Today we welcome Tonbridge Angels to the Mangata Pay UK stadium. May I wish their Directors, Manager, players and supporters an enjoyable stay with us and a safe journey home.
With it being just four days before Christmas, can I firstly thank you all for attending today and spending your hard-earned cash at the club. I know at this time of year things are always tight, so I hope we can reward your support and loyalty with a good performance and a positive result.
Today is also our annual ‘Ladies Day’, where free entry is given to the girls and ladies of both Tonbridge Angels and Boreham Wood. In truth, it’s the ladies who make our Christmas and the festive period so special. It’s the Ladies (certainly in my family), who have always chosen the gifts, wrapped up the presents, done the shopping, prepared the ‘Christmas Breakfast, Dinner’ and dealt with the evening…. so can I genuinely thank you ladies.
If like me you are of a certain age and a typical male, we sometimes forget to tell our wives, girlfriends, partners and loved ones just how much we appreciate them, but trust me we always know “behind every good man there’s a good woman” ….. and with today being ‘ladies day’ I hope the girls enjoy their ‘free’ admission, enjoy a cocktail or two and even manage to belt a tune out on Karaoke after the game in the Glass House.
The male and female support percentages regarding home attendance show that on the ladies’ side, their attendance is not only strong but also rising every season. They are also very loyal and with us being a fully inclusive club, I’m looking at creating a “mums and chums” special season ticket next season, as the increased ladies’ support that we receive week in and week out, is hugely appreciated. I believe our average attendance would perhaps be down to around 700 without our loyal ladies.
So, as we end the year on the football front, it’s in all honesty been a mad 12 months for me, but things are looking up since our club’s summer revamp, in-season rebuild and Luke Garrard’s return. That said, you’ll also be pleased to know that there will be no extra messaging, or long programme notes today from me – as I feel you all deserve a very well-earned day off haha.
As such, it just leaves me to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a very happy and healthy New Year. For some of you, I’ll no doubt see you at our away game at Enfield Town on Boxing Day and for many more of you I’ll hopefully see you in the Glass House after the game on New Year’s Day against Slough Town.
I do though at this time of year need to thank my amazingly loyal staff, our amazing sponsors and our tremendous club partners for their loyalty, longevity and support – it’s been a truly challenging 12 months for me and you all in so many ways – but in those difficult and dark moments you stuck with me and my faith tells me ‘God loves a trier’…. I know if we can stick to the fight when we’re hardest hit, we’ll eventually get our rewards and my faith in what we’re doing is important to me.
So as we enter another New Year, hope does spring eternal, and I ask once again that you all support our club, your club, the town’s club, through these tough times, trust in me, trust in the process and know that win, lose or draw, we’ll be trying our very best to give you a 2025 to remember.
Can I also thank Luke Garrard, Charlie Hunter, Billy Hunter, the dressing room, our academy and all our associated football staff for their hard work. Like me, they know that they hold our town and our community’s footballing dreams and ambition in their hands.
So as I sign off on my notes for the final time in 2024, I need to apologise to you our loyal supporters, my staff, our town and our community for our relegation, as the buck must always stop with me – trust me I will not sleep or rest until I right that wrong and rebuild this club from top to bottom, because I know when I do, we are going to be far stronger for the experience.
Finally, to one and all, have a great Christmas and festive period, build your memories and always, always, always, cherish your time with friends, family and loved ones.
New Year’s Eve is always a tough and emotional time for those of us of a certain age who have lost family and friends over the years. As the minutes tick down on this year and as a brand-new year approaches, I’ll quietly raise a glass and be forever thankful for the memories I’ve made and the love and friendships we shared. “Here’s to you, absent friends and lost loved ones.”
God Bless,
Danny.
