Earlier this month the elected supporter representatives on the FSA’s National Council (NC) met to discuss the organisation’s ongoing work.

The meeting took place in London and the draft minutes, which will be approved when the NC reconvenes in April, are available to download now.

• National Council meeting: download the February 2020 minutes here…

To find out more about the work of the National Council and the elected supporter representatives who sit on it – visit the FSA’s About Us page here.

Away Travel - Leyton Orient - on the the Away Travel Coach --
07 March 2020 15:00 kickoff

Away Travel - Leyton Orient - Departing Ely 11.00am and The Abbey 11:45am

Adult £20.00
Under 18 £15.00
To book on the coach

Ring 01223 566500
or
go line https://tinyurl.com/vwcbakq
or pop into the club ticket office during opening times

Parking information - Information about parking:near the ground - info fron Orient web site

Please note there is no public parking available at The Breyer Group Stadium. Being located in a highly residential area, there is also extremely limited parking in the immediate area around the stadium. Many surrounding roads are for permit holders only and there are limited parking options elsewhere. If you do intend to drive to the match, please take care to avoid penalty fines when parking by reading signage and by not blocking local residents.

Thank you for your continued support of the CUFC Lottery.

CUFC Lottery 'Accumulator' Results (21 February 2020) - this weeks winning 'Accumulator' numbers are (3085)
-there were no winners of the weekly 'Accumulator' this week, meaning next weeks 'Accumulator' will be £950.

CUFC Lottery 'Main Draw' Results (21 February 2020) - this weeks winning 'Main Draw' numbers are (2153)
-there were no winners of the 'Main Draw' jackpot this week.
-next weeks 'Main Draw' jackpot will be £300.00.

As the 'Main Draw' jackpot was not won this week
-there are 3 CUFC Lottery members matching the first pair winning £10.00 each
-there are 3 CUFC Lottery members matching the second pair winning £10.00 each

If you are a winner of either the 'Accumulator' or 'Main Draw' you will be notified individually by email.

Yours sincerely,
The CUFC Lottery Team

The Cambridge United Lottery is helping to clean up.

When it comes to cleaning up, the Cambridge United lottery is certainly helping to make sure that the match day and training kits will always be looking their best by sponsoring

 Gordon Millar the Laundry Manager. 

The sponsorship will help cover the costs of  the washing powder and fabric conditioner used to wash the kit.

Each week  up to 100 washes are  undertaken.

See below the copy of an interview Gordon gave Tom Stewart, the Match Day programme editor.  Gordon provides some of the behind the scenes information involved with getting the squad kits ready during the week and on match days.

During pre-season when there are teams playing daily it will require Gordon to come in early morning and finish late at night to ensure the kits are washed and dried in time for the next match

If you would like to help provide funding towards the washing powder or conditioner please reply to this email.

IN THE KIT ROOM…WITH GORDON MILLAR

Ahead of the 2018/19 Sky Bet League Two season, the Cambridge United match programme gets the lowdown from U's Kit Manager Gordon Millar on what his usual match day looks like.

Plenty to keep you busy on a match day Gordon, so let's break it down a little bit. What sort of time do you arrive and then what are your jobs before the players arrive?
I generally get to the stadium around 8am on a Saturday morning for a home game. If I haven't already done it on the Friday afternoon, time dependent, I begin to set up the changing room. That includes all the player's requirements so that everything is laid out for them when they get here. Hopefully that means they don't have to ask for anything, it's already there for them.

What are the sort of player requirements you have to arrange pre-match?
A lot of the players have their own set of under armours and under shorts, so that is all individually marked up and I place that on their pile of kit along with their warm up kit and everything that they will need on a match day. Some of them also have a specific choice of cut off socks or regular socks.

You have a number of check lists to tick off while preparing for a home game and the dressing room, what is primarily on the list to ensure the room is ready for the players?
We have the shirts hanging, match day towels, shorts, any under armour or underwear, socks. Some players will warm up in a certain type of sock and then change into their match socks before the game. The list is really about making sure that everything is there for them. We also put their boots out now. Ideally we want the players to walk in and be straight onto concentrating on the game.

Working with all of them as you do, I'm sure you hear from certain individuals more than you do others. It's your turn to have a bit of pay back, who has the biggest amount of requirements?
All of them! No in all seriousness, they all have their own individual requirements and it would be wrong to single one out. Some are quite easy and others are a little more demanding let's say, but you build it into your day and they all respect the job you have to do.

Post-match, what are the responsibilities?
We try to instil a little bit of discipline in the players after the game and try to get the kit separated into individual baskets, shorts, socks and shirts. Some are rightly keen to get something to eat after the game, so that isn't high on their list of priorities. Once we've got the kit in, depending on what time of year it is – if it's middle of the winter we tried to kit turned round really quickly - ideally we'll try to get the kit washing so that by the time I go home, the majority of the kit has been washed.

It all depends on the weather and when the next game is. You have to plan two or three weeks ahead all the time, so that you have away games in mind to make sure you have everything with you when we go away. The tick lists I use are always being tweaked to make sure nothing is missed.

You have followed the U's in your role up and down the country for a few years now. Having been on the inside, what is the best game you can remember being involved in?
There is one that sticks out for me in my mind. Chesterfield away last season when we got the last minute winner. The atmosphere within the group was really high and it was good to be a part of.​

At this time we shouldn't forget Gordon's volunteer and indespensible helper the lovely Wendy Twinn!

To find out more about the lottery click here - 

20th AGM, Monday 17th February 2020

Chairman’s Report
When we last held an AGM, CFU had been instrumental in achieving the full audit of the club’s accounts which had been presented to the club’s Shareholders Meeting and which had shown that the financial losses for the previous year, although down on the previous year’s pretty disastrous figure, were still unsustainable and that the club required drastic action to avert the unthinkable.

Whilst taking no pleasure in discovering how things had become, CFU did, at least, feel that it had played its part in getting the situation dealt with and that its role as a critical friend of the club was being fulfilled. Financial security at clubs like Cambridge United is always difficult to achieve, as examples elsewhere have shown us.

The club had followed up interest from several groups in investing significant sums which could have offered a long term way forward for it but, for different reasons, none of the groups was both able and willing to move to the next step. Representatives from CFU’s Trust Board also had a meeting with one of those who had been suggested might be willing to take things forward, but this also proved to be a blind alley.

In the event, the club’s majority shareholder, Paul Barry, submitted a written offer to the club and shareholders to acquire 100% of the shares and to pay shareholders 2p per share. His undertaking was that he would underwrite annual losses at the club over the following five years, to the tune, annually, of up to £500,000, which was estimated to represent the likely financial shortfall.

There followed a period of soul searching by both major shareholders, upon whom the deal would rely for its approval or not and also from small shareholders, whose approval would not actually be required, under the process which was being followed.

Trust Board members spent a lot of time examining the details of the proposal, with support and legal advice from the Football Supporters Association, so as to be able to give members more information to help them make an informed decision. However, because the Trust Board’s members were not unanimous in their view, it was decided that it would not recommend either that members should support or should reject the sale of CFU’s shares.

Many people had misgivings about the prospect of there being a single owner, rather than many shareholders, and the likely implications of that happening. News of other clubs which had resorted to selling to outsiders who had made big claims but then gave little in the way of delivering them, did not encourage a desire to sell. Ultimately, for many, it became a question of whether there was a viable alternative or whether to sell to someone who had been a long term supporter, both as a fan and as an investor.

CFU held a Special General Meeting, for all views to be considered and then resolved, by an overwhelming majority (7-1), that it would sell its shares, provided that satisfactory answers were received to questions on three issues:

1. That CFU would retain the right to continue to nominate a Fans Elected Director, throughout the period of the five year agreement.
2. That no profits acquired during the period of the agreement should be paid to Paul Barry.
3. That the part of the agreement covering specific guaranteed funding in the event of Paul Barry’s death would be in addition to the annual offer of £500,000.

There was concern that this clause could mean that a CFU nominee could simply be vetoed arbitrarily and this was discussed in detail by the CFU Trust Board, before its acceptance was agreed, albeit reluctantly. It does simply replicate a power which has always been available to the Board of Directors, in any event.

Some members of the Trust Board felt that they could not continue to act as its members and stood down. I am sad that they felt the need to do so, but understand that they did what they considered to be right.

Accordingly, the share sale was agreed and CFU has received all of the money which was due, as a result.

The CFU Trust Board intends to ensure that all of the money received from the sale of shares will be separated from the general running accounts and placed in interest earning funds, so as to provide a standby fund for the future, rather than simply being used to fund regular running costs. In that respect, we believe that CFU has learned lessons from the club’s use of the “Man. United money”.

During the year, as part of a process of seeking to have better dialogue between the club and its supporters, which was initiated by CFU, a new group was developed, specifically to take up supporters issues with the Board and CUSP (Cambridge United Supporters Panel) was born, in which its Panel members were elected by all fans, representing the different areas of its support.

CFU continues to run and manage the CUFC Lottery, which offers weekly prizes and accumulator jackpots, the latest of which was £3,650. This produces funds for projects to enhance the supporter experience and various pieces of equipment have been acquired via the lottery, including benches, improvements to the toilets and provision of vital equipment for the ground staff to keep the pitch playable.

A group of CFU volunteers provide daily support for Ian Darler in maintaining the safety and suitability of the Abbey Stadium for staging football. It has been acknowledged that, without some of the work that group has undertaken, at no cost to the club, it is likely that some parts of the stadium would have failed safety tests and been closed.

CFU volunteers run its caravan, to sell programmes and merchandise and for it to be open on matchdays to take on board fans questions and concerns. A fresh set of Abbey Helpers is being recruited and has already begun work, under the guidance of Dave Matthews Jones, the club’s Supporter Liaison Officer.

We have also set up a matchday collection point for donations to the Cambridge FoodBank, which continues throughout the year, not simply for Christmas.

With the long term prospect of a new ground development being included as an important element in plans to redevelop the current Marshalls site, the opportunity could arise for CFU to play a strong part, so we must be ready for that.

Finding new roles to complement the role of CUSP will be part of CFU’s remit during the next 12 months. New faces on the Trust Board will be welcome. It looks as though there will be a couple of spaces available so, if you are interested, please speak to one of us.

Thank you,
Robert Osbourn,
Chair, CFU Trust Board

If you are following Cambridge United to Plymouth on Saturday see the information below,  We hope it will help you on your journey.

If you need more information the contact details are below -

Match day tickets can be purchased via - www.cambridge-united.co.uk/tickets/
Online booking for this event will end on 21 Feb 2020 at 12:00.

Switchboard: 01752 562561 
Email: argyle@pafc.co.uk 
Website: www.pafc.co.uk 
Ticket Office: 01752 907700 

Getting Here

By Car:
If you are making a debut trip to Home Park, the stadium (PL2 3DQ) is well sign-posted from the A38. Approaching Plymouth from the east, exit the A38 at the Manadon roundabout, and take the second exit towards the city centre. Remain on Outland Road for around 1.5 miles (around 15 minutes on a busy match-day). Then Home Park should appear into your view on the left-hand side, take the next available left and you will arrive at the stadium’s car park.

By Coach:
If you arrive in Plymouth by public coach transport, your service will likely terminate at Plymouth coach station. From here, it is a 30-minute walk to Home Park, through Central Park. Upon departing the coach station on to Armada Way, turn left and walk up the hill, through the subway and past the train station. Home Park will be signposted along the route.

Target Travel Match-Day Coaches:

Our good friends at Target Travel run a number of dedicated match-day timetables, bringing supporters to Home Park. Please follow the links below to see the routes and times.
PAFC 1
PAFC 2
PAFC 2a
PAFC 3

By Train:
Plymouth railway station is located just a mile away from Home Park, and there is a paved walking route which takes you through Central Park straight to the stadium, taking around 20 minutes. Please not that a portion of the walk is up a steep hill.

If you are unable to walk, or prefer not to, there is a taxi rank located just outside the main entrance of the railway station. A cab to Home Park should take no longer than five minutes and cost no more than £5.

If you would prefer to pre-book a taxi in advance, we recommend Need-a-cab (01752 666222) or Tower Cabs (01752 252525), who are both partners of Plymouth Argyle

Tickets
Purchasing tickets for Argyle games could not be simpler; visit our dedicated ticketing website www.eticketing.co.uk/pafc/ for information, including the range of pricing and concessionary options.

The ticket office can also be contacted via tickets@pafc.co.uk The Home Park Ticket Office is open from 9am-5pm, Monday to Friday. On Saturdays when Argyle are at home, it is open from 9am-3pm. On non-match day Saturdays, it is open from 10am-1pm. The Ticket Office is closed on Sundays. 

For away supporters, tickets will generally be sold through your club and please check their website for regular updates in the days leading up to your Home Park visit.

Please note that turnstiles open 90 minutes before kick-off.

Corporate Hospitality

As a part of the club's extensive refurbishment of the new Mayflower Grandstand, our overall capacity, as well as quality of facilities, promise to be better than ever.
It is not just on the pitch where the club is moving forward, and we are excited to offer you our best-ever match-day hospitality experience, boasting some of the finest hospitality and conferencing facilities to be found on the South West peninsula
You can book hospitality with us by contacting commercial@pafc.co.uk or call 01752 302204.
Disabled Facilities

WHEELCHAIR DEPENDENT SUPPORTERS
Devonport and Lyndhurst Stands - there are a maximum of 80 spaces for wheelchairs which can be used by home fans. All spaces are at pitch level. These spaces can be purchased by way of season-ticket or on a match-by-match basis.  In order to maximise the number of supporters who can access these spaces, the carer’s ticket is normally issued for a seat immediately behind the wheelchair bay. 

For those matches where there is sufficient space, carers are of course very welcome to sit next to the wheelchair bay and Club staff and Stewards had been instructed to be as helpful as possible in facilitating this.
Barn Park Stand (visiting supporters) - there are a maximum of 28 spaces for wheelchairs available for visiting supporters. All spaces are at pitch level. All visiting supporters with wheelchairs are situated with their own supporters.
Wheelchair dependent supporters should also be accompanied by a person who is capable of supporting the disabled person’s needs in the event of an emergency. For this reason, Plymouth Argyle strongly recommend that this person is sixteen years of age or over and not infirm.

AMBULANT DISABLED SUPPORTERS
Plymouth Argyle are aware that there are considerable numbers of people in the community who use wheelchairs, mainly for outdoors mobility purposes, but are not necessarily confined to their wheelchair. There are also many people suffering severe walking difficulties who may wish to watch a match.

For the purpose of this policy, both categories of people will be termed as 'ambulant disabled supporters'. Those supporters with ambulatory disabilities of a severe nature will be able to have access to seating nearest the entrances/exists.

SUPPORTERS WITH INVISIBLE DISABILITIES
Should you wish to accompany a supporter who suffers from a disability that is less obvious, such as Autism, Dementia, Anxiety or Severe Learning Disabilities, Plymouth Argyle will strive to offer help specific to the needs of the individual.

VISUALLY IMPAIRED SUPPORTERS

The club has a dedicated audio described commentary service, called Soccer Sight, for its visually impaired supporters. This service is available to home and visiting supporters. The club have 10 headsets available and these can be pre-booked by contacting the DLO. Headsets can then be collected on a match-day from the Club Shop.

They should then be returned to the nearest steward after the match or to the Club Shop. The headsets are able to access the commentary from every part of the ground and the commentary will commence approximately 15 minutes before kick-off. There is no charge for this service.
The club strongly recommends that a person who is fully able to support their needs in the event of an emergency should accompany each visually impaired supporter attending a match.
Assistance Dogs are allowed into the stadium but the club recommend that any supporter wishing to bring an assistance dog contact the DLO at least seven days before the match. Due reference will be given to all aspects of safety and guidance from Guide Dogs for the Blind to ensure safety in the ground. Measures will also be taken to ensure that the welfare of the Assistance Dog is preserved.
If you have any questions or wish to discuss any of the policy with us, or have any specific medical requirements please contact our Disability Liaison Officer (DLO), Nikki Francis on nikki.francis@pafc.co.uk (07737002262).

Family Zone
The Family Zone at Home Park is situated in an area accessible to both home supporters and fans from visiting clubs. Run by Argyle Community Trust, the Family Zone offers a range of fun activities on a match-day, including the match-day magic package, computer games, pool, table tennis and more. Our club mascot, Pilgrim Pete, will also be on hand to liven up your visit.

Food and Drink
We have a number of interactive catering kiosks situated throughout the Home Park stadium, offering a range of food and beverage options. Our recently installed kiosk technology will cut down on queuing and allow you back to the action as quickly as possible.

Match-Day Programme
The award-winning match-day programme, The Pilgrim, is available for just £3 and contains exclusive interviews, features, action pictures and stories from across the Argyle family. We have also introduced a dedicated children’s programme for 2019-20, containing fun quizzes, trivia, competitions and more.

f you prefer to travel independently the following sites may help you to organise your trip -: 

Train -:                    TRAIN INFORMATION

Coach -:                  NATIONAL EXPRESS

Car -:                       AA NEWS  

Weather -:               BBC WEATHER NEWS

Travel News -:         AA TRAVEL NEWS

The information provided is done so in good faith and sourced from various websites and contacts

This season Simon King has been taking photographs of supporters coming to the match.

They are currently added to our facebook.site after matches.

The photos published today are from the Bradford match. Can you spot yourself in the slideshow below?

Photos of Bradford supporters coming to the match on the 15th February

Can you see yourself  in the slideshow below?

Photos by Simon King

Thank you for your continued support of the CUFC Lottery.

CUFC Lottery 'Accumulator' Results (14 February 2020) - this weeks winning 'Accumulator' numbers are (5462)
-there were no winners of the weekly 'Accumulator' this week, meaning next weeks 'Accumulator' will be £900.

CUFC Lottery 'Main Draw' Results (14 February 2020) - this weeks winning 'Main Draw' numbers are (3962)
-there were no winners of the 'Main Draw' jackpot this week.
-next weeks 'Main Draw' jackpot will be £300.00.

As the 'Main Draw' jackpot was not won this week
-there is 1 CUFC Lottery member matching the first pair winning £10.00
-there are 3 CUFC Lottery members matching the second pair winning £10.00 each

If you are a winner of either the 'Accumulator' or 'Main Draw' you will be notified individually by email.

Yours sincerely,
The CUFC Lottery Team.

During the summer there were some issues with one of the sprayers used on the pitch. Team Sprayers kindly came to our rescue quickly repairing the equipment and getting it back into working order for us

It also seemed to be a perfect opportunity to help them out by allowing Team Sprayers to film their equipment being used on the pitch,

Watch the film below showing the Abbey Stadium on a sunny day from the sky.

If you want to know more about the sprayer click here mailchi.mp/053fe086f72e/championship-performance-from-team-sprayers?e=19aa48810c

Every supporter should become a member of the FSA - Find out about the Football Supporters' Association by visiting their website - thefsa.org.uk/about/

They can be contacted here

Alternative contacts:

• Email: info@thefsa.org.uk
• Telephone: 0330 44 000 44 (not all FSA staff are office based)
• Address: 1 Ashmore Terrace, Stockton Road, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, SR2 7DE
  

How to join see below ---

• INDIVIDUALS: If you're an individual looking to join our ranks, please click this link and complete the web form.

FSA Mission statement: The FSA is an inclusive, independent, democratic organisation working with supporters, governing bodies, leagues and clubs to drive positive change in football through supporter engagement at every level of the game. We nurture and develop supporter networks at local, national and international levels, working with supporters’ trusts, clubs and individuals to initiate and support campaigns on issues of concern to football supporters, encouraging good governance, supporter representation on club boards, community-ownership and sustainable stewardship of football clubs. A commitment to diversity underpins all of our activity and we oppose all forms of discrimination or violence in relation to football.

If you have any queries please email info@thefsa.org.uk or call 0330 44 000 44.

Emergency: If you are a fan who urgently needs help and advice outside of normal office hours call the FSA’s Amanda Jacks on 07703 519555 (please leave a voicemail or send a text if you receive no answer)

During the Colchester match there were some flares brought into the ground.  We don't want anyone banned through not knowing the rules or understanding the consequences.

There are also now at some matches sniffer dogs being used that are able to identify flares. There are also cameras in use and plain clothed stewards in place.

Having launched in November 2017 all EFL Clubs signed up to a ‘Club Charter on Pyrotechnics’, with a commitment to taking strong and decisive action against any fans found attempting to bring a banned item into a ground, or those who discharge pyrotechnics.

Any supporter that has been, or found to be, in breach of the terms of the Charter is subject to a minimum three-season Club ban. A number of Club bans have already been issued since the launch of the Charter, including an increase in Club bans for away supporters due to the ongoing co-operation between EFL Clubs.

Clubs are permitted the flexibility to reduce the length of the Club ban should an offender recognise the danger of their actions, although the overall safety of supporters is always paramount. The EFL would therefore like to remind all supporters that the use of any pyrotechnic device is strictly prohibited within any stadium up and down the country, and strong action will be taken in the event of any such devices being discharged.

The EFL would like to thank all supporters, home and away, for their ongoing cooperation in this matter, so we can all enjoy the game in safety.

CUFC Lottery sponsors Ben Coker

The CUFC Lottery has agreed to sponsor Cambridge United’s new loan signing Ben Coker for the remainder of the season.

Ben has replaced Elliott Ward who left the club just before Christmas.

Today, monies were transferred into the Justin Edinburgh 3 Foundation following the raffle that took place during the Ipswich friendly match in pre-season.

Well done and thank you to all Ipswich and Cambridge United supporters who donated

Donation can still be made via the just giving site www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/justinedinburgh3

If you are following Cambridge United to Scunthorpe on Tuesday evening see the information below,  We hope it will help you on your journey. 11 February 2020 19:45 kickoff

If you need more information the contact details are below -

Match day tickets can be purchased via - www.cambridge-united.co.uk/tickets/
Online booking for this event will end on 10 Feb 2020 at 12:00.

SCUNTHORPE UNITED FOOTBALL CLUB
The Sands Venue Stadium
Glanford Park 
Jack Brownsword Way 
Scunthorpe 
North Lincolnshire 
DN15 8TD

How to get there
Sands Venue Stadium is situated just off the motorway, allowing supporters access on a matchday in less than 0.5 miles from the M181.STADIUM DIRECTIONS...
Address: Sands Venue Stadium, Glanford Park, Jack Brownsword Way, Scunthorpe, DN15 8TD 
Telephone: 01724 840139 
Fax: 01724 857986 

HOW TO GET TO THE SANDS VENUE STADIUM...

BY CAR: Leave the M180 at Junction 3 and take the M181 for Scunthorpe. The motorway will reach its natural conclusion and you will come to a roundabout, where you should take the third exit. At the next roundabout take the third exit again (travelling past KFC on your left and McDonalds on your right). Continue forward at the next roundabout through the Sands Venue Stadium gates.

BY BUS: You can get buses from town, visit www.stagecoachbus.com for information. 
BY TRAIN: The station is over two miles away from the stadium, located towards the town centre. The best way to get to the stadium from there is by taxi, but alternatively you can walk or go to the bus station and take a bus to either Tesco or Bolsover Road.
PARKING: Car parking at the ground is available in the East Car Park for 600 cars, priced at very reasonable £3 on a first-come, first-served basis. In the surrounding areas, there is limited street parking with police restrictions, while there are parking restrictions in the retail car parks

Website --- www.scunthorpe-united.co.uk

If you prefer to travel independently the following sites may help you to organise your trip -: 

Train -:                    TRAIN INFORMATION

Coach -:                  NATIONAL EXPRESS

Car -:                       AA NEWS  

Weather -:               BBC WEATHER NEWS

Travel News -:         AA TRAVEL NEWS

The information provided is done so in good faith and sourced from various websites and contacts

Please see form below for a copy of the Stewards Application Form for downloading if applying for the job

Thank you for your continued support of the CUFC Lottery.

CUFC Lottery 'Accumulator' Results (07 February 2020) - this weeks winning 'Accumulator' numbers are (8097)
-there were no winners of the weekly 'Accumulator' this week, meaning next weeks 'Accumulator' will be £850.

CUFC Lottery 'Main Draw' Results (07 February 2020) - this weeks winning 'Main Draw' numbers are (0486)
-there were no winners of the 'Main Draw' jackpot this week.
-next weeks 'Main Draw' jackpot will be £300.00.

As the 'Main Draw' jackpot was not won this week
-there is 1 CUFC Lottery member matching the first pair winning £10.00
-there are 2 CUFC Lottery members matching the second pair winning £10.00 each

If you are a winner of either the 'Accumulator' or 'Main Draw' you will be notified individually by email.

Yours sincerely,
The CUFC Lottery Team.

£3650 pounds won on the CFU Lottery.

In the final draw before Christmas the biggest ever CUFC Lottery Jackpot was won by Neil Blaber.

This is the largest jackpot amount won through the lottery sin was lce the CUFCLottery was launched

If you would like to join the lottery click here or on the images above

Photo below shows Robert Osbourn presenting the cheque to Neil at Morecambe match

Fotball is coming together this weekend with the ambition to kick off the biggest ever conversation around mental health, as new research shows just 1 in 3 football fans regularly talk about mental health with their friends.

Over the past two seasons, the EFL has joined forces with Mind, the mental health charity, to help improve football’s approach to mental health and raise awareness around the country.

Now, for two weekends in February, every football team from across the English Football League, Premier League, The National League, The Barclays FA Women’s Super League, The FA Women’s Championship and The FA Women’s National League will dedicate their matches to Heads Up, a partnership between The FA and Heads Together.read more here

See the headstogether website here www.headstogether.org.uk/heads-up/

If you are following Cambridge United to Newport County AFC on Saturday see the information below,  We hope it will help you on your journey.

If you need more information the contact details are below -

Match day tickets can be purchased via - www.cambridge-united.co.uk/tickets/

Online booking for this event will end on 07 Feb 2020 at 12:00.
08 February 2020 15:00 kickoff

Where to get your tickets?

All tickets purchased in advance must be bought directly from your Club's ticket office. You can buy directly from Newport County AFC on the day at the gate, cash only.

Gate 6
Away supporters enter PureVans.com Away End via Gate 6 which is located on Corporation Road.  We have an Away Fans ticket booth at the gate where you can purchase tickets on the gate.  Please note these are cash only.

Away Travel

Newport County - Departing Ely 07.45am and The Abbey 08.30am
Online booking for this event will end on 07 Feb 2020 at 12:30.
08 February 2020 15:00 kickoff

STADIUM ADDRESS:
Rodney Parade,
Rodney Road,
 NP19 0UU


Contact
OFFICES:

Newport County AFC
Galahad House
No.1 Langstone Business Park
NP18 2HJ

Club Office Number (01633) 415376 

Email ---  office@newport-county.co.uk

Website  - www.newport-county.co.uk

Away Supporters information can be found here Follow the Link
www.newport-county.co.uk/fans/away-fans/

Getting to Rodney Parade

By Train...

The nearest train station to Rodney Parade is Newport (Gwent).  It is not far way and should take less that 10 minutes to walk. 
Leave the train station via the entrance/exit at “Platform 1”. 
Cross the road (so that you are outside Admiral Insurance) and turn left. 
Follow the pavement.  It will eventually curve left (past Delilah’s Café and Bar).  This will bring you out near the Market Arcade and Popadom’s Indian Restaurant. 
Turn left and follow the road to the end. 
At the end of the road you will see a staircase on your right.  Go down the stairs and through the underpass which will bring you out at Clarence Street Bridge. 
Go over the bridge and take your first right onto Rodney Road. 

By Car…

From the West: 
Take Junction 26 from the M4 
Take 3rd Exit off Roundabout onto Malpas Road 
Take 2nd Exit off Roundabout 
at Next Roundabout take 1st Exit across River Usk 
at Next Traffic Lights bear Right onto Chepstow Road 
Take 1st Right onto Cedar Road 
Take 1st Right onto Corporation Road 
Take 1st Left onto Grafton Road 
Rodney Parade is on your Left.


From the East: 
Take Junction 25a from the M4 
Take 1st Exit off Roundabout onto Heidenheim Way 
Take 1st Exit off Flyover 
Take 2nd Exit off Roundabout 
at Next Roundabout take 1st Exit across River Usk 
at Next Traffic Lights bear Right onto Chepstow Road 
Take 1st Right onto Cedar Road 
Take 1st Right onto Corporation Road 
Take 1st Left onto Grafton Road 
Rodney Parade is on your Left.

Car Parking

There are several public car parks in the City Centre within a short walking distance of Rodney Parade.  There is also plenty of parking on the streets near the stadium - please be aware of local parking restrictions.

 By Bus

Rodney Parade is close to a number of bus stops.  To find your best route, please visit Newport Bus: www.newportbus.co.uk

If you prefer to travel independently the following sites may help you to organise your trip -: 

Train -:                    TRAIN INFORMATION

Coach -:                  NATIONAL EXPRESS

Car -:                       AA NEWS  

Weather -:               BBC WEATHER NEWS

Travel News -:         AA TRAVEL NEWS

The information provided is done so in good faith and sourced from various websites and contacts

Fan reps meet EFL executives – Winter 2019

Fan representatives from the EFL’s three divisions met with senior league officials in London on Tuesday 3rd December 2019.

The meeting took place under the auspices of the Football Supporters’ Association as part of the EFL’s commitment to fan engagement, which includes bi-annual group meetings.

Minutes can be downloaded below even b clicking on the file or the document

Head to the link below or click on the  @WeAreTheFSA 's website for assets, tips and more information

http://bit.ly/BGA-SGH

Abbey Helpers will hopefully once again be the welcoming smile for supporters at the Abbey Stadium as we look to resurrect the Abbey Helpers distinctive “HERE TO HELP” tops to meet and greet fans arriving for Cambridge United matches. 

The Abbey Helpers are a team of enthusiastic and happy volunteers who are the first point of contact with fans as they arrive at the ground. They will help create a warm and friendly atmosphere for all spectators, changing and enhancing the spectator experience on match days. 

At Cambridge United we are continuously looking at ways to raise the bar on how well spectators are treated at the Abbey Stadium, whether they are attending their first match or if they are lifetime fans and season ticket holders. Cambridge United believe that it is important to make all supporters feel valued and looked after. By doing this it is hoped that the club will have the opportunity to welcome them back"many times in the future.  

The Abbey Helpers volunteers have proved to be a great success in the past. They are valued by the club, loved by the fans while forging a valuable team with the fabulous Cambridge United stewards. 

It is the interaction with fans that makes being an Abbey Helper really rewarding and enjoyable.

The success of the Abbey Helper scheme and with Cambridge United building for the future, more volunteers are currently being recruited. Abbey Helpers do not have to be football fans, they might be just interested in local volunteering or looking to gain customer service work experience. More information on volunteering as an Abbey Helper is available by contacting: dave.matthew-jones@cambridge-united.co.uk

We are advertising for the role of Abbey Helper to help improve and enhance the match day experience

Position: Abbey Helper


Attendance Times:  Match day


Reporting To: Supporter Liaison Officer


Objective: To make the match day experience enjoyable for all supporters, to meet and greet supporters, to engage and assist supporters when coming to the match


Job Description

• Provide support and information to all supporters at every home match
• To provide a friendly and trustworthy point of contact on match days supporting both individuals and families coming to the Abbey Stadium
• To ensure that the Club's Safeguarding and Vulnerable Adults policies and procedures are adhered to at all times
• To ensure that a high standard of customer service is delivered at all times
• Engage with supporters within the Fan Zone area when open
• Be responsible for managing sponsor activations within the Fan Zone when open
• To meet and communicate the Club's brand values
• To ensure the Club's Health & Safety policy is adhered to

How to do this

• Provide and maintain a high standard of interaction and supporter care.
• Be proactive in approaching all supporters both within and outside the stadium.
• Provide a positive and warm greeting while dealing with supporter needs and questions
• Build relationships with fan groups 
• Assist in the success of any initiatives and schemes taking place on match days
• Work with  and alongside the police, stewards, club officials and the security​ staff
• Engage with supporters within the Fan Zone area when open
• Be responsible for managing sponsor activations within the Fan Zone when open

Person Specification

• Excellent communication skills
• Excellent customer service skills
• Smart and presentable appearance

This is a volunteer role and applicants will need to be available on Saturday match days and some Tuesday night games. Applicants must be 18+.

If you feel that you have the attributes to make a real difference please apply via email dave.matthew-jones@cambridge-united.co.uk;

Cambridge United Football Club is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to provide equality and fairness for all employees.

Cambridge United Football Club opposes all forms of unlawful and unfair discrimination. Please refer to our Equality and Diversity Policy for further information here www.cambridge-united.co.uk/club/club-policies/

Photos of Colchester supporters coming to the match on the 2nd February

Can you see yourself  in the slideshow below?

Photos by Simon King