Welcome back to the Trade Recruitment Stadium. It's been a busy summer and I'm delighted at the way that Gary and Paul have taken to the task.

As I've said previously, it was a difficult decision to make sure we made the right appointment but as a Board of Directors we collectively felt that Gary has the attributes and the potential that we wanted to utilise at Cambridge United Football Club. There's been a great response from the playing squad; there's a lot of hard work being done in this pre-season period as you'd expect, and everything augurs well for the season ahead.

I think some eyebrows were raised about one or two of the departures at the end of last season, but Gary has come in with a very clear picture of the type of players that he wants at the club. As we've previously indicated, I think there will be more of an opportunity for one or two of the younger squad members to establish themselves this season. Of course you need experienced heads in there as well and the early signs from the friendlies so far are that the senior squad players are all stepping up and are going to be leading the way for the entire team.

Our last match here was against Everton, and what a tremendous occasion it was. I have to say that everybody associated with Everton was an absolute credit to their club; the Chairman and directors were wonderful company in the boardroom, David Moyes was very gracious given the outcome of the match and it was great that the players came along and signed autographs. Of course the result and the style and manner in which we won the game absolutely delighted me, as I'm sure it did everybody else who was there to witness the occasion.

It's a delight to welcome Chris Coleman and his charges from Coventry City. It's been a while since we played them in a match, so it's very good to welcome them. And of course it will be a very welcome return for Robbie Simpson, one of the famous sons of Cambridge United from a couple of seasons ago.

Likewise, West Ham United are always welcome visitors to the Trade Recruitment Stadium. I remember very fondly a pre-season game against them a couple of seasons back; there was a great crowd and a fabulous football match on that occasion. West Ham is always an attractive side, they've got a great deal of support locally and it's a game we are looking forward to.

As ever there has been quite a lot of activity off the field in the close season. Once again, I'd like to extend our gratitude and heartfelt thanks to the many volunteers who have been assisting us during the summer months. People will see the new decoration to the rear of the North Terrace and to the Habbin Stand, which I think looks fantastic. The Tea Bars have been overhauled, we've got new people in managing them and I hope you'll find a better service and some good quality products there. In addition to that, we've just started to plan a programme of improvements to the North Terrace toilets, which I hope that we will have completed within a couple of months. This is another long overdue improvement to the facilities at that end of the ground.

One other change that may not be apparent to fans is that we've re-negotiated the programme deal and it's rather more lucrative to the Football Club now and I hope that with the increased crowds we've enjoyed over that last year or so we can improve the sales, which would be great for the club.

Finally, last season was terrific for everybody associated with the Football Club, with the cup run and the league campaign which came so close to seeing us back in the Football League. My hope and belief is that the coming campaign will bring just as many memorable moments.

Philip Law
Chairman

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