On Boxing Day we ended our losing run with a hard earned point at Slough Town. Having fallen behind to a freak goal, we showed great character to keep our heads and in the second-half we got the equaliser we deserved and spent the rest of the game looking the most likely side to snatch a winner. This was a great performance, despite struggling with availability and injuries, which leaves us full of confidence going into what promises to be a classic local derby v Hemel Hempstead Town on New Years Day, kick-off 1.00pm at The Meadow.
We made a lot of new signings over the summer which transformed the club on the pitch, I very much doubt we would have enjoyed the start to the season we have had without some very astute business by our management team. The recent run of defeats has been tough to take because we have become used to winning, but we are very happy with our league position going into the new year and have no intentions of being dragged into a relegation battle, we must continue to look upwards. And that includes looking beyond this season. Staying up in year one is an obvious objective, but it is important to also make sure we look to the future and secure our status as a step two side for years to come, more news on this hopefully in the New Year.
Off the field I have more good news to share as we head into 2025. Just before Christmas we signed a two-year option on the piece of land that we are looking to build our new community stadium on, with facilities to support all sections of the football club and provide additional sporting and non-sporting facilities for the community. This is a big step forward for us and completes the immediate tasks needed on our side to progress the planning permission process.
We are now waiting for the building firm looking to purchase the land The Meadow currently sits on to complete their tasks and reach a similar point with our existing landlords to enable the planning processes to fully get underway and start to make things happen. We know there are still many challenges ahead, but we have done a huge amount of work behind the scenes, drawing on expertise available and making sure we are making all the right economic, social and environmental decisions to build a stadium that is right for everyone.
I hope 2025 is the year in which we make serious progress on this project, with the land secured, the Board and I will be doing all we can to cajole the other stakeholders into picking up the pace on getting us into a new home.
That just leaves me to wish you all a very happy new year, and thank you for your support throughout 2024, I hope that, like me, you are excited about what 2025 has in store for the club. Hopefully starting on New Years Day when we welcome Hemel Hempstead Town to The Meadow, ten years after they pipped us to the Southern League title…this local derby has been long overdue, please come along and add your support to what should be a wonderful occasion.
Happy New Year,
Peter Brown
