With just over a week now until the new season, and the start of a new chapter in the Chesham United story. I could not be more excited, and pleased with the way preparations are going. We have sold more season tickets than I have ever known since I have been involved at the club and we have matchday tickets on sale via the website for all our home games for the entire season – with over 150 already sold for the Torquay match at the end of the month. It feels like we have had to make a huge step up in the way we operate, and so far everyone has embraced that challenge which is a credit to all involved.
Of course the biggest step up may well come on the pitch, a we are certainly being thrown in the deep end on that front with next Saturday’s trip to Eastbourne Borough before welcoming Boreham Wood to Chesham the following week, two clubs that operate with a full-time squad. As I have said before, we do not fear that and cannot wait for the challenge. If you have watched any of our pre-season friendlies I hope you will have been impressed with the way the team has performed and agree that physically we are bigger and stronger than we have been for some years, and all players look comfortable on the ball.
On Tuesday night we showed the depth we had in the squad with a number of players rested for the friendly against Watford Under 21s – a very entertaining match that saw a lot of players put their name forward for a starting place as we came from a goal behind to win the match 2-1 with a 94th minute own goal. An enjoyable game watched by a crowd of just over 600, fantastic support.
Last weekend we travelled to Hungerford Town, a side that we met twice in our championship winning season last year, and came away with another win, this time 3-1 as the team got more valuable minutes under their belt. Tomorrow we are back in action for our final friendly before the big kick-off, we welcome Brackley Town to The Meadow, a National League North side that have reached the play-offs in each of the last five seasons and will provide excellent competitive opponents as they prepare themselves for what they will be hoping to be another promotion push to reach the top league of non-league football. The game kicks-off at 3.00pm with tickets available at the gate, or you can purchase in advance from the club website – as you can for all home games.
Chesham’s women’s team have had another good week in pre-season also. Last Sunday the team travelled to tier 3 side MK Dons Women and came away with a really solid 8-0 win and a very dominant performance. They also gave some minutes to a number of the newer players on Thursday evening against Enfield Town and again came out on top with a 3-1 win.
This weekend they welcome Wycombe Wanderers FC Women to The Meadow for their final pre-season fixture. Having been undefeated in five matches, let’s see if they can make it six from six! Entry is free with a 2.00pm kick-off so do come down and give Chesham your support. Their season starts on August 18th against London Seaward so that’s another date for your diaries!
As we prepare for our ground grading next Wednesday we are in desperate need of a plumber to fix a water leak coming from a stop cock at the ground, if you can help, or know anyone who can, please do get in touch. Elsewhere around the ground we have installed signs for the car park for all the pre-booked and reserve parking on matchdays – please do observe these signs when arriving at the ground and only park in unreserved spaces or where advised to park by any stewards. Talking of our fantastic stewards, we have now completed the three weeks of training we had organised, a big thank you to our instructor who gave up his time to help prepare us for the season, and to our volunteer stewards who took the course.
Work has also been carried out over the Popular Stand side with the tea bar and toilets being redecorated and now looking very smart – we just need to wait for rainfall now to see where the leaks are!
It was also very noticeable on Tuesday night the increased signage and advertising around the ground, a huge thank you to the business community that have got behind us this close season and share our excitement and vision for the direction the club is heading, your support is hugely appreciated. We have done everything we possibly can to get us ready for this new adventure, both on and off the field, and I have been overwhelmed by the positive comments that have been forthcoming from not just supporters, not just our own town, but the wider non-league football community. I think we are on to something good at Chesham United, and cannot wait for it all to kick-off next weekend.
Peter Brown, Chairman
