The wind made it tough for both sides, but our players handled it brilliantly and fully deserved the victory. It felt like a result that had been coming for some time, and it gave everyone around the club a real lift. When you look at the league table now, we are actually in the top half and surrounded by club’s that will have ambitions to get promoted out of the league this season. It is an unforgiving league, we are not going to win every week, but we are very much holding our ground.
On Tuesday night we were back in action at The Meadow, this time in the Berks & Bucks Senior Cup against Thatcham Town. It was a great opportunity to give some of our younger players a run out alongside some of the senior squad members who have not had as many minutes this season. They certainly took their chance, coming away with a comfortable 4-0 win. It’s always encouraging to see the blend of youth and experience working well together, and it shows the depth and unity we have in the squad.
We’ve also arranged for a few players to be dual registered with other local clubs, which means they can get valuable match time elsewhere when not in our starting line-up. It’s a system that works well for everyone involved – the players keep sharp, the clubs benefit from their ability, and it keeps our whole squad match-ready.
On the subject of players, I’d like to once again thank everyone who has donated to our Players’ Rehabilitation Fund since I mentioned it in recent notes. It really does make a huge difference and helps us look after our players properly when they pick up injuries that affects them financially. Alex Lafleur is close to going into hospital for his operation, and we all wish him a smooth procedure and a full recovery. Meanwhile, it’s great to report that Matt Lench is close to making his return to action, which will be a big boost for the squad.
Tomorrow we travel to Maidstone United, which will be one of our toughest tests of the season so far. They are a big club with fantastic facilities, strong support, and National League experience, and they will no doubt be pushing hard for promotion this year. We went there last season and came away with a hard-earned draw thanks to a last-minute equaliser, and we’ll be looking to put in another strong performance this time around. To all of you making the journey, thank you – your support on the road this season has been magnificent and never goes unnoticed by the players or management. Let’s hope we can keep this winning run going.
Away from the football, our focus is turning to Fireworks Night, which is shaping up to be one of the biggest events on our calendar once again. Tickets will be available soon via the club website, and I’d really encourage you to get yours early. Events like this don’t just happen overnight – they take a huge amount of planning and coordination. From working with the local council and recruiting stewards, to managing turnstiles, food outlets and bars, there is a lot that goes on behind the scenes. My sincere thanks go to everyone involved in organising it; your hard work is hugely appreciated. It’s always a fantastic night for families and the wider community, so please help spread the word and let’s make this year’s display the biggest and best yet.
Finally, I do need to mention something a little less pleasant. Unfortunately, we’ve had some issues with the clubhouse toilets being blocked recently, caused by toilet rolls being deliberately stuffed down them. As a result, we now have to re-enforce our rule that children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult when using The Meadow & Chess Suite. It’s a real shame that a few individuals think it’s funny to cause this kind of damage, as it ends up affecting everyone. Hopefully this will be a short-term measure, but it’s a necessary one for now.
Next up for the First XI at The Meadow is a huge game – we welcome Torquay United next Saturday, a club with a proud Football League history and always a big following. These are the sort of fixtures we all look forward to, and we’ll need your support more than ever to make The Meadow a fortress. We’ve got a very good record against Torquay in recent meetings, and I know the players will be ready to give everything to keep that going. Please tell your friends, family, neighbours and colleagues – let’s fill the ground, make some noise, and show once again what Chesham United is all about.
Thank you all for your continued support – both home and away – and for everything you do to make this club what it is.
Peter Brown
