Tomorrow we go into our final league game of the season, away at Gosport Borough, and I would like to once again take this opportunity to thank you for your magnificent support this season. Last weekend we had over 1,500 people at The Meadow to witness us lifting the Southern League Premier South trophy – our third successive home crowd of over 1,000, beyond our wildest dreams when the season kicked off last August.
Unfortunately the game itself ended in defeat to Bracknell Town, but the day was all about the presentations and celebrations after the final whistle. Another great day to remember in the history of Chesham United Football Club, and hopefully just the beginning of an exciting new chapter. For our final game tomorrow we travel to Gosport Borough and the Supporters Trust are running a coach, so please, come and join us one last time this season. Leaving the Meadow at 11am, £10 for CUST Members & U18s, £15 for Non-Members. More information can be found, and bookings placed, on the Trust website at custrust.co.uk.
As well as league success, it is easy to forget that we reached the First Round of the FA Cup this season also. This competition is still massive to club’s like us. It generates huge excitement (nearly 3,000 people at the game v Maidstone) and it is no secret that it can produce some not insignificant funds for clubs too with prize money, increased gates and additional merchandise sold. Whereas it would be foolish to budget your season on a cup run, the idea that you could play a football league side in the later rounds and get them at your home ground on the television, either when the draw is made or as a replay, is a target for any lower-level football club.
That is why we have added our voice to the massive discontent that followed the announcement that replays will be scrapped from the FA Cup beyond the first round from next season. The world’s greatest competition has already lost some of its magic beyond the early rounds as elite clubs continue to see it as a low priority and this latest decision once again shows the lack of respect and consideration for lower-level clubs.
As a club we completely agree with prioritising player welfare, but the top clubs that compete in Europe do not even come into the competition until the Third Round so that seems a strange argument to use doesn’t it? Sadly it is another example where financial gain for the elite is prioritised over what is good for the game. Fortunately, the non-league game continues to go from strength and we will always prioritise making the game inclusive for all and happily welcome football supporters that have become disillusioned with clubs where players can earn over £300k per week but are unable to regularly play two games a week and will have no issue with taking potential income opportunities from lower level clubs that are the soul of our national game.
The top level of our support may well have already gone off in a totally different direction to the traditional grassroots and community football many of us grew up loving, but the game should stand united to prevent the rest of us from being trampled over. Rant over!
Our Women’s 1st team had a big game at The Meadow on Sunday as they welcomed QPR FC Women in the FA Women’s National League. It always surprises people I talk to that Chesham’s women side play against teams like QPR and AFC Wimbledon but it goes to show what a great level they play at! I’m pleased to report a thrilling game that ended 2-2 (although we were 4 minutes from a brilliant 2-1 win). They have another tough draw this Sunday at home against Norwich City Women FC and I know they’d love a good crowd – 2pm kick-off. Norwich are second in the league so it will be a tough encounter but one we won last season so you never know.
Football at The Meadow continues into May as for the second year running we host the Alex Horne Comedy Football March – another bumper crowd expected. Alex has once again “persuaded a lot of funny people off the telly, some other famous people and a couple of actual footballers to play another game at Chesham United in the hope of winning the greatest trophy in football – the Alex Horne’s Comedy Football Trophy.” It promises to be a fantastic day for all of the family and tickets are likely to sell out, so book yours now. There will be football, but different to wat you may have seen for the rest of the season – new rules, managers in the centre circle, singing, half time entertainment and extreme levels of exhaustion. Tickets can be purchased via the website: £12 Adults, £10 Concessions, £8 18-23year-olds, £5 Under 18s, £1 Under 12s with a special matchday programme available on the day for £3.
Thanks for your support, I hope to see many of you at Gosport tomorrow for one last celebration of this season.
Peter Brown, Chairman
