Now that a few days have passed since the end of another chaotic season and the dusted has settled, on behalf of the entire Spartans Trust committee, I’d like to extend an enormous thank you to the volunteers, staff and everyone else who makes up this incredible football club, for their efforts over what has ultimately been, a season of extreme lows and terrific highs.
Firstly, I’d like to say an enormous thank you to the entire Spartans Trust committee – namely Dan Haldane, Ian Hertwick, Anth Seghini, Mark Walker, Rob Shanks, Craig Whiteman, Martin Surtees and Chris Newell.
From running the physical and online store, to organising away travel, fundraising nights, sorting out fixture posters, helping with charity collections and all the other tasks that often go unseen – each and everyone of them has been superb throughout this season and a pleasure to work with.
As well as those lads, I’d like to add a huge thank you to every single one of the clubs volunteer’s and staff – who’ve all put the work and effort in week in and week out to ensure the football club continues to function. The amount of time spent by the likes of Colin Blackett, Scott Gibson, Bryan Turner and Jeff Young to keep the club operating on a daily basis is phenomenal.
That’s before we even get into the hours put in on a matchday by Sarah Mattocks, Michael Tilmouth, Janette Strong and the many others who put in the work during home games to ensure they run as smoothly as possible. Of course, I couldn’t really go on without thanking the man, the myth, the legend that is Peter Henderson. As ever, he’s been truly invaluable – having probably produced the best pitch in the league this season.
This season we’ve seen a few changes across the board in terms of hospitality, catering and in the social club – with renovations in the latter, Shield and Skillet being established, Bell’s bottle bar going from strength to strength, while hospitality was revamped.
Most of you have used at least one (if not all) of these facilities throughout the season, and I’m sure every one of you would agree that the staff and volunteers that make up those facilities have been superb this term. The income they all generate goes along way to supporting the running of this club.
On the media side, a huge well done must go to our media managers, Isaac Eastlake and Leo Patchett, as well the rest of media team as a whole. This season, we’ve seen a huge expansion of the content the lads have been able to create and get out – which has certainly been difficult at times this year. Having worked with the media managers this season, it’s been great to see the team as a whole kick on throughout the year, while navigating issues, challenges and much more left, right and centre.
Thanks must also go to our travel partners at Northumberland Travel, who’ve been absolutely superb with us in recent months. I’ll also extend a big thank you to everyone at Blyth Foodbank, for the exceptional work yet again with us. That also extends to everyone at Blyth Valley CVA, and the help they’ve given us with the Christmas Toy Drive and more.
Lastly and probably most importantly, I must extend a huge thank you to each and every supporter far and wide for your continued backing this season. It’s certainly been difficult at times but at last, it feels as though the club has finally turned a corner and is truly ready to bounce back.
If any fanbase deserves success, it’s this one. Despite the slow start in the first half of the season, you were patient, showed up in your numbers week in week out both home and away while backing the club through thick and thin. The scenes at the end of the season away Bishop Auckland were sublime, and no less than you deserve. Hopefully, there’s a lot more of that to come in the near future.
Season ticket information is already out, and we’re rapidly closing in 100 ticket sales after just a few days. On and off the pitch, work is well underway to ensure we can build on the optimism and general positivity we’ve had around the place in recent weeks, while making sure Marc Nash and his team have everything they need to put together the best possible side they can.
Over the coming days and weeks, you should be seeing the latest Spartans Trust update, information on the annual supporter survey, the next quarterly open forum and much more. Oh and of course, don’t forget the presentation night in the social club this Saturday!
Cheers,
Dan Rolls
Spartans Trust Chairman
