I just want to wish all of our supporters, fantastic sponsors, players, Management, our Board and most of all of our volunteers a great New Year.
This year’s been a challenge, we’ve come through a relegation which hurt. We’ve had to rebuild a squad and we’re now challenging at the top of the Northern League.
We are building even closer links with our community with the work that we are doing with Thornhill Primary School and our Fun and Food courses proving to be as popular as ever. This is only the start and we have some exciting plans working in partnership with Well-being for Life to make the ground and its facilities a true community hub.
At the end of the season we intend to host a Food Festival at the ground which will bring together our Juniors, Senior Team and our charities to celebrate the season. We will release further details early in the New Year.
Next year we will see some new LED Floodlights installed as we continue to progress our ground. We are also in discussions with the FA about a major investment into our pitch.
I know that for many of you success only relates to what we do on the pitch, which I totally understand. I said before Boxing Day that we would find out where we are after we played the likes of Redcar Athletic and Bishop Auckland. These games showed me that we deserve to be challenging at the top of the table but it also highlighted that we have work to do if we have aspirations to get promoted. The Boxing Day game showed us all that we can compete but we need to be more clinical in both boxes and make better decisions in key moments if we are to realise our ambitions this season. Whoever finishes above Bishop will win the League, it’s really that simple.
We learned a lot from that game, on and off the pitch, and we will look to improve and push them all the way. Before that game I asked for your support and I was humbled to see so many of you come to the game, to use our bar and to support us. It was fantastic to see. Thank you!!
As we head into the New Year we’ve got a lot to play for and a lot to look forward to and I welcome your continued support. This is your Club and one that I hope come May you will be proud of!!
Enjoy your celebrations over New Year and let’s hope we all have a great 2024.
David Dent.