CHAIRMAN'S WELCOME

DAVID MORRIS CHAIRMAN'S WELCOME

Good afternoon, and welcome to The NFU for this afternoon’s game against Heath Hayes. We welcome their players and officials and hope they enjoy their visit to Ashby de la Zouch. As you will know all football was cancelled last weekend due to the sad passing of our Monarch Queen Elizabeth 2nd. My Grandmother lived under 5 different Monarchs, but I imagine most of us here today have only experience one. What a fantastic servant she has been to our nation and rightly deserves all of the respect and praise she has been getting this week. If I might be controversial for a moment and say however I can’t for the life of me think why Ashby Hastings Cricket Club and Ashby Rugby Club were allowed to continue playing within a mile of us last weekend yet we were ordered to postpone all games, a decision that we estimated, as First Team were at home on Saturday , preceded by our Development school, soccer school, and 3 junior games, all of which would have brought in a total spend of circa £1,000 !

I think it was Jimmy Greaves who once said “it’s a funny old game” and how right he was, after we played superbly last Tuesday to defeat Chelmsley Town, we go out a week later and get gubbed 4-0 by Coton Green, however some perspective required as it was our first defeat of the season, so hopefully Andy can rally the troops and we can come back strongly today.

The junior section has grown hugely over the last 12 months to a level where we now run 27 boys teams and 4 girls teams they all start their campaigns this weekend so we wish them all the best for an enjoyable and successful season. We held a coaches meeting last week and in the past let’s just say attendance was low, we had over 30 coaches this time, all positive and engaged for the season, a really good meeting. All of the teams are sponsored as are most of the senior players too, which you will now see in this issue. The football club, like most of society is experiencing spiralling costs on energy and pretty much everything (as a for instance today’s referee gets £70 & linesmen £35 each so there’s £140 required before anything else) so if you or anyone you know would like to sponsor us I’m sure we can find something, and advertising board, programme advert, a part of the ground or even a cat !

All that remains is to wish Andy and the boys all the best for today and thank you for your continued support.

Come on Ivanhoe !

Dave Chairman

If you are visiting the ground by car please DO NOT OBSTRUCT the junction to Cambrian Way by parking on the grass/path verge as this is both dangerous and you could get a fixed penalty notice from the Council and or Police.

HOWKINS & HARRISON SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT

Sales Office: 58 Market Street, Ashby De La Zouch, LE65 1AN

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