No football action to report in this week as our home game against Merthyr Town last Saturday fell victim to the weather, as did most games in our league. As it happens, we remain top of the table as Salisbury lost their game in hand on us in one of the few matches that was played, which would have seen them go top. It just goes to show what a crazy topsy-turvy league this is this season with half a dozen teams fancying their chances of claiming the only automatic spot, with many more keeping their eye on the play-off spots.
We are certainly one of the teams with an eye on top spot, but there is a long way to go and so much can change over the coming months and it is important that we are able to keep the squad fit and healthy to maximise our chances. Another symptom of being successful on the field is the fact that it attracts the attentions of other clubs who may come looking at your players, particularly when you have the standout league top goal-scorer on your books.
With that in mind I am delighted to say that we have this week agreed contract terms with Ricardo German who has demonstrated his belief in what we are looking to achieve here at Chesham by signing a deal that will keep him at The Meadow and ensure that he is a key part of our promotion push. There is no doubt that Ricardo could claim a place in a squad from the league above and score goals there, but he shares our vision and ambition to play in the National League South wearing the Chesham United shirt, and that is a great insight into the character of the squad we are building.
Tomorrow we are back in league action and the weather forecast looks as though we should be good to go for our long trip to Devon to play Plymouth Parkway. It does make for a long day, but your away support would be hugely appreciated. I am delighted that the Supporters’ Trust is arranging a minibus to the game, leaving The Meadow at 8.00am with a stop on route and returning after the game. Depending on number of seats filled, the cost to travel will be a great value £20-30. Anyone interested in booking one of the remaining places, please contact Ryan on 07528 378981
As we head into the festive period there is a feel-good factor around the club. Yes, being top of the league is a good feeling and gets people talking around the town, but I must again give a big thank you to Alex Horne and what he has done for our football club. Too often people get involved in football clubs and look to generate success by opening personal chequebooks and paying for the best. Whilst there are examples of this being successful, there are far more examples of this approach going horribly wrong when the money runs out or the investment loses its appeal. Whilst the Directors of the club do still from time to time make personal contributions, our relationship with the fantastic Taskmaster programme has opened new doors and generated income in ways that we could never have considered previously.
There is no better example than our replica shirts which have now smashed the 1,000 sales barrier thanks to an order of 50 shirts from the Taskmaster shop. And it is not too late to pick up yours, or buy one as a gift, as our replica shirt shop in the clubhouse is fully stocked with both home and away shirts ready for posting or collection. These can be ordered from our online webstore, accessed via the website, or by visiting the clubhouse on a matchday. We are also now fully stocked with our Chesham United and Taskmaster hoodies, available in all sizes – another great addition to your Christmas wish list. Merchandise sales have been phenomenal this season and a huge thank you goes out to Gavin Jones who has been managing the shop, and the many helpers that have supported the packing and distribution process.
The Chesham United brand is undoubtedly spreading not just around the country, but around the globe. I recently received pictures of the shirt being worn in India and as I write these notes now I am in fact across the Atlantic in the USA enjoying a short break. A couple of days ago I attended a Springfield Thunderbirds American Ice Hockey match in Massachusetts wearing a Chesham United away shirt where I sat next to an American supporter wearing the Chesham United home shirt! How does the song go? Everywhere we go…
Our next home game is next Saturday when we welcome Dorchester Town to Chesham for what should be a great game just two days before Christmas, and then we head to Beaconsfield on Boxing Day for a 12.30pm kick-off – a local derby where we traditionally take a great number of supporters, but don’t always perform on the pitch. Let’s hope this season we can achieve both – a great crowd and a great performance. Please note, if you did buy an online ticket for the Merthyr game last weekend and will be unable to attend the rearranged game, which will be a Tuesday night, you can claim your refund by emailing press@cheshamunited.co.uk
Thank you as always for your support
Peter Brown, Chairman
