Rusthall
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was great - it was particularly nice
to see our fortunes start to change
under our new first team gaffer. Our
Reserves won two cups and earned
promotion, so their positivity really
rattled through the club and our
supporters.
FF: How would you say the season
has gone for the club?
JP: On the whole the season went
really well, our Juniors continued to
fly the flag throughout the season
and with the senior results and cup
victories that we had, it would be
difficult to say otherwise.
FF: What are your plans for the rest
of 2019?
JP: We’re currently undergoing a
close-season revamp at the stadium
to improve our match day experience
for our supporters with a clubhouse
extension. Pre-season for our senior
sides will get underway shortly,
which is another opportunity for
myself to continue my quest to
further develop the club’s media
objectives in the new season.
FF: How important is youth football
to the club?
JP: It’s huge for us, we have a great
setup at Rusthall and the facilities
to develop our junior players and
promote them to progress into the
senior game and ultimately, our first
team. I believe that our juniors, in
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particular their parents, hold the key
for the club to really kick-on socially
and financially.
FF: How do you ensure that young
players enjoy a smooth transition
into the senior game?
JP: The introduction of our
Development team does exactly
that, in its first season it has paved
the way for our younger players to
make that transition into the adult
game, there is some talent there and
I would expect one or two of them to
slot nicely into our Reserve and First
Team squads in the very near future.
FF: Would you consider yours to be
a community club?
JP: Very much so, our volunteers
are all local people as are many of
our players. Aside from the football
that we provide for every age
group, we run a darts team from the
clubhouse at the stadium and cater
for various outside functions and
events throughout the year.
FF: What are the club’s ambitions
for the next five years?
JP: We would like to further
develop our facilities at the club, we
are currently in the very early stages
of planning for a new 3G pitch, close
to our main grass pitch which has
recently been levelled and had new
drainage added. A new artificial
pitch will be a huge addition to the
local area and our Junior players,
facilitating football all year round in
every condition.