Summer In Irlam
Tue 15th September 2015 | Irlam | By Ian Templeman
Irlam Secretary Warren Dodd gives an insight into recent activities at Silver Street...
So what did we do in our summer break?
Lots of good stuff at the ground and lots of frustrations too, but on the whole things are better. We are improving.
Summer began with the traditional breaking down of the mowers. The boiler stopped working as well. The boiler is big enough to run Old Trafford, and the bill to fix it made our eyes water.
The mower was only £750 to fix...an absolute bargain. All the players have returned wearing this seasons IRLAM FC leisurewear. I think if Tesco would allow us to sell IRLAM FC leisurewear we could easily fill an aisle. Why isn’t there a monthly award for best dressed players?
The brand new Clubhouse has now been completed, and along with a brand new car park at the ground, it has drawn praise from far and wide. The Clubhouse attracts a steady flow of functions into it, but it's early days and we have to make sure we don’t suffer burnout trying to do too much. We have just “acquired” two benches that sit outside to add to the facility. It’s beginning to look like a Toby Inn.
The car park is fantastic, and seeing as it was marked out for 66 cars it always seems very full and very orderly, which all adds to the impression people get when arriving at the Club.
We had our ground grading last week, with Geoff Wilkinson and an FA Grading Officer. The result was the usual repaint the yellow lines and put a lock on the pay box. A nice chap actually, but I hoped he was equally as kind to other Clubs he visited.
Costs and commitment are the two words that sum up this level of football and must apply to every Club in both Divisions.
People’s lives just seem to get busier and busier, and Clubs like ourselves need larger pools of people to share the burden of running the Club. I think we are better off than some Clubs, and when I watched John Maguire, Secretary at Squires Gate, running around last Saturday, doing paperwork one minute, and fagging the ball the next, it really shows that we are thin on the ground.
Cost is massive. I do not know how Clubs afford to operate their grounds. I say this because I still do not know how we do it. As for Clubs who ply their trade at another Club's ground, the fight to stay afloat must be brutal.
Last season’s victims, Wigan Robin Park and Oldham Boro were both run by competent committee members. In the end though, sheer mental exhaustion must get the better of them. My hat is off to those Clubs who are strong and well supported, a good example being 1874 Northwich, but if you don’t have your own ground it is a massive concern.
As always, we are plying our trade in Division One this season and as always we are hoping to climb into the Premier Division.
Looking around the Clubs in our Division this season, with the exception of the odd Club, I feel that not many are paying their players. We certainly don’t, so it may be our year this year. With a decent squad assembled, we must be in the play offs as a minimum.
We have a different make up to our teams this season, with a new U21’s team replacing last season’s reserve team, and our Youth Alliance side remaining in place at under 18s
The U21s have entered the newly for Cheshire U21’s Prem Division, and I’m delighted to report we are top of the league with three wins out of three.
The Under 18’s have started well in Div One of the Youth Alliance, and a decent 3-1 win over Ashton Town has begun their FA Youth Cup campaign in style.
As I write this (Saturday morning) I am making plans to head off to the ground for the home fixture against Rochdale Town. We have a fairly hit and miss record against them, but we usually do well at home.
I've put a tenner on 4-0...
Warren
Summer In Irlam
Tue 15th September 2015 | Irlam
By Ian Templeman
Irlam Secretary Warren Dodd gives an insight into recent activities at Silver Street...
So what did we do in our summer break?
Lots of good stuff at the ground and lots of frustrations too, but on the whole things are better. We are improving.
Summer began with the traditional breaking down of the mowers. The boiler stopped working as well. The boiler is big enough to run Old Trafford, and the bill to fix it made our eyes water.
The mower was only £750 to fix...an absolute bargain. All the players have returned wearing this seasons IRLAM FC leisurewear. I think if Tesco would allow us to sell IRLAM FC leisurewear we could easily fill an aisle. Why isn’t there a monthly award for best dressed players?
The brand new Clubhouse has now been completed, and along with a brand new car park at the ground, it has drawn praise from far and wide. The Clubhouse attracts a steady flow of functions into it, but it's early days and we have to make sure we don’t suffer burnout trying to do too much. We have just “acquired” two benches that sit outside to add to the facility. It’s beginning to look like a Toby Inn.
The car park is fantastic, and seeing as it was marked out for 66 cars it always seems very full and very orderly, which all adds to the impression people get when arriving at the Club.
We had our ground grading last week, with Geoff Wilkinson and an FA Grading Officer. The result was the usual repaint the yellow lines and put a lock on the pay box. A nice chap actually, but I hoped he was equally as kind to other Clubs he visited.
Costs and commitment are the two words that sum up this level of football and must apply to every Club in both Divisions.
People’s lives just seem to get busier and busier, and Clubs like ourselves need larger pools of people to share the burden of running the Club. I think we are better off than some Clubs, and when I watched John Maguire, Secretary at Squires Gate, running around last Saturday, doing paperwork one minute, and fagging the ball the next, it really shows that we are thin on the ground.
Cost is massive. I do not know how Clubs afford to operate their grounds. I say this because I still do not know how we do it. As for Clubs who ply their trade at another Club's ground, the fight to stay afloat must be brutal.
Last season’s victims, Wigan Robin Park and Oldham Boro were both run by competent committee members. In the end though, sheer mental exhaustion must get the better of them. My hat is off to those Clubs who are strong and well supported, a good example being 1874 Northwich, but if you don’t have your own ground it is a massive concern.
As always, we are plying our trade in Division One this season and as always we are hoping to climb into the Premier Division.
Looking around the Clubs in our Division this season, with the exception of the odd Club, I feel that not many are paying their players. We certainly don’t, so it may be our year this year. With a decent squad assembled, we must be in the play offs as a minimum.
We have a different make up to our teams this season, with a new U21’s team replacing last season’s reserve team, and our Youth Alliance side remaining in place at under 18s
The U21s have entered the newly for Cheshire U21’s Prem Division, and I’m delighted to report we are top of the league with three wins out of three.
The Under 18’s have started well in Div One of the Youth Alliance, and a decent 3-1 win over Ashton Town has begun their FA Youth Cup campaign in style.
As I write this (Saturday morning) I am making plans to head off to the ground for the home fixture against Rochdale Town. We have a fairly hit and miss record against them, but we usually do well at home.
I've put a tenner on 4-0...
Warren
