Cheadle Town Plans Unveiled
Wed 7th April 2010 | Cheadle Town | By Ian Templeman
Cheadle Town's appearance in the Division One Trophy final at the end of this month is set to kick off what promises to be a busy period of time for everyone at Park Road.
As well as the cup final, ground developments and anniversary celebrations are also planned over the coming months, and Town Chairman Chris Davies says that the semi final win over Stone Dominoes has given everyone a boost as they embark on ambitious plans for developing the club.
"It was brilliant to win the game against Stone and reach the final, and it's been a very strange season for us. We started very well in the league and went unbeaten for quite a few games, and until the winter break when the snow came we were doing well. Since then things had been going in the opposite direction, we went on a losing run and everything has gone wrong that could go wrong.Â
"It was a few years ago since we were last in a cup final, and it's great because it gives us all something to look forward to. In any cup competition you enter, the ultimate is to get to the final, and we have done which is superb. Everyone is delighted and in a lot of ways it makes up for the season we've had up to now.
"You hope to get to cup finals but when you finally get there it gives the whole club a lift, and helps to bring that extra bit of something into the club. It's the first time we've been in the final of the competition since 1996 so we're really looking forward to it".
However, once the cup final is out of the way, there is plenty to occupy club officials going forward, as Chris explained. Â Â Â Â
"I like to think that the cup final is just the start of a period where people will get used to hearing positive news coming out about Cheadle Town.
"It has come at the right time for us and given us a good start to a busy period of time for the club. We are approaching our 50th anniversary in 2011, and we are planning that next year is going to be a mega year for Cheadle Town Football Club. We have talked about development at our ground for many years now, and the plans have being stuttering slowly along for a while, but finally it is going to happen.  Â
"The lease that was the key to the whole thing has finally been agreed and we have now been given a lease for 125 years. This means that some investors we have in the background will come to support us in taking the club forward, and start making improvements to the facilities at the ground.Â
"Everyone knows that you need to have income coming in from other sources than just match day revenue, and with that in mind we are looking at building three or four five-a-side pitches at the ground. They will be 3G pitches which hopefully will be used every night of the week and at weekends as well. We also hope to refurbish the main stand to make it a bit more modern, and replace the existing club house and cabins we use for meetings, hospitality and a tea bar, and replace them with a permanent brick built building.
"We are also looking at putting some cover behind one of the goals and make the ground a bit more enclosed than it is at the moment. It's all about making the place look a bit better, get more people down using the facilities and in turn hopefully attract new people down to the club.
"We are fortunate in that there is a good area within the ground available to develop, and also that there are not many pitches in the surrounding area such as those we are planning to build. So we are optimistic that there is a good prospect of the pitches generating income as we feel there is a lack of these types of facilities in the surrounding districts, and there won't be much competition for us.
"We also have Rob Clare joining us as a Community Manager. Rob is a former Stockport County player who played there for a number of years and represented England at under 18 level, so he has a good pedigree as a player. He unfortunately had to retire early through injury, but has passed his level 2 coaching badge and is going to get involved with us on the coaching and community side of things. We want to try and get the community involved, and hopefully have other teams based here using the facilities.
"We have a partnership with a junior football club called Inter Cheadle, who have teams running right the way from under 7s up to under 16s. We already have a good relationship with them, and the intention is that once the development begins they will get more involved. We are also hoping that some of their under 16 players will progress through into our reserves in due course. We are also in contact with a girls' football team as well, and the more teams you have attached to the club, the easier it is to attract funding for developments so hopefully discussion on that will also move forward".
As well as the ground development project, work has already begun on planning the club's 50th anniversary celebrations, and Chris says the club are setting their sights high when it comes to the events they hope to stage.
"We have a big anniversary dinner planned at the Hotel Piccadilly in Manchester on the 4th February next year. It's going to be a big night where many people who have been involved with the club over its history will attend. We are also in the early stages of getting a well known speaker to come along, so watch this space on that one.Â
"We are also making progress in arranging three prestige football games against big name opposition, which I can't name at the moment but hopefully people will be surprised when they find out who they are.
"We are a club that has been renowned over the years for touring abroad and although it was something that happened regularly in the early years of the club, we've not been abroad now for about 15 years. So with next year being the 50th anniversary we are looking at arranging an overseas tour. In total the club has played 96 games on foreign trips, and we are hoping that we will be able to play the 100th game abroad next year.
"So all in all, with the developments, the anniversary celebrations and the foreign tour, there are hopefully exciting times ahead for the club".
On the playing side, manager Steve Brokenbrow is using the bait of a cup final place to motivate his side through the remaining games this season.
After a good start, Town hit a mid season slump which only ended when they beat Stone Dominoes in the Division One Trophy semi final, a win that was achieved after Steve made some changes in personnel. Â
"We finished seventh in the league last season, and in hindsight with the team we had, we probably over achieved a bit last season. We started this season OK, before Christmas we had drawn nine games and I'd say in seven of those on another day we could have won.  So although we weren't defeated we did lose ground after our decent start.
"But after the enforced break at Christmas the problem we had was that certain players felt that they only had to turn up this season, and were almost just going through the motions. So we made a few changes and brought in a few kids from the reserves, and in the first game against Chadderton we went 3-0 down.Â
"When that happened I began to wonder if we'd done the right thing. But in the second half they went out and played really well, and got it back to 3-2, and although Chadderton scored at the end to make it 4-2 the signs were there, so I stuck with much the same line up going into the Stone game.
"We went into the semi against Stone on the back of seven straight defeats, but in saying that we had started to play well and had been a bit unlucky in a couple of the recent games. So I stuck with much the same line up going into the Stone game, and after we opened the scoring they hit the bar with a shot and when that happens, you begin to wonder if it is going to be your day.Â
"But in the last ten minutes Stone equalised and I began to think 'here we go'. Straight afterwards their leading scorer missed a one on one and I thought maybe it was going to go our way, and then in the fourth minute of stoppage time we got the winner, and when you score then you know there's no coming back from that.
"If you had said to me at the outset we would have got Oldham away and then Irlam away, I would have said that was about as tough as you could get in this competition. To then find out we had drawn Stone Dominoes in the semi final, when we were second bottom and they were second top of the league, you wonder if it could get any tougher than that.
"I think we've had three really tough games to come through and get to the final, so I don't think anyone can say we don't deserve to be there. Getting there has given everyone at the club a lift, and we're looking to complete the job and win it.
"We know it will be tough because both AFC Blackpool and AFC Liverpool have beaten us this season, so we know what we are up against. But we have started to play a bit better in recent weeks, and I'm really looking forward to the game".
Steve is now looking to build on the feel good factor around the club to ensure his side finish the season strongly.
"The semi final win over Stone turned our season around, because up to then we had lost seven on the bounce. We've got a young team, and it's hard to keep going when you are on a run like that and everybody's down, especially when we went to the likes of Barnoldswick and played really well, only to lose to a late goal.
"But we followed up the win over Stone with another win at home to Leek CSOB. It was a great way to finish March, beating the teams sitting second and third in the league, and we feel we've turned it round a bit now. There's a bit more belief among the players and everyone has got the smiles back on their faces.
"We just want to see the season out now with the young lads in the side, look forward to the cup final, and if we do well there that will give us a good boost going into next season. It also helps motivate the other young lads we've got in the reserves as they can see players who were playing alongside them in the reserves just a few months ago now in the first team and looking to play in a cup final. So it's good for them to see that if they work hard, there will be chances for them to progress. Â
"It's a great way to keep momentum going, with everyone now wanting to get a shirt for the cup final. Had we lost the semi final, it might have been hard getting a full squad together for some of the longer midweek trips we've still got to make, but there's no problem with that now as everyone is buzzing and wants to play.Â
"Off the field, the Chairman's got a smile on his face, and I'm pleased for everyone at the club. It makes all the effort worthwhile when you get to a cup final and everyone at the club can go and enjoy the occasion, and have a good night out".
Cheadle Town Plans Unveiled
Wed 7th April 2010 | Cheadle Town
By Ian Templeman
Cheadle Town's appearance in the Division One Trophy final at the end of this month is set to kick off what promises to be a busy period of time for everyone at Park Road.
As well as the cup final, ground developments and anniversary celebrations are also planned over the coming months, and Town Chairman Chris Davies says that the semi final win over Stone Dominoes has given everyone a boost as they embark on ambitious plans for developing the club.
"It was brilliant to win the game against Stone and reach the final, and it's been a very strange season for us. We started very well in the league and went unbeaten for quite a few games, and until the winter break when the snow came we were doing well. Since then things had been going in the opposite direction, we went on a losing run and everything has gone wrong that could go wrong.Â
"It was a few years ago since we were last in a cup final, and it's great because it gives us all something to look forward to. In any cup competition you enter, the ultimate is to get to the final, and we have done which is superb. Everyone is delighted and in a lot of ways it makes up for the season we've had up to now.
"You hope to get to cup finals but when you finally get there it gives the whole club a lift, and helps to bring that extra bit of something into the club. It's the first time we've been in the final of the competition since 1996 so we're really looking forward to it".
However, once the cup final is out of the way, there is plenty to occupy club officials going forward, as Chris explained. Â Â Â Â
"I like to think that the cup final is just the start of a period where people will get used to hearing positive news coming out about Cheadle Town.
"It has come at the right time for us and given us a good start to a busy period of time for the club. We are approaching our 50th anniversary in 2011, and we are planning that next year is going to be a mega year for Cheadle Town Football Club. We have talked about development at our ground for many years now, and the plans have being stuttering slowly along for a while, but finally it is going to happen.  Â
"The lease that was the key to the whole thing has finally been agreed and we have now been given a lease for 125 years. This means that some investors we have in the background will come to support us in taking the club forward, and start making improvements to the facilities at the ground.Â
"Everyone knows that you need to have income coming in from other sources than just match day revenue, and with that in mind we are looking at building three or four five-a-side pitches at the ground. They will be 3G pitches which hopefully will be used every night of the week and at weekends as well. We also hope to refurbish the main stand to make it a bit more modern, and replace the existing club house and cabins we use for meetings, hospitality and a tea bar, and replace them with a permanent brick built building.
"We are also looking at putting some cover behind one of the goals and make the ground a bit more enclosed than it is at the moment. It's all about making the place look a bit better, get more people down using the facilities and in turn hopefully attract new people down to the club.
"We are fortunate in that there is a good area within the ground available to develop, and also that there are not many pitches in the surrounding area such as those we are planning to build. So we are optimistic that there is a good prospect of the pitches generating income as we feel there is a lack of these types of facilities in the surrounding districts, and there won't be much competition for us.
"We also have Rob Clare joining us as a Community Manager. Rob is a former Stockport County player who played there for a number of years and represented England at under 18 level, so he has a good pedigree as a player. He unfortunately had to retire early through injury, but has passed his level 2 coaching badge and is going to get involved with us on the coaching and community side of things. We want to try and get the community involved, and hopefully have other teams based here using the facilities.
"We have a partnership with a junior football club called Inter Cheadle, who have teams running right the way from under 7s up to under 16s. We already have a good relationship with them, and the intention is that once the development begins they will get more involved. We are also hoping that some of their under 16 players will progress through into our reserves in due course. We are also in contact with a girls' football team as well, and the more teams you have attached to the club, the easier it is to attract funding for developments so hopefully discussion on that will also move forward".
As well as the ground development project, work has already begun on planning the club's 50th anniversary celebrations, and Chris says the club are setting their sights high when it comes to the events they hope to stage.
"We have a big anniversary dinner planned at the Hotel Piccadilly in Manchester on the 4th February next year. It's going to be a big night where many people who have been involved with the club over its history will attend. We are also in the early stages of getting a well known speaker to come along, so watch this space on that one.Â
"We are also making progress in arranging three prestige football games against big name opposition, which I can't name at the moment but hopefully people will be surprised when they find out who they are.
"We are a club that has been renowned over the years for touring abroad and although it was something that happened regularly in the early years of the club, we've not been abroad now for about 15 years. So with next year being the 50th anniversary we are looking at arranging an overseas tour. In total the club has played 96 games on foreign trips, and we are hoping that we will be able to play the 100th game abroad next year.
"So all in all, with the developments, the anniversary celebrations and the foreign tour, there are hopefully exciting times ahead for the club".
On the playing side, manager Steve Brokenbrow is using the bait of a cup final place to motivate his side through the remaining games this season.
After a good start, Town hit a mid season slump which only ended when they beat Stone Dominoes in the Division One Trophy semi final, a win that was achieved after Steve made some changes in personnel. Â
"We finished seventh in the league last season, and in hindsight with the team we had, we probably over achieved a bit last season. We started this season OK, before Christmas we had drawn nine games and I'd say in seven of those on another day we could have won.  So although we weren't defeated we did lose ground after our decent start.
"But after the enforced break at Christmas the problem we had was that certain players felt that they only had to turn up this season, and were almost just going through the motions. So we made a few changes and brought in a few kids from the reserves, and in the first game against Chadderton we went 3-0 down.Â
"When that happened I began to wonder if we'd done the right thing. But in the second half they went out and played really well, and got it back to 3-2, and although Chadderton scored at the end to make it 4-2 the signs were there, so I stuck with much the same line up going into the Stone game.
"We went into the semi against Stone on the back of seven straight defeats, but in saying that we had started to play well and had been a bit unlucky in a couple of the recent games. So I stuck with much the same line up going into the Stone game, and after we opened the scoring they hit the bar with a shot and when that happens, you begin to wonder if it is going to be your day.Â
"But in the last ten minutes Stone equalised and I began to think 'here we go'. Straight afterwards their leading scorer missed a one on one and I thought maybe it was going to go our way, and then in the fourth minute of stoppage time we got the winner, and when you score then you know there's no coming back from that.
"If you had said to me at the outset we would have got Oldham away and then Irlam away, I would have said that was about as tough as you could get in this competition. To then find out we had drawn Stone Dominoes in the semi final, when we were second bottom and they were second top of the league, you wonder if it could get any tougher than that.
"I think we've had three really tough games to come through and get to the final, so I don't think anyone can say we don't deserve to be there. Getting there has given everyone at the club a lift, and we're looking to complete the job and win it.
"We know it will be tough because both AFC Blackpool and AFC Liverpool have beaten us this season, so we know what we are up against. But we have started to play a bit better in recent weeks, and I'm really looking forward to the game".
Steve is now looking to build on the feel good factor around the club to ensure his side finish the season strongly.
"The semi final win over Stone turned our season around, because up to then we had lost seven on the bounce. We've got a young team, and it's hard to keep going when you are on a run like that and everybody's down, especially when we went to the likes of Barnoldswick and played really well, only to lose to a late goal.
"But we followed up the win over Stone with another win at home to Leek CSOB. It was a great way to finish March, beating the teams sitting second and third in the league, and we feel we've turned it round a bit now. There's a bit more belief among the players and everyone has got the smiles back on their faces.
"We just want to see the season out now with the young lads in the side, look forward to the cup final, and if we do well there that will give us a good boost going into next season. It also helps motivate the other young lads we've got in the reserves as they can see players who were playing alongside them in the reserves just a few months ago now in the first team and looking to play in a cup final. So it's good for them to see that if they work hard, there will be chances for them to progress. Â
"It's a great way to keep momentum going, with everyone now wanting to get a shirt for the cup final. Had we lost the semi final, it might have been hard getting a full squad together for some of the longer midweek trips we've still got to make, but there's no problem with that now as everyone is buzzing and wants to play.Â
"Off the field, the Chairman's got a smile on his face, and I'm pleased for everyone at the club. It makes all the effort worthwhile when you get to a cup final and everyone at the club can go and enjoy the occasion, and have a good night out".