Welcome back to the Raymond McEnhill Stadium for this afternoon’s FA Trophy 2nd Round  fixture against Wrexham.  We are pleased to welcome back Wrexham’s Directors, officials, players and supporters.  We hope they have a safe journey home after the match.

We have enjoyed a good run in this competition so far this season.  With victories against Conference South sides in the last two rounds, we know that we will be in for a test this afternoon against a Conference Premiership side that is enjoying a good season. Games like this are important to Club’s at our level and a good cup run is enjoyed by supporters and players alike.  Winning today will be important, but the main aim for this season continues to be gaining promotion back into the Conference South.  Hopefully within a few seasons we will be back in the Conference Premiership and big matches like today’s will be a regular feature on our fixture list.

On Tuesday night Darrell took the opportunity, in the Red Insure Cup fixture against Chippenham Town, to rotate the squad and give an opportunity to some of the young players coming through the Sparsholt College development scheme.  Conceding three goals in the first half was disappointing, but a spirited performance in the second half produced an exciting end to the game.

Our Commercial Team continues to be actively engaged in securing new commercial partners and there is increasing interest in corporate boxes and sponsorship packages for the remaining fixtures of the season.  If you are thinking about taking a corporate box or sponsorship package please contact Jennifer Sheppard on 01722 776655 or  HYPERLINK “mailto:Jennifer.shepard@salisburycity-fc.co.uk” Jennifer.shepard@salisburycity-fc.co.uk there are still packages available for most matches, but a number are close to being sold out.  So hurry to avoid disappointment.

The new furniture for the Sarum Suite is due to arrive next week, there has been increased interest in corporate events and parties in the suite.  If you are planning a special occasion contact Feargal Powell on 01722 776655 or  HYPERLINK “mailto:feargal.powell@salisburycity-fc.co.uk” feargal.powell@salisburycity-fc.co.uk to discuss using the Sarum Suite.

We are pleased to be supporting the Trussell Trust today.  This local charity combats poverty and exclusion in the UK and Bulgaria. Projects include Salisbury foodbank, which provides food to local people in crisis, as well as a supported volunteer programme for people with mental, social and physical difficulties.  The success of the Salisbury foodbank project led the Trust to help other communities across the UK to start foodbanks; last year the Trust’s UK foodbanks fed 41,000 people nationwide.  In Bulgaria, the Trussell Trust’s ‘House of Opportunity’ programme provides orphanage leavers with the chance to build brighter futures free from crime, prostitution and human trafficking.  We hope you will give generously to this worthwhile cause.

William Harrison-Allan, Chris Brammall, Jeff Hooper and Paul Fredericks