Statement from Knaphill FC Chairman

[The KnapMeister]

'Knaphill Football Club Chairman Terry Chapman has announced the following:

 

Yesterday with much regret I accepted the resignation of our First Team Manager Bob Pritchard with immediate effect. Bob feels that perhaps this was one season too many for him and is perhaps not able to commit fully to the job and also unable to attract the players that he needs to fulfil his ambitions.

 

We will miss Bob but he will always be held in high esteem at this club.

 

Bob joined Knaphill back in the summer of 2005 as coach where he played a major role in the club's back to back Surrey Intermediate Division One and Premier Championship successes which led the club to promotion to the Combined Counties League. Bob took over as First Team Manager at the start of the 2007 season where he guided the club to a creditable seventh place finish in it's first season in the Combined Counties League.

 

The following season he led the club to a fifth place finish and only last season saw the club finish third which saw Knaphill have their most successful season in senior football under his guidance and establish Knaphill Football Club as one of the best in the local area.

Without Bob Knaphill will not have achieved it's rise from lower league obsecurity to the Combined Counties League.

 

With Bob's resignation I feel it is important to make a fresh start so Simon Bates who was Bob's number two will also be leaving.

 

I have decided to bring in David Freeman and Adie Wilson as caretaker managers until the end of the season.

 

They are given the job because of their local knowledge and ability to bring in new faces and to get the best out of our present players.

They have a tough job but if they want the job permanently they have time to perform.

 

Terry Chapman - Chairman, Knaphill FC'

 

 

 

'On a personal note I wish Bob and his family all the best for the furture, Bob first introduce me to Knaphill during the summer of '07, just as Knaphill were about to embark on ther first season of senior football. Intially as Shirt sponsor then as Chairman, I began my affair with all things Knaphill. Bob and I didn't always see eye-to-eye, but I have an enormous amount of respect for the man, his knowledge and the way he helped the club climb the footballing ladder with five consecutive improvements, including those two league titles. I also respect Bob for his decision to step down, not an easy one to make I know. Bob will always be welcome at Redding Way and his name will always be associated with those five fantastic years. The Knapmeister,

Edited November 30, 2010 by The KnapMeister