Saturday was a good day for Billericay Town Football Club. I went to watch our final Capital League (reserve) game of the season which was away to Witham Town. Our U18’s are defending the Eastern Junior Alliance Challenge cup V’s  Brentwood, at Brentwood this coming Thursday May 18th, So Manager Paul Moody, assisted by John Miff, used this game to prepare his side for that Cup Final.  The Squad/Team at Witham included U15 & U16s, and we won the Game 1-0. The game itself was a bit flat first half but after a half time “Team Talk” from John Miff the lads upped the pace and never looked like losing.

Later that evening there was a presentation at the Clubhouse for the U15s, U16s & U18s and it was here that I noticed we had finally become a united club.

The ages spanned our junior and senior sections but I felt no divide, It was as it should be, a presentation to OUR 15/16/18s.

The night benefitted from good organisation, good presentation and good attendance. The presentations had a healthy balance of recognition and celebration, as well as a camaraderie and expectation of a bright future. Now that we are all pulling in the same direction I have no doubt we will go from strength to strength. Billericay is an exciting place to be at the moment, the path of progression is not limited to within Billericay itself, let’s not forget that we have progressed three players into the Football League in the past five seasons. Nathan Elder to Brghton & Hove Albion, Chris Whelpdale to Peterborough, and Danny Green to Dagenham & Redbridge. The next player to move on could easily be from our own home grown talent.

Before I move onto the next subject I would like to thank Ken, Adrian, Ros, & John for finally achieving a project that began seven years ago, and If we keep looking forward then who knows how far we can go. Well done you guys, and well done the award winners.

The next area we need to address in my opinion is  our Supporters association (the collective members) as an association it seems to have gone a bit flat and become dysfunctional. Billericay Town FC has decent support, a good history and pedigree, we have good facilities. The supporters association has members who are willing to organise things, and a membership of 200, yet it still doesn’t function well and fulfil its written down objectives. I think many people join out of habit and loyalty without giving a second thought of what the BTSA stands for and its objectives. I’m not against a BTSA, in fact I’m very much for it, I think it should be a very important part of who we are as a club, it should be a strong voice in the club, but when it’s members do no more that pay there subscription once a year then it almost ceases to be. At present the membership is joint with the club, i.e. as a member of both you can enjoy benefits from both sides, but I now wonder if that is such a good idea, I wonder if that joint membership has taken away the identity of the BTSA?

I don’t know the answers, but what I do know is it could and should be a bigger part of our Club. It will be interesting to see who turns up to the BTSA AGM. If it’s just the usual 20 or 30 aging long standing members then I fear for its future. It would be a tragic loss in my view if the BTSA just wilted away. I would also fear for the long term future of our Club.

Back to the positive. We have some good pre-season friendlies booked, including at least one league side, at least a couple of Blue Square South sides, and weekend away at Ramsgate and Herne Bay, The dates will be confirmed in due course.  Last season squad have been invited back and with the exception of Danny Green, none so far have, indicated that they are not returning.

Friday evening 2nd of July is going to be a corker at New Lodge. Beer festival, Quarter Final of the World Cup showing, and a  BBQ.

What a club we have…Enjoy.

Steve.