4 days ago3 min read

A New Year's Message from the Club!

As 2024 comes to a close, we want to thank all of you who played a part in a fantastic year, one that all associated with the club can reflect on proudly.

Derek Graham, Chairman of FTAFC, outlined his gratitude to them: "A Happy New Year to all of our sponsors, volunteers and supporters who all do so much to keep this great club going. After the amazing play-off victories at the end of last season, we came back to earth with a bang at this higher step, although finishing the year with nine points out of a possible twelve, and a Cup victory over Bath City was the right way to top 2024 off.

"The Frome Town Supporters Club continue to support the club generously, with their donation of a VEO camera and scans for players as well as their financial contributions. Thank you!

"I must commend our supporters, especially those who continue to attend our games, home and away. It is testament to how special this year has been that our gates have not dropped despite our difficulty in winning home fixtures recently. The boys have been magnificent in the last two home games scoring seven goals and keeping two clean sheets, and we hope the good form continues in 2025 and we can climb out of the relegation places."

Manager, Danny Greaves, looked back on a memorable year on the pitch: "2024 kicked off with a 3-0 win at home to Bemerton and followed up with a gruelling 2-1 away win at Bristol Manor Farm in freezing cold conditions. January also saw that 6-2 thumping away at Tavistock. The team recovered to beat Bashley at home at the end of the month before another away day to forget, losing 3-2 down at Mousehole.

"Following this result, the team went on a 16-game unbeaten run to secure promotion via the playoffs. Highlights within that unbelievable run include that 3-2 win away at Westbury courtesy of THAT Jon Davies last minute winner. The final two league games ended in draws, 1-1 away at Wimborne in the penultimate game to keep our title hopes alive and the comeback 3-3 draw with Bristol Manor Farm to preserve our unbeaten home record. Then, of course, we had those two memorable play-off victories which will live long in the memory for everyone who witnessed them.

"The second half of 2024 has had its challenges. Multiple season-ending injuries have not helped the playing squad, and, although for the most part performances have not been terrible, we have found ourselves on the wrong end of results too often which have left us rooted to the bottom of the table and well adrift of safety.

"However, December has been a good month. The year has ended with the club in high spirits. The changing room work has kicked off and should be complete early in the new year. Courtney Fong has joined the Board with plenty of fresh ideas and energy. And, finally, the team picked up form and went on a four-game winning run, scoring 12 and not conceding a goal. We went from picking up eight points in the opening 18 games, to quickly accumulating nine points in the final 4 games of the year and the halfway point in the season.

"This has given the club a chance of fighting for survival with just three points now separating us from the dotted line, and, with a game in hand on some of those around us, and that gap to safety is now a gap to mid-table. Whilst we have plenty of work to do, we head into 2025 with optimism."