This week saw non-league football take another blow, albeit seemingly inevitable in the end, as the National League North and South officially made their seasons null and void. Despite millions of pounds of grants, continuing the season without crowds and matchday income with no further support packages was voted to be impossible. Based on that news, we can very much conclude that our league season will, as expected, very soon come to the same conclusion; with no promotion or relegation at stake, there seems very little point even if we were miraculously allowed to continue in a couple of months’ time.
A few of us have spent this half-term week carrying out some refurbishments at the club, in particular in the cellar of The Chess Suite in preparation for our new bar manager coming in when we are allowed to reopen. Some old equipment has been removed, new shelves put up, a bit of cleaning and a lick of new paint has the place looking very smart. As a result, we have two Sharp electronic tills in full working order for sale for £50 each, and a coffee machine that is surplus to requirements available for £25. Anyone interested, please contact me directly at chairman@cheshamunited.co.uk.
I am also continuing to piece together the new look management board I have referenced on many occasions as we look to inject some additional youth and energy into the running of the club. I am pleased to today announce that Andy Joslin of the CUYFC Youth section has agreed to join us to bring important feedback from this area of the club and help us to engage much closely with the youth section.
I also welcome back to the management board, former Chairman, Alan Calder, who has agreed to help us take the club move forward on the next exciting leg of our journey. Alan has also recently re-joined the Supporters’ Trust committee and will be able to bring a huge amount of knowledge and experience as well as helping the club and the Trust work together in achieving our mutual goals and engaging with our most important stakeholders, the supporters.
On that note, I would like to thank the Supporters’ Trust for their kind donation to the Big Community Take Away, an initiative I am very passionate about and have been giving up my own time to support. It is great to see that our supporters’ organisation also share the passion to help our local community, if you too would like to make a donation I know it will be very much appreciated: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/bcta-coronavirussupport?utm_term=RK4Gy8mMA
We are also very much still in conversation with our charity partner for the year, Bucks Mind, as we look to explore the fundraising opportunities that we might be able to get involved in over the coming months. Our liaison representative, John Hatch, is working hard at the possibility of organising a charity football match just as soon as we are allowed to do so and, without wanting to steal their thunder, I also understand that the Supporters’ Trust have been in discussion with John and the charity about organising a virtual raffle over the latter part of the “season”.
Whilst all of this is going on there have also been a number of Zoom meetings in recent weeks as we look to move up a gear on the new ground project. Meetings with our landlords, the developer, land agents, the investment companies and football stadium development companies are all starting to gel so that we can reach the stage where we can move forward and begin communicating with all interested parties, including supporters, about our plans and start to provide some detail of the vision of a modern new ground that will be built with the environment in mind along every step of the way, and become a true community asset.
I can’t wait to be able to share more detail, and I know everyone is desperate to get more information and clarity. I can assure you, we are doing everything we can, working tirelessly, to reach that point.
I also had another very useful Zoom meeting with the FA this week, aimed at helping clubs like us, at Step 3 and below, survive without football in this current situation, and also advice on how clubs can become stronger within their communities. All very useful information that we will look to put into practice over the coming weeks.
Another very busy week, I’m beginning to wonder how we ever use to fit football into the itinerary!
Stay safe everyone,
