Chairman’s Blog: A Busy Week on and off the Pitch

I hope everyone had a good weekend, even if my own family commitments kept me from seeing any of our teams in action. It’s been a jam-packed few days at the club, so let’s dive into the latest happenings.

Starting with our Men's First Team match, it was an eventful trip to Thackley AFC, where we snatched a point right at the death. An early brace from Thackley’s Finn Donovan put us under pressure, but our lads showed incredible character. Mitch Langton headed home nine minutes from time, and in dramatic fashion, Ashley Worsfold nodded in just before the final whistle to secure a 2-2 draw. It's the kind of fight we love to see from the team.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t a great result for our Men’s Development Team, who lost 1-2 at home. Our U18s also had an off day, suffering a 4-0 defeat away from home. Sunday saw more tough results, as our Ladies Development Team were beaten 1-4 away.

But the real highlight of the weekend—and arguably in the clubs season so far—came from our Rossington Main Ladies FC. A massive congratulations is in order as they continue to make history by beating West Didsbury & Chorlton AFC Women in the third round qualifying of the Adobe Women's FA Cup.

This win means they’re officially in the hat for the first-round proper. It’s an absolutely monumental achievement for the team and the club. Just 18 months ago, we had no ladies’ side, and now, they’ve secured their place in the FA Cup. Words can't describe how proud we are!

Off the pitch, it’s been a busy time finalising the Men’s First Team Manager role, and I’m thrilled to announce that Greg Young has been appointed. Greg has been a standout player for us, with 119 appearances and 17 goals in his time at Rosso, not to mention over 700 career appearances. He took on the interim role with the same leadership that saw us promoted, and I couldn’t be happier to keep the appointment in-house. His experience and dedication will be crucial as he begins to restructure the squad.

On the ladies' side of the club, following the departure of our First Team Manager recently, I’ve been busy restructuring the setup. I’m pleased to confirm that Lee Mortimer has been appointed on a full-time basis after stepping in to manage the team recently. His passion and vision are exactly what we need to take the team to the next level.

Behind the scenes, we’ve also said a fond farewell to Ferenc Kecskés, our Ladies Development Team Manager, who has stepped down for personal reasons. Ferenc has been a fantastic asset to the club in his short stay, and we are deeply grateful for the hard work, dedication, and passion he brought to the team during his time with us. He’s handled his departure with class, providing a smooth handover, and he leaves with our best wishes.

I have appointed Mike Dyson, a UEFA C licensed coach, and he will now be stepping in as the new manager of the Ladies Development Team. I’m confident Mike will continue the excellent work already underway and push the team forward.

In addition to these managerial changes, I’ve spent the week catching up with club officials, holding sponsorship meetings, and discussing coaching setups. I’m also continuing to oversee the stadium upgrades, which are progressing well.

This week will see me back in full swing, and I’m looking forward to attending the Doncaster Rovers Academy game at our ground on Tuesday evening. We’re proud to be hosting the match and excited to welcome their under-17 side to Oxford Street. I’ll also be in touch with officials from other clubs on potential transfers as Greg Young begins reshaping our men’s first team.

But, finally and once again, this week truly belongs to our ladies. Just over 18 months ago, we had no women's team, and today, they’ve made it into the first round of the FA Cup.

Their achievement is absolutely remarkable, and I couldn’t be prouder.

Thanks for reading, and I’ll provide a further update next week!