I’d like to thank the members for having faith in me and giving me this opportunity to be the chairman of the club that has always meant a lot to me, says Crowborough Athletic chairman Simon Colbran

SIMON COLBRAN says he is embarking on the next phase in his football life.

Colbran, 47, a hotelier in neighbouring Tunbridge Wells, is a former player and manager of Crowborough Athletic, and he was appointed the club’s new chairman at their Annual General Meeting on Monday night.

Crowborough Athletic finished runners-up to promoted Ashford United in an exciting Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division title race last season.

The Crows also reached the last sixteen of The FA Vase, losing 6-3 at home to Midlands outfit Coleshill Town in January.

“Firstly, I’d like to thank the members for having faith in me and giving me this opportunity to be the chairman of the club that has always meant a lot to me,” said Mr Colbran in a statement.

“I would also like to thank those people who have run the club so effectively in previous years but especially those who have just stepped down from various roles, people such as Tony and Jean Bowen, Andy O’Brien and Paul Crowe, to name a few, who helped pull the sections together a year ago.

“I’m also looking forward to working with the new committee as I embark on my next phase in my football life.”

Colbran is relishing the chance to become chairman of the club that he has plenty of affection for.

He said: “My first time with the club came some 21 years’ ago when I was 26 and the then chairman, Barry Sykes, appointed me as player-manager.  Many saw it as a gamble at the time but it gave me a good grounding for my whole career so far in football and this started my love affair with the club.

“I’m excited by the opportunity to be chairman. Crowborough Athletic Football Club is my club even though I have been involved with others at various stages in my career.

“The club has moved on since my initial involvement and is about to enter, I believe, an exciting period in its history and I’m honoured to be part of it.

“I see this as long-term and my commitment to the role is absolute and want this to be my football environment from here on in.”

With the club installing an artificial pitch at the stadium at Fermor Road, Mr Colbran is keen to bring the local community closer together.

He said: “In the first year, I see my role as pulling everyone involved with Crowborough Athletic together so all players from under six to the first team feel they are at the club to belong to and then helping the club to move forward, to become more professional on and off the pitch.

“Also, the community element is important to me and we need to build on that whilst improving the overall standard of football within the club and we need to have players playing at their correct ability level whilst catering for all.

“For instance, I would like to the club build on the existing girls squad and will work to try and get a ladies’ team at the club so the girls have an outlet as they get older and they can carry on playing football.

“I want the club to be the hub of the community for people of all ages and with the development plans the club have there’s no reason why we should not be able to do this in the not too distant future.

“It would be great to have walking football for the older generations and disability football teams. 

“I appreciate a lot of these things won’t happen overnight but if I and the club can achieve these things then my tenure will have been successful.”

Visit Crowborough Athletic’s website:  http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/crowboroughathletic