Forget about Prince Harry, this is the only interview that matters this week. Hear the Chairman's views on the club now and the future. As John sat down to discuss matters with me.

Another good win on Saturday with a cup win. How happy are you with the 1st teams performance so far this season?

JM - I’m very happy with our form at the moment, what’s pleasing to me is how consistent our performances and results have been in the last couple of months. After winning promotion last season, our main objective was to not get drawn into a relegation battle first time back in the premier division. Unfortunately, we were forced to recruit a lot of players pre season, so your never quite sure how it will all pan out. So to be sitting 7th in the table, you’ve got to be happy.

With the reserves unbeaten and top of their league. How important is that set up to the clubs future?

JM - The reserves set up is crucial for the clubs success, not only does it bridge the gap for our junior players into senior football, it also allows us to develop our young players whilst gaining essential match practice. It has already proven how important it is on many occasions this season, with reserve players getting regular stints in the 1st team squad. Adam Angus is a prime example, coming off the bench on Saturday and scoring. I am very pleased how the reserves are going.

How pleased are you with getting Cam Elliot to resign again for the club?

JM - Cam played a major part on all fronts in the clubs success last season. We were all disappointed he left in pre season, but we respected his decision. To be honest, I’m over the moon to have him back, he’s a great lad and will certainly add energy, versatility, pace and more playmaking options to the squad. Welcome back Cam.

As chairman do you have any involvement with recruitment or do you leave it Simon?

JM - I do offer my opinion on recruitment of players and which areas we need to strengthen, but that’s about it, I tend to leave that to our manager Simon who really does a great job. I think this is proven with the great signings we’ve made this season.

How did you fall into position of club chairman?

JM - I was forced to retire from playing through injury at 26. I missed the competition and I needed to fill the void. Our village had been without Senior Saturday team for 5-6 years, since Newbiggin Central Welfare FC folded, I wanted to bring that back so I founded AFC Newbiggin in 2010. I’ve been chairman from day one.
I also managed the team for the first two seasons and won promotion to the Northern Alliance, but due to work commitments and working away I had to pass on the reigns and just continue as coach and chairman.

You see that some chairman are high profile individuals. Yet you seem to be more hands on. What is your match day input?

JM - I just want the best for the team and club, so I will do whatever I can to help us.
My usual match day duties include prepping the pitch, setting up equipment, warming up the players, assist our manager in team talks, tactics and during the game and tidying up.
It’s pretty full on.

How important is the Match Day donations made by the fans to the club. There were some grumbles from certain quarters when it was introduced?

JM - The gate fees are a massive part of the clubs income and are essential for the club to continue to operate. Everything has went up in price dramatically over the past couple of years and there’s no exception to football. All fees have risen, pitch fees, equipment and referees prices have all gone up so unfortunately, we had no option, but to introduce the Gate Fees for our home games.
I must say they have been a huge help to the club and we are so grateful to all who has supported us.

How did the plans for the ground redevelopment come about. And how much have you been involved in the decision making?

JM - I’ve been part of the ground development project team since 2014. We’ve have had two failed attempts to get the project over the line at Newbiggin Welfare. After the second attempt the club and the Northumberland County Council discussed the development of the sports centre ground. We discussed what we needed within the given budget and funding was granted by the Football Foundation. The clubs project team has worked very hard over the past few years to get the ground development, they can all be very proud to what they have achieved. We can now look forward to this summer when we move back.

Why grass and not plastic. Which seems the way forward for some clubs?

JM - Artificial surface is a great way to keep a high standard playing surface all year round. This is so important in non league to keep games on throughout the bad weather in winter. However, this surface is expensive to install, to maintain and was simply out of our budget.

How important is it to the club and people of Newbiggin to have this development?

JM - Our new ground will be central for the club to execute their growth and development plan moving forward.
The ground will obviously be the home to our 1st team and Reserves, it will give us the platform to develop our ground further to meet the promotion criteria of the Northern League.
But more importantly it also provides a safe and quality environment for our Juniors to play, train and develop as footballers, as the number of teams grow in the club the new facilities will also help us retain local players in the future and perhaps stop them turning their heads to other clubs in the area.

How important are volunteers to the club?

JM - So important, It’s simple, without volunteers there would be no AFC Newbiggin, the club relies heavily on the people who give their time to keep us operating. We are lucky here to have over 13 volunteers behind the scenes in our senior set up who do their jobs very well and all work very hard have the clubs best interest at hand.

How excited are you to get back to home having played two seasons away?

Can’t wait, it’s been a long time away, there’s a real excitement from all staff and players to get beck home. Having only lost two games at home in Ashington over the past two seasons the team has faired well with the move away but we can’t wait to get back there and open up for the supporters.

Who would you like to see as our opening opponents?

Personally, for our first game back I would like a team of higher league status that would provide us with a difficult challenge and who would also bring a good following support. Someone on the lines of Ashington or Morpeth Town would be ideal and would certainly open the ground with a bang.

You see the set up of our neighbours Ashington and Morpeth and their success. Do you see AFC Newbiggin doing the same or similar in the future?

JM -Absolutely, one day yes.
The club continues to evolve and always looks to improve in all areas, improving the ground and taking it to the next level is something we are currently working on. It is one of the clubs goals to get into the Northern Football League and ground improvements will come hand in hand with this.

Is it possible and would you like to see afc in the FA Cup one day?

It’s certainly possible, we are only a couple of leagues away from entry to the FA Cup qualifying rounds, so why not. I certainly think it’s achievable, but not sure about winning it though… joke aside that would be a real special moment if we got to play in the FA Cup.

What are your plans moving forward with the club. Is there ambition to play higher league or establish us as one of the teams to beat in the Alliance?

JM - 100% we want to move up the leagues, but we do realise we are not just building on the pitch but off it aswell, these things take time and real investment to get the club to this level, the new ground is a huge step forward towards this and will give us the platform build over the next few years.
On the pitch with the squad we have now, I certainly do feel we would hold our own in the Northern League Div 2 so we’re heading in the right direction.

Where do you see the club in the next 10 years?

JM - There’s certainly high ambition within the club so in 10 years I would like to see the fist team established in the Northern League Div 1 and with the Reserves playing in the Northern Alliance Premier Division. Also to have a ground to be proud of and to have a natural pathway set out for our junior players into the senior sides.

Thanks again John for taken time out of your busy schedule to talk to us.