Chairman’s Christmas Message 2024
As 2024 draws to a close, I would like to thank everyone involved with Bishop Auckland Football Club, our supporters, volunteers, sponsors, staff, players, coaches and everyone who shares the same success and vision as myself. I would also like to wish everyone a very happy Christmas and healthy and happy New Year.
Reflecting back on 2024, what a year it’s been. For the first time in 38 years we were delighted to become Northern League Division Champions. It was a great honour to be crowned champions at Redcar Athletic our penultimate game of the 23-24 Season and huge thanks to the Northern League Committee and our friends at Tow Law FC, for allowing us to continue our celebrations at our last game of the season followed by a great night down Bishop for the players and fans. We followed this success, by making it a double in regards to silverware by being crowned the Cleator Cup Champions.
However, the summer saw us lose 10 players, all had been key to the success of last season and for me that was hard to take. I believe this took us into the rollercoaster of preseason and the disappointing start to this season where we weren’t able to build on last seasons success and hit the ground running.
After seeing a few familiar faces added to the squad, working hard to support some new and old faces we have managed to “steady the ship”. We saw the shock resignation of Manager Chris Hardy after our disappointing exit of the Durham County Challenge Cup, but I was delighted that assistant manager, Leon Carling accepted the challenge of stepping up to Manager. Leon has worked extremely hard to keep the stability, whilst putting on his own ‘slant’ and his hard work can be seen in his recent results. Leon brought with him Dave Onions, Jack Purdham and Dave Ryder who again have worked hard in supporting Leon and share Leon’s passion and vision for success of the team and Bishop Auckland Football Club.
With the work I see Leon and his team invest on a daly basis, I am confident we will have future success.
As well as having a successful year with our first team, Jackie Cleminson continues to work hard with our current ladies set up where we have seen an increase in the number of teams competing. The ladies recreational team were successful in a number of DCFA tournaments too in the last year.
2024 saw the introduction of our over 50’s Walking Football team who have also progressed into a league. The team have also had its first success in the way of winning the FA Session of the Session, which is a huge accolade to everyone involved in the sessions.
We have continued to work hard in supporting our community, being host to the SSP junior mixed and girls league. Our youth tournaments have continued and we saw the introduction to our hugely successful holiday clubs. We continue to work with our partner clubs, Bishop Auckland Girls, BASMJ and Escomb Youth. Since the start of the season have supported the Royal British Legion, Macmillan Cancer Trust, Marie Curie, If u care share and the Teenage Cancer Trust. We continue to show our support to all FA campaigns, be a continued Equality Partner Club to the ‘Kick it out’ and partner club to ‘Her Game Too’.
That said, we could not do this without the dedication of the staff and volunteers, our main sponsors, Teescraft Engineering, AKV,
Gavin Vest and VEST Construction, Comtek, David Bayles and Aspire Accounting or those of you who attend our games week in and week out or those who have kindly sponsored our players, bought sponsor boards, sponsored our tournaments, games, match balls dugouts and man of the match awards.
Our merchandise sales have been fantastic, never before have we sold so many replica kits and leisure wear, so again I would like to thank all our magnificent supporters for their dedication to the club and our Club shop and Bishops Museum shop volunteers for keeping the sales up and flag flying.
Finally, I would like to thank my fellow Directors,Terry Jackson, Kevin Everitt and Catherine Pearson, along with ex directors Richard Cooke and Kevin Bowker who still help us out in the back ground.
Thanks to Jack Purdham too, for setting our new Fanbase App up increasing a social media platforms.
It’s not always visible the work they all do sometimes alongside full time jobs, the support they give me is very much appreciated.
Last year I said we would obtain success again, with pictures and memories to go alongside our great times displayed in the museum shop and we have, but I want more so we won’t be standing still and we have lots of plans for 2025 , including an extended outside bar area , electric charging points, more solar panels , LED displays , etc.
I hope to see you all on Boxing Day where we host Consett, then away at Aycliffe for what should be an entertaining ‘derby’ on the evening of Monday 30th Dec.
Have a very Happy Christmas and let’s all hope for a great 2025.
Very best wishes to you all and thank you for your support and dedication.
Remembering our club motto:- “Tempori Prendum” ( one must move with the times)
Steve C