Last updated at 16:20, Wednesday, 05 December 2012

WITH everybody’s thoughts turning towards Christmas, our die-hard supporters showed last Saturday that December really is the month of giving, raising a fantastic £250 towards the cost of the new floodlights.

The money was raised at a quiz night in the Raiders Bar attended by around 60 or so fans (pretty much a full house in our humble base).

The evening also saw a question and answer session, with the club’s directors coming under the spotlight. I am pleased to say we all survived the experience! We certainly tried to answer all questions openly and honestly, as always.

In addition to the money raised last week, the Supporters Club are also donating £350 raised at an earlier event.

During the evening, a number of supporters came forward with offers of help.

One had the name of a cabaret act willing to put on a show for us for free, another wishes to help marketing matches and the third is trying to source electrical cabling, which will be of enormous use when we start to install the new floodlights at the back end of the year.

This is just the sort of practical help the club needs just now (and always in fact) and is appreciated by all the directors.

The monies raised by the Supporters Club and the regular monthly donations from individuals will help swell the Development Fund to around £4,000 by the end of December. This money, of course, is ring-fenced for the lights.

It really was a good news week all round, with a story to follow in these pages this week about a further funding boost towards the floodlights via one of our new schemes. Watch this space.

January is going to be a busy month for the club.

Two home friendly matches (and almost certainly a third) have been arranged to help get the players in shape for the coming campaign, while off the field the annual sponsors’ evening will take place (details to come soon).

Additionally, the two annual club meetings will take place.

These are of course the season ticket holders’ meeting and the annual general meeting for debenture holders. The dates, times and venues of these will appear in the Mail and also on the club website.

The proposed Past and Present Players and Coaches Association, which I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, is now really starting to take off with encouraging responses from well in excess of 100 players/coaches.

All have said they would love to be involved. As Phil Hogan said in an email to me, ‘without these people we would not have had a club to be proud of’.

How right he is and it is great that finally they are to have their own association with the full backing of the parent club’s directors and supporters.

These men have played their full part in the club’s long and, at times, distinguished history and it is up to those of us administering the club in 2012 and beyond to maintain that proud heritage. This we will endeavour to do.

Always remember – the future is bright, the future is blue and white.

First published at 16:47, Tuesday, 04 December 2012
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk