Welcome to the latest Chairman’s notes, and yes I am still Chairman of Chesham United and have not gone anywhere despite some of the rumours that have been circulating over the past week. We are, and very much have been, business as usual as we continue down this exciting path we have laid out for ourselves.
With one eye very much on the weather, tomorrow (or today) we make the long trip to Truro for another National League South game, a tough match on all accounts. Travel arrangements for these long trips are always a challenge, as we know from around this time last year when we travelled to play Plymouth Parkway and got stranded by cancelled trains! A big thank you to those supporters planning to make the trip, have a safe journey.
We have of course played Truro several times in the past in the Southern League and they have adapted very well to life in a league higher, something we are looking to emulate. After several years in exile, they are now back at a brand new ground in Truro and are attracting good crowds, they are in fact one of the sides very much with an eye on promotion this season. However, we know that we can compete at this level and if we take our A-game down to Cornwall we are perfectly capable of coming away with the points.
Last weekend we put in a thoroughly professional display to move into the Third Round (last 64) of the FA Trophy with a 2-0 win over Chippenham Town. Our reward for the win is a home tie against Salisbury, which, without being presumptuous, does give us a realistic chance of making it through to the last 32 and then suddenly the arch of Wembley does not seem so far away? OK, so that is still a long way off, but as we continue our quest to climb the league, we will also be focused on another cup run in this competition in what is already becoming a fantastic season.
The home draw against Salisbury in the FA Trophy does mean that after Truro we have five home games in a short period of time – Tuesday, Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday, Tuesday. I know a lot of people will look and that and see it as good for the club with no travelling to arrange and the gate receipts from home matches. Whereas some of that is true, I do understand the strain it puts on our team of volunteers and also our supporters.
Five games in fifteen days is a big commitment, but I cannot over-emphasise how important your support is at home matches. Therefore we are offering supporters a ‘Buy 3 Get 1 Free’ offer on our next four home league games, which means if you come to three of the games you will get the fourth entrance free – this will only be available through our ticketing site and will go live over the weekend starting with the Hampton game on Tuesday, and include the Eastbourne, Hornchurch and Chelmsford games as well. Just a small thank you for your loyal support and commitment. Unfortunately this cannot include the cup game against Salisbury as we split the gate receipts from that game with the opposition.
The players and management are always referencing the boost a good home crowds gives to them, and I hope you find that they are delivering incredible value on the pitch. In fact, the only reason we have this run of home games is because of our FA Cup run and this is a small price to pay for the memories created by the Yeovil and Lincoln matches.
I also understand for the volunteers that work on matchdays in the turnstiles, the tea bar, the club shop, the office, the boardroom and helping with stewarding; it is a huge commitment on your time. Not to mention the programme editor, I am sure I heard his groan from miles away when our name came out first in the FA Trophy draw that was made live on Talk Sport Radio! Everyone’s efforts are hugely appreciated by everyone at the club – thank you. Let’s pull together and make more fantastic memories over these coming games and when we sit down for our Christmas Dinner next month, we could be reflecting on one of the best years in our club’s history.
In this busy period we are also completing the final tasks for our ground-grading requirements, including two new turnstiles becoming functional. The intention is to have everything in place and our ground fully compliant by Christmas. Being an older ground does throw out some challenges, but I am very grateful to everyone who helps out in their own way to keep The Meadow a safe and enjoyable place to watch football.
Utouched last week on how our Under 18s are performing brilliantly this season, building the foundations for the future. This week they were at it again with an emphatic 5-1 win over Leighton Town. If you do get a chance to come down and watch them on a Thursday evening please do, they are fantastic to watch.
Meanwhile, congratulations to our women’s team who were in action last weekend in the Berks & Bucks Senior Women’s Cup as they travelled to local rivals Penn & Tylers Green for a quarter-final tie. Penn went 1-0 ahead late in the first half with a penalty. However, after a half-time reset Chesham showed some dominance running out 1-4 winners. We go into the hat for the semi-final with Reading FC, Maidenhead United and Newport Pagnell also in the draw. Elsewhere our women’s development team were also in action against Milton United but fell to a narrow 0-2 defeat. The women’s 1st team travel to Dulwich Hamlet this Sunday.
Please remember that we are working with Chiltern Foodbank to put together hampers and food for those families that are struggling going into the Christmas period. Donations can be made in the clubhouse, either financial contributions so that the foodbank can buy what they need, or items for a Christmas hamper are most welcome – tinned ham, tinned salmon, chocolate biscuits, Christmas cake, Christmas sweets, instant coffee, chutney/pickles, cooking oil, UHT milk and generally any sustainable tinned food is welcome.
Remember also to put Saturday 21st December in the diary as a date to bring the kids and family to the home game against Dorking Wanderers when we will also have a very special guest at the match with Father Christmas himself visiting on the Rotary Club float.
Thank you for your support, I look forward to seeing you back at The Meadow tomorrow
Peter Brown
