2016 has been a very good year for Carshalton Athletic.
The first team’s performance has been both important to the
club and impressive to those who have watched them play. When Peter Adeniyi was
appointed in the spring he was set three goals. Firstly, to achieve promotion –
ideally by winning the league, secondly to continue to develop our attractive
style of football and thirdly to place an emphasis on the development of young
talented players.
We are half way through the season and Peter and his team are
well on course to substantially achieve those ambitions. We sit just outside the
playoff places, some of our football have been nothing short or eye-watering
and Peter continues to develop our home grown and new young players in line
with the club’s ethos. We have seen one of our youngsters signed by Queens Park
Rangers and two more of our players are also being courted by both championship
and league clubs.
I sincerely hope that Peter, his team and the players can
raise the bar for the second half of the season and keep on target, I will continue
to support Peter, the management team and players to help achieve those targets
The club is much more than one team through. Without the
social section, facilities hire, soccer schools, juniors, youth, ladies and girls
the club would not enjoy the economies of scale nor level of resources created
by our enterprise.
The stadium and facilities are in better shape than ever. They
are used seven days a week by our own teams, local schools, leagues, clubs like
Chelsea and Crystal Palace and a growing number of local community
organisations. Our 3G has been a great success and already at over 90%
capacity.
The team at Colston Avenue have created an
incredibly successful business in Robins nest which is already booked up well
into the second half of 2017.
Our soccer schools, junior, youth, Ladies and academy
section continue to lead the field in both community and development terms.
This year we started several new teams and we now have over 1000 players aged
4-40 who either train or play in our teams or schools.
For the second consecutive year, the club has remained
profitable, cash positive and financially self-sufficient – We are one of the very
few football clubs in the country who belong to the “financial-stability” club –
something that we have all played a part in and from which we can all share pride.
To every supporter,
to every player in every team,
to every family of every player,
to every coach and every manager,
to every team admin and every physio.
to every secretary, to every director;
to our video, PR and press team,
to those to work to keep the club clean and secure,
to those who run match day,
to those who cook the food,
to those who serve the drink,
to the companies and organisations who sponsor and advertise with us,
to the local schools we work with,
to the volunteers, the fans,
to everyone at Colston Avenue
to every player in every team,
to every family of every player,
to every coach and every manager,
to every team admin and every physio.
to every secretary, to every director;
to our video, PR and press team,
to those to work to keep the club clean and secure,
to those who run match day,
to those who cook the food,
to those who serve the drink,
to the companies and organisations who sponsor and advertise with us,
to the local schools we work with,
to the volunteers, the fans,
to everyone at Colston Avenue
We wish you a happy, successful and peaceful new year
Paul & Clare Dipre