Chairman's Column 12.09.2023

Mixed fortunes for our sides last weekend with a reality check for our men's first team who went down to their first league defeat of the season at FC Romania but an excellent opening win for out women's Red side and victory for our men's Reserves.

In truth the 4-1 reversal at FC Romania was something that we saw coming after our somewhat fortuitous draw 3-3 against Cockfosters in the previous match.

The coaches have clearly identified that the path to victory is only going to be achieved if we stick to playing our game to our strengths by which I mean avoiding long hopeful balls and concentrating instead on a high pressure game along side swift and telling quick passes.

If we can concentrate on that aspect of our game then we will be a match for anyone this season. If we get dragged into playing any other way then we will struggle.

Hopefully we can put this right tonight and get back onto winning ways tonight against visitors Arlesey Town and at Harpenden Town on Saturday.

After defeats in their opening two games it was great to see our Women's Red team get their first points of the season with a convincing 5-1 win over Stevenage FC Women Development.

It comes after what has been a difficult summer that saw us lose a number of players who moved on in an attempt to better themselves. We can never blame them for that but fortunately some of those that left have now discovered that the grass is not always greener on the other side and have now returned to us and it is wonderful to welcome them back.

Their return is testament to the tireless work of everyone involved with the women's section - be they coaches or administrators - who continue to strive to improve not just their game but also their right to much prized and extremely scarce training slots and, also just as importantly, the raising of their profile within the club.

Their is still work to do in that department but we are taking massive steps in the right direction

Talk is cheap and it must never be enough merely to state that there should be an even playing field for all our our men's and women's sides. We need to back our words with actions and demonstrate that at Biggleswade we don't merely talk the talk but actually walk the walk, because from what I see in grassroots football generally whenever they refer to the '1st team' they are invariably speak about the men's side even though they may also have a women's team.

For our reserves an excellent 3-0 win against Elstow Abbey First on the back of a draw against Crawley Green Reserves means they are unbeaten in the first two games of the season with good players in their set up that will be clearly banging on the first team door, something which can only can only be a good thing for the improvement not just for both sides but also for the club in general.

Our young women's Blue side opened their league campaign with a 5-0 reversal at Garston Ladies FC Met, a defeat they will learn from as they hopefully improve game by game.

Onwards and upwards!