With the positive role and input fans can have with clubs very much in the spotlight after the calamitous European Super League debacle, we are delighted to report that Carlisle United Football Club has come near the top of ranking within the English professional game when it comes to fan engagement.
By clicking HERE you will see that independent analysis and review in the latest Fan Engagement Index from Think Fan Engagement ranks the clubs second out of 92.
Chief executive Nigel Clibbens said: “Working together with our fans makes the club better - it’s that simple. It’s the right thing to do.
“It’s very pleasing to be right at the top of this table. It shows the work we do to engage with our fans and the processes we have in place are amongst best practice.
“It may surprise a few people, but it shows what can be achieved. It is something to be proud of. I hope it helps fans to understand the fantastic work that goes on in many clubs.”
“Working together in this way gives those running our club better insight and a closer connection with supporters,” he added. “It gives us an opportunity to get alternative perspectives and ideas when making judgements and decisions – from operational matters to discussions held at the boardroom table.
“It helps fans better understand the things the club does, the decisions and plans it makes and the issues it faces. That all comes together to make the club stronger and more united. It is good for us all to see that the ideas being looked at in the overall review of football are things we are already doing.
“We don’t get everything right, there is no sense of complacency and we are constantly looking to improve, but it is good to get recognition from others for the hard work being carried out by so many people connected to this club.”
“Fan engagement has to be a two-way exchange, and it must be personal and genuine,” he told us. “It’s a real commitment and belief from within the club – if you try and fake it and fool fans you will be found out very quickly.
“It must lead to visible, positive changes in the club and in how it operates, and this in turn must make the club better, and not be for the sake of it, or a box ticking exercise. It takes time, passion and perseverance, especially when time and money is scarce.
“But that doesn’t hold us back, we are all working and moving in the same direction. I firmly believe is it not something to be frightened of, or that it’s just for the ‘smaller’ clubs. It’s actually more difficult for us. For bigger clubs the benefits are far, far greater and much easier to attain.
“We haven’t got all the answers, but we are striving hard to make our club better, so it makes sense to us to seek help and input from people who also want to see us get better. For us here at Brunton Park that’s our supporters – who want us to be the best we can be because we know the club means absolutely everything to them.
“I have been committed to this approach since I came into the club and it has been essential to resolving issues and our progressing of our important off-the-field activities and actions. It works. We are grateful to the many fans who work with us in such a positive way to make a difference.”
