Our last two games in a very successful September saw us take all three points at Southport, in what was a hard fought match, while on Tuesday night at Eastleigh we deservedly gained a point from a gritty performance that saw us play the last hour of the game with ten men.
We have now lost only one game out of the last ten, which is excellent when you consider we picked up only one point from our opening three games.
I think it shows how well the squad has developed as a group since the summer, and how they have grown into this league.
In addition, our support has been exceptional. The number of you coming along to our home games means that our attendances are the envy of every club in the Vanarama Conference and the majority of those in Leagues One and Two. The Memorial Stadium is fast becoming a fortress and there aren’t too many sides who will enjoy playing us on our own ground.
I think we should pay tribute to the work that goes on behind the scenes as well, because Darrell has a hard working, close knit, team supporting him. I would like to place on record our appreciation of the work that Darrell, assistant manager Marcus Stewart, goalkeeping coach Stuart Naylor, kitman/defensive coach Steve Yates and physiotherapist Phil Kite are doing.
One of Darrell’s squad, Ryan Brunt, has joined York City on loan, and will get some much needed game time in his month at Bootham Crescent and we all wish him well.
Off the pitch we have lost a member of our media team as Kirsty Stilwell, who joined us seven years ago and who has been responsible for developing and maintaining our website and social media networks, has left to take up a new post with Bristol City Council.
She has been an important and valued member of staff in her time with us and I would like to thank her for all of her hard work and wish her every success in her new job.
This afternoon myself and Toni Watola are taking part in the Ice Bucket Challenge. It’s in aid of a very worthy cause, the Motor Neurone Disease Association, and we hope that as many of you as possible will be making a donation. Of course, those of you who donate in excess of £10 will be eligible to go into a draw to have the chance of dunking the Chairman and the Finance Director.
I hope that you will help us to raise a lot of money and I will report back on the experience of being drenched in iced water next week!