Club Newsletter #1
Welcome to our first ever whole club newsletter. We have previously distributed newsletters for the junior section and updates for the Senior section but we now want to share with everyone an update on the whole football section in one place. We hope to be able to send these out once a month if we get enough content to share with you all.
Chairman's Welcome
As the first-ever Chairman to lead both the Junior and Senior sections simultaneously, I wanted to take this opportunity to share some of the club's recent highlights and updates. We felt that a combined newsletter would be the perfect way to do just that.
In this edition, you'll read about some of the fantastic work that has taken place behind the scenes over the summer, including the introduction of TeamFeePay and our exciting new kit partnership with Queensferry Sports and Adidas.
When you're involved in the day-to-day running of the club, it's easy to overlook just how much we achieve together. That's why it's important to me to recognise the incredible efforts of the small group of dedicated volunteers who work tirelessly for the club every single day. Later in this newsletter, you'll have the opportunity to learn more about some of these individuals in our "Who's Who" section.
With 42 teams and more than 560 players, there's always something to do. As a club, we're constantly looking for volunteers to get involved and support us. If every one of those players contributed just 10 minutes each week, that would equate to more than 90 hours of volunteering every week. You'll find contact details at the end of this newsletter if you would like to get involved or provide feedback on anything you've read.
What drives every volunteer is a shared commitment to ensuring people can continue to enjoy football each week, regardless of age, gender or ability. It is this passion for the game and our community that inspires so many people to give up their spare time in support of the club and its members.
This season, I was delighted to welcome our Youth Team into the Senior section. Made up of talented 17 and 18-year-old players, they represent the first generation of young footballers to progress through our player pathway and move directly into senior football for quite some time. We are incredibly proud of what they have achieved so far and hope this marks the return of a long-standing tradition within the club.
I hope you enjoy reading this newsletter and, like me, feel immensely grateful for the hard work, dedication and commitment of everyone behind the scenes who make it possible for us to pull on a shirt, step onto the pitch and enjoy football every weekend with our fellow Nomads.
Chris Bain
Chairman
Mini Kickers
We have a thriving mini kickers section on a Sunday morning at Christleton High, this is where many of our players take their first ever steps as Nomads, Contact Charlie if you would like to get involved
Senior Update
1st Team
Manager: Joe Cossins
League: West Cheshire Division 1
The Season So Far:
It has been an eventful start to the season for the First Team, with three wins and three defeats from their opening six matches. Andy Jones joined Joe Cossins in the management team during preseason, bringing further experience to a squad looking to build on last season’s cup success.
After an opening defeat to FC Bootle, Nomads claimed their first win with a remarkable comeback against last season’s league winners, Helsby. Trailing 2–0 with 40 minutes remaining, they rallied to win 5–2. Defeat at South Liverpool followed, although 16-year-olds Cam and Seb impressed on their First Team debuts.
The side bounced back with a thrilling 5–4 victory over Capenhurst. Ben Coward scored twice, while fellow youngster Cam Broady delivered an outstanding midfield performance and got on the scoresheet. A 3–0 defeat to a strong FC Bootle side was a setback, compounded by injuries to two key players.
Nomads responded on 19 September with a deserved 2–0 home win over Malaby. Ben Coward and Brandon scored in the first half, Luca Jones earned Man of the Match, and the team stood firm to secure an important clean sheet. The latest result gives the squad a strong platform as they work towards greater consistency in the weeks ahead.
Thanks again to our sponsors the kilometre club for our home kit and Handbridge Accountancy Solutions for sponsoring our away kit
3rd Team
Manager: Dan Ward
League: CWFL Queensferry Sports Premier League
The Season So Far:
The thirds have had our best start to a season in a long time. Some new additions to the squad have brought energy to the already strong setup.
3 wins and 2 draws sees us sitting in 2nd place in the league and looking to continue our unbeaten streak into the rest of 2026, with a busy schedule up until Christmas.
Plenty of stand out moments, good goals and MOTM performances across the team, but the player who’s impressed the most at the early stages of the season is James Lloyd - bagging 4 goals in one game and bringing his season total to 7 goals in 5 games.
Super start and plenty of momentum building 🟠⚫️
As always a huge thanks to our sponsors, Peacock Hotel Chester and Datascope Systems
Development Team
Manager: Will Stevenson
League: CWFL Olympic Trophies Championship
The Season So Far:
A new team for the 26/27 season see’s the old 2nd Team combine with the 4th Team to form our new Development Team! 25/26 proved a challenge fielding full squads for both teams and this new venture allows us to consolidate and build.
Under Will Stevenson’s management, Dan Burns is providing an Assistant Manager role as well as forming part of the playing squad to provide some experience to the younger lads.
On the pitch, the Development Team have had a tough start to the season. Following a very positive first game, we’ve been unable to pick up another 3 points as of yet; however, the atmosphere and team morale is still on a high. Management and players alike are all working hard to put get positive results and no doubt will turn things around in the coming weeks.
Huge thanks to Adam Butt who has sorted sponsors for the season ahead, our thanks to Palmers Scaffolding & Purewager. Adam has also brought in Hospice of the good shepherd in a club wide sponsorship role. more to follow on that....
Vets Team
Manager: Tom Cairns
League: CWFL Vets Premiership
The Season So Far:
After a very successful season, winning the Friendship Cup (Over 35’s), and gaining promotion in the league, Chester Nomads Vets started this season in the Premier Division.
The lads had a solid start to life in the Premier Division with a 3-2 win away at Sefton. Unfortunately, this was followed by a loss to Birkenhead and a draw with Blacon Vets.
So far, we have struggled to put a consistent team out, however, based on the three games played, we are confident that we have the quality and depth to hold our own in this division.
The social side of the team is doing well with a padel social at our new sponsors The Padel Sheds already taking place and a golf day being planned in the coming weeks!
Masters Team
Manager: Chris Bain
League: Social Football / Friendship Cup Over 45’s and Over 50’s
The Season So Far:
A varied start to the Masters season, with one win, one draw and one loss. It’s fair to say that the results do reflect the performances with moments of chemistry and great goals followed by some early season lapses in concentration!
With a squad of 29 players we have great depth and had a great turnout for all games which we expect to continue through the season.
A huge thank you to Abbott Building Ltd for supplying the whole squad with new kits and to Village Letz who kitted the team out in our new bespoke ¼ zip tops.
6th Team
Manager: Damian Auden
League: Social Football / Eric Dean Cup
The Season So Far:
With 28 players signed on for the season we were disappointingly let down for our first game of the season with a Friday night withdrawal by our opposition. Our first game is now this Saturday and the boys are raring to go.
Massive thanks to our long standing sponsor Dee Fire who have provided support to order a full set of new kits & training tops
Sponsorship - Jason Armstrong
Hi everyone, I’m Jason Armstrong and I look after sponsorship and commercial partnerships here at Chester Nomads AFC.
A big part of my role is working with local businesses who want to support the club, while making sure we can give them something worthwhile in return.
Chester Nomads is a massive community club, with over 600 players from Under-6s through to Masters, playing across 13 pitches, with more than
1,000 visitors coming through the club every week.
My role is to bring new sponsors into the club, look after our existing partners and help create different ways for local businesses to get involved — whether that’s pitchside advertising, team sponsorship or other commercial opportunities.
One of our main options is pitch side sponsorship, which includes a 3m x 1m advertising board, design and production, promotion through our social media channels and a feature on the Chester Nomads website.
Pitch side sponsorship is currently £500 per year, giving businesses regular exposure throughout the season while also helping support grassroots football at the club.
We also have opportunities for junior and adult team kit sponsorship, subject to availability.
If you own a business, work for one that might like to get involved, or know somebody who could be a good fit, please give me a shout. I’m always happy to have a quick chat and run through the different options.
And a little-known fact about me… around the club I’m also known as “Big Dunc”, after fellow Scotsman Duncan Ferguson
07725 995 560
Junior Update - Aaron Wilton-King - Junior Vice Chairman
⚽ WHAT A GREAT START TO THE SEASON! ⚽
It’s been brilliant to see junior football back in full swing and so many of our teams out playing again over the last couple of weekends.
It was especially good to see our 3v3 teams over at Boughton Hall on Saturday morning – plenty of football, smiles and hopefully the start of many years wearing the Nomads shirt!
We’re also delighted to have Boughton Hall back for junior football on Saturday mornings and Sundays. It’s fantastic to see the pitches busy again and the club full of players, coaches, parents and supporters.
And even better… the clubhouse will be open from this weekend!
🥓 Bacon butties
🌭 Sausage butties
☕ Hot drinks
⚽ Plenty of junior football
A big thank you, as always, to our managers, coaches, volunteers and parents who make everything happen each weekend.
It’s great to have everyone back.
Now we can look forward to what grassroots football is really all about… cold, wet and muddy Saturday and Sunday mornings!
Here’s to a fantastic season ahead for everyone at Chester Nomads Juniors!
Chester Nomads App - Volunteers Required
Did you know that we’ve got our very own fully branded club app?
When we first launched our app in 2024, our goal was for it to become a club-wide communication platform. However, we're brave enough to admit that it hasn't worked quite as we had originally planned.
Our new approach is to focus the app almost exclusively on our junior section and create a space that young players can safely enjoy and engage with. The app allows users to like posts, but there are no comments or messaging features, making it a safe environment for children to use.
We're now looking for parents, family members, and volunteers who can spare just a few minutes each week to share news, match reports, photos, and updates from their junior teams. It's a great way to celebrate the achievements of our young players and keep everyone connected with what's happening across the club.
If you'd like to get involved and help share your team's stories, we'd love to hear from you.
👇Download the app using the links below
Junior Round Up
U8 Lions
Great summer for the Chester Nomads Lions! 🦁⚽️ Plenty of tournaments, including an amazing experience at the Manchester United Academy, and lots of fun along the way! Finishing as Champions League runners-up at the Hawarden Tournament! Great memories, great teamwork and plenty to be proud of!
U12 Jags
U12 Jags (U11 when we played) kicked off the summer by winning the Saughall Tournament Cup. We had welcomed quite a few new players to the squad during pre-season and, despite regular training sessions, this was the first time they had all played together in a competitive setting. We lost our first match and then went unbeaten all the way to the final, eventually lifting the cup on a memorable day. A fabulous achievement for the players, and on one of the hottest days of the year.
We also enjoyed a night under the floodlights as Chester FC's team of the week. A memorable experience welcoming the players onto the pitch before the match and taking part in a penalty shootout at half time.
U12 Colts
We have created a new team for this season with the introduction of the U12 Colts. Some players have been at the Nomads for a number of years now but we welcome some new additions to the club. Big thanks to Chris Scott who has agreed to take the perilous step from supportive parent to team manager.
U13 Ambers
After finishing the season as runners up in their debut season in JPL U12 division 1 and winning the year up U13 Chester & District division 1 cup and league double, the Ambers had a great summer of tournament success winning the Mochdre, AFC Knowsley, Whitchurch & Prestatyn cup competitions.
U14 Leopards
U14 Leopards Win CDJFL Fair Play Award. A huge congratulations to our U14 Leopards, who were recognised last season by winning the CDJFL Fair Play Award for their division. This is a fantastic achievement and one that the whole team can be incredibly proud of. The season began with just five players returning from the previous year, alongside a new manager, meaning there was a lot of work to do to build a new squad and create a strong team spirit. The players embraced the challenge, welcomed new teammates and showed tremendous resilience, commitment and team spirit throughout the season. The Fair Play Award is a brilliant reflection of the way the Leopards conducted themselves both on and off the pitch — showing respect for opponents, officials and teammates while representing the club with pride. It’s a great example of what grassroots football is all about, and a wonderful achievement for the players, coaches and families who supported them along the way. Well done, Leopards!
U15 Colts
U15s Colts (U14s when we played) won the Barrowford Football Festival for the 2nd time in 4 years, we came 2nd last year & lost in the SF playing a year up the year before
Advert Last man Standing
Last Man Standing is a football prediction game using the English Premier League where you pick one team to win each gameweek, and you survive only if that team wins. You must pick a different team each week and the last person in the game wins the pot.
At Chester Nomads it's £10 to enter the game, £7 goes in the winners pot and £3 goes directly to the club. Last season we raised over £1000 and paid out over £2200! Please contact Chris Bain 07307 794 622 if you want to get involved
Payment Platform Update: Introducing Teamfeepay
As we approached the end of last season, the Club made the decision to change our payment collection platform from LoveAdmin.
LoveAdmin had been our trusted provider for the past four seasons, but increasing costs and a lack of support meant it was the right time to review the options available. Over the summer, we undertook a thorough assessment of several alternative providers, considering factors such as cost, functionality, ease of use, and the level of support offered to both members and administrators.
Following this review, we selected Teamfeepay as the platform that best meets the needs of the Club.
While Teamfeepay is not the cheapest system on the market, we believe it offers the best overall solution for our members and volunteers. The registration and payment process is much simpler and more intuitive for parents and players, making it quicker and easier to sign up and manage payments throughout the season.
Perhaps most importantly, Teamfeepay significantly reduces the administrative workload for the small group of volunteers responsible for registering and managing almost 600 players across the Club. The improved automation and visibility of payments will help us operate more efficiently as a club.
A huge thanks to the Registration team but especially to Steve and Cherry who have managed this transition so well and now have over 99% of players registered on the system.
Venue Hire
Planning an event, look no further than your own club! Club hire is free for members (Min numbers required) Contact Carla on 07861 277 779 to book your event
Nestled in the heart of Boughton, Chester Boughton Hall offers a unique and versatile venue perfect for any occasion. Our beautifully maintained facilities combine historic charm with modern amenities, providing an exceptional setting for weddings, corporate events, private parties, and more.
Set within the grounds of one of the region's most impressive amateur sports clubs, our venue offers stunning views across pristine playing fields, ample parking, and a welcoming atmosphere that will make your event truly memorable.
Whether you're planning an intimate gathering or a large celebration, our experienced team is here to ensure your event runs smoothly and exceeds expectations
Queensferry Sports
Approaching the end of last season, the club decided to undertake a review of our club kit supplier. A selection of representatives from the Junior and Adult Section come together to form a Steering Committee to provide a balanced assessment of the eager bidders.
First on the agenda was to define the scoring criteria to be used when assessing the suppliers. Each member of the steering committee ranked their priority between Price, Turnaround time, Range of kit and club wear, Quality of the products, the Order Process and finally, the Contribution the club receives from the Club Shop to support the club. Taking an average the priorities and scoring matrix was set.
Next, we invited nine suppliers to participate in the bidding process. Suppliers were encouraged to complete a standardised pricing document, send samples of their kit, so we can assess the quality, provide designs of new kits and any other unique selling points they offer.
After a detailed review at the club, the Steering Committee scored each supplier based on the criteria. With a weighted assessment in line with priorities, we narrowed it down to three leading bidders. The three bidders were then invited to provide a more detailed proposal to allow us to complete a final assessment and make a decision…………..
So, with that, Queensferry Sports was selected as our new supplier! The new Adidas design really caught the Steering Committee’s attention. Digging into the bid, the range of club shop options further enthused the committee. Offering both bespoke and standard training kit options, there is an extensive, quality and attractive new range to start to set the club apart.
As well as bringing in a fresh new look for the club, the new kits are actually cheaper than the previous supplier, offering value to our teams and sponsors.
Teams have the option of using a bulk order form or to purchase directly from the slick new Club Shop, https://queensferrysports.com/collections/chester-nomads
Who's Who Junior Committee - Adam Roper
How long have you been involved in the club and committee?
This is now my third season coaching with Nomads. I started in 24/25 season at U7’s when my eldest son Leo wanted to start playing after initially attending Mini Kickers. I’ve joined the committee this summer picking up the C&D Junior League reps role, building on my short term stint in car park consultancy last May!
What is your role in the committee?
Nomads Representative to the C&D Junior League
What made you volunteer?
I had done some coaching much earlier in my life whilst at uni and whilst I have always played myself and continue to do so now at vets level, I had always wanted to get back into coaching once I hopefully had boys of my own which thankfully I now do, two of them, Leo and Alfie!
I was also very fortunate as a junior player myself to have two fantastic coaches, so hopefully I can replicate that environment in any way and what they did for me as a player and a person with our current group now.
Best part of being involved in the club?
From a personal perspective, seeing the smile on the boys faces, either at training or when they have a good result on a Saturday is fantastic to see and makes it all worthwhile. I must also say though everyone at the club was very welcoming from day 1, the club has a long history in Chester and long may that continue. It’s a brilliant club to be involved in.
Worst part of being involved in the committee!!!
I will give quite a straight answer to this one, when people do not respect the facilities we have to the standard they should. The Garrison recently got into a mess with rubbish literally piled up and it’s everyone’s responsibility to clean up after themselves and their teams after every game so that would be my one ask to anyone reading this please look after the club and the facilities as best we can to keep them clean and usable for everyone.
Fun fact
I once auditioned for MasterChef. Whilst I can have no complaints that I didn’t make the it to the TV show (I took my seared tuna a minute too far and I knew it at the time) it turns out my initial impression of Gregg Hogan-Wallace turned out to be bang on! We will leave that there I think!
Season Opener
What a fantastic start to the season! A great night was had by all at our season opener. A huge thank you to everyone who came out and supported the club. Here's to many more great nights ahead!
Feedback/Volunteers
It's taken a small group of dedicated volunteers a great deal of time and effort to prepare this newsletter for you. We would very much welcome any feedback you have on the style, content, and overall format, as this will help us continue to improve future editions for all our members
Please send any feedback to info@chesternomads.co.uk or contact Chris Bain on 07307 794 622
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