Ambition, Attendance and Community Growth - with Spencer Gore, Owner and CEO of Chelmsford City FC

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