Cambridge Fans United

. It was set up in 2000 to give a voice to the fans and has since become a major shareholder in the football club using donations from supporters to finance share purchases.

Aims

According to their website (see External Links below), CFU was established with three main aims:
* to help the club
* to help the community
* to help the fans.The extent to which these have been achieved is debatable. The club has undoubtedly been helped by CFU, especially in recent times given the financial difficulties which have led to CFU taking a driving seat in fundraising and survival efforts. In December 2003 this was in the form of 'Bridge The Gap', an emergency fundraising mission to raise £100,000 towards the repayment of a loan the club owed, which was successful in no small part due to internet donations through the special site [http://www.helpcfu.co.uk Help CFU] , and more recently by supporting the club in administration, with CFU-related Nick Pomery a key negotiator in reaching an agreement with major creditor HM Revenue and Customs.Help for the community has taken a noticeable backseat, unsurprising given the problematic financial times which have required imminent assistance. Nevertheless, CFU has contributed to the community by contributing to local charities such as the "Special Care Baby Unit" at Hinchingbrooke Hospital and the Garland Appeal (a charity aimed at educating young boys about testicular cancer). Furthermore, CFU organises an annual youth football tournament which attracts over 500 participants, both male and female, and it has been argued that by helping the club it has aided the community by keeping alive what is seen as a vital community resource.Help for the fans has again been achieved by giving them a voice on the board through the first Fans' Director Brian Attmore, elected in February 2004 by members, and by providing a communication portal for its membership, which in July 2005 was more than 500.

Campaigns

CFU is active in organising campaigns to fulfil its aims, listed above. In recent years there have been two main appeals - Bridge the Gap in December 2003 and a save the club in the summer of 2005, aimed at raising working capital to fund the club while in administration. Fundraising activities that have taken place under these schemes include:
* "Sponsor A Seat" - the opportunity to have a name put on a seat in the Abbey Stadium, home of Cambridge United
* "Calendar" - CFU has produced calendars of Cambridge United players for the past few years, including in 2004 'Players at Leisure' and 2005 'Players in Action'
* "Wristbands" - taking advantage of the wristband phenomenon of early 2005, CFU made 500 amber wristbands bearing the club's motto 'United in Endeavour' which sold out almost immediately
* "T-shirts" - there have been a number of limited edition t-shirts produced by CFU including one bearing 'I give a CFUK' (parodying French Connection's popular FCUK brand) during the 'Bridge the Gap' appeal and more recently a Fans United t-shirt which listed a host of football clubs in the [http://www.clubsincrisis.com Clubs in Crisis] coalition
* "Amber Fanfayre CD" - a compilation of 'original and varied, yet uplifting' songs with profits to CFU
* "Join Up" - an ongoing campaign to increase its membership

In addition to these regular campaigns, it was also announced on 12 July 2007 that CFU would sponsor Cambridge Regional College F.C. for their 2007-08 campaign in the Eastern Counties Football League Premier Division. [cite news | url=http://www.cambridge-united.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Squad/ReserveReportsDetail/0,,10423~1072641,00.html | title=CFU Sponsor CRC | publisher=Cambridge United | date=2007-07-12 | accessdate=2007-07-12] This sponsorship includes discounted admission for CFU members, free admission for 'Junior U's', and is aimed at increasing awareness of CRC's link with Cambridge United beyond core supporters.

References

External links

* [http://www.helpcfu.co.uk Cambridge Fans United] : the official website of CFU (updated)
* [http://www.cambridgeunited.com Cambridge United Official Site] : the website of Cambridge United FC