Chairmans Report - Season 2009/10

On the face of it, it looked like another successful season but for a campaign that promised so much but ended with such a whimper was hugely disappointing for everybody involved with the club. The high of the season once again was the Vase run culminating in a narrow defeat to Whitehawk. The personal low was the 4^th place finish when we seemed destined to get one of the promotion spots. As we have seen recently with England at the World Cup it is the players who are the key and if they underperform then it can only end one way. A big thank you to the management team for their efforts and hopefully we can go one better next season.

Financially it was difficult to get through the season and we just about managed it. In the economic climate it is difficult to see how we can maintain current budgets and the club will have to cut its cloth accordingly just to survive. A massive thank you to PC who has spent numerous hours fundraising and calling favours in to keep us afloat. Another thank you must go to Gary Roberts of G.E.R. as sponsor of the club, his efforts for the football club and the MSRA were rewarded when he was named Evening Gazette Sponsor of the Year, an award that was truly deserved. Finally the club is eternally grateful to those sponsors and supporters who continually back us year after year whether that is through boards, adverts, blind cards, or sponsored walks - your efforts are appreciated.

The MSRA basically re-invented itself and the new clubhouse was opened in time for Christmas. It is essential that we support the clubhouse as we try to implement the next stage of our development which is a permanent building and facilities. It is no exaggeration to say that it would never have happened without the efforts of Peter Collinson and Gary Roberts. Our thanks go to everybody who supported us through that difficult period without a clubhouse including Basher for the toilets and Ann (Top House) for the post match refreshments.

Well done to Moss for once again winning the national non league programme of the year and finishing runner up in the Northern League programme of the year. Thanks to everybody who contributed throughout the season.

The ground improvements continued with the pitch drainage. The surrounding area was improved with help from the Community Payback scheme and the pitch has never been better. The new website was launched, thanks to Phil and Steve Jones for their help.

Once again we had a successful day supporting MND (despite Emmerdales no show) and we managed to assist The Mayors Poppy Appeal and James Cook Hospital. It shows how committed and how proud we are as a club to be supporting local charitable causes. We supported Errington Primary schools successful bid from the football foundation for a new play area which will benefit Marske youngsters for years to come.

Next season promises to be challenging on and off the pitch but I am more than confident we can keep progressing if we meet those challenges together.

Finally a big thank you to the committee and small army of volunteers who give their time and effort for free. It doesn’t get any easier, it can get disheartening but the sense of achievement in the success of the club as a whole can be rewarding . Long may it continue.