David Steel | 30th March 2024
Missed today's game or just couldn't get hold of a programme? YOURCLUB Content brings you DFCSG's programme notes from the Chorley game.
WELCOME FROM JON SADDINGTON
The 'Great Escape' is on! The turnaround has been quite incredible. Full credit to Steve and Terry for steering the Club towards safety and to the players for the huge improvement on the pitch.
We now look like a team who should be fighting for honours at the other end of the table. Our win ratio under Steve Watson is 50% which, if maintained until the end of the season, would be enough to ensure our survival on c52 points.
Rushall away brought our first bump in the road for several weeks...that's football. Very few teams string together win after win. The important statistic is that we maintain a 50% plus win ratio since Steve and Terry’s arrival, which if maintained until the season finale, should see us safe. 50 points was enough to ensure survival last season, whereas 53 points is a more likely this season. The 'Great Escape' remains more than achievable.
Today we entertain Chorley. The Magpies occupy 4th place in the league. However, recent form has been patchy with three wins (Bishop's Stortford, Hereford and Scarborough) and two defeats (South Shields and Boston). The latter being a 0-3 home reverse with Jimmy Knowles bagging a hat-trick for The Pilgrims.
Chorley are steered by experienced manager Andy Preece and have some dangerous players at their disposal including Carlton Ubaezuonu, Jack Hazelhurst, and former Quaker Justin Donowa.
Darlo will be looking to exact revenge on The Magpies for 'that' result back in November. We are a very different side now, and with Cedric Main, Matty Cornish and Cam Salkeld in excellent goal scoring form, I expect us to cause them problems today.
Finally, I'd like to extend a warm welcome to the supporters, players, and officials of Chorley. Enjoy the game!
BOOST THE BUDGET REWARD SHIRT
Boost The Budget contributors from May 2023 who donated £300 or more are entitled to a limited edition shirt as part of the BTB Reward programme. This year's shirt is similar in colour and design to this season's third shirt, which has been worn on a small number of occasions across the season.
Those fans eligible for this exclusive shirt were recently emailed by the Club and asked to submit their size/shirt preference order (shirts are available with or without YOURCLUB logo) before Sunday 24th March.
Shirts will be available for collection or delivery in April 2024 once stock is received from Joma.
BOOST THE BUDGET MATCHDAY PLAYLIST
In other Boost The Budget Reward programme news, Beverley Murray chose the matchday playlist before our recent home game with Peterborough Sports on Saturday 16th March. The following day, Beverley and her husband celebrated their wedding anniversary! You can read about Beverley's playlist over on YOURCLUB Content.
If that wasn't enough to celebrate, it was also Beverley's 60th birthday during the week. Today, Beverley and her husband are sponsoring the match ball (as well as Beverley's husband's cousin sponsoring the game!). We hope you all have a wonderful day today, Beverley, and congratulations on both your recent wedding anniversary and birthday!
FOOTBALL GOVERNANCE BILL
On the 18th March the Government introduced the 'Football Governance Bill' in Parliament that, when it becomes law, will create a 'Football Regulator' as a standalone body - independent of both Government and the football authorities.
The body will be equipped with robust powers to improve financial sustainability of clubs, ensure financial resilience across the leagues, and to safeguard the heritage of English football. New owners and directors will face stronger tests to stop clubs falling into the wrong hands and face the possibility of being removed and struck off from owning football clubs if they are found to be unsuitable.
The Bill also includes new backstop powers around financial distributions between the Premier League, the English Football League (EFL) and National League. These powers mean that if the leagues fail to agree on a new deal on financial distributions, then the backstop can be triggered to ensure a settlement is reached.
The tabling of the bill, arising from the 2021 Fan Led Review, was warmly welcomed by the Football Supporters Association.
DFCSG AWAY TRAVEL
On Monday, (1st April – Easter Monday), we travel to Warrington Town. The coach will depart from Park Place at 10.30am. The price for adult DFCSG members is £27 (£14 juniors) and adult non-members is £30 (£15 juniors).
Then on Saturday 20th April we travel to Chester FC for our final game of the season. The coach will depart from Park Place at 10am. The price for adult DFCSG members is £30 (£15 juniors) and adult non-members is £33 (£17 juniors).
For details on how to book, including our 'Conditions of Travel' section, please click here.
