Thank you for your continued support of the CUFC Lottery.

CUFC Lottery 'Accumulator' Results (29 March 2019) - this weeks winning 'Accumulator' numbers are (9320)
-there were no winners of the weekly 'Accumulator' this week, meaning next weeks 'Accumulator' will be £1800.

CUFC Lottery 'Main Draw' Results (29 March 2019) - this weeks winning 'Main Draw' numbers are (9817)
-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 2 CUFC Lottery members matching the first pair winning £10.00 each
-there is 1 CUFC Lottery member matching the second pair winning £10.00

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.

Did you go to the Colchester  Match?  Can you see yourself in the Match day photos by Ben Philips.

Follow the link below to see more photographs from the match taken by Ben Phillips. There are photographs of supporters at the match.

To see the  match day photographs click here ---- http://tinyurl.com/y4lf5cdb

To see all the match day photographs this season click here  photographs click here

Cambridge United play against Bury on Tuesday. If you are travelling to the match we hope you will find the following information useful --

Website ----- www.buryfc.co.uk/
Gigg Lane Contacts
Bury Football Club, The Energy Check Stadium at Gigg Lane, Gigg Lane, Bury, Lancs, BL9 9HR

Post Code --- BL9 9HR

E-mail: info@buryfc.co.uk
Tel: 0161 764 4881

The club's telephone system uses
an auto-attendant menu system as shown below:

• Option 1 - Ticket Office

Fans will be allowed to sit where they like in their designated stand.

Information concerning tickets and away travel can be found here -  www.cambridge-united.co.uk/news/2019/march/bury-away-tickets/

Getting to the Stadium

We are based in the county of Lancashire, approximately 20 minutes from Manchester. Our home stadium is Gigg Lane, which has been the club's home since formation back in 1885.

If you are travelling to us by car, the best postcode to use for most Satellite Navigation devices is BL9 9HP, which is for Gigg Lane itself.

There are 2 ways to get to the ground, which are:
From the M66 (Junction 3): (2.5 Miles to the ground) leave the Motorway at Junction 3 (preferred route as this avoids the town centre). From the bottom of the slip road turn onto Pilsworth Road.

This road curls around a large ASDA Supermarket, continue straight on around the mini roundabout (McDonalds on the right-hand corner) and continue straight ahead.

Pilsworth Road merges with Croft Lane soon after with no visible indication. After approx. 1.1 miles, the road comes to a mini roundabout with Hollins Lane and Hollins Brow. Carry on in the same direction and onto 'Hollins Brow', this road then curls round to the right before meeting Manchester Road and traffic lights at the bottom of the hill.

Turn right onto Manchester Road and continue towards the ground for approx. 1.2 miles. Gigg Lane is on the right-hand side (Redvales Playing Fields on the left). The ground is well signposted. Once you turn onto Gigg Lane, the Stadium can be found approx. 200 yards up the road on the right-hand side.

From the M60 (Junction 17 – signposted A56 Whitefield & Prestwich)): (3.4 miles to the ground) Leave the motorway at junction 17 and follow the signs for Bury (A56 Bury New Road).

Continue in this direction for approx. 3.1 miles. This road will eventually merge with Manchester Road with no obvious signs. Continue along Manchester Road and Gigg Lane is on the right-hand side (Redvales Playing
Fields on the left). The ground is well signposted. Once you turn onto Gigg Lane, the Stadium can be found approx. 200 yards up the road on the right-hand side.

If you are travelling to us by train, please be advised that there are no train stations in Bury. The nearest mainline stations are Manchester Piccadilly or Manchester Victoria. The Metrolink tram system operates from both and is a direct service to Bury. Once you exit the Metrolink Station in Bury, the ground is a 10 to 15-minute walk.

We strongly advise all supporters using the Metrolink to check on their website for any engineering works - http://www.metrolink.co.uk

The 135 Bus Service also departs from the same station and drops on Manchester Road at the bottom of Gigg Lane (Every 15 minutes service).

Taxis are also on hand outside the Interchange tram/Bus Station.

To walk to Gigg Lane from Metrolink. Come out of the tram exit, up the stairs and turn right. Cross the dual carriageway (Angouleme Way) and head down Market Street (Bury College is on both sides of the road). At the bottom of the road, continue over the mini roundabout and continue down Market Street until you come to Bury Cemetery gates – this is Gigg Lane and the Energy Check Stadium at Gigg Lane can be found by turning right and walking for approx. 500 yards.

Bury have room for ONE supporters’ coach to park on-site.  The designated parking area for all additional coaches is approximately a 10-minute walk away.  
 
Car parking – Bury provide 5 x blue badge spaces to visiting supporters, booked in advance on a first-come, first-served basis.  There is a supporters’ car park located off Brierley Street, adjacent to the Stadium.  Phoenix House costs £5 per car and is covered by CCTV cameras.  Please note this car park closes one hour after the final whistle. To book blue badge parking, supporters need to call 0161 764 4881 (Opt 1) and ask for Lynne, or e-mail lynne.kent@buryfc.co.uk
 
Pre-match.  Bury have an on-site Social Club, where visiting supporters are more than welcome.  There is no fee to get in, and there is a bar, comfortable seating and the lunchtime kick-off on TV (where scheduling allows).
 
Supporters can pay to enter the stadium directly at the turnstiles, using cash.  Should any supporters wish to pay by card, or require a special ticket i.e. disabled with carer, they would need to visit our Ticket Office for their ticket in advance of getting to the turnstiles.
 
We do allow flags and drums into the stadium, however we would ask your supporters to ease the process by showing them to the stewards on the day of the game, to allow them to be searched and checked before they enter the stadium.
 
We also have a Fans’ Guide on our website which can be found here: https://www.buryfc.co.uk/Fans/first-time-visitor/

For more information about the travel coach you can ring 01223 566500 during shop opening hours

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.

Thank you for your continued support of the CUFC Lottery.

CUFC Lottery 'Accumulator' Results (22 March 2019) - this weeks winning 'Accumulator' numbers are (5346)
-there were no winners of the weekly 'Accumulator' this week, meaning next weeks 'Accumulator' will be £1750.

CUFC Lottery 'Main Draw' Results (22 March 2019) - this weeks winning 'Main Draw' numbers are (8354)
-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 is 1 CUFC Lottery member matching the second pair winning £10.00

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.

Following what seems to be a long winter. Work has began again on the artwork behind the Habbin Stand North.

See the photos for a preview.

Weather permitting the work will continue. It is a large project so may take some time to finish.

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

The Carlisle Away Supporter information pack can be found further down the page. It is also available as a download file or on line here

Match day tickets can be bought on line here Online booking for this event will end on 21 Mar 2019 at 21:00 Click here to book

Away Travel - Carlisle - Departing Ely at 06.00am and Abbey Stadium at 06.45am
Online booking for this event will end on 22 Mar 2019 at 12:00. Click here to book

If you need more information the contact details are below -

Web Site ----- www.carlisleunited.co.uk

Address - ;

Carlisle United Football Club
Brunton Park 
Warwick Road
Carlisle
Cumbria
CA1 1LL

Telephone numbers:  Main Switchboard: 01228 526 237
 
Ticket Office: 0844 371 1921 (calls cost 7p per minute from landlines, mobile charges may vary)

Emails:
 
General enquiries: enquiries@carlisleunited.co.uk
Disabled Liaison Officer and Supporter Liaison Officer: tbc - contact sarah.mcknight@carlisleunited.co.uk for queries
Ticket office: ticket.printing@carlisleunited.co.uk
Match day anti-social behaviour reporting: kickitout@carlisleunited.co.uk

For more information about the travel coach you can ring 01223 566500 during shop opening hours

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.

Cambs Ladies Invitation Cup Final 2019 between Cambridge United and Cambridge City match day photos can be seen via the link by clicking here - https://www.flickr.com/photos/141422009@N06/albums/72157690472122893/with/46700599414/

Photos taken by Ben Phillips.

Some photographs of the Abbey this week. Very windy and on Tuesday the heavens opened for while.

Photos by Alan Burge

Did you go to the Crewe  Match on Tuesday?  Can you see yourself in the Match day photos by Ben Philips.

Follow the link below to see more photographs from the match taken by Ben Phillips. There are photographs of supporters at the match.

To see the  match day photographs click here ---- www.flickr.com/photos/141422009@N06/albums/72157704053373902

To see all the match day photographs this season click here  photographs click here

February was a busy month for me. In addition to helping Blackpool supporters, I met with Emilio Scozzafava at Portcullis House. He is a researcher for Dr Rosena Allin-Khan MP, the Labour Shadow Sports Minister.

The reason for the meeting was to discuss ideas about how supporters could have more of a voice in their football clubs.

This is the area of the SLO role I really enjoy. I was on the Supporters Direct England and Wales Football Council several years ago. While on the council the thing I enjoyed most was speaking with other clubs, exchanging views and opinions and sharing advice and ideas.

Supporters Direct and the Football Supporters Federation are now merging. Both groups have unique and special qualities. They also have some great staff with experience that must not be lost in the merger. However, due to the politics of football and the lack of funding, they are now joining together. I  hope this new organisation understands what each other did and builds on those strengths without anything being lost on the way. All levels are important in the Professional and National game, not just the teams with the largest numbers of supporters.

Click here to read more https://supporters-direct.org/new-organisation

A possible merger of the organisations had been a discussion point for a number of years. A decision had become necessary because of important changes to how SD’s work can and cannot be funded once its current funding arrangements comes to an end in July 2019.

There is no point dwelling on the past and the new group, The Unified Football Supporters Organisation, will now be the point of contact for supporters and represent them at national level. It is a group I think all supporters should be aware of: they need our backing. They will have the meetings, contacts and exchanges to make things happen at national level.

Going back to the meeting with Emilio, we discussed supporter representation including the idea of a Fans' Parliament (or Supporters' Panel)  and the different roles the SLO and FED undertake.


Hopefully in years to come some of the ideas discussed will bear fruit and the voice of supporters will be heard at all clubs and in the organisations that run the game.

It was a special day for the volunteers on Saturday. Thanks to Ian Darler they were each awarded with a medal to thank them for their help during the past year.

In the photo with Ian are Brian Darler, Paul Harrison, Wendy Twinn, Brian Thorby, Margaret Pearson, Les Weston, Emma Smith, Andy Pickard, Peter Ankin, Glenn Gawthrop, Alan Burge, Gary Chandler, DMJ, Dave Mills, Giac Celentano, Terry O'Dell

Unfortunately, Mick Radford, Frank Pearson, Neil Weston were unable to make it on the day for the pitch presentation

Well done to everyone for their help, assistance and for being so much fun to work with,

It was also a special day for Terry O'Dell who presented the match ball to the referee. Terry has supported the U's since a young boy and was part of a volunteer group that previously existed in the 70's and 80's.

Photos by Ben Phillips

Did you go to the Oldham  Match on Saturday?  Can you see yourself in the Match day photos by Ben Philips.

Follow the link below to see more photographs from the match taken by Ben Phillips. There are photographs of supporters at the match.

To see the  match day photographs click here ---- www.flickr.com/photos/141422009@N06/albums/72157690307448163/with/46432577555/

To see all the match day photographs this season click here  photographs click here

Shaun Grady Responds
 
1 How often does the full Board meet?

 The Board meet monthly, usually on the last Friday of the month.
 When needed there are additional Board meetings and occasionally the Board meet by teleconference if there is a topic that needs to be discussed quickly and everyone can’t be in the same place.
 The Board is obviously also in very regular informal contact by e mail

2  Is there always an agenda and minutes?
 
 Every meeting has an agenda circulated beforehand and minutes are taken and circulated ahead of the next meeting.
 There are a number of standing agenda items that are discussed at every meeting such as Football and Commercial Operations review, Finance update and Health & Safety and Safeguarding reports.
 Other topics will depend on the issues that need to be raised and discussed at that point in time.
 
3  How often are up to date finances seen and discussed?
 
 A Financial Report is prepared for every Board Meeting.
 Duncan Foyle and the Finance Team have introduced systems and processes to produce reliable information that reflects the latest view available.
 
4  Are all decisions voted on and voted on by the whole Board?
 
 Decisions are made by consensus and everyone’s views are sought and taken into account.  If there was disagreement, then yes a vote would be taken, but that happens very rarely.
 
5  Are issues of staffing levels ever discussed and the ratio of playing staff to non playing staff?

 Staffing levels are discussed regularly and subject to a review periodically.  

6.  Which Directors are tasked with bringing which issues to meetings?
    
 Any Director can bring any issue to the meeting, however in general terms;

 Duncan Foyle reports on Financial matters
 Ben Strang reports on Football Operations supported by Graham Daniels
 Henry Comfort updates on Commercial performance supported by Shaun Grady
 Godric Smith and Dave Matthew Jones takes the lead on Fan Engagement
 Ian Mather leads on the Stadium redevelopment project
  Andy Beattie leads on Health & Safety and Safeguarding   

7   Who deals directly with Paul Barry?
 
 Paul is in fairly regular contact with several Directors including Renford Sargent with whom they have been fellow Directors for many years
 Graham Daniels and Ben Strang talk to Paul about football matters on a fairly frequent basis  Shaun Grady and Ian Mather talk to Paul periodically about the business
 When Paul is in the UK we typically meet him with several members and sometimes the whole Board   

8 Who is responsible for communicating with fans and the media?
 
 Tom Stewart is obviously responsible for communications
 Godric Smith provides support and advice to Tom
 The work we have been doing on the fans parliament (‘CUSP’) is a good example of this  When there is an important matter that needs to be announced, this would be reviewed and discussed with the entire Board   

9 Is the FED party to all Board discussions? If not,why is this?
 
 Every Board member is party to all Board matters
 There is no distinction at all between the FED and any other Directors   

10 Which matters discussed by the Board are regarded as confidential?
 
 Inevitably there are a lot of matters that are discussed at the Board which are confidential
 These include financial and commercial matters, information relating to the playing squad and other staff and so on and so forth
 It wouldn’t be in the Club’s best interest for these matters to be made public other than through appropriate channels   

11 Are the Board satisfied with their image in the minds of fans
 
The Board accept that there has been a lot of change at the Club over the last twelve months or so

 After Dave Doggett and Jez George left the Club this unarguably created a vacuum
 More recently the Board have working to improve relations with the fans and media
 This includes two meetings with various stakeholders, the Fans Forum, the formation of CUSP, more information in newsletters
 We have taken some steps forward but know there is more to do. It is a Board priority to continue to improve communications with fans

12 Will the Board ever accept responsibility for the financial losses or explain the reasons more fully in the public arena?  
 
 Members of the Board talked about the 2017 Financial performance at the last shareholders meeting
 The 2018 numbers will be presented at the next Shareholders Meeting
 As Directors the Board are very mindful of all their different responsibilities on behalf of the Club. We take the role very seriously and never forget that it is a privilege to serve the Club.

I am very grateful to Shaun,who I know is very busy at the moment,for answering our questions so thoroughly. We all appreciate the greater transparency at the club.  Ed

CAMBRIDGE UNITED SUPPORTERS’ PANEL:  OLDHAM PROGRAMME ARTICLE
 
 Nigel Pearce, part of the fans’ parliament working group, provides another progress report:
 
The supporters that have expressed an interest in being part of the fans’ parliament met at the Abbey, along with Godric Smith, on 28th February.  They made a number of important decisions, detailed here. 
 
As you know, from the word go, nobody has been particularly enamoured with the name “fans’ parliament”.  It has been used as a working title for now, until such time as we could agree on a better alternative.  At the meeting the fans present voted on a number of name options and settled on “THE CAMBRIDGE UNITED SUPPORTERS’ PANEL”, or “CUSP” as I’m sure it will be more commonly known.  We particularly liked one other suggested name, “The 1912 Committee” but felt it was (like “parliament”) a bit too political! 
 
The CUSP constitution was agreed at the meeting, and can now be viewed on the official Club website.  Please take a look, it will tell you all you need to know about CUSP and how it will operate. 
 
So, now we need some candidates to stand for election.  There is still time for you to be part of United history.  As per the constitution, any Cambridge United fan is eligible to stand for election to CUSP, as long as you are: 16 years old or over, not a director of the Club or full time paid member of staff (sorry, that one rules you out, Gary Deegan) and not currently subject to a football banning order.
 
To register as a candidate all you have to do is provide us with a few details:  your name, a current photo, what part of the Abbey you normally watch United home games from, and (in a maximum of 100 words) some information about you and why your fellow U’s fans should vote for you.  These details should be emailed to cfuinbox@btinternet.com or posted to the Club for the attention of Tom Stewart.  Emails and letters should be marked “CUSP”.  All registrations will be acknowledged on receipt. 
 
The closing date to register to stand for election to the Cambridge United Supporters’ Panel is midnight on 17th March. 
 
The first members of CUSP will be elected by an online ballot, to be run during the first two weeks of April and over Easter (essentially around the Colchester and Swindon home games) to close on 22nd April.  Information about all the candidates standing will be published on the Club website before and during the election, and in the programmes.
 
All being well the first Cambridge United Supporters’ Panel will meet as a group before the end of the season, and will then get together with the Club in May – to discuss whatever you want them to. 
 
COYUs!

Some new images painted during the past week by Alan Burge. 

Bleating about the Bush

If there’s one thing that gets my goat – apart from the freelance goatherd I hire at certain times of the year – it’s people talking about the one thing that gets their goat.

If you read this column regularly, which I don’t suppose you do because you’ve got a pet hate to cultivate, you’ll have realised that I have little patience for individuals who proclaim their opinions loudly and publicly when it’s obvious they haven’t a clue what they’re talking about.

Exhibit A: ‘If there’s one thing that gets my goat,’ they’ll bluster, ‘it’s all these players who pass the ball backwards.’
Exhibit B: ‘If there’s one thing that gets my goat,’ they’ll rant, ‘it’s that the board don’t realise what a dangerous position we’re in.’
Exhibit C: ‘If there’s one thing that gets my goat, it’s the club not signing players who they can sell for millions a couple of years later.’

A: a backwards pass is very often the best option.
B: oh, yes they do.
C: do you honestly think the club wouldn’t sign any player of that quality if it had any realistic chance of doing so?

 
I was always told to keep my counsel until I was absolutely sure of the validity of what I would say. That’s why it’s rare for me to say anything at all.

If you would be so kind, stop getting my goat.
The Terracist
 
And finally…. “

I was recently contacted by Supporters Direct with a request to help advise Blackpool Supporters Trust.  This followed the recent events at Bloomfield Road concerning the club and its current problems.

The group were looking to set up a team of volunteers to help around the stadium in between matches and wanted some advice concerning the legal, safety and practical aspects of creating one. 

Between Ian Darler and myself we were able,I hope, to provide the necessary information. 

I would like to wish the Blackpool Supporters Trust all the very best in the future. They have worked so hard to achieve their aims. Hopefully now they will be able to unite the club following the recent unrest and ensure the club has a  brighter and more positive future.  It won't be easy; however they have the fight and will to achieve it.

Before our recent matches against Tranmere and Stevenage I have been able to show the visiting SLOs around our ground. It is always good to have opportunities to compare how different clubs see the role of SLO. So we discussed what each other is doing and in addition we shared what projects we are currently undertaking and what we have already achieved.

DMJ

With there being a gap in between home matches and also the changing weather, we have started to paint and brighten up the toilets underneath the  South Stand. See the photos below.

The walls have been painted white and images have been added.

We have already added some in the Ladies toilets at the end of the Main Stand.

Did you go to the Grimsby  Match on Saturday?  Can you see yourself in the Match day photos by Ben Philips.

Follow the link below to see more photographs from the match taken by Ben Phillips. There are photographs of supporters at the match.

To see the  match day photographs click here ----
www.flickr.com/photos/141422009@N06/albums/72157705757041021

To see all the match day photographs this season click here  photographs click here

Thank you for your continued support of the CUFC Lottery.

CUFC Lottery 'Accumulator' Results (01 March 2019) - this weeks winning 'Accumulator' numbers are (0286)
-there were no winners of the weekly 'Accumulator' this week, meaning next weeks 'Accumulator' will be £1600.

CUFC Lottery 'Main Draw' Results (01 March 2019) - this weeks winning 'Main Draw' numbers are (2751)
-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.