Twenty odd games into the season and probably time to check in with Senior Club Chairman Mark Cooper. Mark very kindly made time for us this week.
We’ve seen the Women’s team launched and their season well under way, the Vets team created and the season in progress, what’s next for club development?
“We would certainly like to be able to offer disability football in the future at Stag Meadow and would envisage this would tie in with the 3G pitch being put down (which we hope to update you on soon). We have recently started offering recreational football for women on a Friday evening at The Girls School which seems to have taken off very well.”
You are referenced as the Senior Club Chairman, how much involvement do you have with the other age groups?
“My remit is the Senior teams at the club including the U18’s whilst Paul (Mitchell) oversees the Youth Section. Needless to say, Paul and I speak regularly to catch up on club matters. I know he’s scheduled to chat with you shortly!”
Have you been surprised by the volunteer turn out?
“I can’t speak highly enough of the group of volunteers that we have at the club; they make the match day experience hugely enjoyable and help create a wonderful atmosphere around the place. We typically need around 20 people to make this happen (turnstile, gate, car park, BBQ, bar, kitchen, player gates, secretary, tanoy, club shop…..I could go on!) and they are a huge part of the club. We always need more though, so if anyone is interested, please let me know!”
Silly question perhaps, are we (do we have to) going to apply for promotion, and is there a deadline for our application?
“My understanding is that unlike last season when we had to apply for promotion by Christmas, because we are in the Combined Counties league system, there isn’t the same requirement, however we are of course confirming that!”
How is Stag Meadow from a ground grading perspective. What Grade do we have currently and what would we need at the next Step?
“From August 2023 the Premier League stadium fund began inspecting every club in Steps 3-6 on behalf of the FA (we were included last season because of the Virginia Water ground share). We were given a list of things to do to even comply with Step 6 requirements (which are very similar to step 5). Most of the items are relatively minor but we have a few more difficult and expensive areas to upgrade including more barriers behind some of the terracing on the main stand side, tarmacking of the walkway between the entrance and car park and some barriers between the car park and walkway. There are also some areas to clarify. Our deadline to meet these requirements is 31st March 2025.”
Is our playing budget comfortable and sustainable?
“In a word, yes. It’s difficult to forecast what the club needs to bring in to be able to be sustainable given the inevitable expense that is incurred with such an old stadium. This season we’ve upgraded a lot of the electrics around the ground not to mention the unexpected significant expense of the floodlight repairs, as well as the main stand toilets (in progress)! However, because of the success of match days along with sponsorship and functions at the club, we operate within our means and can comfortably manage our players expenses.”
Did you set a target for highest attendance this season and an average attendance?
“We knew that we might have a slight fall off in attendances this season in light of starting to charge for entry, but getting over 600 people in for the game against Windsor FC was really pleasing. Unless we have a huge cup tie, or title winning game, then I think this could well be difficult to surpass. If we could average over 300 then to us that’s huge success. I don’t know another Step 6 with attendances even close to this.”
Has there been a match so far that you’ve thought, wow we are good?
“Difficult to name one, Wallingford away was a game we dominated from start to finish against a team from a league above. Same again for Hilltop in The Vase when the all-round performance was just superb. Finally, I would say the Aylesbury game, even though we lost, I thought we were much the better team in the second half and shows just how good the squad is. Matt has done such a great job of putting this squad of players together, where regardless of which 11 he puts out, they always produce.”
