Page 6 - Bath City v Chippenham Town - Saturday 2 January 2021 - VNLS

FROM THE BOARDROOM

– stepped forward and took Sports Ground – a hangover from
responsibility for keeping your Club the Rovers days – means we’re
going by donating to the Player subject to more onerous checking
Pledge, purchasing 2020/21 than other teams at our level. With
season tickets, buying out all the the inspection only happening in
Club Shop’s stock, and entering early December, we’ve had to
the Shirt Sponsor Draw. And deal with a range of issues that
management, staff and players could, in normal times, have been
all sacrificed part of their income identified and resolved in the close
while we were locked down. season. The latest lockdown makes
When the opportunity to compete this a moot point once again, but
in the play-offs arose, you stepped we’re optimistic the actions we’ve
up to the plate again, 849 fans taken will have us in good shape
raising a total of £53,000 for the if and when the ban lifts and
Club. Sadly, it was an unsuccessful we truly hope to see you in the
First of all welcome to our visitors, play-off campaign, but the funds ground as soon as possible. Lastly,
Chippenham Town. We’re sorry have given us security and a the redevelopment hasn’t gone
it’s a derby unlike any we’ve had springboard for 2020/21. And away. Our partners, Greenacre,
before, but we trust that you have a we haven’t forgotten that there are are in active discussion to bring
safe visit and journey home. promises to be kept in return for the in a third party to help take the
And welcome to 2021 - seldom Crowdfunder campaign – not least project forward, with a modified
can a new year have been more 2,650 free tickets for NHS workers proposal that satisfies the planner’s
looked forward. The new year and carers, just as soon as we can requirements.
is a time for reflection as well accommodate crowds. Thank you for all your support
as optimism, and looking back September promised a new league through 2020. It’s been a year like
on 2020 is quite a sobering campaign with socially distanced no other, but one where we’ve all
experience. As Big Ben’s bells crowds, but everything changed acted as one to secure and sustain
rang out 2019, we were looking again and we had to kick off our Club.
forward to securing planning behind closed doors. You’ve been Here’s to a happier and successful
permission for our redevelopment immensely patient as we worked 2021. Up the Romans!
and a serious tilt at promotion, to get a streaming service up and
hitting second place on News running, and just as generous JON BICKLEY
Year’s Day. But what transpired in leaving your season ticket DIRECTOR
was the most challenging year that payments with the Club despite
the Club – or anyone – has had to not being able to attend matches.
face in generations. On the field it’s not been plain
In early March, the Council sailing as Jerry and Jim tried to
rejected our planning application construct a new squad against a
and then Covid-19 brought the background of huge uncertainty.
season to a crashing halt, just as But we’ve conquered the streaming
the team had hit another run of technology and four wins in seven
form and played in front of 1,902 matches points to a better outlook
at Twerton Park. Our immediate in a season that could still be wide
and long-term future was open.
threatened as never before. But As the year ended, we’ve been
this is where, I believe, we started battling to get the ground opened
to come of age as a community- up to welcome supporters once
owned club. You – our owners again. Our status as a Designated

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