Thanks to Vinnie

A really good day on Thursday and a big thank you to Vinnie Jones.

An enjoyable round of golf at the Stockley Park course during the day, my own play notwithstanding.  Perhaps a shame that not more Stones fans at the golf course but maybe we don’t have too many golfers.

Then a great crowd in the evening.  Vinnie getting up on stage and doing plenty of photos / autographs etc.  Remember he flew in from the West Coast of America, came straight to Stockley Park and then onto the Vale in the evening.  We haven’t seen him in a long time but there was no doubt that Wealdstone FC still holds a special place in his heart.

A well done also to everyone involved in organising and running the day, Dennis, Leo, Paul, Jeremy, Peter, Pauline and Nick and also Adam, Mark and Steve for taking all the photos during the day.

Wasn’t it great to see so many people at our club for a function, many of whom don’t go to games or are not regulars.  Let’s hope we take that momentum and keep it going through the Leeds game and into next season.

Our best wishes to Boony

Last week we learnt the very sad news that Alan Boon, the popular Staines Town FC Chairman, had suffered a serious heart attack.

We immediately sent a note from everyone at Wealdstone wishing Alan a speedy recovery and sending our best wishes.  I can speak from personal experience and say Alan has always been a figure who one can look to for sage advice when it is needed.  He has acted thoroughly decently with us at all and any time that we have dealt with him, whether over the crowd issue or the transfer of Davis Haule (just in the last 12 months) and he is rightly held in very high esteem by everyone in the non league game.

Staines’ promotion probably meant more to Alan than anyone else at Wheatsheaf Lane, and the debt that the players and supporters of Staines feel can be seen here very clearly on the Staines message board.  It is noticeable how many players have posted and also that the feedback seems to be that these messages are having a positive impact on Alan’s state.

Tomorrow night Fingers and I will be at the Ryman League AGM.  Last night Peter and Pauline Worby represented us at the Ryman League Dinner – both occasions will have been blighted by Alan not being there.  We all wish him a very speedy and full recovery.

Leeds update

Just a quick update on where we are with the Leeds game.

Fingers, and Gordon, both spoke to people at Leeds towards the end of last week.  They have assured us that they are aware of the terms of the contract and they will be sending a strong squad to our match on 21 July.  They said it may include a couple of younger players who will be involved in the first team squad next season but it will be a stronger squad than the one that plays Darlington on the same night. Let’s hope so.

Tickets will be priced at £12 (£6 for concessions) with the kick off at 7.45.

Last week Fingers met with the health and safety inspector from Hillingdon Council and we expect confirmation of the capacity this week.  Tickets are currently being printed and we expect to be able to take bookings through the website from some point this week (and also for the Watford game).

Peter Worby chaired a meeting with a number of people who will be helping with the many jobs that require doing on the night last week and no doubt there will be more to report from this as the game (only 5 weeks away) gets nearer.

We have started to receive enquiries from Leeds fans so far for tickets and also a company interested in sponsoring the game. The two key words over the next few weeks will be simply SELL TICKETS.

More news in due course.