Exiles RSS news | Exiles weekly Chester Chronicle blog

The Club (formerly known as the Southern Branch) was started by a group of four people back in November 1983 and we celebrated our 21st last season by sponsoring the home game against Grimsby Town.

•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.

•As a member of the Exiles you will get an exclusive Chester City Exiles enamel badge. Classy!

•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 the last two season’s the Exiles contributed to a weekly Fanzine page on Teletext.

•Membership fees are the same for last season and 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. • Obituary from the FA

23 members and friends joined us for our sponsored game against Wycombe Wanderers last season. 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.