What a year 2020 has been, I am sure we will all be glad to see the back of it and hope for a better 2021.

Covid-19 has created havoc for clubs up and down the country, and you have to feel for the managers, players, club and league officials that work tirelessly to keep things going – it has been a tough time.

From the point of view of Worsbrough Bridge AFC we enter Christmas with many positives and a future we can look forward to. Financially, despite the pandemic we are in a good place and the structure of the club is starting to reap benefits with our U19’s and U18’s both top of their respective leagues.

Our 1st team is experiencing a period of transition after the departure of Lee Morris, and it has been a baptism of fire for the new boss Luke Forgione having played some of the top teams in the league during the early part of his managership of the club. The most important thing is that we have a young side that is hungry to get better and succeed. We believe that our long term strategy is the right way for our club and in difficult times we have to stay together, stay strong and not be distracted. As a club and management team we share the same vision for the future and we will come out of the other side even stronger and determined to be successful. The players and management know we believe in them and trust them and through hardwork and a little bit of luck along the way we will come through a tricky period of rebuilding.

Our U21’s are also going through a period of transition, however the most pleasing thing is that our structure is now seeing lads from our younger age groups coming through and getting their chance – we will continue to stick to our plan and vision for the future.

It has been hard for our junior teams who have played a lot less football than we would have hoped, and this stop / start nature has certainly not helped them to gain any momentum. Our Ladies have also suffered but after a tough start in a higher league after promotion they gained a valuable win before Lockdown2 and have not been able to play again and build on the victory. Fingers crossed 2021 is kinder for them and we can play on a more regular basis.

I want to finish off by thanking every single manager, coach, player, supporter, volunteer, supporter and club official for the time, effort and money they have given to the club during the last 12 months. I genuinely believe that as a club we are stronger and better now than we have been for a long time – we have tackled head first the challenges we faced from floods to Covid-19 and are still in a great position to keep building a club we can all be proud of.

I want to wish everyone a great Christmas, stay safe and healthy and keep backing the Briggers.

Best Wishes

Mark Booth