Redbridge always willing to give our younger players a chance to train and hopefully then play in the first team . Over the past few seasons we have seen many of our younger players make the move up from youth level into the first team . To bridge the gap from youth to senior level we also have a reserve side .”
Community
“ We certainly try our utmost to be seen as a large part of the local community although encouraging more people into watch the games does have its challenges . We are in a catchment area competing with many other non-league clubs plus professional sides such as Dagenham & Redbridge / Leyton Orient and West Ham .
We also play in a borough generally made up of the Asian community and we know their first love when it comes to sport is cricket over football . We actively look to advertise our matches and function hall in the local press plus we work closely with a local learning disability group .”
Challenges
“ The main challenge will be purely to keep surviving season to season as
costs involved of running a football club increase year on year so with no playing budget in place we rely heavily on local sponsor ( s ) to help .
The average age of non-league supporters is of an older generation so it ’ s vitally important we focus on youth and local schools to help attract more fans through our gates . The increased number of football matches on TV means it ’ s very easy for people to stay at home from the comfort of their own sofa rather than come and watch a non-league game of football on a cold Tuesday night in December .”
Ambitions
“ On the pitch our aim has to be promotion back into the Ryman League and then maintain ourselves back at that level of football , keeping a settled squad is also key although very difficult at this level when players are not contracted . Off the pitch we hope to make many improvements around the ground to the clubhouse / car park / changing rooms etc . and ultimately have a 4G all-weather playing surface which then gives us the opportunity to hire out throughout the week and will therefore bring in another revenue stream .”
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