Toolstation NCEL Division One
Selby Town chairman Ralph Pearse
Selby Town chairman Ralph Pearse has paid tribute to his club’s volunteers for their efforts in making the GroundHop fixture with Penistone Church was a massive success.
Selby enjoyed a bumper payday as nearly 400 people turned out for the final game of the successful 2017 NCEL Easter GroundHop.
The match concluded a well-run tour by GroundHop UK pair Laurence Reade and Chris Berezai.
“It has been a really positive day, financially and in many other ways,” Pearse told Non League Yorkshire.
“I know it has taken us a long time to get a GroundHop home fixture, but we really appreciate it.
“The feedback from the organisers has been good. They say it has been well-organised and they have enjoyed the good food.
“Everyone is happy, there’s lots of smiling faces. I have been under a lot of stress trying to organise it with the committee, but everything has worked down to a tee.
“We’ve had to work really hard over the past few weeks and today and we must have had 20 volunteers helping us out. I can’t thank them enough.
“Our sponsors Fairfax Plant Hire have been fantastic as they have lent us generators along with other things.
“The rewards we have got out of the day have made the hard work worth it. My wife will be happy now that it is all over.”
Pearse, who spoke out about disrespectful referees back in October in hard-hitting interview, also joked that raffle ticket sales went extremely well.
“Raffle ticket sales went well, we even had people who couldn’t make it buying them,” quipped Pearse.
In the main event, Selby drew 1-1 with Penistone Church, ensuring that they will finish in tenth spot for the second year running.
The final placing means Selby’s hopes of claiming an FA Cup spot hang in the balance.
Pearse had high hopes for this season and he admits that he wanted to finish higher and openly states that he wants promotion next season.
“Unfortunately this little great run (eight games unbeaten) we are on is a little too late,” he said.
“We have one game to go and we are unbeaten in eight, but we’re going to finish tenth.
“We knew the top two was not doable, but we felt we could make the top six. Unfortunately we haven’t made it and I don’t think we’ll make the FA Cup again, but we’ll see.
“Personally I think it has been a disappointing season. We’re doing things right off-the-field, we just need to get it right on-the-field.
“I want as chairman to take the club back up to the Premier Division. We’ve been out of the Premier Division for six years and it is too long in my view.
“I know if we start winning that we can get the crowds. It is time for the team to deliver.
“Off-the-field the volunteers are doing a fantastic job, on-the-field we just haven’t been able to get it right, despite people’s best efforts over the last few years.
“Maybe next year will be our year. Our centenary is coming up in a couple of years and we want to be in the Premier Division by then.”