Now that the 2024/25 season is over for us and we have had some time to digest, I wanted to capture a few highlights as we turn the page and move onto next season.
For the Men’s first team, despite the potential disruption, there is no doubting just how well and how quickly Chris Agutter and his staff stabilised and grew the team’s performances into that of a credible title chasing team.
Of course, having been so close to automatic promotion, with a record points tally, clearly there was a huge sense of frustration in every corner of the club not to have got over the line. However, at the end of the season the table rarely lies and for every “what if” we might have, all the other competing clubs will have similar perspectives. For that reason, we congratulate Truro City, who finished top of the pile in a league which caught the attention of the whole country.
As the saying goes, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. To this end the board and senior management team are already deep into next season’s plans. We take more learnings from another strong year, on and off the pitch. We know next season will be even more competitive and our response aims to reflect this. We are also focussed on a wider strategy, including the completion of ground development works, capacity planning, community engagement programmes and a new club membership scheme, to name but a few.
We will announce all plans as soon as they are confirmed over the coming days and weeks, so keep an eye on the club website and social media channels.
If you have been a supporter for ten or more years, the change on and off the pitch is incomparable. For newer supporters, the changes are still transformational over a short period of time.
On the pitch we have finished in the top four in each of our three seasons in National League South, whilst staying true to our footballing principals and commitment to developing young players.
Over this 3-year period we have seen our “ground” evolve into a community “stadium”. Anchored this season by the new North stand with all the various improvements in supporter facilities, sponsor hospitality, the growing food and beverage service points, general match day safety and security and this season’s improved ticketing capability and policy.
Our Women’s team created history this year by reaching the third round of the FA Cup, having already achieved two promotions in four seasons – now competing in the National League structure, Step 4 of the football pyramid in the Women’s game.
The board thanks Jesus Cordon and his staff for their fantastic leadership in a difficult season that saw an enforced switch to the National League South West Division. This placed difficult logistical and financial challenges on the team, something we intend to address.
We remain focussed on providing our local women and girls the best opportunities to develop and grow as football players. This will see the introduction of our girls’ development programme next season, to sit alongside our well-regarded boys’ programme.
Our Under-18’s have the double already under wraps as winners of the Isthmian Youth League South Division as well as the Isthmian Youth Cup. They now have a trebel in their sights with the forthcoming Champion of Champions final on Thursday against Tonbridge Angels. Congratulations to Stuart Evans and Derek Chester for an impressive season managing the team.
As supporters, whether you have attended Men’s, Women’s, Academy or youth team games, the board would like to thank each and every one of you for your backing, you have all been unbelievable.
Every year we are seeing more people on the terraces.
In each of the last three seasons we have been in the top five best supported clubs in National League South, with the average home attendance growing year-on-year.
This season our average home attendance (league) of 1,740, is up ~40% from our first season in National League South and unrecognisable from our Isthmian League days.
I can assure you that the club’s board, senior leadership team, staff, volunteers and players will continue to work as hard and as diligently as we can to bring more and more progress throughout our club. We recognise the opportunity our football club has and we will continue to strive for progress, whilst always keeping a firm eye on sustainability.
We were founded 139 years ago and no matter how successful or challenging an individual season might be, we are guided in our decision making to ensure the club can prosper over the short, medium and long term.
A huge thank you too, to our sponsors and advertisers. There are too many to mention individually, however collectively, without you, much of our progress would not be possible.
Finally, I would like to personally thank every member of the club’s main board, senior leadership team, staff, players and volunteers. This has been another year of change and transition as we strive for more progress. Something you have all taken in your stride, despite significant pressures and for which I am incredibly grateful.
On that note, I wish all of our supporters a great close season and we look forward to welcoming you back to the club for the 2025/26 season.
Barry Hunter, Chairman, Worthing Football Club
