Well what can I say l….what a season.
In my time at the club I have seen the club escape relegation under Jimmy Bullard, miss out on a Surrey Senior Cup final win, travel to Wycombe Wanderers in the FA Cup, suffer relegation in the cruelest way possible and now have witnessed the club achieve promotion back to step 3 , back where this great club belongs. A massive achievement for everyone involved both on and off the pitch, and no more than our great fans and volunteers deserve.
Some eight years ago, after being left with no one to run the media side of the club I offered my services until the club found someone suitable to take the role on. Like a lot of voluntary roles once you undertake them they become part of your life and you feel a great sense of achievement hoping that you are making a difference and giving something back.
We built a great team over time making sure we had the right people that wanted to be part of this great club. We re-introduced pre match music helping to add to the atmosphere at the ground, produced thousands of hours of video footage from highlights to interviews, thousands of high quality images used across social media and the press, increased our online presence across Facebook, instagram, Twitter/X and Tik-Tok.
To remind you all our media team currently consists of
Ben – Matchday Announcer
Chris – Videographer – the man of the gantry
Ryan – Graphics and Pitch side footage
Nathan – Pitch side footage
Tyler – Match day posting to Twitter / X
Dave – Swannell / interviews / community work
Stuart – Lead photographer
Steve -Photographer
Mark – Photographer
Scott – Photographer
Every single one of them a volunteer making sure that you get the images and output you have enjoyed this season and in previous seasons. I truly believe that we have one of the best non-league social media outputs, better than many clubs at a much higher level, all with zero budget.
On a personal note, my life is busy…. home last night after the after party gone midnight, up at 6.30am uploading and editing the highlights of yesterdays game and there will no doubt be more do to during the day when our great photographers send me their images.
My attendances at the club have been only a handful this season, as my match days are spent following my son Harvey who again has a great attachment to Leatherhead FC having played a handful of games for the Tanners in the past. I still do my two voluntary radio show’s on Leatherhead’s very own radio station, Surrey Hills Radio, and work full time. So, the time feels right now for me to hand the reins over to someone who can dedicate more time and take the media side to the next level, with this in mind I will be stepping down completely from my media duties at Leatherhead FC now the season has finished.
I want to thank everyone of the media team who have been absolute superstars since joining. I leave the club in a better media position than it has ever been in , all down the the individuals mentioned above, not me , them.
Watching some of them grow in confidence and ability has given me great pleasure and I look forward to seeing the club and the media team continue to grow.
I will of course be down from time to time , supporting the Tanners whenever I can.
Thank you to everyone for their support over the years.
Up the Tanners, now go and smash step 3.
Simon
10 responses
I hate saying goodbye to anyone and now, especially, Simon.
Since I joined the club, your leadership has helped shape something quite special at Fetcham Grove. What’s been built with the media team isn’t just output, it’s a culture. You’ve brought together a group of people who genuinely care about the club and take pride in what they produce, and that’s not easy to do, especially on a voluntary basis.
My best wishes to you and your growing family, and make sure you come down and see us from time to time.
Stu , you are a superstar the quality and detail you put into LFC and Dorking is top class. Thank you for the kind words.
Simon
Well done Simon, you have helped the club go from strength to strength, on the media front. I sincerely hope the club continues in your absence. Walk tall and I have no doubt the door will always be open for you.
Thanks Heath, not looking for any opportunities at the moment , I have a garden to sort out for my grandson.
You will be a massive loss Simon. Good luck and enjoy the break.
Thanks Pete really appreciate it
Well done Simon, you have done a fantastic job over the years. Surely there can’t be many clubs (if any) who have the media coverage as the Tanners? Is there someone lined up to continue the great work ?
Thanks Jimmy , i believe the club have a plan in place
Simon, thank you for all you have done for The Tanners. Most fans won’t realise how many hours go into the work you and your team produce, and all on a voluntary basis. I wish you well for the future and hope to see you at Fetcham Grove from time to time.
Likewise with you Jeff another Tanners Superstar, I’m sure I will see you soon