Member Article

New Chester FC Community Trust CEO backed by MBNA

Assistant first team coach Jon McCarthy appointed to transform

Chester FC’s community outreach strategy

Chester Football Club’s assistant first team coach Jon McCarthy has been appointed to lead the club’s community outreach programme through the Chester FC Community Trust.

As well as taking on the role of assistant manager to the club’s first team under blue’s manager Steve Burr, McCarthy will become its new Community Trust CEO after MBNA stepped in to fund the post for the 2014/15 season through its charitable arm, the MBNA Foundation.

McCarthy will take on the responsibility of delivering a community activity programme in parallel with the club’s bid to ensure they stay in the Football Conference Premier Division.

McCarthy said: “Football has the ability to bring communities and people together - and that has always been central to the ethos of a community-backed club like Chester FC. Taking the club into the community is a vital part of what we do, so I’m delighted to be taking on this dual role, one of such importance to the present and the future of our club.

“It’s important we focus on success on and off the field. I know, under Steve’s leadership and with the support of his back room team, the players and the fans, we can do ourselves proud in the Conference Premier, but equally we need to ensure that we get back out into the city and give something back to those who have supported us through the good times and the bad.”

McCarthy will stand down from his position as senior lecturer at Mid Cheshire College to fulfil the demands of the two roles.

Sean Humphreys, a Trustee of the MBNA Foundation, said: “Jon is the ideal man to the lead the Chester FC Community Trust and to drive it right into the heart of our community. Chester FC is part of the city’s DNA, so it makes sense to continue integrating the club back into the local community. We are delighted to be able to offer our support, in order to give Jon and the Community Trust the best chance of success.”

Chester FC and MBNA, principal partners of the club, will look to work closely on the development of a range of new community trust programmes.

MBNA has been Chester FC’s principal partner since its inception in 2010 and earlier this year announced a two year extension to that agreement that will see the MBNA brand continue to appear on the front of all first team home and away playing shirts and replica shirts until the end of the 2015/16 season.

For more information about MBNA, visit www.mbna.co.uk

Picture caption: Left to right - Sean Humphreys, a Trustee of the MBNA Foundation, Chester FC Director David Evans and Assistant Manager and new Community Trust CEO Jon McCarthy.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Elle Brunton .