It’s been another good week at Chesham United with four league points picked up to help us to maintain a healthy league position in our first season in the National League South.
On Tuesday night we twice came from behind against Chelmsford City at The Meadow, a result that was probably a fair reflection on a match in which we had made several changes to the team that had put in such a heroic performance last weekend. What a performance that was against Maidstone United. A 2-0 win over a side that had been on an incredible run of form and could have gone top of the table at the end of the day had they continued their winning run at The Meadow. On paper, you could argue that the two clubs are worlds apart with their full-time playing squad and Football League standard stadium, but on the pitch, we yet again demonstrated that we are more than capable of mixing it with these sides.
Huge credit to our management duo who I believe tactically out-thought them and played to their weaknesses, one of which may well have been complacency. Some of you may have seen my comments in the programme on Tuesday night, but I must reiterate how pleased I am with our management team, and it is not just for their football knowledge and tactical know-how, but also the way they conduct themselves. Even when we were on a poor run of form in December, they conducted themselves with dignity and humility, which is exactly what our club is all about.
Unfortunately that cannot be said for all clubs and sometimes you do get reminders about that. For example, I could not imagine JD or Muzza threatening to take a supporter out into the car park or be so ungracious in defeat that when losing to a team below them in the league comment on their dressing room celebrations by saying, “having a relegation party then?” I just could not imagine anyone behaving like that, but you really would be surprised sometimes.
Thank you to everyone who played their part in making Saturday another such special day, one of many we have enjoyed this season. A special mention to Tanya who as well as managing the clubhouse provides a delicious meal for both sets of players after the game, it’s a shame that not all of our visitors took up the offer to enjoy the hospitality last weekend, but it is very much appreciated by everyone at the club as we strive to match the raising of standards on the pitch with those standards off the pitch. A football club is about more than just what happens on the pitch.
Tomorrow (Saturday) we travel to Bath City for another important league match. Our hosts currently sit in 19th position and will be keen to complete the double over us after their 1-0 victory at The Meadow earlier in the season. Bath is a beautiful city to visit and although the ground is a little out of town, it is a great trip to make a day out of the visit, and I know the players will appreciate your support at the match as we look to continue our unbeaten run since Christmas.
Our next home game is next Tuesday when we once again welcome Salisbury to Chesham, a side we have become familiar with having met at home in the FA Trophy earlier in the season as well as having already played them away this campaign with both sides having recorded an away victory so far – they are always close and exciting matches, so be sure to get yourself along to this game.
Our first team women had another weekend without a game but will be back in action this weekend as Cambridge United visit The Meadow at 2.00pm on Sunday afternoon. QPR will then be our opponents at home the following Sunday afternoon. I’m sure the women will appreciate your support as they look for some important points to get them to safety in the FAWNL. Well done also to our U18 girls who beat Wycombe Wanderers U18s to reach the semi-finals of the County Cup.
We have also this week finalised our Ground Naming Rights brochure as we seek a sponsor for our current home at The Meadow, this brochure highlights the extent to which our ground has become a community asset over the years and offers a business to be a part of that with their company name associated with the ground. If you run, or know, a business that might be interested and would like a conversation and a copy of the brochure, please contact Michele Brooks at commercial@cheshamunited.co.uk.
Also this week our new home and away kits for the 2025/26 season have been approved by Roger Payne, our major shareholder, and we are in the process of having sample kits made up – I think you will like them. We will once again have Sidhu & Simon as shirt sleeve sponsors, thank you to them for the early commitment to continuing our partnership for another season. There are lots of very good things going on around our commercial activity, which is fantastic news.
A reminder of some dates for your diary with our End of Season Awards taking place after one of our last home games of the season either against Farnborough on 12th April or Slough on the 21st April (put both dates in your diary for now), our Alex Horne Comedy Football Trophy which has proved hugely popular the past few years will take place on Saturday 10th May and the incredible Treorchy Male Voice Choir will again be coming to Chesham at the Broadway Baptist Church on Saturday June 7th, when we will once again be raising money for our charity partner, Bucks Mind.
Thank you for your support, I hope to see many of you at Bath tomorrow, and even more of you at The Meadow next Tuesday.
Peter Brown
