Press Release Article

Wednesday 02nd April 2003: A community asset – the future of Carlisle United

Carlisle United is Cumbria’s last remaining football league club and provides a focal point for Cumbrian pride all around the world. To lose it would be a disaster – every Cumbrian (whether a supporter or not), would confirm that. Lose your club and as far as the rest of the country is concerned you lose your identity. Ask anyone from Workington to Barnet. And last year we all came close to losing our football club. For the sake of the generations of Cumbrians who follow us we can not allow that to happen.

Fortunately, at the cost of several millions of pounds, we were eventually able to achieve a change in ownership and keep the club afloat through a season which we started without even sufficient experienced players to turn out a full side. It looks as though we’ll get through this season and be better placed (both on and off the field) than any other club in our division next season to take the first step towards restoring Carlisle United to the First Division place which its fan base has in the past shown to be perfectly possible. It is, however, unrealistic, to expect massive regular financial input into the club on an annual basis. Quite simply no individual has the resource to do this and the vast majority of those who have tried at other clubs, irrespective of the depth of their pockets, have failed, many in spectacular fashion. The community needs to support its own football club in every sense, and we need the help of every individual and organisation in the County and of every exile who is proud of their birthplace and wants to see it thrive.

These days, and particularly since the demise of ITV Digital, no lower league club can survive on their traditional sources of income - gate receipts, merchandise revenue, some TV receipts, transfer fees and commercial sponsorship. Some 30 clubs including our own are currently in some sort of administration due to an inability in the past to meet financial obligations when due. The administration will soon come to an end and with a combination of its usual sources of income and a substantial regular contribution from the Cumbrian Community – from people, businesses, local government, sporting foundations and charities – Carlisle United can both achieve its rightful place in the Football League and achieve financial stability for the future.

In return the ownership of the Club – with the active and enthusiastic support and endorsement of John Courtenay, the present Chairman - will progressively pass to the Cumbrian community through CCUIST, the supporters’ trust. CCUIST has already raised and passed to the Club in excess of £100,000 towards the first batch of shares and ownership of some 20% of Carlisle United has passed to the control of the community. The formal presentation will be made before kick-off at the Millennium Stadium on Sunday April 6th. Alan Steel, CCUIST chairman and elected representative on the Carlisle United Board of Directors, will take up his position at the same time.

The vast majority of all of the money raised so far was through small regular donations from individuals (although some organisations such as the Co-op have donated larger amounts) and the indications are that individual donors could well complete the purchase

of the first 20% of the shares for £400,000. We need some 650 people to donate £3 pw for the next three years or around 2,000 to donate £1 pw or something in between – which is perfectly possible. Donations from Local Government, Businesses, and sporting foundations should complete the purchase of the next 20% at the same price. A further 9% is on offer at a price to be agreed when the purchase of the first 40% is complete and additional shares, securing ownership of the Club for the Cumbrian community, will be negotiated when the current Chairman leaves or retires.

Carlisle United will thus be the first Football League Club that has been progressively purchased by the community which supports it. Over the past few years the enmity between the previous owners and supporters of Carlisle United became legendary. The change of ownership which resulted from that situation was inevitable. We can now show that by working in harmony we can build a successful and secure Football Club of which all Cumbrians can be proud. We owe it to the future generations of Cumbrians not to miss the opportunity.

THE CCUIST BOARD & JOHN COURTENAY, CHAIRMAN, CARLISLE UTD