Interim chairman Keith Smart has written the following message.

Whilst this season has clearly not been a success on the pitch, huge efforts have been made by many people in ensuring that we have had a season to participate in.

It’s very easy to think that running a non-league football club is simple and that staging matches, and all that it entails, just somehow happens. It doesn’t, and to make those matches happen and the general running of a football club happen, it requires a huge amount of work and a huge amount of time and effort from many, many people.

Whilst some match-day functions are paid functions, many at a club at our level, are completely unpaid and the work is given freely by people who do it for the benefit of the Club they love.

Whether you are a director of the club or a person editing the match programme, vital work is done for no material reward, indeed it is often done at a financial cost.

I have often heard criticism of people who commit time, effort, and energy into the functioning of our football club. That criticism is usually miss-placed, unwarranted and often made by people who do not themselves contribute anything to the functioning of the club.

Everyone does their volunteering to assist the club and unwarranted criticism is so depressing to hear.

It’s always very risky to list names in thanking people just in case someone is forgotten…so apologies in advance if I do miss someone, it’s certainly not intentional, (you all know who you are and so thank you).

Members of the Board: All contribute in a myriad of ways, and without you we wouldn’t have a club.

Matchday: Pat Beswick, Mike Brierley, Liz and Vicky Cable, Jay Lucas, Chris Tipping, all the stewards and turnstile operators….. a game simply couldn’t happen without you.

Media and programme: Taran Dhamrait, Richard Greenwood, Phill Smith, Debbie Taylor. A brilliant match programme, photography as well as providing updates throughout the week and on matchdays.

Kit: Phil Hall. In addition to his duties as a director, Phil is club secretary and kit-man. Again sounds easy, but my God, it’s a huge workload.

Physio: Dave Pover…what more can you say, thanks Dave.

Hospitality: Mary Gibbons. A long time sponsor and always available to help in boardroom/hospitality.

I sincerely hope I haven’t forgotten anyone, but if I have, I simply say to everyone who has committed time and effort to Stalybridge Celtic over the last 12 months…...thank you, without you we wouldn’t be able to exist.

Keith Smart - Interim Chairman