New Reserve Team secretary

I want to welcome Alison Moran as our new Reserve Team Secretary, and at the same time thank Lesley Jones for all her work over the past 18 months.

The Secretary’s job at a Club is a largely thankless task involving considerable arranging, organisation and administration.  Fingers does a priceless job for the Club but few people really see how much is involved.

Given all the (understandable) focus on how the first team does, we see great value in a strong, professional and well organised Reserve team and I am sure Alison has a lot of value to add here.  Alison is hardly new to the Club.  She has run the Wealdstone arm of our juniors for many years and displayed great tenacity and drive in making that part of the Club what it is today.  Welcome aboard Alison.

April fool?

I’m sitting in an office in Madrid this morning staring at the league table wondering if this is an April fool or not?

It is painful missing games at the best of times but it’s getting serious now and whilst we have five tough games left this season who could have believed we would go into April in a play-off position?

It brings the 100:400 scheme into even sharper focus of course.  If our budget is stretched for the Ryman League imagine what it will be for the Blue Square South.  More people pledging last night which was great – we need many more yet.

Next Thursday (9 April) we are holding an event at Ruislip which we are calling Meet the Supporters.  Actually this is a twist on the normal Meet the Manager event but Gordon was very keen to have the opportunity to talk to supporters and we will get some players to come down too after training.  I understand the Reserves may also be at home that evening so another chance to see them too.  Please try and attend if you can.

On to Maidstone on Saturday.  See you there.

Congratulations…

…to Dover Athletic for winning the Ryman League in March.  I presume they will be presented with the trophy at our game their in April so I guess there will be a bumper crowd there.  Regardless of the size of budgets or anything else, to win a title (which has never really been in doubt) is a terrific achievement in senior football.

…to Jermaine for two more great goals taking him past 30 this season

…and (for us most importantly) to Phil Ralston, John Moran, Leslie and all our reserve players who retained the Middlesex Premier Cup last Wednesday.  I only arrived at Ashford on Wednesday to see the second half but as has been well documented we saw two further strikes to crown a 4-0 win against Staines Lammas – with Dan Lake’s strike right out of the top drawer.  Steve has taken some great pictures which you can see here.

Back in the saddle

I see on the WFC Forum that someone is asking why I haven’t posted for a week or so, and Roy Couch asked me the same question this evening.

Truth is I’ve had a major family event over the last weekend which meant not only that I missed the Croydon Athletic game but that my focus has been away from the club.  As much as we may like to life can’t be Wealdstone 24/7.

Anyway that is past now and I was pleased to see most of the friendly tonight.  We drew 1-1 against a strong Aylesbury side in a game where, particularly second half, the young Aylesbury keeper made a series of outstanding saves.  Our reserve keeper Sam Leggett also played 45 minutes and did very well.  Our goal was scored by a French player whose name (I think) is Alioun Fall.  He scored a hat trick for the reserves on Saturday and again tonight.

After the game Peter Worby and myself met with Gordon to assess where everything is at present and you can find out more about what we discussed at the Supporters AGM on 3 November.  Hopefully by then we will have a couple more good results behind us – Saturday is a big game at Margate but I don’t believe there is any reason why we shouldn’t be confident of a good performance and hopefully a good result to go with.

A new appointment

Some good news.

I’d like to welcome Lesley Jones who today agreed to become our new Reserve Team Secretary.

This is a position we have been desparate to fill for some time and I know that Fingers particularly will be thrilled.

Lesley’s son Gary plays for the reserves so maybe this is a ploy to ensure his selection!  Lesley will be at the presentation night on Sunday at Ruislip, so I hope everyone will introduce themselves to her and make her feel welcome.

Stones win County Cup

Congratulations to Ricky Murphy and everyone involved with the reserves for their dramatic success winning the Middlesex Premier Cup beating Ashford Town 3-2 on Wednesday night at Earlsmead, coming from 0-2 down at half time.

Ricky’s had a tough season and this success is due reward for all the hard work he has put in.  Whatever he said in his half time team talk must have worked as goals from Wayne Reid, Omar Sagna and Kurt Moriese turned the game around.  You can read a report here. Due to a family commitment I had to miss the game but nevertheless I was delighted to receive the text when it came in.

Well done guys.

Lots to discuss

Thanks to Alan Hill who reminds me that having said we had a board meeting last Wednesday I haven’t followed that up on here.

Suffice to say it was the longest meeting we’ve had since I took the Chairman’s role going on to midnight.

Plenty discussed including Barry Benveniste reporting back on his first month since taking the Treasurer position.  I’m greatly encouraged with what Barry wishes to do and whilst most people won’t see the changes we are making I am sure that over the next 12 months the financial systems we are putting in place will be of great benefit to us.

Plenty of debate about our plans for PEPF – though no news to give out I’m afraid – and also looking at how we can take advantage of some current commercial opportunities that we have.

Finally various issues around the reserves were discussed.  Chief among these are the implications of serious problems with the pitch at Ruislip Manor and also how we are going to fill the role of Reserve Team Secretary which is becoming ever more important.  That is one role we are really keen to get sorted – so if anyone reading this would like to get involved with the club and help run our Suburban League reserves then please get in touch.

H