CHICAGO – Five U.S. Soccer members have been elected to serve on the inaugural Fan Council.
That will gives U.S. Soccer fans a voice in the U.S. Soccer Federation’s governance. Ashley Brown, Marcus Cranston, Kimberly Kershaw, Jessica Malone and Chris Wixson were named Tuesday afternoon.
Of the five Fan Council members, two will be selected to represent U.S. Soccer members at the 2018 Annual General Meeting in Orlando, Fla. They will be involved in voting for federation president, budget approval and related federation governance. The two selected representatives will serve two-year terms.
The fans are referred to as individual sustaining members in U.S. Soccer bylaws.
The National Council, the Federation’s central voting body, is made up of councils representing U.S. Soccer stakeholders, including athletes, professional soccer leagues and youth soccer. In spring of 2017, the National Council approved the addition of fan representatives to the annual National Council Meeting.
The application for fan representatives was open to all U.S. Soccer members.
Cranston and Wixson are long-time supporters who have followed the U.S. at several World Cups, and are heavily involved with their local American Outlaws chapter. Malone helped found her local AO chapter, Brown has quickly risen to become a Silver-level member with U.S. Soccer and Kershaw has raised her daughter as an avid fan.
It was not immediately known which two members of the five will vote at the AGM.
A quick look at the first Fan Council:
Brown – An avid supporter of club and country teams, Brown is a season ticket holder for three professional soccer teams. She has traveled frequently to support the U.S. and her favorite pro clubs. An attorney, Brown seeks to provide fans of the U.S. women’s national team a greater voice.
Cranston – Easy to spot in the stands as “Eagleman,” Cranston has been to more than 70 U.S. international matches, including every World Cup since 1998. He was a founding member with the U.S. Soccer membership program and serves as secretary for the AO’s Portland chapter. A former coach and current player, Cranston is a retired Air Force colonel and physician, and is a father of two.
Kershaw – A fan of the men’s and women’s national sides for several years, Kershaw has spent her career working in sport management. Kershaw became a member when she began bringing her young daughter to national team games.
Malone – SHe helped co-found her local AO chapter and is a proud supporter of the U.S. Soccer Development Fund. She loves to travel domestically and abroad to support the national teams.
Wixson – A gold-level U.S. Soccer member, Wixson has accumulated 50 caps and has followed the U.S. at every World Cup since 1994. He is the president of his local AO chapter in Boulder, Colo. His background in the world of marketing ensures his perspective brings a solid mix of passionate fandom and real-world business acumen.
