Today we welcome our near neighbours, Bury Town, to the Riverside for the much anticipated Boxing Day fixture. We welcome chairman Russell Ward, who has been on that role for 24 years, someone I have known for a very long time actually, the management team of Col Skuse and Paul Musgrove, the Bury team , containing some familiar faces, Ethan Mayhew, Josh Curry, Ollie Canfer and Ben Mayhew, all former Hall players, as well as the Bury Town officials and of course, their large contingent of supporters.
Bury are definitely a big club, and have made great strides since their last appearance here back in February 2019 in a goalless stalemate. They reached the playoffs last season, and look strong for promotion again this season. mentioning that 0-0 back in 2019, Mildenhall fielded Luke Butcher and Tommy Robinson, whereas Bury fielded plenty of today's likely participants, including Joe White, Ryan Jolland, Ryan Horne as well as current Mildenhall favourites Jake Chambers Shaw and Ollie Hughes. Since that game, we have been relegated, and subsequently fought our way back into the Isthmian League. Its a fixture we value of course, and delighted to have this as our Boxing Day fixture.
I hope everybody here (and elsewhere) had a lovely Christmas with friends and family, and didn't get into too much trouble. It is a funny old time of year really, and the real meaning of Christmas seems to have all but disappeared from our society now. I remember some wonderful Christmas times from my childhood, with my own parents and brothers and sister, with the things going on at the St Louis Catholic school in Newmarket, It was just such happy times. Since I have been married to Charlene for 36 years now, our Christmas's have become relatively quiet affairs. So many people who we have spent Christmas with are no longer with us, and as we don't have any children, (or grand children) we just have a nice quiet day. With Charlene's RA playing up, we are not really able to go the whole hog on Christmas day anyway. We were going to have an FA long service presentation to Lol Houghton a couple of weeks ago, but unfortunately, that game was called off, so we are certainly hoping to have the presentation today. As I said before, Lol Houghton has been raising funds for this club for well over 50 years, and his Christmas Raffles were legendary. Lol and hos family should be attending today, including former Mildenhall Legend Hutch as well as Andrew and maybe Neil, all top footballers in their day. Again all people I have known for well over 50 years. It is a tremendous effort to volunteer at a club for such a long time, and we all thank you Lol for everything you have done. 'Running a football club is not easy, (as Russell will surely agree) and people don't realise the work that goes on behind the scenes.' If I had a hundred quid for every time we have heard Lol say that, we would be able to buy the new boiler we now need.
Anyway, that's all for now. I have to stay on message now, and not talk about the crazy things going on in the world, although I do think 9 years for setting fire to a wheelie bin is a bit excessive. Oh well, there is light at the end of the tunnel, I'm sure.
Have a lovely day at the football today, and enjoy the rest of the Christmas break. Most of us deserve a little break, so make the most of it, and remember, the best things in life are generally free, friendship, laughter, manners,bright winter mornings, warm summer evenings so get your heads out of your phones (guilty) and take a look at the wonderful things around you.
Merry Christmas
BILL FLYNN
Chairman
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