President's Patter

Returned post haste from La Belle France to be at Hydeside for our last games before Christmas.The first team once again having a much changed team from last week's unlucky defeat in the cup took on Carshalton who we had lost heavily to in the first game of the season. This was a game we should have won with two defensive mistakes costing us goals and us missing several good opportunities from close range the game ended in a 2-2 draw. In the world of three points for a win draws can be costly, let's hope they do not cost us dear later in the season.

Once again I must appeal for people to be available every week. We will get nowhere without this. What's the problem, we have great facilities, we have to create an environment where people take a pride in playing for our club, feel a sense of belonging and take a pride in our successes. Maybe we would be better off with disposing with our prima donnas and only selecting players who have demonstrated their desire to play with 100 per cent effort for our club. 

The Reserves remain in deep trouble but were unlucky to lose 1-0 to the league leaders. The 3rd XI had trouble getting a representative team to travel south of the river and lost 5-1.The 4th XI had a good win keeping them top of the table, well done to them, they won the Presidents jug but as at 5.00pm there were only two present, the President decided to keep his money in his pocket the 5s & 6s were all defeated, not a good end to the year.

This is the halfway stage of the season it looks like we have a chance of one team reaching our goal of promotion to the first division and of one going down to the third division so we are just about holding our own nothing better. 

I think it is a demonstration of where we are that we have no desire from the membership to arrange games over the next two weeks, we used to have wonderful days with three games played on Boxing Day which showed a lot of club spirit and some much needed income for the bar. 

I would like to see our membership pick up the baton and get much more out of the club by way of more involvement which I am sure would lead to more success on the field