Co-Chairmen SHARE THEIR PROGRAMME NOTES AHEAD OF Today’s clash with Maidstone…
Welcome back to Plainmoor for today’s home fixture against Maidstone United – and a warm welcome to our visitors, their staff and supporters, as well as today’s match officials.
First and foremost, let’s savour what we produced here against Hampton & Richmond. The result was important, but it was the performance that really lifted everyone inside the ground. We saw an outstanding team display – brave in possession, aggressive without the ball, and relentless from first minute to last.
And the goals: four of the very best we’ve seen at home all season. The sort you remember – quality, imagination, pace and conviction. Credit to the players and staff for setting the tone, and credit to you for driving the atmosphere, because the noise and energy were superb.
We do, though, have a real down note to share. We’re hugely disappointed to lose Callum Dolan for the remainder of the season after a serious knee injury sustained in last week’s victory over Hampton. It’s a cruel blow – for Callum and for all of us – especially when he’s been working so hard over the past six months. If his goal that day proves to be his final action of the season, it’s certainly a moment to savour. Most importantly, we will look after Callum properly during his recovery and make sure he gets the very best treatment and support from the club every step of the way.
Now, as we turn the page into the second half of the campaign, one thing is guaranteed: this league will keep throwing the unexpected at all of us. A “banker” on paper can become a banana skin in reality, and teams can swing from a sticky spell to a winning run in the blink of an eye.
So hold on to your hats – it’s going to be tight, it’s going to be emotional, and it will likely come down to fine margins. In seasons like this, the clubs who keep their heads, hold their nerve, stay together and keep pushing forward are the ones still standing when the dust settles.
And so that’s where you come in again today. When Plainmoor is rocking, it genuinely gives our lads an extra yard, an extra moment of belief. Be loud, be positive, and stick with the team. There will be hiccups – that’s sport – but let’s keep our eyes on the main prize and judge this journey by where we finish, not the bumps along the road. If we all stay united and remain focused on the goal, we can get there.
A final word on something that can make a real difference off the pitch: the 1899 Club lottery. Since the first draw in May 2025, it has delivered eight draws, paying out £14,617 in cash prizes (plus tickets, shirts and more) to 46 winners, with 570+ players and around 650 entries.
Crucially, it has generated roughly £35,000 profit for the club to reinvest – helping make projects like our new LED floodlights and the replacement big screen easier to deliver, and supporting the materials and tools our volunteers rely on week in, week out. The ambition for 2026 is to grow to 1,000 players a month, and you can even play from abroad. In 2026 we want to help use the lottery to fund youth football structure too.
Enjoy the game and…Come on you Yellows !
Mark Bowes-Cavanagh & Michael Westcott and the Board
