Members will be aware from the calling notice for the AGM on Wednesday 24th July 2019 that four places on the Board were available via an election process. In line with Rule 63, one third of the existing Board resigned but were eligible to stand again for re-election. Stewart Green, Martin Cantrell and Mark Allitt are the Board members in respect of this re-election., Stewart had confirmed he wishes to resign from the Board and did not seek re-election. In addition Dave Wyatt confirmed he will resign from the Board with effect from the AGM.

Martin and Mark were properly nominated for re-election. In addition Ricky Rea was also properly nominated for election.

By the due deadline, 18.00 hrs, Monday 1st July 2019, these three nominations were the only three received.

In this situation Reg 8.1 of the club’s Election Policy applies, see below. Accordingly each successfully nominated candidate will be put before the AGM for the approval of members.

8.1 If there are as many or fewer candidates than there are places, an affirmative ballot shall be held at the AGM. Each successfully nominated candidate will be put before the meeting for the approval of members. Any candidate not receiving the support of more than half of those present in person and by proxy shall be deemed to have not been elected. The exception shall be that should the failure to elect any of the validly nominated candidates leave the Board below the minimum required under the Rules for them to act, all validly nominated candidates shall be deemed elected by the EMG and this declared at the AGM.

Candidates had to submit a statement in support of their nomination and these are included below.

There were no nominations for the Supporters Liaison Officer position.

Mark Allitt

I’m the current Commercial Director and have been since the change of ownership to a CBS in August 2015. I'm a former Supporters Club chairman and secretary and worked alongside Stephen Barlow in 2014-2015 to bring about the reform of Banbury United. In my role I have been responsible for overseeing the club’s commercial strategy, maximizing its sponsorship potential. Since 2015 I have overseen a commercial income stream of over £300,000 with over 80 new sponsors attracted since the CBS started. I also oversee the newly formed Community Club lottery and promote the Spencer venue.

Career wise, I started out at Spratt Endicott Solicitors as a debt collection clerk. A career change in 2001, has led to me working for the past 18 years with 16-25 year-olds in supported housing and education at the Banbury Foyer and now at Banbury and Bicester College. I believe my career roles have given me excellent interpersonal, negotiation and listening skills. I'm married to Marianne and we have two boys Josh and Ethan. I have a great passion for the club having spent most of my life on the terraces and desperately want the club to reach the Conference. I feel this can be achieved by involving the community more and with a strong youth system to produce our players. I have been an integral part of the “United in the Community initiative” and I believe the club has huge potential. I’m excited about what we can achieve together in the future.

A potential forthcoming career change may involve me being less visible on matchdays and I feel it only fair that members are aware of this before casting votes. However, I remain fully committed to my role, which in the main is undertaken at other times.

Martin Cantrell

I am currently a director and vice-chairman of Banbury United. I seek the opportunity to continue to do so.

Four initiatives with which I have been closely concerned, in recent years, are the club’s
(1) partnership with Banbury College and consequent establishment of the Banbury United Football Academy;
(2) establishment of our Spencers club in partnership with Age UK;
(3) new partnership with ARCh, the Oxfordshire literacy charity working in local primary schools, for which we provide football coaching; and
(4) establishment of our new successful section for women’s football

In the future I aim to see all these develop and grow. I also want to focus on improving co-operation and co-ordination across the club.

Generally, I also work with the club’s external advisers concerning legal issues.

My aspiration is that in the coming years we can move to modern playing facilities, which all sections can use, with a clubhouse and other buildings that will enable us to develop both social and
community activities and commercial revenue.

Thank you

Ricky Rea

For the last four years I have been involved with the Domestic and UEFA Licensing Paperwork for Glentoran working alongside my father who is the Secretary of the Club. We have been awarded the UEFA License on each of the past four years.

I believe that this has given me a massive insight into the running of a big football club and to where I believe Banbury United could and should be aspiring to achieve.

Since I started following Banbury United games home and away this season and also since I became the clubs Community & Football Liaison Officer, I would hope that I have brought fresh ideas and contributions to various aspects of this great club.

I believe Banbury United should be aiming for Conference Level Football. The new structures the club has implemented such as a new Development Team, Director of Football, Scouting System and a Community Coach are the first steps in realising this ambition.

There are many aspects of the club that I believe we can improve upon such as better ongoing dialogue with the clubs fans, increasing membership numbers and building upon the great work already being done by the club to improve the clubs image in the wider community. The new role of a Supporters Liaison Officer will help greatly in achieving these tasks.

I will continue to work hard for the club, it’s members and supporters either in my current role or if successful in a new role as director.