The Cowdenbeath Football Supporters Club was originally founded in 1932. Its key objectives as laid down in its constitution are as follows:

• To support the existence and continuation of CFC and senior football in Cowdenbeath.
• To strengthen the bonds between CFC, its supporters, and the local community which it serves.
• To organise such sporting and social events as deemed suitable and acceptable to the membership.
• To encourage friendly relations with supporters of other football clubs.
• To organise, where possible, trips for members to CFC matches.
• To support, influence, help, and encourage CFC.
• To foster good relations with CFC supporters elsewhere in the UK and internationally.
• To own shares in CFC and to represent the members’ interests in respect of the shareholding including attendance at the AGM of CFC.
• To afford all members such benefits and privileges as it may be possible to arrange.
• To act as a medium of communication and information for all supporters of CFC.

Current committee members are: Dave Tuson (Chairman), Sandy Ferguson (Vice-chairman), David Allan (Treasurer), Anne Weatherston (Secretary), Stuart Allan (Social Convenor), Adam Dickson, Aaron Tuson, Tommy Thomson & George Philp.

Membership for season 2007/07 costs £7 for adults, £5 for OAP and juniors (under 12) and £9 for a family. If you are interested in joining the Supporters Club contact David Allan at daallan6754@aol.com for further details.

Blue Brazil

Meet the Manager - 1st July 2008

The AGM of the Cowdenbeath Football Supporters Club on 1st of July in Wee Jimmies was followed by a meeting with Danny Lennon, Jim Methven (of Innovate Cowdenbeath Ltd) and Bob Paterson (Cowden's new head of youth development) for a ‘Meet The Manager plus‘ night.

Danny Lennon spoke of his main aim to get Cowdenbeath back into the 2 nd Division next season. He hopes to have a squad of players that are flexible and can play in more than just one position. The recent signings of Derek Fleming and Sandy Hodge plus John Gemmell will provide a fairly youthful squad with a bit more strength and experience. Fleming should be a good asset to the squad with his set piece abilities which helped to create a goodly number of goals for Alloa. The squad perhaps still needs a little strengthening to help create a competitive element for places. Danny was also made aware that the fans were looking for the club to try and play attractive football in an attempt to tempt fans back to Central Park.

Danny commented that he feels loan signings are not really the best option after the experience of last season. Exceptionally they would be ok for the right player but he would also want them training with the squad. He believed that the injuries last season had been a critical factor with perhaps there being only 1 game where Brian had something like a full squad to choose from. There were many factors and the loss of Pat Clarke up front was also significant in the club's relegation to Division 3. It was considered to be the best option rather than to try and keep an unhappy player who wanted to move to Clyde straight away. Danny admitted that a lesson had been learned regarding the right balance between skill and physical presence (plus youth and experience) where we obviously suffered in the play off v Arbroath. John Dempster should be back fully fit and with John Gemmell they would both present challenges for opposition defences. Paul McQuade he believed would also be a real threat while Brian Fairbairn regularly impressed in matches v Cowden. He was keen that the fans continued to provide good backing for the boys. There were also many young talented players who will increasingly be able to challenge for a regular place over time.

Jim Methven then portrayed Innovate Cowdenbeath's vision for the future of the football club – this involved moving the club to another location and building a multi-purpose stadium with room for business suites as well as gym areas and other facilities for use by the local community. A multi surface pitch would be installed for the public to use just like at Alloa. The provision of a new stadium for Cowdenbeath FC was a key part of the project and likely to be at the outset of any project. Innovate have had regular dialogue with Fife Council and matters are progressing. Of course Innovate were clearly in this to make money as a property company but there was a clear aim to set up Cowdenbeath FC as a viable community club with modern facilities. Innovate, the local community and Cowdenbeath FC would all need to be happy with the outcome if the project was to be successful. For example, there was a vision that at the end of the full project Cowdenbeath FC might be owned by some form of community trust but it was early days as regards how this might work. He was very keen for the community and fans to be increasingly involved overall in helping shape the future of Cowdenbeath FC. Fans detailed a number of issues they had on pricing, encouraging local youngsters to attend, etc and Jim agreed to consider these areas with Danny Lennon.

In the interim, there would inevitably be a degree of transition required from what has been for a number of years a ‘family run club' to one which would become a more ‘community based club' and run as a self sustaining business based on the facilities on offer at the new stadium. Some details of possible sites and outline plans were also given.

Bob Paterson suitably explained the reasoning behind the changes in the structure of the youth system this season. Bob is looking forward to working with the Cowden youth and is excited at the prospect of working with the players and the local community.

Overall, the meeting was a very positive affair. The plans for the future were well received by the fairly large turnout of loyal Cowdenbeath fans of all ages and interests in attendance. A better season on the park was very much hoped for by the supporters.

 

For older Supporters Club articles click on the options below:

• Cowdenbeath championship badge
• Cowdenbeath Championship Diary & Handbook 2005/06
• Meet the Manager 2006
• Meet the Manager 2005
• 125th Anniversary badges and t-shirts