Chairman Chat - FEBRUARY

I'm sure we all hope that we have now seen the back of this and return to early mornings and mud in our cars again...fingers crossed anyway.

As mentioned above the weather has caused problems up and down the country and because of the wear and tear on our pitches we took the decision to move pitches around to allow better recovery in certain areas of the field.

The FA have recently announced that they will again be asking leagues and club to again take part in this.

Silent Support Weekend will take place over the weekend of 25th-26th February 2023 and we will be taking part. We will ask all spectators to be quiet during the games but everyone can applaud good play from either team during the fixtures.

Our U11/U12 girls team played the first ever Port of Bristol YFC girls only game against a Portishead team at St Bedes on Friday, 3rd February 2023.

The girls ended up losing 3-2, conceeding in a last minute goal line scramble, but there were plenty of smiles after the game and joy of taking part.

We currently have three age groups and 30+ girls now at this club. I believe this was the first of many games that Port of Bristol YFC will be involved in over the next few years with new girl sides. 

Another 'Potential' Milestone
I have been working very closely with the Port of Bristol Sports & Community Hub (PBA) and have put together a business plan that will hopefully secure the site and in turn our footballing home.

If successful, we will have the security to work together in developing the site that will see much needed improvements both inside and out for the community as a whole. It is in my opinion (with my football club hat on) that we are in a very lucky position where we are involved in conversations that will help us retain players but also facilitate our growth at the club year on year.

One of our U14s has decided to hang up his football boots in order to fully focus and dedicate himself to darts, being involved with the Bristol Darts Academy and taking part in the JDC Tournament (Junior Darts Corporation).

I'm sure you all will join me in wishing him the very best.

One thing positive to come from the extended breaks due to the weather was seeing so many of our teams doing events together. Some had been arranged through the clubs yearly Christmas gift to players with other coaches arranging additional squad bonding throughout January to keep players engaged.

It is with a heavy heart that I intend to step down as Chairman at the end of the season, our presentation in June to be more precise. When asked to become Chairman, I listened to what was needed from our coaches, changed the process of communication, gave people a chance to be more included, to be proactive and have ownership on how we ran Port of Bristol Youth Football Club.

Unfortunately, I feel that this opportunity has been missed by so many at the club, people who have a voice, but don't always step up to the plate and for me that creates a problem, one which is disheartening and has left me frustrated.

I absolutely love this club, watched it grow from the start and there are so many great people here, but I feel I have led it as far as I can under the current circumstances and it possibly needs a new set eyes at the helm to lead us and to communicate.

I will still be heavily involved and committed to the three teams I currently coach and will continue to fully support the club where possibly needed in our future.