Just over a month in and I wanted to address our community with what has been happening in the background. Another game lost to weather this weekend which has given me more time for reflection and consideration into what action is needed next.

You will have noticed there are a few fresh faces at Alport in Tom Messham, Freddie Bishton, Jacob Edwards, Ruben Teixeria and Peter Bartozzi on loan from Shrewsbury Town. You may have noticed George Scott inbetween the sticks during midweek who is currently AFC Telford’s understudy and has dual signed to support ourselves in the absence of number one Jack Sheward. These additions have all complimented the squad well and provide competition for places which will breed the behaviours we need collectively for future endeavors.

Our recruitment on this journey will be key. Geographically we will have challenges so we will need to develop a new group of footballers that are prepared to bleed the red and white of this football club. It is no coincidence that the individuals already brought in have that ambition and we will always be on the look for people with similar attitudes and behaviors. There are a few more irons in the fire so watch this space.

The existing squad have been superb since day dot of me joining the football club and of course many of these faces I know from previously being in the environment but still their attitude to creating something new and adopting a new structure has been second to none. The stewardship of new club captain Alex Hughes has been exemplarily through this period. Alex is a top custodian of this football club. If he is not driving standards with the first team, you will normally find him developing the next generation of Alport players with his u8s. I am also really pleased to announce also that Aaron Simms will step up and take another one of the slots as vice-captain moving forward. Ezz is someone with serious quality and we are lucky to have him at this football club.

I am paying attention to all functions of our football club at present. Our u18s girls reaching a county cup semi final yesterday is another marker of success aswell as our u14s boys winning 5-3 in extra time to also progress in the county cup today – these are just a couple of examples from this weekend. It is a thankyou from me for all the coaches, parents and volunteers that create environments for these young people to flourish. My responsibility to these generations as a guardian of Alport is to continue building a football club and a culture that will develop their talents as footballers and create better human beings. In some respects its unique having so many teams under one banner and we must celebrate this coming together as one footballing community.

We are graced with a brilliant facility but we need more people to continue its enhancement. We are always on the lookout for brilliant people who embody everything that is Alport. Whether that be on matchdays or during the week. To grow we need to nurture new relationships and so my encouragement is for anyone interested to reach out to the new committee. Do not underestimate the importance of where your energy and passion can take this football club. WeAreAllAlport

You will not need motivation if you know you are part of something great. Discipline is where we have a clear identity of who we want to become, it is something that is much bigger than ourselves. Discipline brings certain non-negotiables and our first non-negotiable must be to attack every game to win.

Let us start by doing this all together again this Saturday.

WeAreAlport

Shilly