Chairman’s New Year Message

For supporters of this club the last 10 years have been fairly hard to take, slipping from being just one goal from the SPL to the foot of the professional game in ignominious fashion. 2014 has been long awaited as the year in which the reversal has to begin and, as the self-inflicted burden of debt is shed, a ten year plan for recovery is developed and launched.

As if by design, the performance on the park has given us all cause for optimism as we have enjoyed entertaining football and spirited performances. Our appreciation has to go to the entire football department, where a real team spirit is obvious. They deserve our vocal and positive support home and away. 

We could not have scripted the first half of the season and each of us would have gladly taken sitting second at the halfway point. The performances and effort at an individual and, importantly, at a team level have been such that few would grudge us having taken more from some games. 

The start to the 2013-14 season was a struggle off the park as we started it carrying a budget shortfall from the previous season. Some hard work, good backing from supporters, our best cup performance for some time and a couple of unexpected upsides has seen that budget deficit for the season closed and my thanks go to everyone who has contributed; and continues to do so. 

Our club exists because of its volunteer base and the enormous contribution that comes from all areas. The energy and time commitment given to club activities is hard to comprehend on occasions. None seek credit for their effort so it is often difficult to shine a light on them for the top class service they all deliver. The area that has improved most is our youth football department, which for the first time in many years is effectively structured to develop quality young players on behalf of our club. They have been an example of what is possible no matter the challenges.

As usual, the coming year will be a challenging one on all levels as our infrastructure remains the same, but our motivation and commitment to change that will redouble. 2014 has to be a good year for Clyde, it has to be the end of looking backwards, with everyone focussing only on building for the future of the club. The support of everyone on and off the park to make that happen will be as essential, as it always has been.

A good New Year to everyone and let’s back The Bully Wee in 2014.

– John Alexander