Chairman's View - Wraysbury - 2 Marlow United - 6

This was a commendable performance from both teams on an afternoon as bad as any that I have witnessed, setting Marlow up nicely for the challenges that lay ahead in the New Year, starting at the Alfred Davis against fellow title contenders Mortimer on 5 January 2019.

If we could have envisaged back in the summer that United would be one point off the top of the league with games in hand and in three cup quarter finals, suffering just one defeat in all competitions, then we would have taken that there and then. Ironically, it may be that sole defeat that will harness the squad going into the new year, as it offered a wake-up call to a team that was perhaps in ‘coasting’ mode.

Back in the Summer much time was spent laying a foundation that we could relaunch the football club from and following many discussions/negotiations the groundshare was agreed with Marlow FC and the ‘Alfred Davis’ became the club’s new home.

With such a palatial home ground the club needed a new King and in James Pritchard the club had the perfect solution and following a little cajoling James agreed to take the helm bringing Yash Romeo and Adam Dickens to the table to form what many consider to be a top management team that could be working at a few higher levels, but ‘Project United’ it was and we were on our way.

With everything in place and high expectations it was a case of forming a new squad while retaining those players who were prepared to step up to the plate. Pleasingly, several of the existing team rolled their sleeves up to join several players who the new management team had invited along. Fast forward to today and as they say the proof is in the pudding as the squad has gelled well and continues to do so, effectively.

The football club has ambitions and this season a top 5 spot is critical to those ambitions, if a club stands still the only way is down and the only way to survive successfully is to continually evolve usually in 5 year cycles, that United are at the beginning of yet another cycle in its history only adds to the excitement and of course expectation.

With Reading YMCA now expunged from the league table it has now taken on a slightly different look but United having dropped just 5 points out of a possible 33 points are looking good in second spot with games in hand and Messrs Pritchard, Romeo and Dickens have every reason to feel pleased with themselves.

Around the league yesterday three matches were abandoned due to the weather , one somewhat controversially with a team walking from the pitch, otherwise the only other game played was Richings Park’s solid 4-1 win over Wokingham & Emmbrook TVPL.

United’s reserves also fell foul of the weather and will play Second Division leaders Mortimer Reserves on January 5 at Derehams Lane forming a double header as United also play Mortimer at the Alfred Davis on the same day both games kick off at 2pm.

May I on behalf of the football club wish all of our players, officials, sponsors and supporters a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and I also extend this to League officials, referees and very importantly our social media wizards ‘Legends of Marlow’ ‘It’s a Marlow Thing’ ‘Marlow Events’ ‘MyMarlow.co.uk’ and ‘MarlowFM’ whose support and indeed encouragement is always appreciated.

Updated 07:50 - 30 Aug 2019 by Alan Turner