It is with a heavy heart that we announce Chairman James Collier will be leaving his role at the end of the current season after over a decade as Chairman of Adderbury Park Football Club.

Collier has been at Adderbury for over 20 years, first as a player when we were in the Hellenic League, then taking on a player/manager role for our Reserves, and driving the team forward. After a couple of seasons away to broaden his coaching experiences he returned to manage the 1st Team and after a difficult first season and a changing of the guard across the club, he became Chairman alongside his role as 1st Team Manager.

The club was steadied off the pitch, the clubhouse renovated and on the pitch silverware arrived with the league title and multiple cups being secured during a hugely successful spell.

Collier then stepped back from management to concentrate on the running of the club and allow someone new to take the club into its next phase.

Stints as assistant manager and caretaker manager followed for both the Reserves and 1st Team before again settling in a role as Ben Lovatt’s Assistant Manager last season as the 1st Team won 3 trophies.

James leaves us in a much better place from a two team adult only club, to one that is now thriving with seven adult and youth sides and huge potential for future growth, whilst the club also being a more prominent part of the local community. He will also remain on the committee and offer advice and support to the club where needed, whilst also being involved in the development of the new community and sports facility where he can.

We will make an announcement on the Chairman position later in the season, but if anyone is interested in a role at Adderbury Park, please reach out to us on: adderburyparkfc@outlook.com or via our social media platforms.

Thank you for everything James, you will be missed by all at APFC.

James had this to say:

It’s been an honour and privilege to be part of Adderbury Park for so long and hopefully I leave it in a better place than when I took over. I’m glad I was able to bring some success to the club, whilst being able to also take it forward off the pitch. Last season was extremely enjoyable to be involved in with Ben and hopefully my reign can end with another successful season.

Being firstly a manager and then running a football club for so long has meant a lot has been sacrificed over the years, so I feel now is the right time to step back and allow someone else to take the club forwards. I owe a lot to the people around me and it’s only right that I start to spend more time with my family and give back to them, without having my life revolving around football. Also getting to watch some football without the worries that being Chairman brings will be refreshing and it’ll be nice to watch some of our former players that we’ve been able to help progress to play higher too.

Hopefully the club can benefit from the new sports facility soon, as it’s been frustrating for me personally seeing progress stall and it’s meant I’ve been unable to take the club and the players forward to the levels they deserve to be at. It’s been hard thinking it’s close and telling players to remain patient and loyal and then it not progressing as promised, it really does begin to take its toll.

There’s so many people to thank for their help and support over the years; the committee members, managers and players, without them the club wouldn’t exist and I really am indebted to them all. Most recently Sarah and Chris, I know it’s been challenging, but thank you, you're both absolute legends! People forget the club is made up of volunteers, who each give up their time to make sure we have a club and everything in place to play football and it’s so often such a thankless task.

As mentioned, I’ll stay on the clubs committee and still be involved in the new community facility to try and make sure the club gets what it needs to continue to develop and also offer more opportunities to all ages and abilities in the village and surrounding areas.

I wont be a stranger and look forward to having a beer and watching a game next season. But first we’ve still got a job to do and make sure this season is a successful one for all our teams.

#UTAP

James