As we draw towards the end of another busy, and hectic, season I wanted to take the time to share some thoughts and offer our ongoing thanks to everyone who supports this great club. Our first season playing at this level for well over 60 years has been an enjoyable one but has also come with its challenges. We are all really pleased to have achieved the points tally that we have and at the time of writing we have the highest number of points of the 5 teams that were promoted to this league last year which shows how big a step up it has been from Step 5 to 4.

However, we fully acknowledge that at times it has been a season of frustration. Before this season started we had:

• Only lost 6 games in our last 63 league games (2 of which were after promotion was secured),
• Had exciting FA Vase runs, and,
• Featured in semi-finals and finals of the cup competitions available at Step 5.

Having achieved promotion at the end of last season, this season was always going to be much tougher; we have had to get used to losing much more regularly as we are playing against better sides, with much bigger budgets, on a weekly basis and also are the lowest rank teams in all of the cup competitions. It is always so unlikely to have runs deep into those competitions. This has been an adjustment that we have all had to make and there have been some disappointing times including some recent results. We stuck with the vast majority of the squad and only have 2 players in the squad who have played regular Step 4 football in the last 3 years so it has been a learning curve for us all. Although we are not yet mathematically safe we have a good points tally currently which will likely see us stay in the division.

As a result of some mixed results we are all delighted to see how our support has continued to grow; as a group we feel honoured and privileged to represent the club and you as supporters. I am sure there is some frustration when games are lost (as there is from all of us) but to see the support we get on a regular basis really lifts us. The players, management team and myself care deeply about the club and will continue to push on with your brilliant ongoing support.

As we have moved into the final couple of months of the season we have decided not to further strengthen the squad due to the unreasonable financial implications this would entail but to ensure all money in the club is invested in improving our facilities. We have now seen the new floodlights going up and the work starting on the changing rooms; that will leave a lasting legacy. This decision has also given a chance for us to blood some of our very talented youngsters that we are working hard to produce and it was great to see one of them, Zak Hammond, pick up man of the match on Saturday. With some important players being out injured currently that has meant that results have been a little harder to come by but the long term future of the club is always paramount in our decision making.

There are other clubs in our league posting 6 figure debts annually but thanks to our brilliant board we work sustainably and will never take the club into debt. We will obviously be strengthening the squad in the summer having learnt a lot in our first year at this level as we will look to stabilise at this level. We are already working hard looking at potential targets to supplement the current squad we have as we will move into another important season. But until that point we need your support until the end of the season. When you turn up in your numbers and get behind the boys it makes a huge difference and, with 8 games left to go, there is still a lot to play for as we look forward.

We are also working very hard on developing the pathway to the first team and, as mentioned earlier, we have been able to give opportunities to some of our talented youngsters. The U23’s are doing brilliantly (and have an important home game v Maidstone on Thursday evening) and the U18’s are in great form; there is a lot of work going on to add further talented young players to our ranks next year. As a local teacher I am hugely passionate about us always having a team that represents the local area and we will do our best to provide that pathway. It’s not easy to sustain a team at these levels with local players but it is our passion and what we will continue to do. A number of clubs locally train away from the town they represent but we will continue to push local players and run a sustainable community club.

To close, it is always horrible being sat down on a Monday having lost at the weekend but I wanted to pen some thoughts on the bigger picture and remind everyone (including ourselves as a playing group) how much progress we have made. We will continue to work hard to push this club forward and that will only be possible with your ongoing fantastic support. Thank you to every person who supports the club, in whatever form that may be. We really appreciate you all and will continue to serve you with passion and determination.

Enjoy the rest of the season and remember the future at the club is really bright.

Come on you Hoops!

Kingy