No first team game to look forward to this weekend with our scheduled opponents, Taunton, still participating in the FA Cup, best of luck to them on their travels to Tonbridge. We did record another win last weekend, and another clean sheet, defensively that is an incredible record we have this season, a single goal being enough to win it for us. However, in this crazy 2020 year we are living through, surely we saw another first in the game at Yate when the opposition were awarded a penalty for handball in the box. Fair enough, it was definitely handball, and by a Chesham player…but it was our goalkeeper! I know the rules keep changing, but I don’t recall it being announced that keepers can no longer use their hands! Credit to the referee, he did apologise after the game, and thankfully Sam pulled off a brilliant save from the spot so it had no effect on the outcome of the game.
We continue to build a team around a mix of youth and experience with the club very proud of our Academy that has now moved into its second year, we are very much looking to provide these young lads with a pathway into the first team squad and it was great to see them pick up another win in the week, an impressive 3-2 win at Rushall Olympic. These lads are definitely an exciting part of the Chesham United story going forward. If you want to find out the Academy results, then follow our Twitter feed @cheshamutdfc and also you can keep up to date with fixtures on our Academy page.
Our next home match will be in the FA Trophy against Whyteleafe, with our capacity still restricted to 600 there is a very real possibility that this game will be a sell-out so please arrive early to avoid disappointment. It would be lovely if we could increase the capacity, but unfortunately that is out of our hands. On the subject of the ground I can confirm that we have paid the suppliers for the Disabled Ramp and repairs to the Popular Stand roof, I think it is important to demonstrate that we have used the grant money received as it was intended. Our next project that I hope will be started shortly is to install exterior lighting for the car parks and for a safe passage into the grounds, very important as we move into the winter months.
We continue to stride ahead with the planning for the new ground, indeed just before writing these notes I was at The Meadow with the team surveying the land from a drone – Fascinating to watch, so if you saw a drone flying over the Chesham area on Friday morning, you know what it was doing now! This week, travelling to other grounds and games, again highlighted what a fantastic job we are doing on matchdays to ensure we are complying with regulations and providing a safe environment. A big thank you to all our volunteers who play such a key part in that matchday experience, and a particular shout out to our gateman George who has reliably manned the turnstile nearest to the clubhouse for something like 14 years now, in all weathers, for First Team matches and Ladies games alike. A loyal, and much loved, servant to the club.
Thank you as always for your support, I hope you find some live football to watch somewhere over the weekend. As supporters you are so important to the club, not just in the ground on matchdays, but the way you help to spread the word in your everyday life around the town, in your workplace, down the pub and in your social circles. This is by far the best form of publicity for the club, especially when we see fans wearing the club colours on the way to the ground and on the streets – I know there are people out there who will look at you intrigued as to where you are going on a Saturday afternoon, and hopefully one day they will follow and join the Chesham family.
Good luck to the Ladies who make the long trip to Exeter on Sunday, and I hope to see many of you at Hayes & Yeading on Tuesday.
Stay Safe- Stay Well.
Peter Brown, Chairman
Chesham United Football Club
