Felixstowe fans reassured by chairman club is ready to embrace promotion
By Derek Davis 26th Apr 2022
Felixstowe co-chairman Andy Clarke insists the Seasiders are ready to embrace playing at a higher level, should they win promotion this week.
Stuart Boadley's side travel to Canvey tonight for their Pitching In Isthmian League North play off semi final and if they are victorious, will face tonight's winners between Stowmarket Town and Brentwood on Friday.
There have been rumblings that the club's surprise success could come too soon but Clarke is bullish they can meet the league's requirements on and off the pitch.
"When is a club ever ready?" said Clarke. "You can't predict what might happen but we are ready to embrace it if we are fortunate enough to go through, and I truly believe we are capable of doing that.
"We embrace that challenge with positive attitude and will deal with whatever comes our way with 100% resolve.
"I have been here since of the age of 15 and it has been a long time coming.
"Whether that is through habit of luck, or the damned hard work that has gone on behind the scenes.
"That is why we have the magnificent club house and facilities that we have."
Clarke, who shares the chairman duties with Matt Hope and Chris Daynes, admits the side getting into the play offs with a game to spare following a 5-1 win at Maldon & Tiptree caught them a little by surprise.
"It has been difficult to comprehend in some ways because it was something we probably felt was beyond us at the beginning of the season in all honesty," said Clarke. "We would have been happy with a top 10 finish but the boys have just pushed those boundaries all season."
Seasiders are managed by former Torquay United promotion winner Boardley, who started his career as an Ipswich trainee, and won silverware with Leiston as a player and manager
"Stuart has always said to us - play offs.
"In fairness that is what you want from your manager, he was not prepared to accept just top 10, he wanted play offs.
"If you are happy with a manager who is happy with 10th, 11th or 12th, then you are not going to progress and we are fortunate to have the right man for the job."
Clarke also praised the work of forma manager Kevin O'Donnell who built the foundations on the pitch after he took the Seasiders from the bottom three of the Eastern Counties Premier division to Step 4 football in Isthmian League North.
"We had a fantastic manager in Kev who got us up into this league.
"That was case of everything falling into place at the right time.
"At the same time when Kev decided to call it a day it was important we gt the right people in and Stuart has moree than done that.
"Stuart is a serial winner. Everything he goes into he goes in 100% and he expects that from his staff, his players everyone and he got great staff around him and has created a wonderful atmosphere.
"He has brought in not just the right calibre, but the right character of player to Felixstowe so the future for this football club is phenomenal - on and off the pitch.
"We have the cub house extension the 3G pitch, which will allow us to operate at a different level and should enable us to achieve self sustainability but still remain that family friendly feel that we have.
"It is wonderful place to come and watch football and be part of this set up."
As part of the club's credibility within the game, the Goldstar Ground has been home to Ipswich Town's Women that achieved national prominence with there FA Cup run, with the West Ham quarter final tie screened live on BBC Two,
Clarke addd: "It has been wonderful to host Ipswich Town Ladies. We get a different kind of audience, perhaps younger, and maybe not as vocal but still family oriented, which completely suits out ethos at this football club to a T."
The Seasiders will take a healthy travelling support to Canvey tonight and Clarke paid tribute to everyone involved with the cub.
He said: "Whatever happens at Canvey, and I fully believe we can get through, this board wants to thank everyone involved and huge congratulations to the players, the staff management and the fans.
"We have enjoyed the highs lows, up and down and wherever we are next season long may that continue."
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