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Post by agl on May 12, 2020 13:58:56 GMT
In the short to medium term it's now clear that our club is facing a financial crisis. Over the past few days there's been much talk of needing to do more, and there are threads about stepping up. So here's what I'm doing. I'm asking Deva Chatters to contact me with their PLEDGES and I will collate a list, which will be forwarded to the Chester FC fundraising team for action. It can be anything you like....signing up to the Seals Lottery (or increasing your monthly amount), switching your CFU subscription to direct debit (and adding an additional monthly donation for as much as you an afford), or simply a one off donation. Getting as many CFU members on direct debit is a priority.
Please pm (personal message) me with your pledge, full name and telephone number and I will pass it on to the club. Someone will then contact you to sort out the details. Please do NOT send me your bank details.
I am not doing this officially, but as a concerned fan who is trying to make it easy for you to help. I have made the club aware I will be doing this and there is no intention to step on toes. No doubt there will be fund raising initiatives to come, but they take time to set up and the club is desperately short of volunteers.
We can navel gaze, and post yet more endless threads about what the club needs to do, but the bottom line is the club needs an injection of cash now. Those who wanted the club to remain fans' owned have got their wish but this should be a wake up call. No excuses. The buck stops here. In the words of Delia Smith....Let's Be 'Avin You!!!!
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Post by Deleted on May 12, 2020 14:10:27 GMT
In the short to medium term it's now clear that our club is facing a financial crisis. Over the past few days there's been much talk of needing to do more, and there are threads about stepping up. So here's what I'm doing. I'm asking Deva Chatters to contact me with their PLEDGES and I will collate a list, which will be forwarded to the Chester FC fundraising team for action. It can be anything you like....signing up to the Seals Lottery (or increasing your monthly amount), switching your CFU subscription to direct debit (and adding an additional monthly donation for as much as you an afford), or simply a one off donation. Getting as many CFU members on direct debit is a priority.
Please pm (personal message) me with your pledge, full name and telephone number and I will pass it on to the club. Someone will then contact you to sort out the details. Please do NOT send me your bank details.
I am not doing this officially, but as a concerned fan who is trying to make it easy for you to help. I have made the club aware I will be doing this and there is no intention to step on toes. No doubt there will be fund raising initiatives to come, but they take time to set up and the club is desperately short of volunteers.
We can navel gaze, and post yet more endless threads about what the club needs to do, but the bottom line is the club needs an injection of cash now. Those who wanted the club to remain fans' owned have got their wish but this should be a wake up call. No excuses. The buck stops here. In the words of Delia Smith....Let's Be 'Avin You!!!!
This is brilliant and noble of you. Maybe it’s best to give the board a little time to see if they come up with their own fund raising ideas, that way it won’t dilute what people may be prepared to put in?
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Post by agl on May 12, 2020 14:17:47 GMT
There will be new fund raising ideas. As I say they will take time to formulate. All I am doing is pushing existing options and making it easy for people to get on board now, striking while the iron is hot if you like. It doesn't matter how people donate but we all know that once the euphoria of seeing off this take over begins to fade in a few days the usual apathy will set in and traffic to the forum will decrease. Deva Chat will revert to the usual band of 20 people posting their ideas. This won't dilute future fund raising...it all goes to the club either way. I'm trying to capture people NOW while the future of the club is in focus. Would you like to make a donation?
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Post by sirfred on May 12, 2020 14:23:50 GMT
Is any supporter 100 yrs old and can walk up and down there drive a few times ?
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Post by mcseal on May 12, 2020 15:45:43 GMT
Is any supporter 100 yrs old and can walk up and down there drive a few times ? Captain Duff ??
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Post by dannydeva on May 13, 2020 9:04:16 GMT
If every CFU member was to donate £90 to the club, that would mean no loss of gate revenue from the remaining home fixtures that have been cancelled, in fact the club would probably benefit from this in the long run.
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Post by mcseal on May 13, 2020 11:14:18 GMT
If every CFU member was to donate £90 to the club, that would mean no loss of gate revenue from the remaining home fixtures that have been cancelled, in fact the club would probably benefit from this in the long run. Suspect the losses are fairly minimal so far. Matchday income from 5 games is probably not much more than £60,000 bearing in mind season ticket holders have already paid and probably few have asked for a refund. On the plus side we're entitled to a £25,000 government grant, a furloughing claim to cover at least April player wages and some of March and ongoing furloughing claims to cover managers and other staff salaries which must have been budgeted for. Wouldn't be surprised if that amounted to £25-£30K plus a rates reduction next year of £11K. Obviously bigger problems may be on the horizon if furloughing stops or is scaled down and football can't begin. Then, there be a lot of clubs in the s**t.
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Post by agl on May 13, 2020 11:31:33 GMT
If every CFU member was to donate £90 to the club, that would mean no loss of gate revenue from the remaining home fixtures that have been cancelled, in fact the club would probably benefit from this in the long run. Suspect the losses are fairly minimal so far. Matchday income from 5 games is probably not much more than £60,000 bearing in mind season ticket holders have already paid and probably few have asked for a refund. On the plus side we're entitled to a £25,000 government grant, a furloughing claim to cover at least April player wages and some of March and ongoing furloughing claims to cover managers and other staff salaries which must have been budgeted for. Wouldn't be surprised if that amounted to £25-£30K plus a rates reduction next year of £11K. Obviously bigger problems may be on the horizon if furloughing stops or is scaled down and football can't begin. Then, there be a lot of clubs in the s**t. I was hoping this might spark a few actual pledges, but looks like it will just turn into another pointless thread. Someone above mentioned Captain Tom....can you imagine if he'd launched his charity bid on Deva Chat. I think it might go something like this:
He'd get a couple of likes, but the first three posters would say it's a waste of time or tell him to leave fundraising to the proper authorities. The next would suggest how he could do it better, with a list, including buying a zingy new pair of trainers. This would spark a long debate about how rather than spending money on trainers, he should first improve the infrastructure in his care home to make the project more sustainable. Someone would take umbrage with his target, stating that the number of laps of his court yard is not ambitious enough. Also, could he run rather than walk, because then tickets could be sold to watch him, raising more cash? Great idea, someone would riposte, but what about the pricing structure of the tickets? And shouldn't people living in the care home gets seats down the front, and a free pie? Someone else would say he was being too ambitious, and should lower his target. After all he is 99-years-old and could die.
Slightly confused, Captain Tom would nonetheless set off on his walk in front 0f 1,200 people on a wet Tuesday night. Unfortunately, he would soon have to take a break to defend himself against unfounded allegations that he has financial links to Stuart Murphy. He'd get back on track but then have to do the same again because a poster hadn't bothered to read the earlier reply and made the same allegations. Matters would get even worse when someone accused him of not even actually being Captain Tom, but an impostor posing as Captain Tom (possibly Major Tom, a former spaceman). Ray from Kelsall would suggest that Captain Tom uses his full name. Finally, a few trolls would take a break from Twitter and call him a silly old git. Captain Tom would think 'sod this', give up his walk, go indoors, and have a nice cup of tea.
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Post by dannydeva on May 13, 2020 11:33:59 GMT
If every CFU member was to donate £90 to the club, that would mean no loss of gate revenue from the remaining home fixtures that have been cancelled, in fact the club would probably benefit from this in the long run. Suspect the losses are fairly minimal so far. Matchday income from 5 games is probably not much more than £60,000 bearing in mind season ticket holders have already paid and probably few have asked for a refund. On the plus side we're entitled to a £25,000 government grant, a furloughing claim to cover at least April player wages and some of March and ongoing furloughing claims to cover managers and other staff salaries which must have been budgeted for. Wouldn't be surprised if that amounted to £25-£30K plus a rates reduction next year of £11K. Obviously bigger problems may be on the horizon if furloughing stops or is scaled down and football can't begin. Then, there be a lot of clubs in the s**t. Sounds like it wasn’t a Murphy or bust situation then in the short-term at least? I’m pretty clueless when it comes to business in all honesty! 😂
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Post by exiled on May 13, 2020 12:19:53 GMT
This is a great idea. It's gives the fans a chance to do something now for those that can.
Tough times ahead at the moment for many of us though worrying about job security etc, so understanably family has to come first.
But at least this will give the club a chance to assess where we're at now. Got a feeling you might have to approach this more like Bob Geldof, than Delia Smith.
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Post by agl on May 13, 2020 12:35:01 GMT
This is a great idea. It's gives the fans a chance to do something now for those that can. Tough times ahead at the moment for many of us though worrying about job security etc, so understanably family has to come first. But at least this will give the club a chance to assess where we're at now. Got a feeling you might have to approach this more like Bob Geldof, than Delia Smith. Still waiting for my first pledge. Two possibilities: a) Everyone is going direct to the club, which is great.
b) All the talk about 'doing more', 'digging deep', 'stepping up' is just talk.
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Post by billyw on May 13, 2020 16:06:35 GMT
This is a great idea. It's gives the fans a chance to do something now for those that can. Tough times ahead at the moment for many of us though worrying about job security etc, so understanably family has to come first. But at least this will give the club a chance to assess where we're at now. Got a feeling you might have to approach this more like Bob Geldof, than Delia Smith. Still waiting for my first pledge. Two possibilities: a) Everyone is going direct to the club, which is great.
b) All the talk about 'doing more', 'digging deep', 'stepping up' is just talk.
I think you know the answer to that mate. I’ve said on another thread that I expect all those devotees of fan ownership to step up to the plate and put themselves forward to be Board Members and to dig deep in their pockets, but I won’t hold my breath.
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Post by agl on May 13, 2020 16:17:54 GMT
Still waiting for my first pledge. Two possibilities: a) Everyone is going direct to the club, which is great.
b) All the talk about 'doing more', 'digging deep', 'stepping up' is just talk.
I think you know the answer to that mate. I’ve said on another thread that I expect all those devotees of fan ownership to step up to the plate and put themselves forward to be Board Members and to dig deep in their pockets, but I won’t hold my breath. Well, if that's the case, we will be ripe for a takeover and not so many will be able to take the moral high ground
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Post by agl on May 13, 2020 18:26:47 GMT
Glad to report that the Pledge-o-Meter is swinging. Take a bow Chester Ken who has pledged £20 a month. Well done that man. Will be passing on his details to the fundraising team.
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Post by agl on May 14, 2020 8:47:04 GMT
Glad to report that the Pledge-o-Meter is swinging. Take a bow Chester Ken who has pledged £20 a month. Well done that man. Will be passing on his details to the fundraising team. I'm bumping this up, to have one more push to sign up anyone who wants to add a monthly donation to their CFU membership. Basically you just go on to a direct debit. I can set the wheels in motion for you if you pm me your details. If we are serious about fans ownership it's the only way forward. Please if you can afford a tenner a month get in touch or email fundraising direct. Details are in pinned thread above and the guy to contact for direct debits is Nick.phillipson@chesterfc.com
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Post by Jack on May 14, 2020 12:22:32 GMT
This is a great idea. It's gives the fans a chance to do something now for those that can. Tough times ahead at the moment for many of us though worrying about job security etc, so understanably family has to come first. But at least this will give the club a chance to assess where we're at now. Got a feeling you might have to approach this more like Bob Geldof, than Delia Smith. Still waiting for my first pledge. Two possibilities: a) Everyone is going direct to the club, which is great.
b) All the talk about 'doing more', 'digging deep', 'stepping up' is just talk.
Don't think it's a case of people being 'all talk' - more of waiting for the club to advise on a fundraising drive. That way it's more centralised rather than dribs and drabs from here and there. If the club publish a 'call to arms', then a lot will back it. I'm sure they're working on it.
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Post by agl on May 14, 2020 12:34:56 GMT
Still waiting for my first pledge. Two possibilities: a) Everyone is going direct to the club, which is great.
b) All the talk about 'doing more', 'digging deep', 'stepping up' is just talk.
Don't think it's a case of people being 'all talk' - more of waiting for the club to advise on a fundraising drive. That way it's more centralised rather than dribs and drabs from here and there. If the club publish a 'call to arms', then a lot will back it. I'm sure they're working on it. Yes, I know that a centralised campaign is better but that takes time, as I keep saying.
I don't care how the money gets to the club. Dribs and drabs is also good.
I've had four pledges now, amounting to £600 a year. Should I not have bothered then? Who's to say those people won't also chip in a few quid extra when the inevitable fundraising campaign comes along? I'm trying to push the direct debit sign up which gives ongoing support. For all we know the official campaign might well be based on one-off donations, so no reason why the two can't work side by side.
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Post by dmcnally on May 14, 2020 12:42:36 GMT
Still waiting for my first pledge. Two possibilities: a) Everyone is going direct to the club, which is great.
b) All the talk about 'doing more', 'digging deep', 'stepping up' is just talk.
Don't think it's a case of people being 'all talk' - more of waiting for the club to advise on a fundraising drive. That way it's more centralised rather than dribs and drabs from here and there. If the club publish a 'call to arms', then a lot will back it. I'm sure they're working on it. Spot on, we’ve had it confirmed on twitter that 1. a CFU business plan is being finalised and 2. A tiered CFU membership system is being considered. I’m holding fire and ready to support whatever is released.
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Post by Suomen Sininen on May 14, 2020 12:44:26 GMT
Don't think it's a case of people being 'all talk' - more of waiting for the club to advise on a fundraising drive. That way it's more centralised rather than dribs and drabs from here and there. If the club publish a 'call to arms', then a lot will back it. I'm sure they're working on it. Yes, I know that a centralised campaign is better but that takes time, as I keep saying.
I don't care how the money gets to the club. Dribs and drabs is also good.
I've had four pledges now, amounting to £600 a year. Should I not have bothered then? Who's to say those people won't also chip in a few quid extra when the inevitable fundraising campaign comes along? I'm trying to push the direct debit sign up which gives ongoing support. For all we know the official campaign might well be based on one-off donations, so no reason why the two can't work side by side.
Due to your posts Agl, I shall be renewing my CFU membership this weekend and setting up a Seals lottery direct debit. Thank you for your dedication and persistance.
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Post by Old Seal on May 14, 2020 12:57:28 GMT
Due to Agl's post, I too have set up a Direct debit. Keep up the great work 👍
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Post by lincolnexile on May 14, 2020 13:10:22 GMT
Been on CFU website and downloaded, printed off the Seals Lottery form and posted off so £10 a month direct debit from me from the 5th.
To be fair if you go on the CFU web-site and look at the prize money it's well worth winning.
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Post by Jack on May 14, 2020 13:13:45 GMT
Don't think it's a case of people being 'all talk' - more of waiting for the club to advise on a fundraising drive. That way it's more centralised rather than dribs and drabs from here and there. If the club publish a 'call to arms', then a lot will back it. I'm sure they're working on it. Yes, I know that a centralised campaign is better but that takes time, as I keep saying.
I don't care how the money gets to the club. Dribs and drabs is also good.
I've had four pledges now, amounting to £600 a year. Should I not have bothered then? Who's to say those people won't also chip in a few quid extra when the inevitable fundraising campaign comes along? I'm trying to push the direct debit sign up which gives ongoing support. For all we know the official campaign might well be based on one-off donations, so no reason why the two can't work side by side.
No, nobody has said that. Just don't be surprised there's not a mass avalanche of donations from one thread on a forum. It's great that you've prodded people into action, but I don't think anybody is 'all talk' - I think they're just waiting to be advised by the club.
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Post by agl on May 14, 2020 13:24:50 GMT
I hope that is the case. The last campaign didn't do very well, if I recall, but that was of course pre-Covid and takeover bid. I wasn't expecting a huge response, but would have been disappointed to get zero. The pledges above, and others I have privately, probably amount to about £1,000 a year and all on direct debit. They will be sent to the club, saying they are from posters on Deva Chat, so who knows may even help open a new spirit of co-operation.
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Post by Si on May 14, 2020 17:23:14 GMT
I hope that is the case. The last campaign didn't do very well, if I recall, but that was of course pre-Covid and takeover bid. I wasn't expecting a huge response, but would have been disappointed to get zero. The pledges above, and others I have privately, probably amount to about £1,000 a year and all on direct debit. They will be sent to the club, saying they are from posters on Deva Chat, so who knows may even help open a new spirit of co-operation. On the subject of Deva Chat, I'd love for the messageboard to sponsor a player next season. Preferably lots of posters pledging £2 or £3's here and there so everyone has the chance to feel represented and for the price of a pint.
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Post by agl on May 14, 2020 17:29:29 GMT
I hope that is the case. The last campaign didn't do very well, if I recall, but that was of course pre-Covid and takeover bid. I wasn't expecting a huge response, but would have been disappointed to get zero. The pledges above, and others I have privately, probably amount to about £1,000 a year and all on direct debit. They will be sent to the club, saying they are from posters on Deva Chat, so who knows may even help open a new spirit of co-operation. On the subject of Deva Chat, I'd love for the messageboard to sponsor a player next season. Preferably lots of posters pledging £2 or £3's here and there so everyone has the chance to feel represented and for the price of a pint. Would be happy to chip in for that, but can you imagine the row over how we decide who gets to keep the shirt at the end of the season?😎
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Post by Deva Chanter on May 14, 2020 17:44:11 GMT
On the subject of Deva Chat, I'd love for the messageboard to sponsor a player next season. Preferably lots of posters pledging £2 or £3's here and there so everyone has the chance to feel represented and for the price of a pint. Would be happy to chip in for that, but can you imagine the row over how we decide who gets to keep the shirt at the end of the season?😎 Whack the shirt on eBay with the profits going back to the club - win-win!
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Post by happyclapper on May 14, 2020 18:43:14 GMT
I hope that is the case. The last campaign didn't do very well, if I recall, but that was of course pre-Covid and takeover bid. I wasn't expecting a huge response, but would have been disappointed to get zero. The pledges above, and others I have privately, probably amount to about £1,000 a year and all on direct debit. They will be sent to the club, saying they are from posters on Deva Chat, so who knows may even help open a new spirit of co-operation. On the subject of Deva Chat, I'd love for the messageboard to sponsor a player next season. Preferably lots of posters pledging £2 or £3's here and there so everyone has the chance to feel represented and for the price of a pint. Strangely enough I had just typed out some idea's and that was one of the idea's i'd listed : Would it help to incorporate the CFU website into the main Chester FC website? It could help I think to advertise initiatives far easier. We also need more of a push on facebook, twitter, Instagram (why aren't we using the fastest growing social media app) about what the CFU is doing - I just don't see us pushing these enough. The website currently has our fundraising initiative's next to last on the drop down menu's, it needs to be more prominent. We have a banner on the main page about backing the blues and raising money for KGV but those need rotating with other fund raising we can do like, lottery, squad builder, cfu membership, player sponsorship etc etc otherwise people just become used to seeing them on there and ignore them. How about Deva Chat sponsoring a player next season? (whenever that might be) - £180 for the season
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Post by Blockhead on May 14, 2020 18:48:06 GMT
On the subject of Deva Chat, I'd love for the messageboard to sponsor a player next season. Preferably lots of posters pledging £2 or £3's here and there so everyone has the chance to feel represented and for the price of a pint. Strangely enough I had just typed out some idea's and that was one of the idea's i'd listed : Would it help to incorporate the CFU website into the main Chester FC website? It could help I think to advertise initiatives far easier. We also need more of a push on facebook, twitter, Instagram (why aren't we using the fastest growing social media app) about what the CFU is doing - I just don't see us pushing these enough. The website currently has our fundraising initiative's next to last on the drop down menu's, it needs to be more prominent. We have a banner on the main page about backing the blues and raising money for KGV but those need rotating with other fund raising we can do like, lottery, squad builder, cfu membership, player sponsorship etc etc otherwise people just become used to seeing them on there and ignore them. How about Deva Chat sponsoring a player next season? (whenever that might be) - £180 for the seasonThat's £3.60 each for 50 devachatters. Raffle the shirt between those who have contributed at the end of the season?
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Post by happyclapper on May 14, 2020 18:59:34 GMT
Strangely enough I had just typed out some idea's and that was one of the idea's i'd listed : Would it help to incorporate the CFU website into the main Chester FC website? It could help I think to advertise initiatives far easier. We also need more of a push on facebook, twitter, Instagram (why aren't we using the fastest growing social media app) about what the CFU is doing - I just don't see us pushing these enough. The website currently has our fundraising initiative's next to last on the drop down menu's, it needs to be more prominent. We have a banner on the main page about backing the blues and raising money for KGV but those need rotating with other fund raising we can do like, lottery, squad builder, cfu membership, player sponsorship etc etc otherwise people just become used to seeing them on there and ignore them. How about Deva Chat sponsoring a player next season? (whenever that might be) - £180 for the seasonThat's £3.60 each for 50 devachatters. Raffle the shirt between those who have contributed at the end of the season? Yeah great idea
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Post by Si on May 14, 2020 21:16:26 GMT
That's £3.60 each for 50 devachatters. Raffle the shirt between those who have contributed at the end of the season? Yeah great idea Works for me.
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