With a frantic start to the 2021-22 season it’s a good time to update everyone of where we are currently at as a club.
It has certainly been a positive start for the lads sitting in fifth place in a very tight league table and we played our part in very entertaining yet desperately disappointing cup games against Benfield as well as a thrilling Northumberland Senior Cup tie against Blyth Town. We have already played eighteen league games and three cup games. It has undoubtedly been a heavy schedule though and we have suffered with injuries and unavailability as well as this time of the season being notorious with players moving clubs. We have certainly all been entertained so far with lots of goals and four 4-0 home wins in the books. Well done to Ian, the backroom staff and of course the players. We have lost a few key players in the last couple of weeks but the club are working hard to secure the immediate and long term futures of the current squad as well as looking to add players where we need to strengthen.
Our crowds have been unbelievable having had three games this season over 500 in attendance. We have an excellent season ticket base of over 220 and that is staggering progress compared to just under three years back when we had just 25. Part season tickets are also on offer at great value. The place has a real buzz about it and it is great to see people enjoying matchdays. The support is right up there with the best in the league and shows the potential this football club has to really move forward and progress. We have also received an excellent draw in the Northumberland Senior Cup hosting Newcastle United Under 23s which will hopefully be a very good night for the club – tickets are on sale now via our ticketshop.
Commercially we are gradually increasing our sponsors and appreciate each and every one of them for what they do for us. Every pound counts at this level and we couldn’t do what we do without their support. We have excellent matchday hospitality packages available too which are now available to book, it’s a great way to enjoy a game, is well priced and the food is superb.
Over the Summer we have invested in our facilities, notably our bar area with brand new furniture, televisions and sound system to improve the experience when people visit us. I am aware how busy it is on matchdays to get served for both food and drink and we are looking at options to reduce the wait times including outside serving areas and a potential fan zone. We are now also offering a menu upstairs on matchdays as well as our usual pies, hot dogs and drinks from the serving hatch downstairs. The options are superb and very reasonably priced, I would recommend that you check them out.
In other areas of the club our Reserve and Junior seasons are also well underway. It has been a challenging time for both sections with player recruitment and retention, but things have thankfully stabilised. It is great to see so many of our Junior players attending the first team games as they are ultimately our potential future players or supporters.
Finally, thanks to all volunteers, players, backroom staff and bar / kitchen staff for their continued superb efforts to keep the club moving in the right direction.
“Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success.”
Brian Shotton
Chairman