Page 2 - Tuffley Rovers FC sample

From the Chairman

Welcome to everyone for our latest game, particularly this
evening’s match officials and our visitors from Burnham FC.

At the time of writing, our visitors sit bottom of the Uhlsport
Hellenic League, Premier Division table, but they are on an
improved run of form following the appointment of former
Flackwell Heath boss Paul Shone as manager.
Our visitors will want to collect as many points as possible in
their final games, to help them climb to a position of potential
safety, which should ensure we are in for a tough encounter.
Whilst we are probably safe, our ambitions lie in securing a
top-half finish, which means all points are valuable to us, too.
The weather has been a real problem for us this season,
although the same could be said of most clubs, and all have
been facing something of a backlog of fixtures. We had nine
games to play on or before 28 April (the current date for the
last games in the Hellenic League season), which has proved a real challenge.
At the start of 2017/18, I said a top ten finish was our main aim, with eighth seen
as a genuine aspiration. Whilst it would be great to see us competing a little higher
up the table, it is important to remind ourselves where we were three or four seasons
ago (and, if you want to cast your mind back, where we were twelve seasons ago!).
If that isn’t enough, ask our visitors where they were four seasons ago and whether
they would trade us for our current league position.
This may prove to be the final home game for both Dave Evans and Shayne Bradley
today. Both have indicated an intention to ‘retire’ at the end of the season and
although I genuinely hope that isn’t the case, I sense both players mean it. Dave has
served us well these past two years and is amongst the most respected keepers at
this level. I cannot explain how many times people have asked “Dave Evans is your
keeper, isn’t he?”, followed by “what a great keeper, he is”!
Bradders, meanwhile, has been a huge contributor to this club’s recent history, after
being forced out of the pro game at a relatively young age and then joining us as a
Player/Manager in our County League side. There is a separate article about a recent
milestone for the club and he deserves all the praise that has come his way. We will
miss his contribution, both as a player and a leader, if he does hang up his boots.
Thank you, to both players, for everything they have given to the club.
I would like to thank everyone here today for their support and hope your visit to
Glevum Park has been an enjoyable one. Please have a safe journey home.

Neil

#uptherovers