I WANT to start by thanking all our magnificent sponsors who contributed to exceeding our budget at last week’s sponsors evening, we really are blessed at our club.

I would also like to extend the thanks to our Supporters Trust, who made their own very telling contribution in selling some of the lower value sponsorship items. They sold so much that it reached a big number that is going to make a telling difference.

I was asked on the evening what success in 2020 would mean to me. The obvious answer for some would be that we achieve promotion. However, that wasn’t my answer.

My answer was that I would like to see a growth in crowds. If we can build on our crowds that averaged around 1,400 last season and head to 2,000 and beyond, then I know that we have achieved remarkable success, given the fact that the away support will be drastically reduced.

Having bigger crowds will also tell us that all we are doing has captured the imagination of the public. It will automatically tell us that we have managed to generate enough income either through our commercial partners, events or other income streams.

It will tell us that those income streams have allowed us to finance a decent side on the pitch that we are able to look after, that we have managed to put a matchday programme together to entice the families, we have been able to fund a community programme that brings the next generation of supporters and our facilities meet at least the basic requirements.

Off the field, there is loads of good work going on behind the scenes that is helping the club improve and I think I need to give credit where credit is due.

There is real work ethic in the boardroom; Keith Holt controlling our finances and relations with the RFL, John Coward with his sound business sense and many contacts, Jack Fawcett driving youthful ideas, Denis Fay and Siona Hartley transforming our Community programme, Pete Murphy and Adele Neale introducing many new commercial partners, Darren Herbert and Karen Scarr ensuring our Health and Safety commitments are met, Scott Deakin and Louise Scarr driving the 1875 club, Joe Slater and his hardworking team providing the ground maintenance and Hazel Robinson coming in like a breath of fresh air to drive an improvement programme.

We are all held together by the glue in the office that is Karen and Rachael Heighton. I really am blessed to be surrounded by such wonderful people.

I can then move on to the army of volunteers that help the club function both up to and including match day, The Supporters Trust, the auxiliary branch, the coaching staff and background staff. Every person involved is a vital cog in the wheel and I want to recognise the contribution each and every one makes. It is vital we all work together with the common goal of success for the club.