What a year 2024 has been for the football club. We’ve appeared in our first cup final for 17 years, reached the fifth round of the FA Vase, seen a seismic change in the playing and management staff, created history and much more.
Inevitably, the focus with a football club like ours tends to be about what happens on the pitch. It’s safe to say that it’s been eventful, again, with numerous highs and lows.
The first part of 2024 was largely positive. While we didn’t quite achieve the league finish we wanted, the cup runs were fantastic and the trip to Emley in the fifth round of the FA Vase will stay long in the memory, both for good reasons – the fantastic support, three coaches of Whickham fans and the noise they made at the ground – and also for the disappointment of bowing out in a game we could have easily won.
It was similar with the Durham Challenge Cup. Another great run and the semi-final spot-kick success over Newton Aycliffe was incredible – I can’t believe I was stuck on a train instead of being at the Glebe for that one. That took us to the Stadium of Light for a showpiece final against West Auckland, a fantastic experience for the club, but again we just didn’t do ourselves justice on the day.
But what those two cup runs did was excite the town, raise the levels of interest and publicity in the club, and gave us moments to remember. That’s what football is all about.
The summer brought upheaval. We lost almost the entire cup final team – only three of the starting XI are still with us – and the start to the season was tough for everyone. Lee Haldane, who had done a fine job, and his management team ended up leaving us and we embarked on a new structure and rebuild under Tony Fawcett. I’m not speaking out of turn by saying that a turnaround in fortunes hasn’t happened as quickly as we might have hoped but we have every belief that the players and management can continue to build on the positive end to the year and demonstrate why they were brought to this club.
There is some real talent and fantastic characters in that changing room. We have players who have rejected moves elsewhere in recent weeks which shows to me that they are committed to the cause and up for the fight, which is great to see.
Regardless of what the next six months or so shows, however, as a club we are in a solid position. For that, I must thank the fantastic committee we have here at the Glebe, our wonderful sponsors who back us continuously, and the supporters for sticking with us. We have major plans to strengthen the club over the next five years and we must remain calm, patient and true to our cause.
The junior section is thriving – 28 teams now, I believe – and I genuinely believe the club is in as good a position as it has been in the 21 years since I first got involved. We have recently announced that we will be launching our first-ever senior women’s team in 2025 and the club is working alongside other stakeholders to improve the facilities and matchday experience at the First Mortgage Glebe.
So lots to be positive about as we bring 2024 to a close and welcome in a new year. Thanks to everyone for your support and here’s to a great 2025.
