JON Hale on FA Cup clash and hopes for an extended lease.

Our start to the season is encouraging, the players returned refreshed and ready to compete in the new league following last season’s promotion.

We believe in our competitive squad and our ambition this season is to challenge at the top end of the table.

Season ticket sales are up on last year, which is a testament of the support which has already been evidenced by both home and away attendances.

This Saturday sees FA Cup football return to Edgar Street.

There is no greater place to watch the world’s best cup competition than Edgar Street, steeped in cup history and atmosphere.

Saturday’s game should attract another bumper crowd, with our opponents being Alvechurch.

This summer, major improvements to the stadium, its infrastructure and facilities were undertaken.

Thanks to all our contractors, suppliers and volunteers for their dedication in securing a safe, well maintained and attractive stadium with modern facilities.

The new “Executive Club” has created another income generating facility and this releases a larger area for hospitality in the “Hereford Suite”.

An impressive range of function suites for hire will create revenue to underpin the sustainability of our football club for the future.

The offices were also altered and refurbished to create a more efficient working environment for our committed staff where we happily invite visitors and commercial partners.

We have spent several hundred thousand pounds in the last 16 months, meeting the requirements of our safety certificates and enhancing the facilities which will help to create that sustainable future.

We now need to see the council’s promises of a longer lease become a reality.

Hereford FC haVE given the community much to enjoy and be proud of.

This has been recognised by the council’s leader and other politicians – we now need to see this recognition translated into a materially improved lease.

Further projects are planned including brand new toilets, the refurbishment of the changing rooms and others.

Many of these new projects do not have an immediate commercial return and the security of a longer lease is essential in order to move forward.

We are improving the asset for the community and for the future, so we urge our politicians to make good on their promises to the football club, the supporters and the wider community.