I give you a solemn promise that I will give the club my all to ensure that Crowborough Athletic Football Club prospers under my stewardship, says chairman Clive Maynard

NEWLY-APPOINTED Crowborough Athletic chairman Clive Maynard says the club will have to live within their means.

Manager Sean Muggeridge enticed players to the club that dropped down the divisions on lucrative contracts but they failed to win promotion out of the Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division during the past two seasons. 

The club revealed their financial problems a few weeks ago  and Muggeridge will be working with a reduced budget this coming season.

Simon Colbran has stepped down from his chairman’s role at the club to concentrate on assisting Muggeridge and Maynard has taken over, having experience of the same role while at neighbouring Tunbridge Wells.

“Well, it has been a whirlwind few days since being elected as chairman of this great club,” Maynard told the club website. 

“I feel honoured to have been asked to assume the role of chairman and I give you a solemn promise that I will give the club my all to ensure that Crowborough Athletic Football Club prospers under my stewardship.

“I don’t want to dwell on the last two years because I genuinely don’t think it will solve any of the issues that the club currently faces.

“What I do know is that hindsight is a wonderful thing. Have mistakes been made? Yes of course they have! Would people on the executive committee have acted differently had they known then what they know now? Yes of course they would! We are where we are and we know where we want to be, so my philosophy is let’s move forward together, let’s turn adversity into a positive.

“Crowborough Athletic Football Club has - and never will be - run by a single person and I am humbled to have such a great team around me. This team is huge, not just the executive committee, it is the coaches from the under 6’s right up to the first team.

“The guys and girls who turn up and man the gates, sell the programmes, run the raffles, barbecue the burgers and sausages, sponsor our teams, spend hours both at home and in and around the grounds that make this club what it is, however, there is one set of people that make this club great, our superb supporters. Home or away, warm or cold, in the dry or when it is raining, they are there cheering on their son or daughter whether they are six or 26.

“I thank each and every one of you for your past support and help and look forward to seeing you all in the coming season.

“Crowborough Athletic Football Club is an FA Community Charter Football Club, The FA’s highest grading, so the first objective is to maintain this standard.

“We have 250 children playing football at various sites inside and outside of Crowborough town.

“It is an aim of the executive committee to consolidate as many teams as possible at the Alderbrook recreation ground site. Logistically we won’t be able to accommodate everyone at this present time but from the first day that a new player arrives at the club, it should be their aspiration to play in the stadium for a Crowborough Athletic FC side. Not everyone will play for the first eleven but aspiration, commitment and desire can achieve so much and help to achieve an individuals goals.

“Dialogue with Crowborough Town Council is going to be very important moving forward and we look forward to re-establishing a good working relationship which is beneficial to both parties.

“The executive committee is keen to see more coaches, parents and supporters become members of the club. We accept that this may not be for everyone, as being a Community Amateur Sports Club (CASC), there is a financial obligation that comes with being a member, however, it does give every member a say in how the club is run as each member has a vote at the AGM.

“Financially the club has to rebuild its balance sheet and over the coming weeks and months we intend to hold a series of events that will help us to achieve this.

“We are in a situation where we will have to manage funds carefully and ensure that we get value for money out of every pound spent. Costs continue to rise whether this be pitch hire, utilities, referees or any of our other major expenses, so as always, there will be the usual juggling act of ensuring that we provide everything we say we are going to with the income that we can generate. Nothing is impossible and together we will succeed.

“There will be challenges along the way, everything we try won’t be a success but if the first idea doesn’t succeed then we have to learn from that experience and try an alternative route whether this be on or off the pitch. The club motto is “Together we Achieve” and together we will achieve!”

The Crows kick-off their pre-season campaign with a trip to Lancing on Saturday 7 July (11:00).

Visit Crowborough Athletic’s website: http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/crowboroughathletic