Chester FC Presentation

Chester Football ClubFans Working Together

Campbell Smith

Our City. Our Community. Our Club.

Chester Football Club

• Founded in 1885• Lost Sealand Road in 1990 followed by

two years in exile• Administration under Mark Guterman• Bought by Terry Smith in 1999 after a

visit to Chester Zoo• Bought by Stephen Vaughan in October

2001


Supporters Groups

• Chester City Exiles– 25 Year History– Strong Close-knit Group

• Chester City ISA– ’90s campaign group– Helped prevent liquidation in 1998– Campaigned against Smith

• Official Supporters– Organise Away Travel


Supporters Groups

• Chester City Supporters Society– Formed in 2000 during Smith era– Affiliated to Supporters Direct– Representatives from all the other existing

groups.

Too many fans groups for a club this size.


Vaughan Era

• Success on the pitch in the early years– Playoffs in 2003– Champions in 2004– Warnings from Barrow forgotten

• Conflict of Interest between supporter groups– ISA and Trust both buy shares from

Vaughan• Groups begin to stagnate


Divide and Conquer

• Nepotism on and off the pitch• Funding mysteriously dries up• Fans become disillusioned• Vaughan wins the PR war – proceeds

with CVA• Trust left with no option but to

support CVA


Summer 2009

• FA licence delayed• Emergency meeting held– First was a disaster – still fighting

amongst each other• Charlie Lambert invited to host

second– Famous respected fan

• Elephant in room finally addressed


Late Summer 2009

• Negotiations opened between ISA and Trust

• Media kept updated – momentum gathered

• Fans frustration at delay piles on the pressure

• Old conflicts swept aside• Resign, merge and rebrand


Launch of City Fans United

• Merged on 22nd October 2009 with 150 members

• Officers elected early December• Membership continues to grow as the

club continued its downward spiral• Legends night organised with former

players invited• Extensive use of media – Chronicle

backs us.


Death of Chester City

• Members surveyed to gage support for Phoenix club ahead of death

• Fact Finding visits to Telford and FC United

• We take a risk, and take control• Unexpected and unwanted Danish

attention• Unstoppable momentum


Rebirth of Chester FC

• Extensively featured on Radio 5 live and Non-league show

• Lease of Stadium granted on 6th May• Formal re-launch on 20th May• Manager appointed next day• Keys handed over almost a year to the

day of creditors meeting


The Future

• Regular members meetings• Surveys approx twice per year• Increase CFU presence on matchdays• Merger with the Exiles• Monthly informal meet-ups• Working closely with schools, Chester

Uni• Use local Media


Chester FC Presentation

Travel

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