Whitstable chairman outlines five-year plan as Belmont passes ground grading

Although his club are fourteen points behind top spot and in sixth place in the Kentish Observer League table, Whitstable Town chairman Tony Rouse is delighted that the Belmont has passed the Football Association’s Ground Grading, writes Stephen McCartney.

“I’m thrilled that all the hard work by all involved with the club has paid off,” Rouse told www.whitstabletownfc.co.uk

“This has pulled the club closer together as we have received help from many, many supporters and others, both within the club and others unconnected with the club.”

Rouse was grateful for the help of the club’s former chairman to come in as a new sponsor.

He said: “With the sudden departure a third of the way through the season of the clubs main sponsor, all our plans for the work were thrown into disarray, but with the support of the previous chairman, Joe Brownett, through his company D&J Tyres of Herne Bay, and his family, we have managed to complete the work on time.”

Paths have been laid, the club have now fenced around the whole of the ground and the perimeter of the pitch has been fenced off.

“We now have disabled toilets and viewing facilities plus two turnstiles are now in use, all as required by the FA,” said Rouse.

But it’s on the pitch first-team affairs that is causing concern for Rouse, but he hopes things will improve as he outlines his visions in a five-year plan for the club.

“Unfortunately on the pitch have not gone as we would have liked but I still say we have had a fantastic season at Whitstable.

“The reserves are still flying high in their league, plus they’re in a cup final at Folkestone.

“The thing that has pleased me most is the goodwill, which supporters and others unconnected with the club have shown. Without them we would not be in the position we are in now.

“We can now look forward to the future with renewed optimism as this major work is now completed, which formed part of the club’s plans for the future.

“I will be sitting down with the committee and then later outlining a five-year plan at the club’s AGM, which will be after the season finishes.”

He added: “On behalf of all at the club I would like to say a big thank you to all who helped, some only for a couple of hours for giving up large chunks of their family time to do the work.”

Meanwhile, two of their last three league games are being played at home.  Strugglers Sevenoaks Town (Saturday) and Greewich Borough (Easter Monday) are the visitors to the Belmont.

Whitstable should be playing in front of a big crowd at Tunbridge Wells on the last day of the season (22nd April) as the home club are giving away tickets to players and families of Foresters Football Club - the local youth club that have joined forces with the Culverden Stadium outfit.