It was the turn of David Albert, Chairman of the Supporters Club, to put together the programme notes for yesterday’s last home league game of the season against Canvey Island and his notes are reproduced below
Wow what a season!!! Nearly a year after our play-off semi- final defeat at home to Concorde Rangers, The Stones have bounced back and secured the Ryman League title in emphatic style. Our play-off defeat together with the departure of a number of established players resulted in much negativity around the club but a lot of credit must go Gordon and his Management team who rallied the troops resulting in one of the greatest seasons in the history of this great club which will culminate in the presentation of the Ryman Premier League Trophy this afternoon. After the initial negativity at the beginning of the close season, much credit must also be given to El Presidente, Paul Rumens whose idea to build the Bulla Stand created a hugely positive feel around the club and which also has drastically improved the atmosphere at home games. Well over £30,000 was raised by the supporters in double-quick time – an amazing effort. Which other non-league club would be able to do this so quickly and efficiently???
The scenes at Margate will live long in the memory for all Stones supporters who were there and just goes to prove the intensity of the support for Wealdstone FC by so many people. Let’s hope that this support galvanises the club even further as we progress now to the Conference, a league that we graced as founding members in 1979 and left more than 25 years ago.
We welcome our opponents Canvey Island to the Vale this afternoon for our final league game of the season. We hope that all Canvey supporters have an enjoyable day as our guests and that they have a safe journey home. This evening will see our Annual Presentation Evening taking place in the Ruislip Social Club and the presentations start at 7pm. The Supporters Club will be making three presentations, one for the Player of the Season which is voted for by all supporters where the winner will receive the prestigious “Jock Law” Trophy, one for the Junior Supporters Player of the Year and also one for the Supporter of the Year. It should be a great evening with much to celebrate. Food will be also be provided and entrance is free.
The season has seen the Supporters Club go from strength to strength. The Megastore has continued to gain valuable income with its high quality merchandise. It has to be one of the most efficiently run club shops in Non-League Football. Adam Edwards and Mark Randall continue to do a sterling job and now they are ably supported by a recent acquisition to the committee, Terry Hissey who has spent countless hours in the Megastore in sorting out all of the programmes and putting them in some sort of order. He has also made up sets of home programmes from past seasons.The Megastore will be open today before and after the match and during the half-time interval. Please pop in and see all the wonderful items that are on offer. At our last committee meeting we invited Dominic Whyley and Leo Morris from the Ruislip Social Club who gave us an insight into the running of the Social Club. This proved very interesting and as a result of our meeting, committee member, Mark Barton who does a lot of work in assisting the Social Club has become our Social Club Liaison Officer and he will give us a report of Social Club activities at every committee meeting. Barry Benveniste also has done a great job with our accounts and he continues to provide us with accurate and up-to-date accounts at our committee meeting providing us with the necessary information in making financial decisions about providing financial support to the main club. Brother Jez, has worked very hard this season on a number of fronts. He has run the Coaches to away games efficiently which is not easy particular when you are unsure about numbers that are travelling to away games. He has also worked very hard in securing funds when needed by the main club in order to secure a player that Gordon is looking to sign. He would not have been able to do this without the assistance of supporters who continue to put their hands in their pocket on a regular basis. Miriam continues to do a sterling job in selling Golden Goals tickets and her efforts have resulted in raising approximately £2,000 in the last financial year. I was very sorry to hear from Seth Dalton that he was resigning from the committee due to the starting of a new business but he has done a magnificent job in relaunching Supporters Club Membership which has resulted in at least an additional 50 new life members. Thanks for all your efforts Seth! I am delighted to report that Seth’s wife, Jeanette who has recently joined the committee has taken over from Seth to continue this vital work that he initiated. I also would like to thank the other members of the committee who have provided me with great support over the season, Nick DuGard, Alan Palmer, Clive “BBQ” Leaper and John Harvey.
Don’t forget to buy your Golden Goals tickets today from Mim who stands just inside the ground, close to the turnstiles. Tickets are £1 each and you can win £50 for the first goal scored and £10 for the last goal scored. Goal times are announced by Bappo and published on the Supporters Club website (www.wfcsc.co.uk). If you do win you can collect your winnings after the game from Mim who will be in the Megastore.
Next Saturday, we have the chance of securing a double when we are up against Hampton & Richmond in the Middlesex Senior Cup Final which takes place here at the Vale.
Up The Stones and See you all again after your batteries are recharged in August for the start of a new chapter in the history of Wealdstone FC when we take our place in the Conference South – Sounds good doesn’t it???
David Albert
Chairman
Wealdstone FC Supporters Club
