A Monthly Update from chairman Dan Willis: September

As we prepare to kick off our 10th season, our anniversary season, I want to take a moment to reflect on just how proud I am of everything this club has achieved.

Reaching this milestone is something I personally take great pride in, and I’m incredibly proud to say that we’ve served our community over the past decade.

With pre-season now coming to an end, I’ve had the privilege of seeing all the hard work that’s gone in across every corner of the club. From the first team to our brand new Under 7s, the excitement and atmosphere around the club is one of positivity!

As some of you may be aware, we ran a kit design competition earlier this year which allowed members of our community to submit their own designs for our 10th anniversary kit. You may have also noticed that we are yet to announce the winner, we can confirm that the design was chosen and the kits are in the process of being made and delivered however we are facing slight delays due to unforeseen circumstances.

So keep your eyes peeled for the brand new kit which will be revealed as soon as possible!

On a more positive note, there has been some fantastic fundraising efforts in the off-season, particularly from our junior section. A special mention goes to the Jaguars who recently hosted a fundraiser at the Woodpecker Pub - raising around £1,000 for their team. I’m sure whatever they do with those funds will be greatly received by the children.

It's this kind of initiative that embodies the values of AFC Mackworth.

Off the pitch, we’ve completed our PitchPower reports and are now working closely with the Grounds Management Association, the Football Foundation and Derbyshire FA to push forward with improvements to our club’s facilities. These developments are key to supporting our long-term growth and ensuring we can provide the best possible environment for every team. We’re also in need of more volunteers to help and support with maintaining our pitches. If you know anybody, please get in touch!

For the first time, we’ve published our draft accounts for everyone to see. As a community club, we think it’s important to be open about how we run things and where the money goes. This way, our players, and parents can see exactly how we’re working to keep the club moving forward and giving back to the community.

As we head into this exciting new chapter, I want to wish everyone involved with the club all the very best for the season ahead. Of course, we want to build successful teams but, above all, we want to build happy teams. Football should be fun, inclusive and rewarding for everyone.

I’d also like to make a call to anyone in the community who might be interested in volunteering. Whether it's coaching, helping on matchdays or offering support off the field, we’d love to hear from you. Just drop an email to [email protected] and we will help to begin your journey!

Quite simply: without our amazing volunteers, this club couldn’t function. The more hands we have, the stronger we become, and the more we can do for our players, families and wider community.

Finally, please take a moment to check out our fixtures on social media and come along to support your local teams. Every cheer from the sidelines really does make a difference.

Here’s to a memorable 10th season - let’s make it one to be proud of.