Page 3 - Raynes Park Vale vs Rusthall

Chairman's notes

Having tripped up against Broadbridge Heath FC in the
FA Cup Raynes Park Vale showed the spirit of the team
and the club to notch up two consecutive wins against
quality opposition that bolstered confidence amongst
players and supporters alike. However, a home loss against local rivals Sutton
Common Rovers during the week provided a reality check of how tough the
competition can be in the CCL Prem. The old adage about there not being
any easy games in any league can be no truer than in the league that we com-
pete in. With a few exceptions, money is tight. Throughout the league there
are teams and players, such as we have at RPV of great quality and determi-
nation. In these times all teams are struggling to a greater or lesser extent
from the effects of the CoVId-19 pandemic so no-one at the club should
underestimate the task ahead for us – or for any other team. We know that
Grand drive is a testing place for teams to come to – we have a fighting spirit
at the club that can and should be a concern for all visiting clubs – but no
wins are going to be easy as we push ahead in the season’s league campaign.
There is great belief and ambition amongst the team and management and
we, supporters and staff will back them all the way, as ever. In the meantime,
away from the grind of the league season the loss in the FA Cup shifts our fo-
cus onto the FA Vase competition. This is not a sideshow. Cup runs do more
than just bring in much-needed revenue. These competitions pit us against
opposition that we might not, otherwise encounter, give us a chance to play
outside of our comfort-zone, provide an opportunity to contest matches in
isolation from the long-view planning of the league and give us a chance to
put the name of Raynes Park Vale F.C. even more firmly on
the footballing map.

UP THE VALE!!!
John Dalton

Chairman,
raynes Park Vale F.C.