To our supporters,

It’s been four weeks since I was appointed manager at Whitehawk FC and I wanted to provide you with some updates as we prepare for the 24/25 Season.

I’d like to start with an insight into our recruitment over the past few weeks:

We are delighted to retain the services of Charlie Walker as skipper for the forthcoming campaign – his qualities on and off the pitch will be of great value to this young squad. In addition, we retain/welcome the following players: Taylor Seymour, Sam Bull, Josh Nandhra, Adam Jones, Andrew Briggs, Will Seager, George Taggart, Charlie Lambert, Emmanuel Mensah and Lloyd Dawes.

Currently Joel Daly and Imran Kayani have been offered an improved deal from the club for next season and we are optimistic they will stay with us in order to drive us forward and into the NLS and beyond.

We have eight more exciting new players we are in discussions with and hope we are close to completing. We’ll provide updates on those players in due course.

We offered new deals to Luca Cocoracchio, Mitch Walker and Joe Tennent which were all turned down in favour of new opportunities elsewhere. We wish them well and thank them for their service. Joey Taylor was also offered a new deal, but has decided to move on and find a club closer to his family.

The season ahead will see the most competitive Isthmian Premier League to date with some big spending teams amongst us and well established teams dropping from the NLS. We are having to work twice as hard and twice as long as others and rest assured that’s exactly what me and my staff are doing.

I understand this time of the year is all about signings and excitement, but it’s the long game I’m looking at and not the short game.

In the weeks to come, I’m sure you will understand the clearer picture when we have the final pieces of the jigsaw in place. It is important we get the right players in. Players that not only suit a certain style of football but also offer a duty of care and loyalty to their team mates and the brilliant fan base.

We’re an attractive club and I’d rather recruit someone who wants to be here and play for the supporters, than a player who just wants to earn an extra pound note. We will have a committed group of players on the football pitch come the first game of the season.

I’m pleased to be supported by an ambitious group of coaching staff: David Altendorff (Assistant Manager), Dale Hurley (U18’s Lead & First Team Coach), Justin Jones (First Team Coach & Analyst), and Alex Marr (Goalkeeping Coach). This team brings an enormous wealth of knowledge and expertise and will add tremendous value to training sessions and matchday experiences. I am thoroughly looking forward to working with each of them.

Since joining the club, we have appointed a new club physio, Ellie-Mae Watson, who is regarded as one of the best up-and-coming physios in the county. She will help look after our players’ needs and ensure they are in peak physical condition.

Additionally, we have ordered new training kits, tracksuits, and GPS trackers to provide our players with a professional environment, helping them perform at their best. We are also in advanced talks with a Step 5 club about a mutually beneficial partnership that will enable us to utilise a state-of-the-art training facility on Tuesday and Thursday evenings.

We’re fortunate to have a Chairman and owners that work tirelessly behind the scenes to drive a sustainable football club whilst improving facilities at the Enclosed Ground.

I am super excited to start the season with such a brilliant and talented bunch behind the scenes, and with players as committed, ambitious, and passionate in their pursuit of success as I am. We all appreciate your patience and we will rise together as a club on the 3rd August for the first game of the season.

I’ll be in touch again in a few weeks as we build up to the players return to pre-season training!

Cheers,

Ross McNeilly
Up the Hawks!