It is amazing the difference a win can make. On Tuesday night we recorded an excellent victory away at Hampton & Richmond, it was fantastic to keep a clean sheet and see our defence looking so solid once again in what was a fighting team performance picking up three vital points to help secure our place in the mid-table mayhem.
This came on the back of last Saturday’s defeat at Hornchurch, another game where we switched off for a few minutes and it proved costly – much like the away defeat at tomorrow’s visitors, Truro, earlier in the season. It just goes to show that at this level you need to be switched on for the whole game because mistakes, or lapses, will be punished. On Saturday we were leading 1-0 at Hornchurch which at half-time meant we were sitting in 9th place in the league, but by the time we conceded two late goals and picked up a red card we were down to 16th – that is how tight this league is this year.
As mentioned, tomorrow we welcome Truro City who will be making the long journey up from Cornwall for the game. We know Truro very well from our Southern League days and since moving to their new ground this season they have enjoyed excellent crowds and currently find themselves occupying one of the play-off spots. It is going to be another tough game, but we have a good record against Truro in the past so I am sure it will be entertaining fixture. Kick-off is at 3.00pm, bring your friends and family and let’s look to attract a bumper crowd after the team’s excellent win on Tuesday night.
Fortunately, we have had a couple of days of good sunshine and wind which has been a blessing for the pitch which looked more suitable for sailing than football earlier in the week, but we should be all good to go for Saturday. I talked last week about the issues we have had with damage to the drainage from tree roots and the knock-on effect that has had with the pitch. This week we have had cameras up the drains, and it looks as though it has not all collapsed so we may be able to salvage some of the existing drains, but we have got some longer cameras coming next week to take a more in-depth look. The reality is that if we are going to be in need of completely new drainage we can kiss goodbye to any money made from the FA Cup run, there will be a huge bill following, so fingers crossed it is not as bad as we fear.
The truth is the pitch is in a very bad state because of it, and we will be needing to start restoration work as soon as the pitch closes for the summer. If we do need new drainage we will do all we can to recover much of the cost through any grants available and do all that we can to minimise the impact on the football club budget.
Talking of helping to reduce costs that have not been budgeted for this season, we are looking for more volunteer stewards to help on a matchday. We will offer full and proper training and look after you on a matchday in return, but currently we are calling on stewards from Wycombe Wanderers, which comes at great cost. For what we need I am sure we can fulfil the roles by volunteers. If you can help, please do get in touch, you can email me at chairman@cheshamunited.co.uk
Our women’s 1st team were on the road last weekend against Norwich City FC Women. Despite securing a point at home with a 2-2 draw, this time they returned empty handed after a very closely fought 1-0 loss. Norwich went top of the table after the win. Elsewhere the women’s development team managed a creditable 0-0 draw away at Slough. The 1st team head to AFC Sudbury this weekend with their next home game on 9th March against Dulwich Hamlet. Put the date in your diary and come along to give them your support.
In other news, we have now received official confirmation that The Meadow has achieved its ground-grading requirements. A huge thank you to Ray Trafford and our small band of volunteers that have achieved that. The job of maintaining the ground is never ending. Just this week we have had one of the big green gates come down, taking part of the post with it and elsewhere a car has very kindly driven into the perimeter wall causing a collapse. More behind the scenes challenges that not everyone realises go on!
All of that said, I feel very honoured and privileged to be the current custodian of the Chairman’s role at such a wonderful football club, in such a wonderful town. I did this week have a good meeting with the town council and we shared ideas and visions for making the town even better, working together and building on the community spirit. I look forward to some joint positive actions from those talks.
As always, thank you for your support and I hope to see you tomorrow.
Peter Brown
