CHAIRMAN'S WELCOME

Good afternoon and welcome back to football for all of you that are here today and may I extend a warm welcome to our visitors today, Paget Rangers and to all their players, officials and supporters and after a very long wait, I hope we enjoy a good game. As we are all no doubt aware, we are still in uncertain times and ones which still advise us to be safe and follow government guidelines and as you visit us today you will see that we have been working hard to implement Risk Assessments, signage and track and trace to ensure that we do everything possible to ensure your safety whilst with us today. My huge thanks go to Gary Timms who has both guided the club through the risk assessments over the last few months and implemented all of the guidance and signage to ensure we keep our eyes on the things that keep us safe. Please ensure that you observe the signs that advise on social distancing and if sat in the Stand please ensure that you only use the seats designated as able to use. If you would like to see the risk assessments in place then these are visible on the wall of the outdoor catering unit or on the website www. ashbyivanhoefc.co.uk. Remember, we all have a collective responsibility to ensure we keep safe and respect the guidance that is in place to achieve this. Now onto the reason we are all here which is to get back to watching the sport we love. The squad has been assembled by Andy Gray following a great pre-season and my thanks goes to Andy and his Team for the many hours they have committed to over the last few months since we were allowed to resume training. The off the field staff has been added to with the introduction of Chris Wood as Senior Coach, Anthony Hurd as the new Knights Manager and Conrad Corrolan as the new Midweek Floodlit Under 18 Manager. They join the established duo of Andy Gray and Pete Dunn and we are pleased to have retained the services of Adie Minshull as First Team Physio following his short health scare. On the field you will see some established players in the squad that have been joined by new players and I have to say that this has to be the best squad of players that I have seen in my time at the Club and one that has demonstrated their desire to want to play for the Club, Andy and for each other. I am really excited about the prospect this season and wish the players the very best of luck. The squad isn’t just about what you will see today as its more than that and again, as a club, the management team have worked hard to maintain the club ethos of youth into senior football and over the coming weeks you will see more of this evidence as youth team players start their Midweek campaign under the lights again and make the transition into senior football. As the Chairman, I am really proud that we maintain this ethos as the evidence is both with the Knights and the First Team of players that have been “home grown” and are now holding their own in senior football and being supported by really talented players. Good luck to all of you this Season. Off the field has been a busy period too since lockdown, with the installation of drainage to the main pitch, new gravel to the driveway, re-furbished clubroom, new gate posts and turnstile. My thanks go to all the volunteers that have put a shift in over the last few months to help us keep improving the facilities that we are all able to enjoy today. One important and significant milestone for the club is that we are now in pole position to buy our “own ground” and once completed in December, we will push on with re-development plans which include a new Community building on the foot print of the existing clubhouse, new changing rooms with associated spectator toilets, new driveway and landscaping and a 3g training pitch on the existing grass training area. If you would like to see the plans and see how you could help us achieve our goals then please see the display board situated in the Clubhouse and speak with a member of the Management Team if you would like further details. a lot of work has gone in to getting us to this great opportunity and my thanks go to Jon Emmerson for leading the project and to all of the management team that have supported Jon along the way.

Exciting times ahead both on and off the field and opportunities like this don’t come around often so we have both firmly in our hands.

All that remains is to wish Andy and the players all the best for todays game and to say to all watching, keep safe and enjoy the game.

Stuart Bonser Club Chairman

Ps – 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.

Find us at 84 Smisby Road, Ashby De La Zouch. LE65 2JL 84 Smisby Road, Ashby De La Zouch. LE65 2JL. Customer parking at rear of building