A double dose of fantastic news to report this week!
Firstly, we have secured a 4-year kit deal with Karuta Sportswear, the deal will see the Weston-Super-Mare based company continue to make kits for the men’s first team and will be available for the Ladies and Youth teams also. In addition to this, they will continue to supply and grow the already incredibly successful online presence for club leisurewear and other items at cheshamunited.co.uk/shop
Not only are the products they create first class and I know the players love running out in the kit they make and supply, but this is also another signal of our intent to grow this magnificent club and to collectively take it to the next level in the coming seasons. The longevity of the deal and the plans for a new ground that the Club continues to work on behind the scenes, shows the ambition off the pitch that is matched by Joint Managers Michael Murray and James Duncan on the pitch to attract the best players to take the club going forwards and to be ready for the 2021/22 season when it starts.
The second piece of exciting news is that we have this week booked a football match at The Meadow! After consultation and discussions amongst the new management committee we have now secured a Celebrity Football Match for Sunday 19th September raising money for our club charity, Bucks Mind.
There will be much more detail to follow, but I can promise you that this will be a professionally organised even with some well-known celebrities participating to help us to put on a massive community event for Chesham and the surrounding area, as well as raise funds for our mental well-being charity, Bucks Mind. Please pencil the date in your diary, we hope lockdown restrictions will be a thing of the past by then and we can all gather safely for what will be a wonderful day.
Elsewhere we are still waiting to hear if the Ladies season will be declared null and void or look to resume as soon as permitted, whilst the Youth section are preparing themselves to start training again soon, once guidelines allow after 29th March, I believe it is. It will be great to be able to once again provide a platform for the youngsters to pick up on their physical activity and further develop their football skills. The Academy restart their education and training elements in person on Monday where they will be preparing for the final few league games outstanding.
Our congratulations go out to Tanya Fisher who has now acquired her formal qualifications to become the club’s Designated Premises Supervisor as part of her role of running The Chess Suite. She continues to have great ideas for events to attract people along to the club, and I know she is also looking forward to the Supporters’ Trust Beer & Quiz Evening next Saturday, 20th March, to see which beers from the Rebellion Brewery our supporters like so that we can look at stocking them when the club re-opens (I have it firmly in my diary that I will be having a pint sat outside The Chess Suite at 4pm on Monday 12th April – I hope many of you will be able to join me!).
If you have not done so yet, you can still book your place at the Supporters’ Trust evening by clicking here.
Another date to pencil in your diary is the August Bank Holiday weekend, details to follow but we will be hosting a Chess Festival at the club with great music, food and drinks from the bar. Watch this space.
Around the ground I am pleased to say that the grant application for the covered wheelchair shelter has been approved and the lights for the driveway and car parks are work in progress, due to be completed at Easter when the pre-school that uses our facilities will be closed as we need to access those areas.
We have also put up the Pitching-In league advertising boards so that they are fully visible when you reach the top of the driveway – All we need now is some fixtures to be able to play!
Thank as always for your support, as we start to schedule in dates and events, it does start to feel as though the end is in sight.
Stay Safe – Stay Well and sensible for just a bit longer – we will be together again soon.
