A Week of Battles, Planning, and Progress

Another week of highs and lows both on and off the pitch as we edge closer to the end of the season.

Saturday brought disappointment for our first team, despite a strong first-half performance that saw us go into the break at 0-0. Unfortunately, a goal for Beverley in the first minute of the second half and another in the final minutes saw us fall to a 1-2 defeat. Once again, the same old story— not taking our chances. If we had, this game only ends in a home win.

Our development team was on the road at SJR Worksop but suffered a 2-0 loss. That said, two of their regulars had stepped up to the first-team squad after impressing in midweek cup action against Beverley, which is a positive sign for the future.

Sunday was all about our ladies' teams, and both put in strong performances. The development team secured a valuable 2-3 ?away win at Charnock Ridgeway, while the ladies' first team battled hard in the SHCFA County Cup against a very strong Brunsmeer Athletic, coming away with a brilliant 0-2 victory. A fantastic effort from the squad to keep their season alive and kicking.

Away from the pitch, planning for next season is well underway. This weekend saw the final games for a couple of our first-team players, and we wish them well in their next endeavors. On the flip side, we had a positive conversation with one of our young prospects, and we are looking to extend his stay as we start to build for the new season.

Monday was an exciting day as I exchanged some very positive emails regarding a behind-the-scenes project that could be a game-changer for the club. I’ll be discussing this further on Thursday, and I’m looking forward to seeing how things progress.

Sponsorship discussions have also been moving forward, particularly on the ladies' side, with some promising conversations for next season. Wednesday saw a productive meeting regarding the U18s and development team setup for next year, ensuring we continue to strengthen our pathway for young players.

Tuesday, I was in attendance for the men’s first-team cup game away at Beverley. The 5-3 defeat wasn’t the result we wanted, but it was great to see several development squad players getting game time and putting in impressive performances.

A big shout-out to all the volunteers who have been down at the ground most days, catching up on jobs and giving the café a deep spring clean. It’s never a pleasant job— grease gets everywhere— but they cracked on, and it looked spotless on Saturday morning. The grass maintenance program for summer treatments has also been booked, another important step in keeping our facilities at a high standard.

We’ve also started planning for our annual end-of-season charity game, which we hope to make even bigger than last year’s event. A special thanks to ladies’ captain Steph and senior player Sarah for their support in organising what promises to be a fantastic day.

This week, I’ll be across our teams' games, attending a few club meetings, and catching up with officials and volunteers as we continue pushing forward. While the men’s first team no longer has anything to play for in their remaining games, we are still pleased with the progress made after a mid-season managerial change. Greg is already working hard on planning for next season.

Meanwhile, our U18 girls have been crowned league champions, and our ladies' first team still has everything to play for. This season could still end on a high, and my personal ambition has always been to see a Rossington Main Ladies team promoted from Step 7 into the feeder leagues. That goal is still well within reach, so let’s all get behind them and get it done!

Thanks for your continued support – Up The Main!