A warm welcome to the Board, management, players and supporters of North Ferriby United. We hope you enjoy your stay with us. As football people we sympathise with your current position in the table as every team knows what it is like to go through a bad patch. We hope you come through yours but not starting with todays fixture!
We have had a mixed week ourselves. A superb performance and result last Saturday at Stalybridge Celtic led to our seventh away league win of the campaign. In fairness we probably scored against the run of play with our best move of the game in the first half and weathered a bit of a storm. The second half was however a different matter and we ran out comfortable 2-0 winners defending solidly and hitting the post twice.
In Osebi Abedaki we have what we have been crying out for. A winger with excellent trickery and pace. I am sure he will improve with a few more games as he gets used to his new teammates. It was an excellent debut. Having two central defenders also helped and Josh Wardle was for me the undoubted Man of the Match.
Basford United on Monday night was difficult. The home team had no game on Saturday and our small squad had to travel to Nottingham bereft of River Humphreys who was unavailable due to work commitments. With Rob Hopley having to come off injured it was left to our in form midfielder Will Booth to play centre half which he did well to his credit. It is clear however that we need to strengthen in this area.
I wish to place on record my admiration for the way Carl and Gary are handling matters in difficult financial circumstances. They do not complain. They get on with it and play with the cards that they are dealt. Our financial position is tight especially with minimal home games of late. The Cup money has helped massively to assist in what is a season in transition although a substantial sum of it is due to the squad in bonuses. The management accept the situation and are working very hard.
Congratulations to our NPL Academy side for two reasons. Firstly, their 6-0 win over Ossett United. Secondly, Owen Wynne’s goal scoring exploits have led Carl to sign him for the first team. Welcome Owen! Our rapidly improving Youth team made it 3 wins in a row with a 6-0 win over Ashton Town. Special mention to Tom Collins with 4 goals!
Now some very sad news. Vice President and former kit man Des Heesom passed away this week after illness. A much loved servant of the club Des was a fountain of knowledge and his pleasant demeanour was a constant benefit to our Board Room and Social Club on match day. It is clear from the outpouring of grief and messages of sympathy that Des was held by all in the highest regard. There will be a minute’s silence before the game. RIP Des.
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John Salmon
Chairman
Witton Albion FC