Chairman’s Blog: Battling the Weather and Planning Ahead

This weekend felt like a battle against not just our opponents, but also the weather. Sadly, the elements came out on top, forcing us to cancel several games. A frozen pitch on Saturday meant our much-anticipated clash with local rivals Hallam FC couldn’t go ahead.

This also delayed a significant milestone for our star player, Ross Hannah, who was set to make his 100th appearance for the club. On Sunday, heavy overnight snowfall made conditions impossible for any of our Ladies’ games to take place.

With no games to oversee, I took advantage of my final week off work to focus on the club’s operations. This included catching up on paperwork, meeting with several club officials, and reaching out to a potential new sponsor. This local businessman, whose trade is heavily supported by the Rossington community, showed great interest in the benefits of sponsoring the club for next season. Conversations are ongoing, but the mutual appeal is clear.

On the ground, progress continues despite the weather setbacks. Our grounds team has successfully installed new ball retention netting behind the goal, enhancing the playing and spectating experience. Meanwhile, the bar and café have been fully restocked in preparation for the weekend games that were unfortunately postponed. With no major home fixtures for a few weeks, we now find ourselves well-stocked but ready for when football resumes.

I also took delivery this week of some free entry and lunch meal tickets, arriving just in time for the schools going back. These are part of an exciting initiative to engage more with local schools by offering free entry deals as a taster. The aim is to inspire more local kids to choose Rossington Main as their local club of choice, alongside their support for their local pro teams. Additionally, we’ve placed an order for lots of club bobble hats and baseball caps to give out to the village kids. These not only serve as a free gift but also as a form of advertising for the club, spreading our presence throughout the community.

I’ve also finalised and submitted February’s monthly community magazine update for the village, aiming to keep our supporters and residents informed of all things Rossington Main.

Additionally, I’ve met with our social media team to discuss strategies for the new year. Together, we’re exploring initiatives to boost match-day attendances across all our teams.

Looking ahead, planning for next season is already underway. Over the coming weeks, I’ll be working closely with our first-team manager to arrange the pre-season schedule. We’re particularly excited about the prospect of hosting one of the region’s top professional teams at Oxford Street, which would be a fantastic event for the club and our supporters.

Another exciting development is the progress on our new kit deal. While I can’t share the details just yet, I’m thrilled about what’s in store for the club and our players. Once the weather improves, we’re also eager to resume work on the new turnstile build, which has faced delays due to the festive period and poor conditions.

Though this weekend has been a challenge, the hard work and planning behind the scenes continue to move us forward. Thank you all for your patience and unwavering support as we navigate the winter months. Here’s to brighter days ahead and the return of football action at Rossington Main FC!

#UpTheRosso