Recap: Senior Blues September Meeting
The latest Senior Blues meeting took place in the Blues Bar at the start of September!
Frank Rothwell OBE, Oldham Athletic Chairman:
The meeting kicked off promptly as main guest, Oldham Athletic’s Chairman Frank Rothwell, had to leave around 11.45 for an important meeting as part of his current quest to raise the profile of his hometown.
Over the next 75 mins, Frank gave a highly entertaining talk on how he built his business, getting into sailing an ocean going yacht (all around the world), rowing solo across the Atlantic twice, breaking numerous Guinness World Records in the process, before quickly describing his plans for a (very) big wheel on the motorway outside Oldham to rival the Angel of the North.
Your esteemed scribe didn’t bother to take any notes. What was the point? For what Frank had to say, and the way he said it, you had to be there and take it in. And fortunately, a large Senior Blues audience were there to hear it.
Amongst the pieces of advice given were the benefits of having a 42ft yacht rather than a 52 footer. It’s easier to moor at a marina for a start. (I’ll keep that in mind). We got some wonderful tips on how to avoid sunburn and a sore backside when rowing the Atlantic; how to cut down on weight carried; and the strict design regulations imposed during the race. The perils of oversleeping off the coast of Antigua and running out of phone credit were also covered.
Had it not been for his need to dash off, Frank could have undoubtedly carried on for another hour. And he kept his flat cap on throughout.
Steve Jones, CFU Director:
After the raffle and announcements, CFU Board member Steve Jones gave us an update on the Viewing Platform and a rundown of the healthy state of the Youth setup as provided by Junior lead Wes Kilgannon after a year in the job.
The Juniors are now structured into 7 different age groups from U9’s to U15’s totalling 104 players with 13 coaches, currently training is on grass pitches at Abbey Gate School.
There is a plan in place to strengthen the Juniors in terms of facilities, structure, identity and exposure and introduce educational tools. Some outstanding results have already been achieved through the age groups against higher category teams.
Talented youngsters are choosing Chester FC as the best place to grow, develop, and chase their football dreams. “The Academy is thriving – and we’re just getting started”. The Senior Blues are proud to support the Academy through the Senior Blues Youth Foundation.