Amanda Slater recently joined the board of directors at Sincil Bank after being elected by Gold Trust members to be their representative. We sat down with Amanda to find a little bit more about the latest addition to the board at Sincil Bank.
Could you tell us how long you’ve been a City fan and how you were introduced to the club?
I’ve supported the Imps for 32 years now. I was introduced to the club by my Dad and my Uncle who were obsessive about Lincoln City. My Uncle H ran the away coaches from Sleaford for many years, so the football club has always been part of my family life. My first game at Sincil Bank was in August 1987 and we beat Dagenham 3-0. I was hooked from that point on.
After being a supporter now for 32 years, what made you want to step forward as a candidate to be potentially elected onto the board?
After joining the Gold Membership scheme with the Red Imps Community Trust, I had the opportunity to gain an insight into the wider running of a football club, outside of the “3pm on a Saturday” experience and I found it fascinating. I could also see when Steve Tointon told us he was stepping down as our Gold Member Director to join the Board in his own right, I thought it would be a great opportunity for me to learn more, get involved in shaping the future of Lincoln City and enable the football club that I love to benefit from my professional experience, so I took the plunge
How important is it to you that a Gold member is elected to the board?
Football clubs can play a critical role in the community and I’m a firm believer in fans having an element of ownership and influence on that community asset. We have the Red Imps Community Trust to enable us - as fans – to do just that and we should never take that for granted because not all clubs give fans such a fantastic opportunity to help shape their football club for a sustainable and successful future ahead. The fact we have two seats on the board clearly demonstrates how much Lincoln City values the link between the club and fans.
What do you see as the key skills that you have which you can best utilise to help the club move forward?
I’m a Finance Director for a multi-national IT consultancy, but I’m fortunate enough to have the kind of role that is much more than just looking at the numbers. I work on large deals and in collaborative projects where I get involved in many aspects of running a large business, so I’ve gained considerable experience in looking at situations from multiple points of view. I think is a valuable attribute for any Board member. I also have a desire to ensure that I represent the views and suggestions of my fellow supporters and I’m hoping this will encourage people to come and share their ideas with me.
What aspect of getting involved do you think you’re most looking forward to?
I think it’s the wide variety of topics that I’ll be able to get involved in and have an influence on. There are some seriously impressive individuals sitting on the board of our football club, so I’m also excited about learning from them and their experiences.
