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City Fans United's membership number has sailed through the 2000 mark as June began, with over 1900 adult members joining the 190 junior members in what has been an amazing increase in the last few months.

In January 2010, there were 500 members in total, but the events in the last four months have shown just how many people want to get behind CFU's plans for a successful football club in Chester.

The target now is 2500, and Membership Officer, Richard Wightman, believes is entirely possible, "It's great that we are now over the 2000 mark considering a few months ago we were around 500, and now the plan is to increase the membership to 2500 by the start of the season".

City Fans United are celebrating the news that Cheshire West & Chester Council have assigned the lease to the Deva Stadium to the supporters group, who have formed Chester Football Club.

The news came through on Wednesday 5th May, and now brings the dream of seeing a Chester team running out at the Deva Stadium in August that much closer.

Following the news, City Fans United released this statement:

City Fans United are delighted to announce that following meetings with representatives of Cheshire West & Chester Council, the lease to the Deva Stadium, will now been assigned to City Fans United. This will enable Chester Football Club to use the ground from a date to be confirmed.

This is obviously great news for all Chester FC fans, as it means we can continue to plan for the future at a ground that enables the history of Chester Football Club to continue. We will now be looking to recruit a first team manager, interested applicants should contact CFU via media@cityfansunited.com

City Fans United are naturally delighted with the decision CWaC have made. Chris Pilsbury, CFU Chairman said, “We would like to express our gratitude to all involved for their assistance in bringing the fans the news they so desired.”

“We look forward to living up to the faith the Council have shown in the CFU business plan, and working in partnership to give our City a Football Club that we can all be proud of.”

“The really hard work begins now. We are all one step closer to bringing football home to Chester but your Club needs you! If you have yet to join CFU please consider doing so, and if you are already a member please encourage others to join. Football in Chester will belong to the community - be part of it!”

City Fans United are also interested in hearing from members of the business community who would be interested in discussing sponsorship opportunities with Chester Football Club. A number of flexible packages are available, please email media@cityfansunited.com with your interest and you will be contacted by a member of the board.

CFU will now send their finalised application - which includes the Deva Stadium as their home - to the Football Association, and hopefully will then be placed into

The three main local parliamentary candidates for Chester have thrown their weight behind CFU's bid for the Deva Stadium, via a statement released by CFU yesterday:

Current MP for the City of Chester, Christine Russell, the Labour candidate stated

"I give my 100% backing to the bid by City Fans United to create a new Chester Football Club at the Deva Stadium.

The Football Club should be a community asset, not a business opportunity for someone who has no real attachment to the Club.

I believe City Fans United have the commitment, the loyalty and the business acumen to make a real success of Chester Football Club."

Elizabeth Jewkes, the Liberal Democrat candidate also echoed Ms Russell's support,

  "As a member of CFU I am 100% behind the creation of  the phoenix club.  I spoke at the Guildhall meeting and offered practical help in setting up the business as I have experience of setting up & running community businesses like this.

Chester needs it's football club back.  We can't lose 125 years of football. I applaud the fans for working so hard to create a supporter owned not for profit club
and will do everything I can to help."
Stephen Mosley, the Conservative candidate for City of Chester also states

"I wish City Fans United all the very best in their endeavours to start a new club in the City and bring football back to the Deva Stadium.

The local Council has the unenviable task of picking the best bid. Before handing over the keys to the Deva the bidders need to show a realistic and sustainable financial plan, we do not want to repeat the errors of the past in the future.

If elected next week, I will champion the cause of the winning bid and fully support the principles of a community and fan based club."


City Fans United feel that they have produced a robust business plan, with the realistic and sustainable financial planning that is required to secure the future of football in our City, and would like to echo the words of the above in asking that the supporters are given the chance to right the wrongs that have been committed in the name of their Club in the past.

With a solid business plan which would deliver a not for profit football club that will operate at the very heart of its community, City Fans United feel that private enterprise has tried and failed this City before, and feel best placed for the challenges that lie ahead.

Following the news that the Council have released information about the two applicants for the Lease to the Deva Stadium, City Fans United have today issued the following statement:

City Fans United last night received an invitation from Cheshire West & Chester Council to attend a meeting next Thursday (29th April) to review our application for the lease to the Deva Stadium.

We have been informed that an application from Fodbold Selskabet will also be considered on the same day. City Fans United maintain the upmost confidence in our detailed proposal and we believe that our vision for a fully community integrated club will ensure that Chester Football Club is something the whole city can be proud of.

CFU has continued to be transparent with its members and more importantly the community of Chester. It is our belief that we have the complete backing of both our membership and the wider community as we enter the most critical stage of the application process.

We also have the support of local and national businesses of all sizes and developed an excellent relationship with the football authorities. In addition, our plans for the creation of the Seals Foundation underline our aim to develop a football club that serves not only the local football community but also the entire city.

Our bid has also received overwhelming support from the Chester Former Player Association, which includes many famous names from Chester's footballing past, and we are the only bid that is able to ensure that 125 years of history is not lost.

City Fans United membership now contains over 1500 Chester fans of all ages and we have always been open, honest and transparent with our plans for the future.

We trust the Council to make the right decision for the future of football in Chester and assign the lease to the Deva Stadium to City Fans United.

Let us keep Chester's history alive.



City Fans United

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Time is certainly of the essence now, as CFU will have deadlines coming up in May for the submission to the FA, and will no doubt be called to meetings with football's governing body to ensure that the group are fit & proper to take Chester FC forward.

ChesterCityTV hope that the Council make their decision sooner rather than later, as several more importnt pieces of the jigsaw will need to be put together including the manager's role which is set to be arguably the most important job at the club.

Saturday 12th June sees the biggest Chester FC social event in years at the Chester Racecourse, as both fans and former players & officials celebrate the club's 125 year anniversary.

Ex-players such as Graham Barrow, Milton Graham, and Paul Carden will be joining 500 fans at the venue, as the past 125 years is celebration in true style on what is National Football Day, and included on the evening is the England v USA World Cup match, will be shown on 4m wide HD screens as well as on several plasma TV's around the room.

The sell out evening gets underway at 5.30pm, with fans encouraged to arrive from 5pm. A light meal will be served at 6pm, followed by an auction to raise funds for CFU and the CFU Junior Blues. Also included on the evening will be comedian Denny Waters, and a special presentation.

The first ever CFU Darts Open took place on Saturday 17th April at The Cottage Inn, in Brook Street, Chester, and was a great success with £500 being raised for City Fans United & CFU Junior Blues.

16 Phil Taylor wannabees were up at the 'oche' looking to power their way to CFU success, some failing miserably, whilst others certainly fired their way through to the final stages.

The 10 Dart Challenge was also on the go too, with many people having a getting the highest score with 10 darts, which wasn't as easy as it looks.

There was also an Auction containing many prizes including Wigan v Hull match tickets, donated by the Latics, and many other great prizes.

Disco Dave provided the great selection of music, and a special mention to Trevor, who's BBQ delights went down a treat!

Well done to all Jim Green & Mark Howell for running another successful event - details of the next one will be launched very shortly, and is one not to be missed.

City Fans United will be turning their attentions to their next fundraisers which will be taking place in the summer, when the CFU hold the 125th Birthday Bash - which will still go ahead despite the club being expelled from the Football Conference, as it will signify the continuation of the club in a new guise.

The event is earmarked for June (date & venue tbc) with every player that has pulled on a Chester City top invited to the birthday bash.

Further details will be announced shortly.

City Fans United staged their second major fund raiser following the success of the Chester Legends Night, and classed the evening dubbed "A Night at the Races" a huge success, which raised over £800 for both the CFU & CFU Junior Blues.

The Home Guard was the stage for the race meting, and all present on the evening enjoyed all eight races with many getting a return on their bets, whilst following the race complete with commentary from CFU board members Mark Howell & Jim Green.


In fact, the evening was a successful one too for the CFU Junior Blues who were donated the winnings from the final race as well as half of the funds raised from the bets, ensuring the organisation made over £300 on the night.

Over 20 Chester Legends turned out for what turned out to be a terrific event at the Divas Show Bar on the 3rd December.

The Pre-Christmas Legends Night, organised by City Fans United, was a packed out affair, where over 200 people packed in to see a procession of former Chester players which included members of teams spanning five decades, from the 1960's through to the 2000's.

Legends such as Gary Talbot, Grenville Millington, Elfed Morris, Bob Delgado, Terry Owen, Nigel Edwards, Milton Graham, Eddie Bishop, Iain Jenkins, and Ryan Lowe, amongst many many others, contributed to what has been described by fans, as the best social event ever to be staged for Chester fans.

The evening, compered by local comedian Bobby Brown, got off to a great start with a Procession of Legends, followed by a Q&A session,where Eddie Bishop, Chris Lightfoot, and Milton Graham, told some great stories of the late Harry McNally, who the fans held a 30 second round of applause for at the beginning of the night.

Dennis Reeves, former Goalkeeper for the Blues, commented that it was the players who were "privileged to be invited to the Legends Night" and thanked the fans for their support.

An Auction followed, where signed Chester shirts, Chester footballs signed by the Legends, and many other items, including a piece of masonry from the old Sealand Road Barn End - donated by Ernie Allen, a supporter of Chester for over 64 years - were sold, and raised a total of over £1100, thanks to everyone who contributed.

Chris Lightfoot pulled out the winner of the Number 1 membership for the Junior Blues, which was won by Matty Whelan, much to his delight.

A raffle also took place, which had it's highlights too, and raised an additional £300 for the CFU.

The night finished off with a disco, provided by Chester fans Terry & Jude, who blasted out the tunes through to 12.30am, before the night came to a close.

A successful first social night then for Chester fans to enjoy - hopefully more to come in 2010, but for now, a chance to reflect on what was a great occasion, that saw the likes of Milton Graham returning to the City of Chester for the first time in 20 years.