With less than two weeks to go until our first pre-season friendly, I attended the first training session for the squad this week (to watch only!) and was very impressed with what I saw, with the new squad players fitting in well. By the end of the session there was some visible tiredness, but that is to be expected. We are still looking to make additions to the squad, and hope to have an announcement over the coming days.
I try not to take much notice of social media as it is not the best place to gauge opinions, but I was a little taken back about the perception some might have of our club and the reason behind our success last season that led to our promotion. We have worked hard to build a board and structure that works together to grow the club, and with that we are lucky to have Alex Horne as part of the team that it is making it happen. There is no denying that his presence has raised the profile of the club, helped with some social fundraisers, hugely increased shirt sales and maybe even boosted the crowds for matches with the extra publicity, but to suggest that our success is built on money being put directly into the club is simply wrong, and in fact quite insulting to everyone who has put in the hard work over several years to get us to this position.
As a club we have proven in the past that we are not just a little club and we certainly have no intention of running before we can walk. I think we all know that the club has been there in the past and I have said over and over again that we have absolutely no interest in gambling with the club’s future and everything we plan for this season will be budgeted for and will not be putting the club in any debt. The same as last season. Whether that is good enough for us to sustain ourselves in the National League South remains to be seen, but I have every confidence that, with the people and infrastructure we have around us, it will be.
It is going to be an exciting new era, and I am delighted by the number of season tickets sold to date – your support is magnificent. If you have not yet purchased yours, full details are on the website.We are also fully stocked of replica shirts for next season, and we have a few of the Champions shirts available as we deliberately ordered extras of these to make sure that everyone that wanted one did get one.
Which is just as well as despite all being despatched via Royal Mail we have had one go missing that we are having to resend and claim the money back on the lost order. Check out the shop for the full range available, or visit the shop at our home pre-season friendlies, which start with a game against National League side Wealdstone on Saturday 13th July, kick-off 1.00pm. Tickets for the pre-season friendlies are available to purchase from the website now, £10 adults, £8 concessions, £6 18-23 year olds, £2 Under 18s and free for Under 12s.
Of course, before that the Euros are still going on and England have made it through to the last 16 with their next game against Slovakia being shown live in The Chess Suite on Sunday. Doors open at 3.30pm for the 5.00pm kick-off. Once again you are welcome to order your own take-away food, or bring your own…along with your pillows and duvets! Just kidding, hopefully now we are into the knock-out stages we will see the talented England squad perform to their full potential and get the nation behind them for the rest of the summer.
We know that a successful national team generates more interest throughout the game, boosting the number of people that want to watch live games or get involved, and that knock on effect does benefit even clubs like Chesham United. So get yourself down to The Chess Suite and cheer the lads on in good company and a family friendly atmosphere, with the bar open throughout.
A reminder that we are running steward training by a regulated trainer that will help us to be even more professional in our stewarding on matchdays, on three successive Wednesdays, 7.30 – 9.00pm, starting on 17th July. We do still need more volunteers to attend this, please, If you are interested in being a part of that, get in touch with me at chairman@cheshamunited.co.uk.
I have just visited the ground today and the away dressing room extension has been completed and all the yellow marketings on the ground are done, taking us another huge step towards meeting ground grading regulations for the National League South. We are looking to have a white line painting party at the club on 6th & 7th July ahead of the friendlies. Please do come along with your brushes if you are available.
As alluded to last week, with the drier weather of the past week, I have invited the local fire brigade to use the pitch for their hose training exercises, I am awaiting the response, but hopefully that can be something beneficial to both parties.
Thank you for your support
Peter Brown, Chairman