On Saturday we welcome Brackley to the Mangata Developments Stadium. May I wish their Directors, Manager, players and supporters an enjoyable stay with us and a safe journey home.
Well after a great performance at Southend United, we didn’t really get going at Tamworth until it was too late and in truth, I didn’t know what to expect at home against league leaders York City on Tuesday, as they were 24 games unbeaten and unbeaten away from home all season.
I needn’t have worried though as two very good teams went at it from the start and slugged it out. However, after going behind we equalised early in the second half, took the game to our visitors and went 3-1 up, and although we conceded a second very late on, I thought we were more than good value for our win and that would have done us a power of good.
I can on the injury front report we are very close to getting both Callum Reynolds and Erico Sousa back, and our midfield maestro Tom White is now ready to take his place on the bench. These players will add to Luke’s options which is fantastic for the run in and our play-off hopes.
On a sour note, Ollie Kensdale is now out for the season, Coxey is out for a week after Saturday and I’m told Luke Norris is still reporting pain in his foot, so we’ll see how he improves over the next few weeks, but we might need to re-evaluate things if there’s no improvement.
Apart from the above, the club is working well, the squad is quietly getting stronger by the week as our new players settle in and as our existing players start to view the finishing line. I do feel as the pitches quicken and improve that, as a pass and move side, we will be more than capable of dealing with the run in…. I say that as I know we have nous, ambition, work rate and the ability to go on a run and perhaps nick third spot which would be one hell of an achievement for a club our size.
In regards to the South Stand Project and our associated facilities, we are now nearing a planning decision in March and I’m very hopeful of a successful outcome. My planning submission, presentations and meetings with HBC, EBTC, FF and AFC have I feel all gone well and so I’m hopeful of successful outcomes.
As in life, nothing is ever guaranteed especially when you are dealing with third parties, and I understand at this stage that all outcomes are possible. That said, I actually began building our community football club back in 1999, so trying to build this type of legacy project is not as daunting to me as it could have been, but it is very time consuming and I know that you have no guarantees that it will be successful.
Just a quick update regarding our academy, our trials were hugely successful and we will be going (as previously reported) with a new education provider and although the contracts are not yet signed, I’m very hopeful of announcing our new partners in the match day programme for the National League Cup Final against West Ham United on March 17th (St Patrick’s Day).
Please can everyone be advised that West Ham United’s ticket allocation for the National League Cup Final has all gone to their season ticket holders as requested by their ticket office. At the time of me writing these notes, I’m also informed by our ticket office that the WHU away allocation at the South end has sold out.
As such can all our fans be reminded that the game is fully segregated and our tickets are strictly for our season ticket holders and our other fans already on our database. We will as part of our community programme be releasing more final tickets into our local schools ‘free of charge’ but all those school children must be accompanied by a paying adult who must purchase their ticket in advance.
After that only our local Boreham Wood supporters who come to the club in advance with proof of identity and their address can purchase tickets and no tickets will be available on the night. So don’t delay, please get yourselves sorted out asap.
This Cup Final really does promise to be a great occasion for a club and community of our size and for the very first time ever we have actually sold out three hospitality areas and it is exciting to welcome a club of West Ham’s stature who are taking the game seriously and are also treating it as a great occasion.
Anyway, back to what is a vital National League game, where we will meet a Brackley Town team for the fourth time this season. In those matches to date, we’ve won two and lost one and with them now having a new manager in Andy Whing, we know we can expect a very difficult game.
Lastly, whoever you support on Saturday, let’s hope for an open, attacking game and may the best team win.
Take care,
Danny.
