CUSG Meeting Summary - Remote meeting via Zoom, 02.06.2025 at 19:00
Attendance – Simon Clarkson (SLO, Chair), Claire Winder (Supporters’ Trust), Nataly Mason (Women’s Rep), Keith Ward (Scottish Supporters), Andrew George (South Cumbria Supporters’ Club), John Bowman (London Branch, minutes), David Gale (EDI Rep), Nigel Clibbens (CUFC), Peter Dunn (CUFC), Amy Nixon (CUFC).
Apologies – John Kukuc, Teresa Mulholland (EDI Rep), Sonny Kirkwood (Warwick Road Enders), Keith Elliott (CUSAT), Dave Brown (London Branch),
Simon Clarkson took the Chair and opened the meeting, explaining that John Kukuc had sent late apologies due to personal matters.
1. Club update
This had been circulated amongst the group in advance of the meeting and can be viewed HERE.
Further update/discussion:
NC –There will be a concluding update to fans on the club review within the next week. This was a top to bottom review of all aspects of the club, not just the football operations. The consultants GSW (General Sports Worldwide) are part of the review team along with other external specialists. The review has been overseen by Tom Piatak. The issues covered in the review include:
- The structure of the football operations; job roles and reporting lines
- Player recruitment; staffing, job roles and working practices.
- Football culture; standards and accountability
- Medical; fitness, training
- Value for money in all club spending
- Football identity; club DNA, connection with fans and the community
- Governance; Board structure, oversight
- Academy; purpose, pathways to first team
- Club departments
- Club overall strategy, mission and values
SC: During the past season, fans felt a lack of connection with the players. CW: This did improve with the better results in the final games. NC: Marc Tierney recognises the need to recruit players who connect with fans and are keen to do more in the local community.
AG: The club is well-run, but the players didn’t deliver. NC: The final games showed that fans could see progress and the recruitment process will consider how a player will fit into the club and community.
NC: The final draft of the CUFC social media policy is with the CSG Board for approval. It will be shared with CUSG for circulation.
The Social Media Policy can now be viewed HERE.
2 Away Travel
SC: Keith Elliot has informed him that 25/26 arrangements for the CUSAT coach will be the same as last season. However CUSAT does not intend to run additional coaches to high demand games (as it has in the past) due to the difficulty of finding a ‘responsible person’ for each coach. CW: Supporters’ Trust has an internal working group looking at options for providing away travel. This will report to their next committee meeting.
3. Equality, Diversity and Disability
EDI report was received and is HERE.
Further update/discussion:
DG: Away fans reported that the access to the away supporters disabled area is across rough ground which has been difficult to traverse for some users. NC: Will investigate using rubber matting to provide a smooth surface as has been done in previous seasons.
4. Calendar of events and Projects
SC: No new dates or activities to add. NC: The National League fixtures are expected to be published in week 1 of July. CUFC is currently talking to NL clubs to establish their arrangements for ticket sales. SC: There is no SLO network in NL, so this may limit his ability to provide pre-match information for travelling CUFC supporters.
5. Finance
SC: Asked the meeting to authorise the withdrawal of £3,500 from the CUSG bank account for cheque payment to the CUFC memorabilia project. These funds being the proceeds of the CUSG raffle which had been earmarked for the project. This was agreed by all present.
Balance is now £2,049.23 following the withdrawal of £3,500. Of the balance £72.50 is ring-fenced for the prediction competition prizes which are in the process of being paid.
There is an amount of £280.92 in the account which is what remains of the amount which came from the disabled supporters bank account and is to be used for disabled projects.
6. SLO update
Alongside club staff, Simon attended a Family Excellence Scheme event in Birmingham last month and will now look to implement some further improvements to the matchday experience that follow independent, unannounced ‘mystery shopper visits’ where we receive feedback, reports and recommendations on how to improve.
https://www.carlisleunited.co.uk/news/family-excellence-award-202425
Phase 2 of the Memory Garden is well underway and is set to double the capacity which will allow more space for memorial plaques (contact info@cuosc.org.uk). Fan volunteers supplemented by the Cumberland Youth Justice, removed the turf and the sub base was provided by North West Recycling. Building materials have been provided by MKM Building Supplies and James Falder, a local builder has been volunteering his time.
The SLO team of meeters and greeters provide a key supporting role to enhance the matchday experience for fans, including our visiting community groups. The popular Cumberland Building Society sponsored activity sees the team of volunteers provide a mini ground tour and answer questions from young and often first-time visitors.
We are always on the lookout for more meeters and greeters, so please get in touch if you would like to join the team. As a thank you for helping you will receive a complimentary match ticket.
Backing The Blues
Following the exhibition at Tullie, the Carlisle United Collective (CUC) volunteers took some of the display items on a community tour to visit places around the city.
We are now in the final phase in the National Lottery funded project. This is the huge task of archiving all the material before then working towards establishing a museum at Brunton Park.
At the Brunton Park ticket office, the former trophy cabinet from the west stand boardroom has been repurposed as a revolving exhibition space. This has been used for rotating displays to commemorate former players and anniversaries of key events. Items that have returned from the community tour, will if possible be displayed at the ground.
The CUC now regularly host families of former players. During their visits, families are shown items from the archive and given a tour of Brunton Park. The ground tours for fans in the easter holidays hosted by the CUC were very well received and is a model that we will look to repeat at a regular frequency going forward.
We have received a huge amount of donations, but items can still be donated for the archive. If you would like to donate any items or join the Carlisle United Collective to support various aspects of this project, please contact archives@carlisleunited.co.uk
No questions or issues were raised
7. Group updates
Scottish Supporters
KW thanked Teresa Mulholland for her work during the past season.
Supporters’ Trust
Congratulations to Thomas Steadman who won a Season Ticket for winning the Guess the Score competition. He's chosen to use it in the Paddock.
Member queries/feedback:
CUTV suggestion -
- A day in the life of….
- Fans panel - views on major talking points
- How our scouting system works
- Women’s football making a difference
- The Piataks - learn more about the family
- Memory lane - 10 mins with a former blue on their time at CUFC
CUFC scratchcards -
- Could they be advertised better?
- Could they be sold in the club shop & from the ticket office?
No questions or issues were raised
London Branch
Branch AGM will be on July 10th at 19:00 via Zoom. At end of 24/25 season there were (an all- time record) 375 members.
South Cumbria
In May we had an evening featuring former United midfielder Chris Lumsdon, hosted by Simon Clarkson. The informal Q&A was packed with laughs, great stories, and honest discussions. A massive thanks to everyone who came along or helped organise the night, also to Nigel/CUFC for supplying some prizes.
Thanks to Simon Clarkson for hosting and bringing memorabilia from Chris' time playing for us.
Memberships for the 2025/26 season officially opened on 1st June, and we’re pleased to report 30 renewals and new sign-ups already. Thanks to everyone who’s joined or rejoined – your backing means a lot.
Warwick Road Enders
Nothing to report.
8. Any Other Business
AG: Asked if any pre-season matches are arranged. AN: Club will announce some fixtures later this week.
Date of next meeting 21st July 2025