WELCOME FROM JON SADDINGTON

With a top-half finish secured, we approach our final game of the season with a sense of calm tinged with frustration. 

Reasons for falling short of the play-offs include a spate of injuries (the most I can remember in recent years), a dreadful pitch, a run of postponements, draws against poor opposition…but we have made significant progress under Steve's guidance. We're a credible outfit once again (a million miles from being relegation candidates) and we're building a squad capable of progressing into the play-offs.

Next season, cashflow will be tighter than in recent years, so your contribution to the next 'Boost The Budget' will take on increased importance. Thank you for every penny you've contributed so far and for every penny you'll contribute in future. 

Our ultimate goal is to build a new stadium and operate a business model that doesn’t require 'Boost The Budget'. Until then, we'll need to continue supporting the Club as owners and we'll get the level of performance that we're willing to fund. 

Invariably cash in the bank relates to performance on the pitch…Manchester United being the exception, it seems!

Needham Market's relegation from National League North was confirmed several weeks ago, but they've kept fighting and have picked up a draw against Peterborough Sports and a win against Rushall Olympic in recent weeks. 

The Marketmen lost to Chorley, Spenny, Buxton & Curzon by only a single goal, so it won't be a walkover today; not by any means. We'll need to be fully committed, especially on that difficult pitch.

Please stick around after the game for the Player of the Season Awards from the balcony.       

Finally, I'd like to extend a warm welcome to the supporters, players, and officials of Needham Market.

BOOST THE BUDGET & FAN OWNERSHIP

DFCSG will be launching the eighth 'Boost The Budget' campaign on May 1st. For those that don't know, Boost The Budget is the vehicle by which DFC's Owners and fans get to invest in the following season's playing budget.

Last May, an incredible £189,225 was raised for Steve and Terry – the fifth time that a final BTB total had beaten the previous years' total (from just seven full BTB campaigns, not including January 2024's mini-BTB). The average pledge was an incredible £212.

Since May 2023, fans have invested £383,375 into the club's playing budget and the total investment since inception back in 2017 is just shy of £1m. Incredible!

Look out for launch communications on Thursday and thank you in advance to everyone who invests. It is, as ever, appreciated by everyone involved in the football club.

DFC OWNERSHIP

We were delighted to hit the 1,300 DFC Owners mark for the very first time earlier this season and we want to keep that number growing across the pre-season and into 2025/26.

So, if you’re not part of the DFCSG/DFC fan ownership community, click here to read more about the benefits of being a DFC Owner and sign up today!

DFCSG MEMBER'S QUESTIONNAIRE

As a result of the Member's Resolution passed at the DFCSG AGM in October, the DFCSG Board is currently undertaking an internal review of its roles and responsibilities, its remit, and its relationship with DFC.

To help support this review, we are planning to gather the thoughts of our members on how they feel about DFCSG. So, if you are a DFCSG Member/Owner, look out for an email in early May that will be inviting you to take part in a questionnaire. We would be delighted to receive your views.

YOURCLUB MEN’S PLAYER OF THE MONTH

Also look out for your chance to vote on the final YOURCLUB Men's Player of the Month award in early May (for April).

This season five players have won the eight monthly awards to date – Pete Jameson three times (October, January and February), Will Flint twice (September and November) and Toby Lees (August), Will Hatfield (December) and Jack Maskell (March) once each.

But who will your pick be for April?

DFCSG AWAY TRAVEL

Thank you to everyone who has travelled on a DFCSG coach to an away game this season – it is much appreciated. We will, of course, be back next season!