“I’ve been Chairman of this great football club now for 15 years, and in that time I’ve experienced many highs and lows, just as you have as a fan of the club...
But I must say that ranked with the ‘highs’ has been the wonderful support which you have given to the team as this season has progressed. We have had some great followings to our away matches this season, and the depth of your support has spurred the players on to great victories.
I must say that the support you gave at the match at Crewe was nothing short of fantastic, and I honestly believe that our victory there was largely due to your vocal efforts. I know that we often use the cliché ‘our twelfth man’ as an indication of the importance of your support, but it really is true. You only have to ask the players how inspired they become with all of you behind them and you will appreciate that the ‘twelfth man’ syndrome is accurate.
On behalf of all the players and coaching staff, and everyone associated with the club, thank-you sincerely for your support. I hope that this Saturday will see that support manifest itself in even greater numbers as we go all out to try and secure our promotion back to the Championship. Please do everything you can to encourage friends to come and support the team along with you. Tickets are selling extremely fast at the ticket office, and I don’t think we will be far short of a full house in the home areas. I encourage you to get your tickets before Saturday, and don’t risk a lengthy queue before the match with the possibility of perhaps not even getting in for kick-off.
I know you will all agree with me that it has been a great season; much better than I envisaged before we began back in August. Brian and his back room team have done a wonderful job with our players who have shown great skill, dedication and desire. All credit to them!
On Saturday, as this is the last home game of the season, along with the players I should like to show our appreciation of your loyal support by parading around the pitch perimeter after the final whistle. We can only do this if everyone co-operates and does not attempt to come on to the pitch. Once we have allowed the officials and Notts. County players to leave the pitch, our boys will parade around all three stands to applaud you for all that you have done. Please do not be the individual who prevents this from happening by attempting to come on the pitch and spoiling the occasion for everyone. Let’s show the media and the football world in general that Donny Rovers have, and always will have, the best fans in the land.
Thank-you again, and I hope to see you (and hear you) on Saturday”.
John Ryan
Rovers Till I Die