Ben Philips manifesto:

I have supported Cambridge United since a child and it’s in my blood as most of my family have supported the U’s over the years, with my mother being a diehard U’s fans in particular. I remember my first game like it was yesterday, my uncle Brian brought me to the game, and I stood with one of my cousins in the front of the Newmarket Road end, even though I could barely see over the advertising boarding’s, from that day on I became hooked and fascinated in everything and anything connected to Cambridge United as a young Junior U’s.

Over the years I have given up many hours volunteering at the club, from helping Ian Darler and Mick get the ground spruced up during pre-seasons, to helping Will Jones with many of the projects he came up with from the Amber Army Scheme and volunteering to offer help with the club’s successful south stand initive. Throughout this period, theirs being one person I have admired and learnt the most from and that is Dave Matthew Jones. I have worked on a wide range of successful projects alongside Dave and learnt a lot from him.

Most people will know me though as being part of Cambridge United’s Media team, I have been one of the club photographers and media assistants now for four years. We have worked hard at engaging with fans more so now than ever and I have learnt the importance of communicating with fans and engaging with them.

I am a great believer in two things about football clubs, one that a football club is nothing without its fans. Football fans are the heartbeat and Soul of any football club. And secondly that Football is a powerful tool which can be used to engage with a range of diverse people and reaching out to people within the community of a town and making them feel part of the Football Club.

I have worked hard at creating links in the community most recently through a successful student ticketing initive which saw over 900 students attend a fixture and some now adopting the U’s as their club while studying at Cambridge. I have also worked closely with Dave at setting up Links with Cambridge Mosque, to make the football club a welcoming and inclusive environment for everyone and to understand different cultures and how we can make them feel welcome on a match day.

I feel I would be good as FED because I am passionate and have the get up and drive at creating ideas and initive for the football club and its fanbase. I already know lots of fans of the club and am willing to help them raise any concerns they may have. I am keen to keep working alongside people at improving the football club behind the scenes to make it enjoyable for everyone from current fans to the wider community, to ensure there is a club for future generations of fans to enjoy!

Dave Mathew-Jones manifesto:

Since I was last re-elected to the role of Fans Elected Director we have seen the covid pandemic and its effect on the wider community and supporters throughout the country. At a national level I have been working with the Football Supporters Association in setting up the #Terracetalk programme which is about tackling the issues around the mental health of supporters. The scheme came about following the Abbey Chat and You are never Alone projects, I created locally. The welfare and health of all supporters has been paramount during these times and cannot stop just because we are coming out of restrictions.

During Lockdown the Board were meeting several times a week on zoom calls to ensure as much planning could be done as soon as possible in advance of playing again. As FED I was able to take part in these meetings and have helped influence the decisions that saw Cambridge United promoted to League 1 while managing the ever-changing events and financial situations that came during the period.

Cambridge United has changed in many ways during recent years, and it will need to continue to do so in the future. In addition to the work already started we must become more diverse, inclusive, and welcoming of everyone. Football provides a unique opportunity to bring people together and change the lives of everyone.

Through my links with the Cambridgeshire FA and Fans for Diversity we were able to join a national project which raised awareness of Ramadan. We have created a regular contact with the Mosque in Mill Road. Plans will hopefully see links with the local LGBT and community groups improve. As the FED I am also on the club boards diversity group.

I am keen to start working on projects that will see the club also become more sustainable in the future. It won’t be easy, but everyone can become more aware of the subject and make changes to the way they work and follow the club.

The long-awaited Fans Led Review is now underway. I have taken part in calls with Fair Game and others involved with this project. It is important that the review is successful for everyone involved with football. I am also currently involved with another national project concerning the information being provided by clubs via their annual reports and which will create an industry standard which has more details contained.

I have been responsible for the club finishing third in Fan Engagement Index. The award proves that although we are not perfect, we have made vast improvements during recent years and can hopefully build on the areas required. I have also organised the recent Return of Crowds survey. We will continue to ask for views and opinions in the future.

During my time as FED, I have always worked on behalf of all supporters of Cambridge United, locally and nationally to ensure they have representation and a voice. This is and will always be my passion and my priority.