What does it take to buy your local football club, clear its debts, grow its fanbase, and aim for the Premier League by 2038?

In this episode of Don't Forget Your Ticket, host Clare Kenny sits down with Spencer Gore, owner, chairman and group CEO of Chelmsford City Football Club. Spencer’s story is far from typical. After building a successful medical publishing business, he turned a long-held personal ambition into reality by buying his hometown club and committing himself to its future on and off the pitch.

This is a fascinating conversation about what modern football ownership really looks like below the top tiers. Spencer shares how Chelmsford City went from being an unloved club carrying inherited debt to one with renewed momentum, stronger attendances, and bold long-term plans. He speaks candidly about the pressure, cost and unpredictability of running a football club, while keeping a clear focus on leaving it in a better place than he found it.

Clare and Spencer also explore the bigger picture behind the headlines: what sustainable growth looks like in non-league football, why fan engagement matters as much as recruitment, and how data, community identity and matchday experience all play a role in building a club that can climb. Whether or not Chelmsford reaches the Premier League by its centenary year, this episode offers a sharp, honest look at ambition in action.

In this episode, we cover:

• From business to football ownership: How Spencer went from building a global publishing business to buying his local club and turning a personal dream into a serious long-term project.
• Financial reset and club rebuild: Why clearing inherited debt was an early priority and how Chelmsford City has been put on a stronger footing financially.
• Premier League by 2038: The thinking behind Spencer’s bold centenary ambition, with milestones for reaching the National League and the Football League first.
• Fans, growth and community identity: How direct supporter engagement, affordable ticketing and a family-friendly atmosphere have helped drive a major rise in attendances.
• Recruitment, data and the next step: Why smarter player recruitment, stronger football structures and better fan data are central to Chelmsford’s future growth.

If you’re interested in football, sports business, fan engagement, and how clubs grow from the ground up, this episode is well worth your time. Tune in for an honest and ambitious conversation about leadership, community, and the realities of building a football club for the long term. Make sure to subscribe.

Guest: Spencer Gore – Owner, Chairman and Group CEO, Chelmsford City Football Club
Host: Clare Kenny – Don't Forget Your Ticket

Don't Forget Your Tickets is powered by TicketCo, hosted by TicketCo’s CEO and founder, Carl-Erik Michalsen Moberg, and co-hosted by TicketCo's CCO Clare Kenny. The podcast was originally launched under the name TicketingPodcast.com. To learn more about TicketCo, please check out our web page ticketco.io or visit https://www.linkedin.com/company/ticketco/

What does great ticketing look like when you’re the person making matchday happen under pressure every single week?

In this special edition of Don’t Forget Your Tickets, host Clare Kenny sits down with the three winners of the 2025 Ticketing Manager of the Year Awards: Andy Gate of Oxford City Football Club, Ollie Gout of Dorking Wanderers Football Club, and Sarah Rowntree of Hartlepool United Football Club. Together, they share an honest, funny, and insightful look at the realities of running ticketing operations at football clubs where no two matchdays are ever the same.

Published on the same day that public voting opens for the 2026 Ticketing Manager of the Year shortlist, this episode shines a light on the people behind the turnstiles, the inbox, the data, and the fan journey. From last-minute headaches and player ticket requests to long-term strategy and supporter loyalty, Clare explores what it really takes to deliver a better experience for fans.

This is a conversation about more than ticket sales. It’s about community, innovation, accessibility, women in football, and the legacy ticketing professionals can leave behind when they help make clubs more welcoming, more responsive, and more connected to their supporters.

In this episode, we cover:

• Matchday Pressure: The early starts, last-minute changes, and unpredictable problems that ticketing managers handle before most fans even arrive.
• How They Fell Into Ticketing: The very different career journeys that brought Andy, Ollie, and Sarah into football operations and supporter experience.
• Fan Experience and Innovation: Why flexibility, affordability, subscriptions, and smarter systems matter for modern clubs and modern supporters.
• Supporter Data That Makes a Difference: How better data can help clubs understand loyalty, personalise offers, and improve matchday for different types of fans.
• Community Outreach and Club Identity: From grassroots engagement to youth initiatives and fan-first thinking, how clubs build lifelong connections beyond the ticket office.
• Women in Football: Sarah reflects on her journey in the game, the progress being made, and the importance of creating pathways for women and girls in football.
• Collaboration Between Clubs: How ticketing teams work together, especially around high-demand fixtures, away allocations, and supporter safety.
• The Legacy of This Era: What each guest hopes people will say they got right 10 years from now, from removing barriers to making football more accessible and community-led.

Whether you work in sports ticketing, run fan operations, or want a closer look at the people shaping supporter experience behind the scenes, this episode offers practical insight and real perspective from three of the best in the business.

Tune in to hear from the 2025 winners, and don’t forget to cast your vote as the 2026 Ticketing Manager of the Year public voting opens today. Make sure to subscribe.

Guests: Andy Gate – Oxford City Football Club; Ollie Gout – Dorking Wanderers Football Club; Sarah Rowntree – Hartlepool United Football Club
Host: Clare Kenny – Don’t Forget Your Tickets

Don't Forget Your Tickets is powered by TicketCo, hosted by TicketCo’s CEO and founder, Carl-Erik Michalsen Moberg, and co-hosted by TicketCo's CCO Clare Kenny. The podcast was originally launched under the name TicketingPodcast.com. To learn more about TicketCo, please check out our web page ticketco.io or visit https://www.linkedin.com/company/ticketco/

How do you run two distinct football clubs in different countries while keeping their local community heartbeat alive?

We explore the realities of modern football management with Steve Curwood, Chief Executive of both Fleetwood Town FC (EFL League Two) and Waterford FC (League of Ireland). From navigating the English Football League to driving growth across the Irish Sea, Steve operates at a fascinating intersection of sport, strategy, and community impact.

In this episode of Don't Forget Your Tickets, host Clare Kenny sits down with Steve to unpack how modern clubs evolve. Steve shares his journey from the banking sector to the football boardroom, offering a candid look at the challenges and opportunities of multi-club ownership. He explains how Brexit forced a shift in recruitment strategy, leading to a unique partnership that respects the fierce independence of both fanbases while sharing vital resources.

In this episode, we cover:

• The Multi-Club Reality: How Brexit shaped Fleetwood’s expansion into Ireland and the delicate balance of running two independent, community-driven clubs.
• Rising Tides in Ireland: The current boom in the League of Ireland, the impact of European football, and the untapped goldmine of academy infrastructure.
• Sustainable Strategy: Navigating EFL salary protocols, the role of an independent regulator, and why developing talent internally beats chaotic spending.
• Community Identity: How to maintain a tight-knit, hardworking family culture as a football club scales.
• Modernising Matchday: The journey to update legacy ticketing systems, better understand supporter habits, and create a seamless fan experience.

Whether you run a football club, work in sports business, or simply love the mechanics behind the beautiful game, this episode delivers deep insights into what makes a club thrive off the pitch.

Tune in to discover how to build a resilient, community-first football network! Make sure to subscribe.

Guest: Steve Curwood – CEO, Fleetwood Town FC & Waterford FC
Host: Clare Kenny – Don't Forget Your Tickets

Don't Forget Your Tickets is powered by TicketCo, hosted by TicketCo’s CEO and founder, Carl-Erik Michalsen Moberg, and co-hosted by TicketCo's CCO Clare Kenny. The podcast was originally launched under the name TicketingPodcast.com. To learn more about TicketCo, please check out our web page ticketco.io or visit https://www.linkedin.com/company/ticketco/