Weekly Briefing
August 22, 2022
Dear <<First Name>>
Board Meeting Summary - August
Held online via Zoom, August 18 2022
Attend: Frank Beattie (Chair), Nigel Davidson (Vice Chair), Alastair Woodcock (Secretary), Chris Armstrong, Billy Atkinson, Dan Maclennan, Dave Noble, Malcolm Nugent, Matt Spooner, Carol Wilson
Apologies: Kieron Bulman
Frank Beattie was re-appointed as Chair for the next year, Nigel Davidson and Matt Spooner were appointed as Vice Chairs, Alastair Woodcock as secretary and Peter Harrington as treasurer. All decisions unanimous.
Billy reported no further progress on the PurePay loan despite an offer forwarded by the club some time ago.
Nigel was due to attend his first 1921 board meeting tomorrow as 1921 representative.
Improvements to the fan zone were again discussed. A cover was being considered to provide protection from the weather. Further discussions would be needed involving Billy and Nigel as reps.
Three sub-committees were set up to cover the following areas: Communications, branding and membership.
Non-board members were identified who would be approached to help the board and potentially serve on these committees. An appeal for more help would go out in the next briefing. In the meantime all board member skills and experience were being collated and would be shared to identify any areas needing support.
The manifesto was discussed. This had reached a draft stage but no further work had been carried out pending further discussion about CUOSC's future direction and structure. Nigel stressed that it had been driven by responses from fans to last year's Future of Football questionnaire and the recommendations of the nationwide fan-led government review.
Alastair reported back on the AGM. There had been some issues with the voting process, and some votes were lost due to an IT problem. There was a difference between the number of valid votes cast in the AGM resolutions and the board elections which were separately managed. In future, more time would be taken to appoint the Election Management Group and Matt suggested the group should be better publicised. The election policy was due to be reviewed with the FSA alongside other existing policies.
Alastair reported a bank balance of £6,115.01, up on the last reported balance at the last board meeting. Membership renewals were responsible for the increase. Around 110 members were still to renew but all were being chased up this week with email reminders. Matt suggested a survey of members be carried to find out why they chose not to renew.
We had a fan engagement survey from the FSA to complete. Alastair/Frank to liaise over this. A presence would be maintained within the fan zone on match days as well as the Study Centre. A better 'kiosk' was being sought for the fanzone. Nigel to follow this up as 1921 representative.
Next meeting - to be advised. A complete schedule of board meetings for 2022-23 will be circulated in due course by the secretary. Venues online/Upperby.
We want an organisation our fans can be proud of
CUOSC’s revamped board of directors are determined to give supporters an organisation they can be proud of.
But we know we cannot do it all by ourselves – we need help.
That’s why some of our board attended an informal ‘workshop’ organised by businessman and fellow fan Gerald Gornall before last weekend’s home game with Swindon.
Lots of ideas were discussed that, hopefully, may help CUOSC move forward and these will be looked at in more detail and depth.
Down the line, it would be great to have a support network of fans. We are already aware of a number who may be willing to help but also want to reach out to anyone else. If you are interested email us at info@cuosc.org.uk.
CUOSC were in the fan zone before the game engaging with supporters and signing up some new members in the process and this is a presence we plan to continue and increase throughout the season.
Our first official board meeting since the recent AGM will take place tonight (Thursday).
It was great to see United’s directors this week agree to help boss Paul Simpson navigate his way through early season injury problems.
It looked like the Blues had finished their business in the transfer window when we signed experienced defender Paul Huntington. But after an appeal from Simpson he has been told he can add to the squad.
Simpson said: “I think the directors realise that there’s a really positive swell in the atmosphere with the supporters, in the club and in and around the city. They want to do everything to keep that.”
The fans have shown their faith by backing Simpson with the club having reported increased sales in season tickets, retail and catering.
CUSOC would like to welcome the appointment of John Kukuc who has taken over as chair of Carlisle United Supporters Groups (CUSG).
John is a former CUOSC board member. He was proposed by the London Branch, supported by the other groups, including ourselves, and also welcomed by Blues chief executive Nigel Clibbens.
Keeper Jimmy Glass will be returning to Brunton Park to mark the official opening of his new bar. The Glass Bar (formerly the Sunset Suite) is now complete and CUSG are liaising with Jimmy to agree a suitable date.
Malcolm Nugent
Latest from Brunton Park
United suffered their first league reverse of the season on Saturday when they lost 2-1 at Stevenage.
The home side extended their own unbeaten run to five games after taking a two-goal lead after 42 minutes, a lead that was halved by Kristian Dennis's fifth goal in five games this season close to half-time.
The second half proved to be something of a disappointment as the visitors couldn't create good enough chances to get back on terms.
Boss Paul Simpson admitted that his players had not won their battles in the first half and that had cost them the game. The manager was confident however that he had enough quality in his squad to keep the team moving forward.
He hopes his injury problems will begin to clear up soon. Defender Morgan Feeney and midfielder Owen Moxon could be back in contention by the weekend. In the meantime Simpson moved to cover for the injury situation by signing defender Duncan Idehen from Bristol City on loan until January,
Current CUFC squad:
Goalkeepers
Tomas Holy, Gabriel Breeeze, Scott Simons, Michael Kelly
Defenders
Jack Armer, Morgan Feeney, Corey Whelan, Joel Senior, Jon Mellish, Jack Ellis, Ben Barclay (on loan from Stockport County), Finley Back (on loan from Nottingham Forest), Paul Huntington, Duncan Idehen (on loan from Bristol City)
Midfield
Taylor Charters, Josh Dixon, Callum Guy, Brennan Dickenson, Lewis Bell (loaned out to Gretna 2008), Jordan Gibson, Max Kilsby (loaned out to Annan Athletic), Jamie Devitt, Owen Moxon, Sonny Hilton (on loan from Fulham), Jayden Harris
Forwards
Sam Fishburn (loaned out to Blyth Spartans), Omari Patrick, Kristian Dennis, Oluwatobi Sho-Silva, Ryan Edmondson, Jack Stretton (on loan from Derby County)
Proposed meeting dates 2021-22
Board meetings
Venue: Online, Brunton Park or Upperby
Next meeting: August 18 (Zoom)
AGM 2023/24
To Be Announced
Catch-up meetings – to arrange as and when needed
Members’ Meeting Dates
Venue: Online or Brunton Park
Next meeting: TBA
CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVES ON THE CUFC BOARDS
  To contact Billy Atkinson or Nigel Davidson, your representatives on the CUFC Holdings and CUFC 1921 boards respectively, please drop an email via info@cuosc.org.uk - you can raise any issue with them. Some things may not be relevant at board meeting level but both our reps have regular contact with various people at the football club and your issue will be raised with the appropriate personnel, should it require an answer from the club. As attendees at meetings of Carlisle United Supporters Groups we also have the opportunity to raise concerns, queries and issues in that forum as well. If Nigel isn't available, we will pass on your query to his deputy, Carol Wilson.
Next CUOSC Board Meeting - TBA
Next CUSG Meeting - September 19
Quiz Time
Spot the player
Identify the player from the following clues:
Position: MIDFIELDER
Career: 1966-82
Clubs: Sunderland, Blackpool, Hartlepool United
Last week's answer: ARTHUR ALBISTON (first correct answer from Neil Park)
Spot the Club
Identify the club from the team line-up and season :
Category: EASY
Season: 2003-04
Line-up: Thompson, Chambers, Clark, Westwood, Willmott, Reid, Reeves, Youngs, Richards, Low, Trollope
Last week's answer: HULL CITY (first correct answer from Neil Park)
Answers in next week's briefing
Acknowledgements
Weekly Briefing editor: Alastair Woodcock
News & Star column: Malcolm Nugent
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Contact CUOSC
Tel: 07999 73 73 90
Website and social media addresses below
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