A Happy New Year to all Witton Albion FC staff, volunteers and supporters. We wish you the very best for 2019! Those of you who went to Nantwich will be aware that we rode our luck slightly in our 1-0 win at the league leaders but this has to be weighed against the results against Warrington and Farsley Celtic when we didn’t quite get what we deserved. This is football!
Many thanks for the large away following which could be heard throughout the game and very noticeably when Will Jones thumped home what proved to be the winner. The supporters really did help us to get over the line in the last 10 minutes! The staff and players acknowledged this at the end. Rightly so!
We seem to be getting some numbers back after injury which is definitely helping the manager at this busy time. Jordan Lussey has left his parent club Chorley and hence ourselves for Nuneaton Borough and sadly Michael Wilson has decided to join Clitheroe to enhance his game time. Both players leave with our best wishes. I would like to give a special mention to Michael, who gave great service to the club and whose attitude and patience here is a model for all players.
Today we welcome South Shields who have made home turf a fortress with 11 wins out of 11. They are less successful on their travels however and I am expecting an excellent encounter this afternoon. Our lads have equipped themselves manfully against the teams vying for promotion. Today represents the end of a quartet of games on the run against the top teams in the Division. I hope that the Directors, Management, Players and Supporters enjoy their visit although hopefully not too much!
Our average gate slightly improved over the holiday period and we are grateful to you for that. We need more of this. 2019 will be a year of financial adjustment as we put in place our plans to improve income going forward. The ground share has proved extremely successful and the manpower provided has led to many jobs being undertaken which would otherwise be left undone. My thanks go to Northwich Victoria FC and their Chairman Brian Turner for their continued commitment to an agreement that suits both sides.
The Social Club situation has been resolved in a double quick fashion. This is in view of the substantial work carried out by our incredible volunteers. They have put in a phenomenal amount of work to achieve this! Many thanks. Please support it.
In addition I am grateful to our friends from The George & Dragon Hotel Great Budforth and Sean Horan of HCC Promotions Ltd who were our match sponsors for Farsley Celtic and Warrington Town respectively. I know that you had an enjoyable afternoon.
Finally I must congratulate Peter Robinson and Alan Spruce et al for winning the Non League Nomads Best Home Pitch Award for 2018. Well done lads!
Enjoy the game!
John