ASCOT United held a fans’ forum ahead of their victory over Met Police on Saturday. Chairman Simon Negus opened with some words on the club’s status and intentions, before first team manager Jamie Tompkins fielded questions. Here is the summary (and it’s not word-for-word – but thereabouts!).
Simon opened up by celebrating Ascot’s depth with 97 registered teams and a remarkable 400 players on the waiting list to join the junior sections. The club is starting a college program next year and this will help get the U18’s foundations right as a bridge between junior and senior football. As ever, the club welcomes ideas from all corners as to how it can do things differently – please feed them in – one of them we are already doing in the months leading up to Christmas but issuing free tickets to home matches to all local schools.
Tim opened up with a question of Simon: “if we had another promotion, how would it affect us?”
~Simon – We could cope with step 3 here, it’s sustainable. At Step 2 [National League South], it becomes more difficult. Amongst other things we’d need standing terraces behind each goal which would mean putting one up on the Straight Mile [racecourse track]. It would be a nice problem to have, but it would be very difficult to achieve at The Racecourse
Ray followed, simply adding “Walking Football?”.
~Simon – we are starting it. Walking football is commencing here and Tom [Howland] is the man to speak to.
JT then entered the forum, the Q/A as follows:
~Martin – It’s early days but what does a successful 2024/25 season look like to you?
~JT – To be better than last year. Finishing 13th is what we want to improve upon, we don’t want to be 13th every year. We want to be better in training, better everywhere and keep learning, and be better as players and bring that to the pitch.
~Jace – If you could ask the supporters a question, what would that be?
~JT – Are you supporting the players who are part of this team, or are you supporting the team as a whole? [for context, the point was around supporting the club regardless of who wears the shirt in the starting eleven, as it takes a squad effort to produce the results. This was a rhetorical question for all to reflect upon]
~Tim – The challenges you face are different to those in the Premier and other professional leagues; what are they?
~JT – Yes, the boys work full time, part time, or travel long distances including abroad, go to family weddings and other events. It is a challenge, but you also look at players like Ollie Kalsi who was travelling to us 3 times a week from Charlton prior to his move to pro football in Sweden.
~Dave – Regarding the supporters group, there are 10-12 in the group chat but ~200 who come each week and they are not the same 200 so maybe ~400 plus different people who could be harnessed. Should we change the approach and mentality and widen the appeal, e.g. promotion of other events/matches, teamsheets in advance?).
~JT – agreed [and for context Simon earlier invited all ideas to be submitted, as all will be entertained]
~Martin – We are totally reliant on the fitness of Ben and Taylor as our centre forwards, do you have any targets in mind to strengthen this area?
~JT: No. In the past few matches Taylor has scored 4, Anas is great going forward and is scoring goals, Sean [McCormack] is heavily contributing with goals/assists and Tacky proves we can score from anywhere. So, in short, no.
~Ryan. Looking at the formation week-to-week, it looks like we’ve got the same structure regardless of who we play?
~JT – Yes, we now have more structure, last year the system didn’t quite work. At the end of the season we introduced an identity – a way we now play – a more attractive option and we believe in what we are doing. The players are also now getting better at what they are doing as a result.
~Rob – is your philosophy about finding players for your system or a system for your players?
~JT – Its about players fitting into the system we have. There is a profile for each position and players are slotting into them. Take Ollie [Kalsi], we hope and expect he will be back in October from Sweden but George [Butler] has been fantastic in that position [at left back] and he wants to get better and better.
Now we also have Nathan [Jones] coming in at the CDM Role.
~Chris – is there much matchday analysis and opportunity for players/staff to watch their performances back?
~JT – yes, we have the VEO footage, then the players also have ‘Playermaker’ units in their boots which provide technical/physical stats – e.g. if one player is heavily weighted to their left or right boot we can see that and coach accordingly. On Sunday or Monday we pull it together and watch the game back, and during the week leading up to a game we get intel on the next opposition and have a round-up before training on a Thursday.
~Martin – Last season we saw high turnover within the squad until the second half of the season , the start of this season has been similar. Do you expect this turnover to continue and for how long?
~JT – I disagree about the high turnover. It’s sometimes out of control if players leave because they are not playing. I want players who want to be part of the squad and all have a role to play.
~Neal – I appreciate you focus on one game at a time but this week is a big cup week with the league cup and trophy next weekend, what are your thoughts on changes for Tuesday and the match against Margate?
~JT – yes there will be changes midweek; Aiden will be in, DB [Dan Bailey] we expect will make his 150th appearance, Granty is back. Tuesday we will be ready to play – and then with the rotation we’ll be ready again for Saturday.
~Dan [Birchmore] – DB [Dan Bailey] is dual reg with VW, right?
~JT – Yes – and will play for them today. It’s important he gets 90 minutes. Then he will step in Tuesday [for us] and be ready. He is a huge part of the team and the club’s future.
Neal then concluded with the sentiments of Chris Bailey who had earlier wrote “My thoughts are what a great group of friends and supporters I have been lucky enough to be part of. Let’s go forward. Daniel is on dual registration trying to get match fit. Beers on me Tuesday hopefully his 150 appearance for Ascot the town he was born in and the club he loves.”
And, also on the subject of positivity and social media; during the FA Vase winning run the mantra was ‘all together as one’ and positivity bred more positivity.
The YellaBus is moving forwards. And so is Chris Bailey towards the bar on Tuesday…
Thanks again to JT for taking the time before kick off on Saturday to field questions.