Good afternoon and welcome to Longmead Stadium for today's Bostik League match. We extend a warm welcome to our match officials as well as the players, officials and supporters of Brightlingsea Regent.

I hope that you all had an enjoyable Christmas and I wish you all a very happy New Year.

I trust everyone will enjoy their afternoon with us and wish you all a very safe journey home.

The drop in form has confirmed what a fickle game football is. At the start of the season we were watching an Angels team which could do no wrong but for the last few weeks whilst we have had injuries and suspensions there appears to be a strange lack in confidence especially in front of goal. At Carshalton last Saturday one of our supporters said that the club very rarely got the 'rub of the green'. This may seem a 'woe is me' type of statement but it is also a reality check in that we have to create our own luck, play as a unit, be proud of the club but also be respectful. There is no one who is connected to the club who is not doing their best to make the club successful and as with everything in this world there are good and bad times.

New players are being added to the squad and it will make a difference.

You may also have noticed a new member of the coaching staff on the bench. James Scott is a coach who was at Crystal Palace and was at the manager of a side in south London. Please make him welcome.

It is the New Year and a time when resolutions are made. However I am not one to make resolutions as they are so easily broken so I prefer to make the promise that I will support the club in every way and however I can throughout these tough times.

The Board often enjoy healthy debates and discussions which make for interesting Board meetings at times but we are all owners and dedicated supporters of the club. We worry as much as everybody when results are not going our way but our support for the club does not waiver.

We hope to soon be able to officially welcome Sarah, Jim, Wink and Clint to the Board of TAFC the forms have been despatched to the FA and we hope for a quick response.

I was contacted by the FA just before Christmas and it was confirmed that the club had been awarded a grant of £25,000 to spend on the pitch following Pete Elves success at the Groundsman of the Year award. There are conditions of course attached to the grant and these are being clarified with the FA. I will keep you up to date as to how the grant is spent .

Dave Parker put a request on the webpages for volunteers and this has been answered by three hardy souls whom I look forward to meeting at the initiation ceremony which involves the ability to drink tea and/or coffee and to appreciate the finer points of the different variety of biscuits available. I thank them for their replies and do hope that they enjoy it.

The marquee has had an early spring clean in preparation for the parties and events that have been booked. We are looking to increase the use of the marquee to provide an income source away from football and if funds allow there will be further improvements carried out.

On a sad note our former player Pete Overton passed away just before Christmas and our thoughts and condolences go to his family at this very sad time. The funeral will take place at 2pm on Friday 25 January at Medway Crematorium. As soon as any further details are available I will pass them on.

We have lost many people associated with the club over the past 12 months and a perspective on the importance of life must be maintained. We do not all agree with the great Bill Shankly that football is a matter life or death but more serious. Though football does create great debate and passions it must be kept in perspective.

Please enjoy your afternoon with us and have a happy and peaceful New Year.

Dave