David Steel | 26th January 2025
Missed yesterday's game or just couldn't get hold of a programme? YOURCLUB Content brings you DFCSG's programme notes from the Curzon Ashton game.
WELCOME FROM JON SADDINGTON
Welcome to our first home game of 2025! Its been 30 days since we beat Scarborough 4-3 on Boxing Day as biting cold weather brought a series of postponed fixtures. Frustrating everyone associated with DFC.
We're now fighting hard to regain the momentum and associated success of late 2024 which saw Steve Watson awarded December's Manager of the Month.
Today we entertain Curzon Ashton who’ve enjoyed an excellent season so far, sitting top of the table for long periods.
The Nash slipped to 6th place in recent weeks but continue to be in play-off contention. Manager, Craig Mahon, must take great credit for assembling a good group of players that are organised and play an attractive brand of football.
Darlo connections include full-back, Jordan Richards, who played several pre-season friendlies for Quakers prior to the 2017-2018. Goalkeeper, Bobby Jones, who is related to former DFCSG Director, Ryan Jones, whilst striker Jimmy Spencer is seen as "the one that got away" with Curzon beating Darlo to his signature in February 2023.
On the Darlo front, it is pleasing to see Steve & Terry secure the loan extensions of Will Flint, Jack Lambert & Caden Kelly. A settled squad is undoubtedly a stronger squad and, with that in mind, DFCSG were pleased to contribute financially towards these transfers.
With a tough of fixtures ahead, we'll need to make use of the whole squad.
Finally, I'd like to extend a warm welcome to the supporters, players, and officials of Curzon Ashton FC.
MEN’S PLAYER OF DECEMBER
Congratulations to Will Hatfield who was our YOURCLUB DFC Men's Player of December!
Will took a mighty 57% of your votes (from a shortlist of ten players!), beating Pete Jameson (10%) into second place. Well done Will on your first Men's POTM award this season!
SPORTS MINISTER: FOOTBALL GOVERNANCE BILL CRITICS "PROMOTE UNTRUTH TO PRESERVE STATUS QUO"
Sports minister Stephanie Peacock has said: "it is no surprise that there continues to be a loud minority seeking to derail the debate, promote untruths and preserve the status quo", as the Football Governance Bill progresses through Parliament.
The Football Governance Bill was tabled by the last Government with cross-party support and featured in the Labour, Liberal Democrat and Conservative manifestos. The Bill is currently being debated in the Lords although some Conservatives are now tying themselves in knots trying to find reasons why an idea their party supported during the election campaign is now a threat to the game.
Baroness Brady has been a particularly vocal opponent of the Bill alongside some other Conservative peers. Interviewed in The Times, Brady said there has been a "ack of consultation" on the legislation.
Sports minister Stephanie Peacock today hit back at those claims in the Daily Mail: "With change coming, it is no surprise that there continues to be a loud minority seeking to derail the debate, promote untruths and preserve the status quo. We have repeatedly said that this historic Bill will deliver a light touch Independent Football Regulator", said Peacock.
"Throughout the entire process fans, clubs and the football authorities have helped develop this legislation. In 2024 alone, over 230 stakeholder meetings took place with ministers and officials, the majority of those coming after Labour’s general election win."
While club executives might like to make out they've been sidelined when it comes to consultation that doesn’t tally with the lengths the previous Government went to in setting up the Fan-led Review of Football Governance to engage clubs, leagues and supporters.
In January 2024 the Premier League's chief executive Richard Masters even told MPs that: "we have had an enormous amount of consultation with the Government on the policies that sit behind the Bill and we have been an active participant in all that, as you expect."
DFCSG AWAY TRAVEL
Our next scheduled away trip isn’t until Tuesday 11th February, when we make the re-scheduled trip to Alfreton Town. The coach will depart from Park Place at 4.30pm. The price for adult DFCSG members is £25 (£13 juniors) and adult non-members is £28 (£14 juniors).
The following trip will be to Southport on Saturday 15th February. The coach will depart from Park Place at 10.30am. 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.