Good evening to you all and I would like to begin this Christmas statement by offering my personal thanks for your amazing level of support when I look back on 2016.
The past year has certainly been one to remember, bringing many memorable moments for us to share in the Sheffield Wednesday family. You have been there every step of the way, we have been side by side through all the ups and downs and together, we will enter into 2017 with the same spirit.
On the pitch, we are placed in the top six following Saturday’s win over Preston and we will continue to do our best to build on what we have achieved since I came to our club. I do not and cannot make promises but what I can guarantee is the wholehearted commitment to make Sheffield Wednesday the force we know we can be in the football world.
That is my pledge and reflects your own commitment, for which I can only admire. I always try my best to give you something back where possible and as we approach the Christmas period, and an extremely busy schedule of games, this is the perfect opportunity. I am pleased to say that we will take great pleasure in announcing some incredible opportunities for all our supporters for the festive fixtures at our home against Rotherham and Wolves.
I do not wish to give too much away right now because the full details will follow very shortly but it is enough to say that I am very excited by what I can describe as our gifts to you.
Christmas, of course, is the time to reflect, to take stock and truly appreciate the everyday things we can so easily take for granted. Everyone associated with Chapecoense and the tragic events of last week will, I am sure, never again be able to assume anything in life, and on behalf of Sheffield Wednesday, our continued condolences are extended at this terrible time.
Closer to home, everyone at our club is dedicated to the ethos of sparing even a little time to those who can appreciate it the most. I am proud to say that this coming Wednesday, myself, our players and staff will be taking part in the most extensive dedicated charity day our club has ever seen.
We will be visiting no less than five charities and hospitals in one day – Sheffield Royal Society for the Blind, the Sheffield Children’s Hospital, Weston Park Hospital, Christmas Cash for Kids and Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice. The bottom line is simple - we will take pride in seeing smiles on faces as it is our duty to care for everyone we possibly can in our community.
Sheffield Wednesday is a caring club, a family club and I sincerely wish everyone - in particular our supporters, coaching staff, playing staff, ground staff and office staff - a very merry Christmas, a prosperous New Year but above everything else, continued health and happiness.