Great 6-1 win Saturday-well done lads! Semi-finalists in the cup-great stuff,a good old fashioned cup tie against Askern.
What now?
Are there any plans to try and get some continuity into the club or will we be starting next season as we did this, in total disarray?
Our league form has been patchy at times but in truth a top position was unrealistic due to our "starting from scratch."
I believe that the management of the club have done well to get us where we are now in the circumstances and I for one would like to see them stay and carry on improving the club next season.
However do they want to stay?
Do the club and the fans want them to stay?
It was most disappointing last year to attend the end of season "do" only to find out a few days later that the management were leaving and apparently taking some of the players with them.
If the league is upgraded a step can we be happy with a "default" promotion?
What do the committee,the fans and the council want for Heanor Town Football Club in the future?
I believe that the club is long overdue a general meeting in which the views of everyone who has an interest in this great club can come together and help to map out a clear and identifiable strategy with realistic but challenging goals for the future.
This submission is in no way meant as a criticism of any of the people who work so hard in the interests of the club.
Thanks to anyone who has read this letter without thinking "shut up Brett" and would like to add their thoughts to this topic.

Excellent post Brett, Ultimately I hope everyone has the best interests of the club at heart, but I'm sure not everyone would approach things in the same way and any general meeting could descend into a who's got the biggest gripe and mouth, irrespective of any "new" ideas. The idea certainly has merit but I'm also sure any fan could attend the committee meetings and put their points forward and I'm sure any new personnel would be welcomed onto the committee, that's why I'm baffled Mr Pinegar fights so vehemently from the outside rather than trying to change it from within.

Having watched Belper and Gedling Town in recent weeks I'm not sure those who like a bit of a whinge would be any happier if they were witnessing what I've witnessed, it was truly appalling both as football and entertainment.
I agree that under the circumstances the Management have done extremely well and would also agree that Heanor should have a ground and team at least on a par with the likes of Belper.
However, I genuinely believe that there is no will whatsoever on behalf of AVBC to provide the facilities to allow the club to move forward.

In my opinion if the club were to fold there would be houses on that site a damn sight quicker than changing rooms will ever be!

How little do you know Pheasant whoever you might be! been there and done it! have seen a good loyal club man and a good friend kicked in the teeth and so I gave up as I don't like being "used" or p***ing into the wind. I would be very happy to help HTFC succeed but as I don't think the current custodians of the club have any intentions of progressing then I will support the team from my current position.

Unless you have been to a number of "Committee Meetings" as I have in the past you wont know what I am talking about. I have had conversations with supporters who have been to one meeting earlier this season and have seen and heard enough. Try it a few times yourelf (unless you are already a member of the "inner sanctum") then let us know how you went on. I for one would be interested.

Dont you think you have hidden behind your "pen name" for long enough and as you seem to have insight into the club perhaps you should now reveal your true identity, or might you be too embarrased?

Rather venomous there Steve! I'm going to use correct spelling and punctuation as I have been picked up on it in the past. I feel as a younger supporter that the club needs a change - a massive one. How many clubs run with their club chairman spending more time on another continent? We should drag him back and demand some answers onto why we never hear anything constructive about this mighty set-up! Not sure how possible that is though! If the support for the team falls out, we have no chance. The idea about AVC putting houses on the sight is a no hoper, the cricket club get more respect than us! Its strange that the fact we have the sufficient funds, we have the permission, but some smart-arse in an office somewhere has decided we are not needy enough for the workmen to come in! Only because theyre all out potting pansies etc on roundabouts here there and everywhere! The management we have are superb, forget whats been said in the past, they have moulded our team into a powerful force when all's well, they dont make many excuses, always there to take the blame if anything goes wrong, namely kelsey when he managed to lose half our team on the way to an away game! They might not shout and scream from the dugout, but approach them at any time and they will give you the time you require. Not many teams get that. If we keep this management, reshape the committee a little, and make sure the floodlights dont fail us, we can be promoted by the end of next year, if i was a betting man i would place money on it, but i'm not so nobody is going to get rich from me! Everyone says NCEL Premier (or whatever its called) isn't all its cracked up to be, we have the strong fanbase and the players suitable. Surely us gettin promoted wouldn't end up in straight relegation again. We're too strong! Who knows, if we go up Chris Henson might come back! Still baffling me even now, after typing for about 10 minutes the fact that we want to improve the councils property and they dont want to know! Oh Well! Any more points to be made?

So as not to be accused of hiding behind pseudonyms, my name is Richard Buxton

I don’t get to many games nowadays but was a regular home and away for 10 years which is longer than some on this board and shorter than others.

I was also a member of the committee for 2 years and was Reserve Team Secretary when I had more time to myself than I do now so I’d like to think I’m talking from a position of experience.

I appreciate that some supporters are frustrated at the lack of progress this club is making and I count myself as one who subscribes to this viewpoint.

However, in my opinion, one thing you can’t criticise is the effort and work that people on the committee give to ensure that you can come and watch a football club play on a Saturday afternoon. It’s time given for nothing, in good times and in bad. I was inspired to get involved by watching Bill Fossey’s team but by the time I did, it was during the best-forgotten Gleeson regime – they were really bad times!

I don’t buy the inner sanctum reference to the committee. Go and ask them questions and they will tell you the answers. They didn’t know me from Adam when I joined but the information about the club was shared freely at the Tuesday meetings.

Also, I don’t think it’s particularly fair to criticise the fact that John McCulloch has a successful business which concentrates on overseas contracts. It’s what earns the money that pays for various things needed to ensure the club can turn 2 teams out every week when the money from the gate receipts and Social Club isn’t enough.

I can assure you that in my time with them numerous meetings were held with AVBC with the express intention of getting things moving. It wasn’t through lack of effort from the club. However, I don’t know what the current situation is and things may have changed.

If anyone has any experience with working with Local Authorities, planning and building regulations and fundraising why don’t you offer your services to the club as a Project Manager with the express aim of speeding up the building of the new facilities?

Can any of you unhappy with the current regime suggest a credible alternative?

Do any of you have any experience in running a football club that is part of the football pyramid?

I appreciate that everyone pays their entrance fee, buys a pint or a coffee and perhaps a programme but are any of you in a position to put hundreds or thousands of pounds of your own money into the club season after season?

Unless the answers to these questions are Yes, Yes and Yes, you need to find a way to work with what you’ve got for the good of Heanor Town Football Club.

Complaining on an internet forum site won’t change a thing.

Great discussion topic. Firstly though thank you for positive comments on the management team. Currently however I have made one rash statement regarding "judge us after Christmas". Since Christmas our results have not been good but on the positive the squad has become more settled (although Smithy was a big loss to us). It is strong, much stronger despite some erratic results. The dressing room finally has its atmosphere which I personally hold in high regard. We still want to take a good look at James Perry in line for next season, and we have two good new recruits lined up for next season also. Myself and Mick will discuss the clubs ambitions at the end of the season and indeed our ambitions. I'm sure the committe have some reservations toward us due to some indifferent results.
I can only say this, Heanor Town support is brilliant. We should be higher. The reasons for not being higher as I understand it is the same as you've all heard regarding dressing rooms etc. I wish I could shed more light, sorry.
My ambition is to manage a club and take it higher. Provide consistency, enjoyment and make us a team that once again others are weary of. I love the FA Vase for example and we should be making inroads on that front. On the pitch, I understand your frustration but it will get better. Even if some results don't go our way, it will improve managerial wise.
Thanks again to all for your support. Keep the critisism coming if needed.
Kelsey

Richard (aka Netherfield Lion) what do youthink I did for the months that I tuned up at committee meetings to sit drinking tea and staying silent? Thats not me! If I get involved it is usually "full on". I hope the little bit of input fron myself and sponsership I helped raise was of benefit to the footballing side of the club but the answers or non answers I got to my questions, mainly on financial matters, where uninformative to say the least. Questions on club income for instance and on a number of occasions particularly regarding the takings and profits of the tea bar etc, etc.

You say talking to committee members and asking questions will get answers then you ask this question which is in three parts.
How much profit does Heanor Town Football Club Bar make and how mush profit does the Tea Bar make. Where do the proceeds of the above go? I hope you are more successful than I was.

To Heanor_Red, I know I have given you some stick in the past, just like your Dad has about a job but I am pleasantly supprised with the post on this subject. You have identified a number of areas that need an answer to but I bet you won't get one from either club or council.
At least it has stirred up some interest again when it appeared from the site that the season had already ended!!

On the issue of who would take over the club, I am reliably informed that a local businessman is interested.

Finally, Pheasant are you going to do what Richard has done and taken off your mask ?

Mr Pinegar, please forgive me for not responding sooner but unfortunately I do have other things to do.
The name is Paul Buxton, brother of Richard. Although I don't particularly know what relevance it is to a valid argument.
At least I now understand why, whenever you make a point about improvements or changes you voice it from an anti committee stance.
Maybe you should have said earlier that it was personal, those of us that try to perhaps look in a more balanced way could have avoided the issue alltogether!!
I am however, interested in your issues regarding profitability etc, but let's face it, Heanor pay their players. The manager from South Normanton has already stated that Heanor have a bigger playing budget than they do, I therefore don't agree with your inference that somehow someone is getting rich out of Heanor Town!! 60 spectators and the profit from a tea bar and clubhouse, both of which will have running costs and rent to be paid. Hardly fund extraction of Gordon Brown proportions is it?
I'm sure we all want to see the club play the best football possible at the highest level possible but realistically what does everyone get out of watching local football? From my point of view I enjoy it because it's pure, money hasn't tainted the game the same way as the professional game. We've all seen rich businessmen take over local clubs, Alfreton, Ilkeston etc either as a tax dodge or genuinely wanting to put something back into the community. (think of all the financial problems Belper have had etc) All have grown tired and wished they'd probably never got involved because of the constant moans of people who think they know better but won't do anything to help or change it (don't forget it's also £9-00 to get in at Alfreton).
That's the reason I turn up at Heanor whenever I can, watch football and win, lose or draw, enjoy it without getting too wound up, too critical of the players and management and critical of the committee who made it possible for me to watch.
I understand you feel bitter from your experiences and I appreciate you have a right to your views and feelings, none of which I'm looking to change, but since your view is different to mine and I don't think either of us are likely to change our opinions I'll leave it there.

ps hope the grammar and spelling meets your approval, I don't want you picking me up for bad english as well as not having the correct opinion.

Just one point. The manager from South Normanton did not state Heanor have a bigger players budget than themselves. It is fact that Heanors is lower.
Kelsey

Thanks for that Mr Kelsey from one of your supposed critics as you well know I say what I think of a game to you and Mick personally and not behind your backs, I appreciate the comment.

As for you Paul at least we will agree to differ on the ambitions of this Committee as only time will tell if they have any ambition or not.

I am not anti Committee but when I hear at committee meetings the fantastic plans they have for the future of the club and hear the same things year in year out whitout any real progress what am I expected to think?
As for the grammer and spelling issue, we can all make errors of grammer and spelling, even me, it's probably due to too much reliance on spell checkers but this was, on my part, aimed in the direction of a 17 year old supporter who chooses use this modern "texting" language that not many of my age group understand (or wish to tolerate).
Heanor _red has proved in his last post that "he can if he has the inclination"

My last question to you Paul and or the Committee is in over ten years of unkept promises regarding the new "Changing Rooms" including plans pinned on the wall of the bar at one stage, not to mention all the costs involved in applying for several planning applications etc, etc are there any plans for progressing the club in the next two seasons and beyond or, as someone suggested in an earlier post on this site HTFC have reached thier true level?

To Richard, you mention Bill Fossey and all the success and then the Gleeson debacle, but who brought in Alan Gleeson at the expense of Glyn Stacey when we were around third in the league?

My final word on the suject of the changing rooms, some of you will be happy to note is, ill be spending the twenty quid in Prague next week drinking to Mick, Kelsey and all the lads wishing them good luck in the semi final!!!!

[quote="kelsey"]Just one point. The manager from South Normanton did not state Heanor have a bigger players budget than themselves. It is fact that Heanors is lower.
Kelsey[/quote]

Forgive me you are quite correct, Mr Harvey did state in an old thread that South Normanton's budget was less than double that of Heanor's. I obviously originally miss read that.
I have been wrong once before, I think it was the time I thought I was wrong and then realised I wasn't so this is a big blow to me!!

So come on pheas, we are all in the open now except you dear, take off the mask sweety!!

Kaz, did it 3 posts up!!

On a different note, how average was that yesterday? At least you got warm on the 5 mile treck for a coffee at half time!

Steve, I can't disagree with you about Gleeson.

Stacey is a legend, the best player I've seen in a Heanor shirt and the scorer of the best goal I've ever seen at any level of football.

I remember Gleeson's plan to get us in the Unibond, his pre-match meals on the way to Consett in the FA Vase to "aid performance", his flip chart with squiggles all over it in the dressing room, his UEFA B license, his total lack of ability to get a team to string two passess together and some of the most mediocre players ever to pull on a Lions shirt.

Horrendous.

talking of great players, whos in line for player of the season now guys? for me, and some will disagree, its trav, aled or gizza. with them on form, no doubt we win. great ball distribution and determination proves what makes players great, all three have shown it this season, honestly as a team, ok they've had off days, but the few first team games i'v got to this season have shown them 3 guys as the engines of the team. anyone else got outstanding players to tell us? on another note, player of the season for reserves, no doubt should be vinnie! the guys been top notch where-ever hes been played. comments...