Many of you will know Chris who has been a big supporter of Hungerford Town for over a decade and is a regular in the match day boardroom
Chris takes over the role from a Hungerford community legend the late Mr Ron Tarry who served our club for the best part of a centaury
We managed to catchup with Chris just after his appointment to get his thoughts on the role and what Hungerford Town means to him, what he calls a very special football club...
"Firstly, may I pay tribute to our last President, the late Ron Tarry, not only Mr HTFC
for decades but indeed Mr Hungerford, leading the community as Mayor in its hour of
darkness in August 1987 following the terrible massacre, which was so close to the
ground in Bulpit Lane.
Although I was born in Taunton in Somerset, I have been raised and educated in
Berkshire since 1946 when my parents moved to a house (long since demolished),
which is now the Robin Hood Roundabout in Newbury.
I played Rugby all through School and College before I realized that Football was a
more logical game being more free flowing with much less stoppage time.
In the 1970’s and 1980’s I went regularly to Elm Park to watch Reading F.C. then in
League 3. Then early in the 1990’s a friend who was born and bred in Southampton
persuaded me to become a Season Ticket Holder at Southampton F.C. first at The
Dell and then at the very well-appointed St Mary’s Stadium. I still go occasionally
with him, but only when HTFC are away.
I got interested in HTFC about 12 or more years ago when another friend informed
me that they had just gone up a League and were going places with Bobby
Wilkinson in charge.
I started coming to HTFC with its cosy up front atmosphere and plenty of interaction
with what was happening on the pitch. After a season or two we decided to pay a bit
extra and enjoy a pre-match Boardroom Lunch, which has been of excellent quality,
more folk should try this matchday experience.
We soon went up to the National League South, which is a good level of football to
enjoy. The Club had a number of seasons at this level with Patrick Chambers
steering the Club through the difficult COVID period and appointing Danny Robinson
to be Manager soon after his F.A. Vase triumph at Wembley with Thatcham Town
F.C.
With almost the smallest budget and gate in the National League South, eight years
was a good innings for HTFC at that level.
We now find ourselves in the equally competitive Southern League Premier South
and still one of the smaller clubs even in this league.
Danny has a good set of players to compete at this level and we aim to return to
National League South soon.
We need to improve our Budget and Gate to achieve this, so please encourage all
your friends and relations to come and take part in a very special Football Club.
The Crusaders - Long may the Crusade to greater glory continue !
Chris Marriage"