A note of thanks from the Chair

Just a short note to say thank you to everyone who has once again given huge support to your club through another tough and trying year.

After 2020 I don’t think many of us expected quite such a strange year to follow, but all sorts of challenges were thrown at us yet again and, as ever, between us all we rose to the occasion with everyone playing their part. That includes those that volunteered and got us back playing in front of crowds again; those that helped financially as we Crowdfunded much needed works at the ground in order to re-open; those that came to games in great numbers or bought season tickets; those who sat in Board or Society Committee meetings; those that helped on the Redevelopment Working Group, as we try to find a new partner and scheme to permanently solve the double objective of regenerating our ageing infrastructure and clearing our outstanding debt; and everyone else who played their part working and volunteering both behind the scenes and on match days.

And, of course, Jerry, the coaches and squad have also had to cope with Covid and its impact on their training, preparation and match days. An incredibly strange set of circumstances that made it challenging to really gel as a squad and team when you couldn’t spend much quality time together to really bond. But despite that there have been some great performances like the recent emphatic away win at title contenders Havant, and some memorable moments like our Grand Homecoming match in front of the biggest opening day crowd since 1978, as well as the lively scenes at Twerton Park for our FA Cup derby clash against Frome Town – not to mention Boxing Day –  and we look forward to more great matches certain to come in 2022.

I would like to express the Club’s sincere thanks to City legend Jim Rollo who stepped down in November after 20 years loyal service at the club both as player and assistant manager. He will never be forgotten by everyone at the club. A one-off, and a true Roman. To paraphrase the song: We’ll always love Jim Rollo!

Our thoughts go out of course to those who lost friends and relatives this year or last to Covid, and we wholeheartedly hope for a steady improvement in 2022, so that we can finally live with and “manage” Covid successfully, so it becomes an irritant rather than a major problem and impact on our lives.

But in the meantime a Happy New Year to you all and we look forward to seeing you on Sunday. Come what may, we will continue to unite behind our club.

Yours,

Nick