Cambridge United have today been named in the top ten for fan engagement, in a new study which ranks all English football clubs in the top four tiers.
The U’s were positioned tenth in the very first Fan Engagement Index, which scored teams from the Premier League right through to League Two on the relationship with their fans.
The index was based solely on the 2018/19 season with Cambridge United beating every Premier League Club and finishing behind only two Championship sides (Norwich City and Reading).
The league table was formed by scores for three key areas: dialogue, governance and transparency. In the dialogue category – how the club communicates with its fans, Cambridge United reached sixth out of 92, and for governance – how fans help with the Club’s governance, the U’s were eighth.
The Club have already made progress in the 2019/20 season to improve its score for the transparency (reporting on the proceedings of face-to-face meetings with supporters), given the first two meetings between Club officials/Board members and Cambridge United Supporter’s Panel (CUSP) took place earlier this campaign, with full minutes reports from both being published.
Owner Paul Barry feels the index reflects how highly Cambridge United values engagement with its supporters and re-iterated that their input will continue to be welcomed following the changes in the Club’s ownership structure.
He said: “This index indicates our strong belief in maintaining a transparent relationship with supporters, who are and always will be the heartbeat of any football club.
“Ownership change does not alter this, and certainly does not mean a culture change.
“That engagement should also lead to better management and productivity. How we treat our supporters and staff should lead to better performance, and this index reflects how both can work together for the overall benefit of the football club.”
Cambridge United would like to thank the supporters, volunteers, CFU, CUSP and more specifically Fans Elected Director Dave Matthew-Jones for the ongoing work that allows supporters to engage with the Football Club wherever possible.
To read the full index please click here.