CHAIRMAN'S WELCOME David Morris gives his latest thoughts ahead of today's match

from Ashby Ivanhoe VS Malvern Town Saturday 27th August 2022

IN OPPOSITION

DAVID MORRIS CHAIRMAN'S WELCOME

Good afternoon & welcome to our FA Vase game with Malvern Town. Our visitors today have made a long trip & we welcome their players, officials & supporters & hope they enjoy their visit to Ashby de la Zouch. Well last week’s game was a classic rough, tough game of local football against unbeaten Paget Rangers. We maybe shaded it on points but couldn’t quite find a way to win it, nevertheless it continued our own good start & they were so anxious to get away with their point they left their training kit & equipment behind ! The Knights have also made a positive start & continued that with a good away win at Birstall to sit 4th in their league after 3 games.

We’ve had some helpful rain over the last few days which has helped the pitch no end & our groundsman Adrian Barnes has worked extremely hard on the pitch and around the ground since joining us in the Summer. Ada has partnered us with Leicester City Academy who are advising us on works to be undertaken over the next 12 months and also successfully secured some funding for additional equipment & pitch maintenance which really is tremendous, and will be much needed going forward………….. ( a little teaser there for Rob, Martin, Statto, Dougie & John)

On Sunday we have The Eric Avins Memorial Game, if you attended the game last season you will know it was quite an occasion with a huge crowd. Eric was a great supporter of both Ashby Ivanhoe and our friends at Marlborough Rovers and the game tomorrow is at 2pm when legends of both clubs will amble around for an hour and then relocate to the bar for a lot longer & swap stories & memories. I know that most of my friends have been made through local sport and it’s sometimes good to remember that and appreciate it and if you can give a bit back to the clubs involved then that’s a great thing too. If you’d like to attend tomorrow we’d love to see you and after the tea time TV game we have popular local singer Warren Stanford playing for us in the marquee.

In a very busy few days, we have another game on Monday and on a Bank Holiday what could be better than a trip to er Bilston ? Joking apart, they have a terrific big ground and a good clubhouse & have taken over at the top so should be another tough game so all away support would be much appreciated.

As always follow up to date news on the socials & best wishes to Andy and the boys this afternoon, 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.