Gaffer's New Year Pep Talk

"Hello Railwaymen and supporters,

I'd like to start by wishing everyone a happy and properous year in 2009, and I hope that everyone has a cracking year both on the pitch for us and in your own day to day lives.

2008 was a mixed bag, we had some fantastic results such as our last game of the year when we battered Sporting Lisbarnes but contrived to draw the game 1-1, but also some not so good ones such as the bitterly disappointing 7-2 defeat to Real Madras in September. We currently lie 7th in the league which we did not expect but still have ten league games of the season left to put pressure on the leaders.

In the cup we would need to hammer Celtic and hope Sporting Lisbarnes lose to Hendrix, so it appears that we will be in the semi-finals of the less prestigious Barnesalona Cup for the 3rd/4th place finishes in both groups, with the James Rettie Cup positions of 1st/2nd seemingly out of reach.

If we can start to get a settled regular strong team out week on week then we can beat everyone we come up against, but I need a commitment from you to turn out regularly, as well as from me. I have every faith in our regular players and look forward to a superb second half of the season.

On another note the Christmas party went down well with myself, PJ, Steve, Adrian, Peggy, Paul K and Stefan making the effort to come out and end up getting sloshed in O'Neills until 2.30am, it was a good laugh and great to see the lads away from the footy.

The Tournoi has been confirmed as Friday and Saturday 29th to 30th May 2009 in Florence, Italy. The cost wil be 260 Euro plus extra nights on Thursday and/or Sunday plus flights, with the best currently Easyjet from Gatwick to Pisa leaving Thursday 28th May late morning and returning Monday 1st June mid-afternoon for just under 96 pounds.

Other airlines do fly to Pisa such as Ryanair but they fly out of Stansted early morning or late evening and currently cost approximately 130 pounds. If the majority of us fly on the Easyjet flights then it will be easy for our Italian hosts to pick us up and drop us off.

This tournament will be special in that we will be wearing the current England Home Kit throughout , with it all being purchased barring five pairs of home socks and the goalkeeper top and shorts. Please pay outstanding monies so that we can finish purchasing the last few items. Let's do England proud.

Finally, I wish everyone a successful 2009 and lets push back up the league where we belong, winning the Barnesalona Cup and the Tournoi while we're at it........!