We Are Staying
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ISSUE No 10 - JUNE 2016 BOREHAM WOOD FC COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER ‘THE WOOD ARMY’ WE ARE STAYING UP! The Wood pulled off the great escape, picking up “To everyone who wrote us off, to everyone who maximum points from its final three games to secure doubted us, I’d ask you to listen to the interview I National League survival. gave after we got done at home to Southport, I did all my talking then” An own goal, followed by goals from Luke Howell and Clovis Kamdjo gave Wood the win they needed “I’d said we’d get the results needed and we did. to have a second season at National League level. I can’t be more proud of Luke and the players to- day. Every single one of them gave everything for this Written off by all and sundry at the beginning of the club. I have to say though the supporters today our season and after loosing 8 of its first 11 games it took 12th man were superb all game and really were a a mammoth effort from Luke Garrard and his players Army”. to get over the finishing line. Chairman’s Interview available Jubilant scenes followed the final whistle, and after to view on the web address below: the players and Chairman applauded the fantastic support from the Wood Army, we tried to catch up www.borehamwoodfootballclub.co.uk/chairman- with the Chairman to get his thoughts. As you can danny-hunter-speaks-to-bwtv-after-todays-loss-to- imagine he was too busy celebrating our survival but southport/ we did manage to get this from him. MAIN CLUB SPONSOR Barnet & Southgate College Following the earlier announcement of a terrific CONFIRMATION OF THOSE set of pre season home games against Brentford, Reading, Luton Town and an Arsenal XI. We are FOUR FIXTURES: now pleased to announce our final four fixtures that complete our pre season programme. MON 11TH July (HOME) PETERBOROUGH UTD We will welcome Peterborough United and fans KICK OFF: 7:30PM favourite in Lee Angol, before we make the short journey to Clarence Park to play Ian Allinson’s St Al- SAT 23RD JULY (AWAY) bans City. We then host our good friends from Ste- venage at Meadow Park, before making another ST ALBANS CITY short trip to Vauxhall Road to play Hemel Hemp- KICK OFF: 3.00PM stead Town. TUE 26TH JULY (HOME) PRE SEASON PRICES STEVENAGE (half price to 2016/17 BWFC season ticket holders) KICK OFF: 7.30PM ADULTS £12.00 SAT 30TH JULY (AWAY) OAPS £10.00 HEMEL HEMPSTEAD TOWN UNDER 16’s £6.00 KICK OFF: 3.00PM UNDER 12’s £3.00 FOR MORE INFORMATION ON TICKETS AND ADMISSION PRICES VISIT www.borehamwoodfootballclub.co.uk Thai Cuisine www.barkersestateagents.com www.mangotree.org.uk Picture: Chairman Danny Hunter (right) and Manager Luke Garrard (left), celebrating National League survival on the final day of the season. Q & A WITH CHAIRMAN DANNY HUNTER INTERVIEW CONDUCTED BY GRANT MORRIS GM; My first question Chairman is quite On top of that, I have had to consider my genuinely want us to do well but they also simple. We did what everyone said was staff’s workload, look to see if we can im- think we can compete at National league impossible and stayed in the National prove our home support and ensure that level and have a top class squad and im- League. We were the smallest club in it our sponsors are happy. But I must also prove facilities, with no outside investment, with the smallest support base in the divi- not lose sight that I’m firstly a family man no increased home support and with dis- sion, so is it realistic to think we can contin- who happens to love his club and I need appointing season ticket sales… ue to compete at this level or even dream to create more family time for my eight of progressing?? grandchildren.. They also want a tidy ground, they want a top class pitch and they want their team DH; We all dream Grant and dreams cost I’m not a charity and this football club is to be trained and prepared properly.. nothing but to remain at this level or pro- not a charity case but the reality is that Well as we all know, all that and subsidised gress from this level will cost plenty.. On the without me, we simply cannot operate at travel for the fans does come at a cost. As flip side Braintree and Dover have shown our present National League level.. That such it feels at present that these four or us all that nothing is impossible, if you have realistically means that sometimes we five people are saying that they want me the right attitude, discipline and desire.. cannot afford to shop at the top table to continue to subsidise all and sundry and especially around the early part of post trying to influence others with their stand- For our gaffer, dressing room, me and my season.. points.. staff, the pressure to keep the club in the National League is huge and for me to Most of our old school loyal supporters At the moment they are up in arms over continue to balance the budgets is ridic- understand my dilemma and in truth they kids early bird season tickets prices going ulously hard. It’s also in truth been a very have rang the club or sent in letters thank- up from a tenner to thirty quid or in real tiring season for us all. As such it’s now ing myself and the staff, which was very terms going from 43p to £1.30 a game.. If time for me, to re-evaluate how much are kind of them.. I think they are all just grate- they really think I should be all things to all things now affecting my health, my oth- ful that we have made it this far togeth- people, then I’m not that type of person er company’s and more importantly my er and they remember only too well our and I’m definitely the wrong Chairman for family life.. trips to St Margretsbury, Tilbury, Ilford and these newer supporters.. Great Wakering Rovers, as it wasn’t that The club as you can imagine does now long ago.. In my mind £1.30 a game, is the equivalent take up an awful lot of my time and it will of letting their children in for next to noth- need subsidising again from my compa- Four or five fans though do want to whinge ing and in my opinion it does represent ny’s and me personally.. As such my com- it seems for the sake of whinging. They are great value. Great value when compared pany’s do have to be able to absorb the in truth becoming a distraction to me, to to the local cinema, to the swimming clubs needs and I do need to look at the my staff and in all honesty to some of their baths or even the costs of playing for their time that is needed for every part of my fellow supporters.. These well-meaning local youth football teams.. life to remain strong.. people and they know who they are. Do ELSTREE & BOREHAMWOOD TOWN COUNCIL www.taylorwimpey.co.uk www.elstreeborehamwood-tc.gov.uk They do it seems expect Luke Garrard and Bushey, Watford and Radlett.. Our website myself to be able to attract top players My opinion for what it’s worth is this.. If activity is still growing and we now get with no or little supporter commitment anyone does not want to pay for a £30 regular hits of between 20,000 and 30,000 and that can only mean a more limited child season ticket (£1.30 a game) or for hits a month which equates to over quar- budget and cheaper players.. They obvi- an adult season ticket for that matter (un- ter of a million hits a year. Our Twitter in- ously want cheap entry, they want subsi- der £10 a game, plus BWTV match high- terest seems to grow and that has in fact dised travel, they want cheap everything lights and interviews, plus a match e-pro- increased our facility usage.. and that’s fine by me, if they want relega- gramme included). Then that’s fine as its tion.. called consumer choice.. However these It’s now my aim to convert any upsurge in people are creating a negativity with their local interest, into attracting further spon- Grant have I missed their point? They know nonsense and cannot complain when sorship across the board.. I will always look that we must operate with the lowest there negativity gets us relegated when I at ways of improving things locally for league attendances by a considerable pull the budget.. people and if I can secure council support margin. They know even with me putting and some additional grants from the foot- in fortunes each season just to compete Were simply a small but great local com- ball foundation, then I have some projects and they then whinge at paying £1.30 for munity football club, that’s just pulled off that I believe will improve things for local a kid to watch National League football.. the impossible by staying up and if peo- people.. ple are so worried about £1.30 a game or If people genuinely want us to compete, paying £30 then we really are stuffed.. As for our small home support, its literally then surely they have to stop complain- an ongoing situation that never does re- ing about a £1.30 entrance fee to watch So back to your question Grant and apol- solve itself.