Premier Combination Community spirit’s boosting Wanderers on and off the pitch
NICHOLAS Wanderers stalwart Bob Fudge expressed disappointment and concern at the latest pause in play but emphasised: “We’re in a good place as a club.”
The Bristol-based outfit’s first team have continued to enjoy a meteoric rise, their 2018-19 District League championship-winning accomplishment catapulting them back into the Bristol Premier Combination’s second tier and straight on then, 12 months down the line, into the Premier Division as runners up behind now-defunct Bristol Manor Farm Reserves.
When football came to a standstill once more at the start of this month due to the ongoing coronavirus crisis, Wanderers were sitting pretty third in the standings with four wins and a draw from five unbeaten early outings.
It’s not just the flagship first team’s efforts under Kevin Pollard’s stewardship that is giving rise to considerable hope at Dundridge Park HQ, as long-serving secretary Fudge enthusiastically points out.
He said: “The 2019-20 season ended abruptly as we all know due to the coronavirus situation but Nicholas Wanderers were still in a strong position once things were sorted out.
“Our first team were promoted to the Premier Division of the Premier Combination; our reserves joined them in the league by winning a place in Division One while our A team moved up into Division Two of the District League.
“This was an excellent achievement all round considering at the back end of 2014-15 the club took the hard decision to drop down to the District League from the Combination league after hitting on the sort of tough times many grassroots clubs and above encounter to
varying degrees. Kevin Pollard returned to us as first team manager having overseen our Premier Combination (Premier Division) championship win in 2007, a feat that stands to this day as our best achievement in some 72 years of football activity at ‘the Farm.’
“He has kept his promise to return the Wanderers to the Premier Division and is now targeting even further progress, to the Gloucestershire County League.”
Fudge spoke optimistically of Nicholas Wanderers’ participation in Bristol City Council plans to “rearrange the way the club’s sports facilities are run.” He stressed, however: “The coronavirus pandemic has not surprisingly delayed things.
Two years ago we began planning for an asset transfer or similar to obtain a long lease for the maintenance of the entire pavilion.
“We are already leasing half of the building but this extended arrangement would include the pitches and would come at no cost to the council, whose Craig Hyslop has provided important guidance.
“A development committee was formed which soon set about organising for the future. Founder member Dave Hale laid down plans for updating and reorganising the pavilion and his knowledge and experience have been invaluable.
“The committee created a sponsors draw which was quickly picked up by former members, firms and businesses connected with players and other club members.
“This has raised £8,000 towards the work carried out combined with a £10,000 grant. In addition, our sponsors provided materials and other requirements at no cost to the club.”
Fudge continued: “Local councillor Fabian Breckels has supported us from the beginning and helped whenever he can. The council carried out work to the pavilion to ensure it was not a liability and we were ready to undertake work inside and outside the pavilion.
“Local councillor and Deputy Mayor Asher Craig also stepped in to speed things up and she has been a great help since. The sponsors draw was held recently and the two councillors attended; in fact Cllr Asher made the draw.
“Other help has come from Friends of Dundridge Park, led by the group’s chairman Geoff Reeson, which has confirmed how we want to integrate with the community and make sure that the park is not just for football.
“The work carried out at the pavilion, still being undertaken, has totally upgraded it. It’s all been driven by the effervescent Steve Neagle and the practical work is being carried by Ash Williams of Ash Interiors and his team. Steve had been our vice chairman but he has just become our new chairman after Jon Scrase, who is staying aboard as a valued club member, stepped down for personal reasons.”
Devoted Wanderers administrator Fudge told of an unexpected setback as the ambitious project gathered pace.
“During the work it was identified the outside toilet block was in a dangerous condition,” Fudge explained. “So it was demolished and rebuilt and this will be available to the community at a future date. The help received from players, former members and current members, particularly the tradesmen, has been outstanding.
“We’re updating as necessary the way the club is managed and financed in the future. Terry Pruett is organising all aspects of the pavilion licence to ensure we are meeting all the requirements of our clubroom. His wife Marie is the new treasurer and has introduced us to online banking while ensuring that everything is in order.
“We’re planning to open the pavilion as a café, to be run by Rachel Pollard and a friend, although members of the Pollard family are sure to lend a hand!”
Fudge stressed these were “challenging times” for all in local football: “The grassroots game faces continuing problems with teams having to come already changed into their kit or changing pitchside.
“The virus meant some games, when they were played ahead of lockdown, were being postponed anyway which can only lead to a build up of fixtures. However, our first team are unbeaten in the league; the reserves are about par and the A team have a 100 per cent record. All in all the club has a lot to look forward to and the positive spirit within it means we seem sure to achieve our aims.”