Chairman speaks out frankly

Published on 27th March 2008 in Sport

Sir -

Further to your article re: Goole AFC v FC United of Manchester, I would like to state the following facts.

Considering that the club was only made aware that we would be playing FC United of Manchester ten days before the game, contrary to reports, members of the management commitee did extensive work in this short period of time.

Mr Geoff Bruines, our commercial manager, and myself, liaised with the police throughout the week preceding the game.

Mr Bruines also organised additional toilets, barriers for segregation, and additional catering.

Terry Reddall, our club secretary, liaised with Manchester regarding the approximate numbers that would be travelling, and the mode of transport that would be used. We increased the number of stewards from six on our regular match days, to seventeen for this match.

What we did not plan for were the morons who came to the game under the guise of football supporters.

I have now been at the club for five years and during that period we have had one incident where stewards have had to intervene. I also want to bring to your article's correspondent's attention that the people who run the club do so on a voluntary basis and I would like to thank every director, and members of the management commitee, all the stewards, the snack bar ladies and bar staff for the hard work in the last five years.

And if anybody out there would like to join the club's Management Commitee and has ideas of how to improve the progress of the club, please contact the club now, as Goole AFC is not a closed shop.

Des O'Hearne

(Chairman, Goole AFC)