Community Corner

In case you missed out on a programme on Saturday here's what Football Committee member Mishi Morath had to say...

Time for another column, this time for a game against a club that has established itself at our level for a few seasons now, namely Merstham. Not the best supported club by a long chalk, but I won’t hold that against any outfit, who don’t get the largest of crowds. Personally I’ve always found Merstham to have a tidy ground, a nice little bar…and it’s not too far from the station. In the main one of the things I love most about our huge increase in crowds over the last few seasons has been the lack of ‘big time charlie’ comments from our supporters, and long may that continue. Each and every Merstham fan is just as important as all of ours, and long may that continue.

Off the field our problems are still very much in place, so-AGAIN- I urge you all to continue to support the “12th Man” fundraising that is the only thing that is ensuring the shortfall is being made up to keep our current wage budget until the end of the season. Next season is another story, all of which depends on the decisions taken by our landlords Meadow Residential, and their associated businesses that control the facilities that we use here at Champion Hill.

Make no mistake-without help from the “12th Man” fund we would not have been able to keep all of our contractual obligations to our squad, so every single coin and bank note that you donate really does make a difference. With everybody pulling together the Football Club have so far paid the players each month, since this crisis blew up in November….and all at the Football Committee will do all in their power, with all of your support, to make sure this continues until the end of the season.

Off the field, whilst it is –personally speaking- not always easy to concentrate on community work with all the other off-field distractions, it’s words of thanks from people like the Copleston Centre, who recently got in touch to thank The Hamlet for inviting their choir to sing seasonal carols before the pre-Christmas match against Leiston. In just one hour an amazing total of £280 filled up their collecting buckets. Your generosity, as always, is never taken for granted and much appreciated.

We were due to stage a Race Night this evening to raise funds for the on-going ‘Inter City 125’ campaign, which I am sure you are all aware is to raise funds to take the First Team squad to Hamburg in July, for a two match tour, the highlight being a celebratory match against our good friends Altona 93, which will commemorate the 125th anniversary of both of our clubs, being formed in 1893. Unfortunately, due to circumstances totally beyond our control we have had to postpone the event tonight, but it will take place a little later in the season. There’s still chances to sponsor individual horses and for the sum of a mere ten pound note you will get to name the nag you sponsor and have your name on the official racecard at the event. Simply speak to myself or drop me an email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you would like to do so. As soon as we confirm the new date we will share it here as well as on the Club website and other associated social media.

Next month is February, and this means that it is the annual LGBT History Month, and as part of the on-going work by the Football Committee, in tandem with full backing from the Supporters’ Trust, we are offering free tickets to our home match on Saturday 3rd February against Metropolitan Police to any LGBT groups, be they social or workplace, who wish to get in touch. We shall also be inviting LGBT workers, in particular, from the UNISON trade union, who are our official back of shirt sponsors this season. If you are involved in any LGBT groups that might want to have free tickets supplied to them then please send me an email to the one listed earlier, or contact Pete Campbell, who is the Supporters’ Trust community representative.

We hope to see you as many as possible in three days time, when we take on Wingate & Finchley on Tuesday night, in another Bostik League fixture.

Mishi Morath (Football Committee community initiatives lead)