Visitors to the Grafton Centre in Cambridge on Friday 19th March can cheer on the good sports attempting to row the 40-mile Cam on dry land… Fitnessworks founder and former Commonwealth Gold Medallist, Dave Southby, has invited volunteers to rise to the six-hour challenge by taking their turn on the rowing machine hot seats in support of Sport Relief 2010. Rowers of all ability will tackle the 40-mile (65000m) course and Supporters can also have a go with the help of a fitness instructor to show you how it’s done, he may be wearing a wig, but he knows his stuff. This ‘Oar’some event will take place in the Great Court at Cambridge Grafton Centre from 11am to 6pm on Friday 19th March, so you won’t have to stand on a chilly riverbank to buoy up the teams. Just go a long and give them a big cheer, and some cash for Sport Relief of course. Although known as an international Judo player, Dave Southby was inspired to organise this challenge for Sport Relief after earning a Gold Medal at the English Indoor Rowing Championships last month. Dave says: “It seems to be the natural way to use my win at the Manchester Velodrome to motivate more people for a good cause. Rowing is a great Cambridge tradition and almost anyone can do it. We’d love to have the support of Cambridge people and I’m still looking for volunteers!”. Thank you for all your support.
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Fitnessworks Rows for Sport Relief
Posted on March 15, 2010 by sjprCambridge Fans United In Bid to Regain Stadium Ownership
Posted on March 12, 2010 by sjpr
Cambridge Fans United’s initial cautious reaction to the shock news that the Abbey Stadium is again up for sale has now manifested itself in a call to action from the trust membership, the club’s supporters, the wider fan base, the Cambridgeshire community and the board of directors at the Club.
A pre-exemption clause attaching to the lease between current owners Bideawhile and Cambridge United FC gives the Club a chance to facilitate its own buy back of the ground in preference to the mooted sale to major property developer, Grosvenor Developments. This clause effectively gives only another 14 days for the Club and Trust to raise an initial deposit of £350K and secure guaranteed funding to pay the remaining sum of £3.15 million pounds.
Fans trust chairman, Dave Matthew-Jones said today “Clearly this is an incredibly short time in which to raise such an enormous sum in the current financial climate. However, we have been working hard to put together a scheme to suit the club, fans and other investors. This scheme would secure the ground in perpetuity for the community and not any one individual or group.”
Colin Proctor, CFU Fans Elected Director, echoed Dave’s sentiments and commented “The aim is to set up a Community Interest Company (“CIC”) in which investors will be invited to buy shares. The sale of the shares will provide the funds needed to facilitate the buy back and by leasing the ground to the Club the CIC aims to provide a good return for its investors. Furthermore, CUFC stand to save a six figure sum on their current annual rent.”
Full details of the structure are being worked upon and CFU expects to announce further details once the legalities are in place.
Matthew-Jones added “An email touting the idea has already been in circulation and support is growing daily with pledges of money and support coming from all over the UK and overseas. Time is running very short so if something is going to happen, it needs to happen fast….”
The recent sad decline of Chester and Portsmouth has put football finance firmly in the media spotlight at the moment and perhaps this is an opportunity to show that fans of an ostensibly minor club but one with a proud and, at times, successful history can actually make a big positive impact.
Anyone interested in learning more about the proposals is asked to send their contact information to cfuinbox@btinternet.com