Our quest to get back on track to winning ways continues following last weekend’s draw at home to Hanwell Town. That is now six games without a win, not something we anticipated heading into the final couple of the months of the season, but on the plus side we remain in strong play-off contention and if we can get our bad run out of the way I am confident that we have the quality within our squad to get back on track in time for the final push.
Tomorrow (Saturday) we welcome Winchester City to The Meadow for a 3.00pm kick-off, the team had a bonding session at the club in midweek, spirit and confidence is high, we just need to start turning our performances into points, and with your support I am confident that we can do that from tomorrow. Please do come along, bring your friends and family for a great day out, you can pay at the turnstiles and it is just £12 for adults, £10 concessions and £5 for Under 18’s – once inside the ground you can also enjoy the best burger’s in the league from Billy Burger and visit the clubhouse for refreshments. If you have not visited a non-league game before, unlike the professional game you are allowed to drink your beer whilst watching the game from the terraces, and we still manage to have excellently behaved supporters.
Whilst our supporters behaviour in the ground remains impeccable, we are not immune to the occasional undesirables entering our car park area and looking for quick theft opportunities or to ‘get up to no good’. We have had CCTV cameras in operation for a couple of years now which has been very useful, but we will next week be installing additional ANPR cameras that will be able to read registration plates and instantly check them against database records to enable us to further secure our car park. I guess that will equally mean that if your car is not fully taxed or have an MOT certificate, you might be best to leave it at home on matchdays!
We have also this week put in a grant application to improve accessibility around the ground for wheelchair users and supporters with walking difficulties. I am conscious that for a number of supporters that once they enter through either turnstile they are very much restricted as to where they can watch the game from. The intention is to this summer install a number of ramps around The Meadow to provide access to almost every part of the ground to watch the game, use the facilities and buy food and drinks. I am very hopeful that our grant application to fund this project will be successful.
Whilst we continue to improve the facilities at The Meadow, our ambition remains to move to a new ground that will make the club far more sustainable for the future. We have now sent in our second Pre-Planning Aspplication that has dealt with all the questions and queries that came from the first application, so hopefully we will see some progress made on this development in the coming weeks.
I am also delighted to say that for tomorrow’s game we extend a special warm welcome to our match sponsors, Take One TV, a High Wycombe-based company offering corporate video production to companies large and small. If you are looking to promote your business, please do contact them to discuss your requirements – they are an excellent, thoroughly professional, firm that is keen to support local businesses. We do still have some matches available to sponsor this season, please contact commercial@cheshamunited.co.uk for further details.
We also have a busy calendar of events building up here over the coming months. You will by now be fully aware of the Treorchy Choir coming to Chesham in June, but look out also for details and ticketing information for our Sportsman’s Dinner on 27th April, when we welcome football legend and genuine funny man, Ian Holloway, as our guest on a night that will be hosted and compered by our very own Alex Horne. Tickets will be available for this in the next few days.
Then in May, Saturday 13th, Alex Horne is inviting a number of comedy and celebrity colleagues along to participate in what will be a hilarious charity football match with a number of twists that will make it unlike any football match you will have ever seen before! This will be a fantastic day, and your last chance to watch live football here at The Meadow before we close the pitch down for summer preparation work.
Thank you as always for your support, it is appreciated by all. I know there have been a lot of games of late and it can become a stretch on your budget, but we are so close now, please do encourage all your friends and family to come along and offer their support. We have another home games next Tuesday, under the floodlights, which always adds something extra. Our visitors are Plymouth Parkway who will be travelling a very long way on the night, let’s have another excellent crowd to give them a warm welcome.
Thank you as always for your support
Peter Brown, Chairman
