11/10/13
With the season now well on its way I thought it would be a good time to provide a general update.
Following a difficult start and a number of unfortunate injuries the team is now playing some exciting football. I didn’t see the Barton game but by all accounts it was a fantastic game and a great all round team performance. Barton at the time were unbeaten in the league, so to win the game 4-0 was very satisfying and perhaps just what we all needed!
Following last year's fantastic FA Cup run I did get the feeling that this year was perhaps going to be an anti climax. The draw was not the best; however I didn’t think there was much between us and Cirencester Town, a team who are riding high in their league and doing well in the cup. The game was always going to be won by the odd goal and unfortunately for us, this season it was not to be. So we now turn our intentions to the FA Trophy and following a good display at Godalming last Saturday we now welcome Merthyr Town, a good team and a club who are certainly on their way up.
Attendances are slightly up on last season and home and away shirt sales are selling well. The Supporters Trust have, as always been busy organising and running many fund generating activities and it’s been pleasing to see that this season we have almost (I emphasise almost!) every one of the players and management sponsored.
Our sponsors MyFC have been successfully raising monies on behalf of the club and a large number of away shirts have been sent abroad. So far we have sent shirts to twelve different countries!
On this topic MyFC have launched an online away goal initiative, which is very similar to the one run by the Supporters Trust at home games. Monies raised are used to finance the filming of away games. It's great fun and anyone wanting to join can do so here.
This season, the club has launched a new weekly e-newsletter which includes video clips of games, details of recent results and links back to stories on the main club website. This is an area that the club will over the coming weeks and months be looking to further enhance as we see it as an important tool to increase club awareness and ultimately attendances and finances. If you have not signed up this can be done by clicking here (remember to click link in the email that we will send to you after you complete) and please write the web address down and give to friends and work colleagues. I repeat - please write the link down and asks friends and colleagues to join! The feedback I have received from some of my ‘old Slough friends’ has been really encouraging; particularly from those that have moved away from Slough.
With the decision on the new ground continually being delayed this leads to additional pressures on the finances of the club. As most know whilst we play at Beaconsfield they benefit not only from our monthly rental but also from our entire bar and food receipts. This emphasises the importance of our fund raising activities and whilst the 500 club membership numbers are up I still feel we could all do more. During the football season we have almost 200 members but my target has always been 500 so we have a fair way to go. May I again ask any supporters who are not members to consider joining and existing members to consider increasing their membership (monthly prizes distributed are now almost £400). Raising funds is probably the most difficult challenge that all clubs face. By sharing the burden we stand a better chance of increasing membership, so if supporters could ask (beg!) friends, family and colleagues to also join that would help us, as we try to secure promotion out of this league. Forms can be downloaded here. Why not print some off, to give to other people. Forms can be handed in or posted – it’s that simple!
The under 18’s have made a reasonable start to the season having won 2 out of 3 league games. They were very unlucky this week to lose 3-2 in the final minutes against yet to be beaten Oxhey Jets.
The STFC Academy is attended now by over 40 full time students and the team play in the Youth Conference League. This is a very high standard of youth football and will certainly be a challenge for the team in their first season in this league. I certainly believe the players will become stronger through the experience of playing against quality opposition, so whilst victories may be scarce, the players will certainly improve and progress. So far in the league they have won one and lost two. They also earned a very credible draw in a friendly against the Watford Academy.
I would just also like to point out that the Academy students are now regularly attending various Slough schools and carrying out training sessions for pupils. Mark Betts also informs me that he is receiving requests now from other schools and I hope you would agree that as a club this is something we want to be involved with and shows how football and the club can help with football training and integration within the Slough community. Training sessions are also being conducted by Academy students on Saturday mornings at Farnham Park.
The ongoing saga of the new ground continues and as previously reported I am personally finding the constant delays frustrating, demoralising and to be honest very difficult. On this subject it is best that I keep my thoughts to myself; however, government and council need to make a decision any day and accordingly we should hear something very soon (I would like to emphasise however that I have been saying that for over 6 years and we have been homeless for over 10 years!!).
I have indicated in the past that I feel that the club should perhaps become a Community Club and Mike Lightfoot is currently arranging for a meeting with Supporters Direct so we can explore this further.
As normal if anyone has any questions, please ask.
Steve Easterbrook
Chairman
Following a difficult start and a number of unfortunate injuries the team is now playing some exciting football. I didn’t see the Barton game but by all accounts it was a fantastic game and a great all round team performance. Barton at the time were unbeaten in the league, so to win the game 4-0 was very satisfying and perhaps just what we all needed!
Following last year's fantastic FA Cup run I did get the feeling that this year was perhaps going to be an anti climax. The draw was not the best; however I didn’t think there was much between us and Cirencester Town, a team who are riding high in their league and doing well in the cup. The game was always going to be won by the odd goal and unfortunately for us, this season it was not to be. So we now turn our intentions to the FA Trophy and following a good display at Godalming last Saturday we now welcome Merthyr Town, a good team and a club who are certainly on their way up.
Attendances are slightly up on last season and home and away shirt sales are selling well. The Supporters Trust have, as always been busy organising and running many fund generating activities and it’s been pleasing to see that this season we have almost (I emphasise almost!) every one of the players and management sponsored.
Our sponsors MyFC have been successfully raising monies on behalf of the club and a large number of away shirts have been sent abroad. So far we have sent shirts to twelve different countries!
On this topic MyFC have launched an online away goal initiative, which is very similar to the one run by the Supporters Trust at home games. Monies raised are used to finance the filming of away games. It's great fun and anyone wanting to join can do so here.
This season, the club has launched a new weekly e-newsletter which includes video clips of games, details of recent results and links back to stories on the main club website. This is an area that the club will over the coming weeks and months be looking to further enhance as we see it as an important tool to increase club awareness and ultimately attendances and finances. If you have not signed up this can be done by clicking here (remember to click link in the email that we will send to you after you complete) and please write the web address down and give to friends and work colleagues. I repeat - please write the link down and asks friends and colleagues to join! The feedback I have received from some of my ‘old Slough friends’ has been really encouraging; particularly from those that have moved away from Slough.
With the decision on the new ground continually being delayed this leads to additional pressures on the finances of the club. As most know whilst we play at Beaconsfield they benefit not only from our monthly rental but also from our entire bar and food receipts. This emphasises the importance of our fund raising activities and whilst the 500 club membership numbers are up I still feel we could all do more. During the football season we have almost 200 members but my target has always been 500 so we have a fair way to go. May I again ask any supporters who are not members to consider joining and existing members to consider increasing their membership (monthly prizes distributed are now almost £400). Raising funds is probably the most difficult challenge that all clubs face. By sharing the burden we stand a better chance of increasing membership, so if supporters could ask (beg!) friends, family and colleagues to also join that would help us, as we try to secure promotion out of this league. Forms can be downloaded here. Why not print some off, to give to other people. Forms can be handed in or posted – it’s that simple!
The under 18’s have made a reasonable start to the season having won 2 out of 3 league games. They were very unlucky this week to lose 3-2 in the final minutes against yet to be beaten Oxhey Jets.
The STFC Academy is attended now by over 40 full time students and the team play in the Youth Conference League. This is a very high standard of youth football and will certainly be a challenge for the team in their first season in this league. I certainly believe the players will become stronger through the experience of playing against quality opposition, so whilst victories may be scarce, the players will certainly improve and progress. So far in the league they have won one and lost two. They also earned a very credible draw in a friendly against the Watford Academy.
I would just also like to point out that the Academy students are now regularly attending various Slough schools and carrying out training sessions for pupils. Mark Betts also informs me that he is receiving requests now from other schools and I hope you would agree that as a club this is something we want to be involved with and shows how football and the club can help with football training and integration within the Slough community. Training sessions are also being conducted by Academy students on Saturday mornings at Farnham Park.
The ongoing saga of the new ground continues and as previously reported I am personally finding the constant delays frustrating, demoralising and to be honest very difficult. On this subject it is best that I keep my thoughts to myself; however, government and council need to make a decision any day and accordingly we should hear something very soon (I would like to emphasise however that I have been saying that for over 6 years and we have been homeless for over 10 years!!).
I have indicated in the past that I feel that the club should perhaps become a Community Club and Mike Lightfoot is currently arranging for a meeting with Supporters Direct so we can explore this further.
As normal if anyone has any questions, please ask.
Steve Easterbrook
Chairman
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