Chairman's Report

Hello Everyone,

I am Matt, your chairman for Shamrock. As Chairman, I want to take this opportunity to thank you all for being apart of the Shamrock community. Your support and involvement plays a crucial role in ensuring we can deliver football sessions to girls in our local community. Women's football has seen a dramatic rise. According to data provided by 31 county football associations in England and the Channel Islands, as of Febuary 2024, there are 12,150 women's and girl's teams registered - up from 5,632 in the 2016-17 season (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-68239308). As a club, we are delighted to be contributing to the rise of Women's football in England.

Looking back over the past two years, I’m incredibly proud of our three teams and the progress we’ve made together. I’d like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to all the volunteers, parents, players, and sponsors who contribute to our amazing football family. Your commitment has been key to our success. We’ve established a fantastic training base at Bablake, providing a solid trianing ground for our U13 and U15 teams, as well as securing a great venue for our U10s. These improvements reflect our collective dedication to creating a positive, nurturing and safe environment for our players.

I want to recognise our outstanding volunteers and coaches, who have dedicated countless hours to support our teams. Our volunteers selflessly dedicate their time, knowledge, and skills to nurture and guide our teams. They invest countless hours in planning, training, and mentoring the girls, imparting valuable techniques and important values such as teamwork and sportsmanship. Through their tireless efforts, they shape the character and skills of our girls, helping them reach their full potential and achieve remarkable feats. These volunteers contribute to personal growth, fostering a sense of community and camaraderie within our wonderful club. I want to take this moment to say thank you. Let's ensure we keep working to ensure a safe space with focus on development, opportunity and inclusion.

Unfortunatley, I must mention that Martin will be stepping down from his role as Secretary. We are immensely grateful for his hard work and dedication throughout his time with us. His contributions have left a continuing impact.

On a more positive note, I’m pleased to share that we’ve secured a grant from Barclays, which will help us cover various costs, including providing equiptment for our three teams. We’re currently working on this initiative behind the scenes, and I’ll keep you updated with more information in the coming weeks.

If anyone is interested in stepping up to get more involved in our club, in any capacity, now is the perfect time to put your name forward. Your engagement is vital to our continued success.

Thank you once again for joining Shamrock on our journey. Let’s celebrate our achievements and look forward to another successful year together!

Matt

Chairman for Shamrock FC