Chairman's Column 11.03.2023

With the vagaries of the English weather causing the postponement of our men's first team match against Leighton Town on Thursday night we now face the prospect of having to play 14 games in the next six weeks, a game every three days until the end of the season.

We are expecting the visit of Leverstock Green to the Keech Hospice Care Stadium tomorrow (ko 3pm). Here’s hoping for the best for both that game and the visit of Tring Athletic on Tuesday night (ko:7.45pm).

In the short term the problem is now, and forever has been, predominantly the weather although that is only part of it. The fixture backlog means that our four men's and women's senior sides' have to play so many matches in such a short space of time - not to mention training nights - which in turn causes us huge issues with the overall condition of the playing surface.

Plans for the 4G playing surface that would alleviate many of these problems are apparently well advanced, but can't come quickly enough for all clubs and sporting associations in our community.

Victories at Harpenden and a home draw against promotion chasing Dunstable Town saw us put an end to a run of four matches without a win and much of our season will be defined between now and March 28 during which time we are due to play six matches in 17 days.

While we are almost certainly not going to win the title, we do at least have the consolation of knowing that this season it is highly unlikely that we will be facing the heart-stopping win or bust, last game scenario that we met with last year in our brief encounter with the United Counties League.

Since our FA Vase exit, our league exploits have been decidedly mid table with three wins, three defeats and a draw, with the three losses coming in three successive league games over the last ten days of February.

More often than not, maintaining the level is all about money - or rather the lack of it - and realistically here at Biggleswade United we will never have those funds that some other clubs would seem to have to help to smooth the path to promotion.

In a perfect world we will look to grow organically, from the bottom up and not from the top down via the aid of a big fat cheque book.

To that end we have a young reserve side with players that, while struggling to win games, are learning how to compete, be as good as they possibly can be, play according to the style and template that we want, and hopefully in many cases graduate into the first team.

Next up for them tomorrow (Sat) is a trip to Crawley Green Reserves (ko 2.30pm) before welcoming AFC Kempston Town Hammers First on Wednesday (15) kick off 7.30pm for a league cup game.

Our women's Red side are still joint top of the table in contention for promotion to the Premier Division of the Eastern Region Women's League despite dropping five from a possible nine points in their last three games.

It now looks certain that whether or not we win the league will depend on the three games we face between now and the end of the season against AFC Dunstable who currently accompany us at the top of the table ten points clear of third place.

We are certainly way ahead of schedule as far as the women's section is concerned.

Next up for the Reds are St Ives who visit this Sunday for a 2pm kick off while our Blue Women's side do not have a game until March 29 when they welcome Hitchin Belles Women Blues.

Onwards and upwards.