridge United Fans Elected Director (see below);
- developing a close, but strictly independent, relationship with Cambridge United FC and its majority shareholder;
- acting as a “critical friend” of the Club;
- continuing to lobby for CFU to hold a “Golden Share” that would allow it to veto a change of ownership;
- consulting with, and representing, its membership;
- taking on specific tasks as requested by the Club or the Community Trust, and/or by suggesting initiatives to promote the Club;
- running, or supporting, community projects;
- using its shareholding in the Club to support CFU aims and objectives;
- increasing the visibility of CFU, especially at home games;
- holding an annual AGM, open to all fans (not just CFU members, although only CFU members can vote);
- raising and holding funds to help the Club in times of critical need;
- undertake due diligence checks on behalf of its membership and shareholding on any potential new owners of the Football Club, and enter discussions with parties involved;
- communicating its activities regularly to its membership and the wider fanbase
- signposting sources of support on a range of health, mental health and educational issues that can aid the welfare and wellbeing of United fans.
CFU does not get involved in issues relating to the performance of the first team, unless this was to clearly threaten or undermine any of the CFU objectives (above). This is in line with the role of other supporters’ trusts around the UK.
6. Role of the Fans Elected Director (FED)
The Club accepted the appointment of an FED in recognition of CFU’s significant work and financial investment that helped turn around the fortunes of the Club following administration in 2005. The appointment of an FED, elected by CFU members, is included in the Club’s Articles of Association.
The FED represents CFU members and the CFU shareholding on the Club’s Board of Directors and in board meetings. The FED will monitor and influence the Club’s internal governance and decision making processes, and be involved in key business and football decisions. The FED will report back to the CFU Trust Board, with both parties fully respecting the confidences of the Club.
7. Benefits of CFU membership
Membership of CFU costs as little as £20 a year [link to membership application section]. Membership will give you, as a Cambridge United fan, the satisfaction that you are part of an organisation that has contributed hugely to the recent history – indeed the survival - of your football club and that continues to actively help the Club and the local community. Your membership will help safeguard the future of Cambridge United FC.
Additionally, CFU membership gives you:
- a vote for your choice of Fans Elected Director, to represent you on the CUFC Board of Directors;
- a vote on the direction and work of CFU;
- the opportunity to stand to join the CFU Trust Board;
- preferential access to tickets for Cambridge United all-ticket matches (subject to availability);
- discounts on CFU and 100 Years of Coconuts books and other merchandise;
- regular online newsletter – the “Amber News”.
July 2019
