So the season ends and probably its time to reflect over the events of the year and the highs and lows of a season.
We saw the first anniversary of Herve Kings tragic death as Three Bridges and the three officials from that fateful day returned in a sombre mood to play a game in memory of the smiling fella. My friend Luke Gedling ran a marathon in memory of him and I think his memory will live on with all that knew him.
Chichester apparently cheated by playing a player who had a permanent ban against him, throwing the whole end of season events into disarray. Now it’s the end, we don’t know who’s won it and who’s going down for that matter. For me, if anyone goes down, surely it would be Chichester, or is that unfair?
The word unfair took on a new meaning with Ringmer Football Club Ltd going into Administration. Them going into Administration wasn’t unfair but the ten point deduction for their actions certainly was unfair, as I’m sure we’d all agree.
Our skipper Ryan Macmillan left us to join Whitehawk late in the season on a mega-bucks deal. We helped him to go with the knowledge that Ryan didn’t work and the deal offered would have helped him considerably. He played once - the deadline passed - and then he didn’t play again. Too late to get him back (and to be honest I’m not sure if he’d have come back either).
We saw our previous manager Steve Johnson take on the Ryman side Crowborough and after the main sponsor apparently pulled out he unceremoniously left - then to take charge of the relegation threatened East Grinstead and it seems (and I think only the Chichester events could alter it) he steered them to safety.
There were meetings about meetings with directors and trustees and Administrators - threats of legal action and serious recourse to those daring to oppose another’s view and all sorts of people puffing their chests out with self acclaimed knowledge to all things Ringmer. Worrying stuff but in truth if you took a snapshot of where we were at the beginning and where we are now there is only one difference that I can see and that is that Richard Soan is no longer involved with Ringmer Football Club Limited.
So a place of tenth, that I see (and you should too) as a place of sixth. I believe a lot of people believed Oli and I would fail abysmally this season and on reflection I guess it could be possible that that’s why we got the job in the first place perhaps? Our reserves slipped back from whence they came through changes in managers and personnel and now with the re-introduction of our 18s I have every hope for major success for all three sides next term.
Thanks to Oli, Ian and Deb who just takes care of everything. Thanks to everyone at the ground - Sally, Malc, Lynn, David, Stan, Tracy, Alan, Chris Christoff, Geoff, Neil, Meg and the quiet fella who does the gate every week and the many people who have kept this club going and have been there supporting us saying great stuff after every game. If I’ve left you out I’ll put you in next time promise. A word of special thanks to Ted Chitty for the conversation and views.
Finally - thanks to the players. Thanks fellas. If you’ve enjoyed this as much as we have you’ll be busting to come back for pre-season. Expect e mails and web site postings asking for help with the club and the surrounding ground - expect news regarding Administration - expect positive changes within your club and with regard to youth football but don’t expect a Newsletter. Back late June - if you want me I‘ll be working on the pitch. Bye.
