Chairmans message

Message to all Parents from Frank Hare - Club Chairman

Important Information

It is difficult to ensure that all parents and supporters are aware of the current situation concerning the progress of the clubs development plans; so this message is to keep you up to date.

After an 18 month delay when the ownership of the land was not clear , allowing a lease to be granted , we are now back on track. Our planning application to build the sports centre was put on hold allowing negotiations to take place with the County officials, the school and the sports club . These centred around the schools desire to have a Nursery school on the field . This overlapped the clubs plans , but an agreement has been reached that the club house will be extended to house the Nursery on a sub- let basis. The County, on whose land it now is, will allow the club to sub- let the Nursery area as part of the 25 year lease. Our long suffering architect Ian Guest is undertaking this now and we are hopeful for planning approval soon.(This will be his 5th drawing of the scheme).

Our main funding sources are being resurrected now these matters have been resolved and I am seeking an early meeting with the Football Foundation to get moving again.

Despite all of this we will still require more land to house the full size soccer pitch and a further mini pitch for season 2009/10. With that in mind we have been in discussions with a nearby landowner to acquire approximately 6 acres to fit all this in as we are now having over 100 player sessions weekly on the current pitch (including the school) when we are in full flow. When the full development is built this will increase dramatically when all of the other sports are in action.

All of this activity takes up a lot of time and our Committee, coaches and volunteers are doing an amazing job. This is where I need your help as parents. Please ensure your child is available to take part in the activities all of these people are arranging. Our programme of matches and events is always available, so if you could fit your plans in with our plans to ensure full attendance, that would be great.

Please back us up as we are doing all of this for the children - that is our only aim. Thanks for all your support so far - you are an inspiration to us all - let’s keep the momentum going.