AGENDA
1. Apologies for absence
2. Minutes of the 2012 Annual General Meeting
3. Matters arising
4. Chairman’s report
5. Treasurer’s report and accounts
6. Secretary / Membership report
7. Committee reports:
7a. Press and Sponsorship
7b. Darts
8. Election of officers
9. Any other business

Chester hero and new club Life Vice-President Grenville Millington helped the Chester FC Exiles mark their new identity as part of City Fans United at a memorable social event in London just before Christmas 2011.

Goalkeeping legend Grenville was the star of the show as he entertained everyone with his tales of the ups and downs of playing for Chester City. He even bought along his brother’s Welsh cap, his own amateur Welsh cap and his 1972 GB Olympic shirt – which was a real talking point! Several Exiles seized the opportunity to play table football with Grenville, as the event’s venue – Bar Kick in Shoreditch – specialised in bar football.

Chester FC board member David Evans was also on hand to answer questions about the club, including the recent vote at the CFU AGM which was overwhelmingly in favour of the Exiles formally becoming part of the CFU family. This means all CFU members who live away from the immediate Chester area are automatically also members of the Exiles. At no extra cost they have the opportunity to participate in Exiles activities and the Exiles will also seek to represent the interests of fans living away from Chester.

It was a real night for everyone to remember, and the new-look Exiles were grateful for Grenville driving to and from North Wales to meet them all. It looked like he enjoyed himself as well, including his surprise 60th birthday cake!

Although this first event took place in London, the Exiles hope there will be a series of events in various locations that will be of interest to members throughout the country. Many of the southern-based Exiles are, of course, looking forward to meeting up again for the FA Trophy tie at Ebbsfleet on January 14.

“We agree to continue as Chester Exiles (provisional on agreement of name change from Chester City Exiles) to cater for the needs of supporters outside Chester and play a complementary role to City Fans United (CFU) in the support of Chester Football Club which will allow CFU to focus their efforts on building support locally.

With CFU still very much in its infancy, the Committee feels it is important to retain our independence and use our 26 years’ experience to help CFU manage its widespread support.

Thanks to all who purchased the Exiles Harry McNally T-shirts, produced to help raise money for City Fans United. The shirts have fully sold out.

• Shirt flyer

We would like to offer our good wishes to everyone connected with City Fans United and it is hoped that this is the much awaited dawn of a new and exciting era for Chester City and its supporters.

The Club (formerly known as the Southern Branch) was started by a group of four people, Rick Goby, Richard Hanford, Ian Riley and Steve Mansley, back in November 1983 and we celebrate our Silver Jubilee this coming 2008/09 season.

• Keep in touch with activities on and off the field at the Club. We will send you regular newsletters and e-mails with all the latest news. Our regular newsletter is distributed to all members of the Club. Match reports, news of signings, details of travel, meeting places and social events are included, along with articles occasionally submitted by members. Share the joy that is supporting Chester City with fellow sufferers. You are not alone!

• eZine example

• Take advantage of our pre-match meeting venues. We always try to organise a place (pub) to meet at matches in the south, and generally throughout the country.

• The Exiles gives you a voice. We are regularly in contact with the Club and these days they even listen to what we have to say! Pauline Meakins, our Chairman, is on the Board of the Chester City Supporters Trust so we even have a formal mechanism to put the views of Exiles to the Trust and through the Trust to the Club.

• The Exiles give you the chance to do your bit to help Chester City. In the Club’s darkest hour the Exiles played a leading role in forming the ISA, and now in happier times we are pleased to sponsor the Club directly and still play our part with the other supporters organisations. Over the years the Club has sponsored several match balls, players’ kits and has also bought gym equipment. It has also entered into joint sponsorship with other Chester City supporters groups. Here’s a list of all our sponsorships to date.

• We also campaign and work constructively for greater involvement and facilities for supporters in general. The Club is a member of APFSCIL – The Association of Provincial Football Supporters’ Clubs In London.

• Finally, even if you cannot attend matches, meetings or socials then it will help us just by having your membership fee and from time to time asking you what you think of issues and initiatives that we might be considering.

• During recent season’s the Exiles contributed to a weekly Fanzine page on Teletext, we now contribute regularly to the Exiles Chester Chronicle Deva Fever blog.

• Membership fees are as follows: Adult £12.00. Under 18/oap/unemployed £9.00, Overseas (outside Europe) £15.00, Family (any number at the same address). You can download a PDF membership form here.

It’s very sad to report the death of Chester City supporter Alan Wilkes who passed away after a short illness aged 55. Alan, a boyhood Arsenal fan, married into the Blues after meeting Helen in the early 1980s and was one of the early members of the Exiles (known then as the Southern Branch). Alan worked tirelessly on the Exiles committee as membership secretary for ten years from the summer of 1989 before the pressure of work forced him to step down. He worked as the Disciplinary Manager with the Football Association and joked in an Exiles newsletter back in 1989 that his favourite City player was Graham Barrow — “because he keeps me in work!” He had been with the organisation for 36 years. Our thoughts are with his wife Helen, family and friends. Chester secretary Tony Allen knew Alan well and said: “I have known Alan for many years, he was a gentleman and a good friend to football, on behalf of the club I would like to extend my sincere condolences to his family.” A minute’s silence will be observed prior to next Saturday’s friendly match against Raith Rovers at the Deva Stadium.

23 members and friends joined us for our sponsored game against Wycombe Wanderers in 2006/07. We managed to keep up our unbeaten sponsorship record after seeing the Blues win 1-0 with a goal from man-of-the-match Stewart Drummond.

Thanks must go to Bob Gray and the staff at Deva Stadium for ensuring that the enjoyable day ran smoothly.

For more Exiles information please write to the secretary: Steve Mansley, 20 Fairmead, 9 Epsom Road, Leatherhead, Surrey KT22 8ST.