Chairman's Pre-Season Report

After a lot of years scrapping it out in the 2nd division at last we are promoted. It has been extremely difficult for the club as it's always a financial battle each season to survive but, as a club, we have done it. It is all down to the committee, management and players, brilliant sponsors and also fantastic supporters who have turned out week in and week out to support their beloved Marske United, well done to you all. 

Pre-season

On the field, pre-season has been difficult, it was always the intention to use the first couple of games giving different players a chance to get in the squad. It was also a chance to test fitness levels of existing players from last season with most re-signing and looking forward to competing at the top flight. With holidays and other commitments this hasn't really happened. Results have been good but I do think next year we need to look at some higher level teams to compete against to get a true look at the team/squad we have.

Players have trained well with Burto, Rilo and Cappy putting them through their paces. Keep it up fellow's.

Off the field work around the ground has gone well. The ground has had a face lift and is now green in colour. That's free paint for you!

As well as the committee and volunteers our newly formed under 12's junior team have made a big impact. It's good to see the kids and parents getting involved as it gives a sense of pride around the ground. Many thanks.

Floodlights have been sorted, this is down to individual sponsors who have matched a grant that the football foundation gave us and also Paul Burton who has gone out of his way to make this happen. 

On a negative note, a local youth decided to strip the changing rooms of all the electrical supply cables and weigh them in. Yes the person in question got £40 scrap money, we have been quoted £900 to replace it. With our first home game on Wednesday the 17th August we are fighting against time to sort it. With a top bloke like Burto involved I'm sure all will be sorted in time.

Looking Forward

It is going to be a difficult season in every aspect of the club. With top flight teams paying big buck's and half a dozen derby games to play, every match will be a cup final day for us so your support is essential to push the lads on. Rebecca Kelly replace's Jamma as physio after James retired after 10 years of service, anyone wishing to support Jamma after match days can find him on the bowling green. Quite good by all accounts as well. Many thanks Jamma and welcome Rebecca.

Financially the club needs your support, if you know a company or individual who may wish to support the club please get in touch. 

Something new this season is that you can sponsor a player of your choice and at the end of the season receive their home team shirt, signed and presented to you at the presentation evening. This is for a fee of £35. If you decide to sponsor a match as well that normally cost's £60 we have a special offer on where you can do the two for £80. Must be a bargain.

On Sundays our newly formed under 18's and under 12's will play. It is essential as a club we support these teams in any which way we can, there are some really good players amongst them so get yourself up to watch, who knows where the next Rooney is!

Look out for our functions as we are going to have a race night in September and Sportsman's Evening in November, final details to follow.

All that is left to say is good luck to all our teams for 2011/12 season.

I welcome any suggestions or comments to move the club forward and look forward to meeting as many as possible on match days.

Sea Sea Seasiders...

Peter Collinson, Chairman of Marske United

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Chairman's Report Season 2010/11

This was the season when we returned to the top flight. Unlike previous seasons when we have entered the seasons run in we have been favourites and choked, this time we looked out of it until a fantastic run saw us clinch promotion with a game to spare. As well as some quality performances there was some real digging in and some performances had to be ground out. A big thank you to the management team and the players for their efforts. A good luck message to Jamma who retired from his position of Physio, he will be greatly missed by everybody.

In the cups we had mixed success . A semi final defeat in the Ernest Armstrong Memorial Cup at home to Team Northumbria, a losing appearance in the North Riding Cup Final, a narrow defeat to Shildon in the League Cup, nationally an early Vase exit and a good FA Cup which generated some much needed income into the club.

Financially we just scraped through the season and would not have done so but for the efforts of Peter Collinson who despite resigning as Commercial Manager through work commitments spent numerous hours fundraising and calling favours in to keep us afloat. Big thanks go to GER as main sponsor of the club and the club is forever grateful to those sponsors and supporters who continually back us year after year, whether that is through boards, adverts, blind cards, sponsored walks - your efforts are appreciated. GER have not taken the option up of renewing their sponsorship for next season. Gary will always be welcome at Mount Pleasant and we wish him every success for the future. 

Moss had another good year finishing runner up in both the national non league programme of the year and the Northern League programme of the year. Thanks to everybody who contributed throughout the season.

The ground improvements pretty much came to a standstill due to work commitments. This is something we need to address if we are to keep at the least our first division status. Thanks to Steve Jones for his contribution in running the website.

Once again we had a successful day supporting MND and we managed to assist The Mayors Poppy Appeal. It shows our commitment to putting something back when we support our local charities.

As you will know this is my last report as Chairman as I am  not seeking re-election. I hope to be still involved with the club in some capacity. Peter Collinson has been nominated unopposed and I wish him every success. In my view if we are to progress as a club we need to address several issues. Most importantly we need to be more open as an organisation and actively encourage participation no matter how small. Another key area is communication. There has been serious lack of communication at times. This has manifested itself in various ways including kick off times being changed, I am thinking of Darlington RA away where our website had 1.00pm kick off, the Evening Gazette 3.00pm with the actual kick off being 11.00am. Having to endure numerous complaints from supporters who attended at the wrong time and missing the game was not a pleasant experience I would wish to repeat.

Looking forward to next season we have secured a new main sponsor in Jarvis windows and doors, we have a new junior team and our new floodlights should be in place.

Finally thank you to the committee for their efforts over the last 12 months , everybody needs to pull together to move the club forward make the season a success both on and off the pitch.

Billy Park - Chairman 2010/11 Season