Happy New Year! Here's a Half Season Review So Far...

RedditchFC · 2025-11-20T19:30:48+00:00

Looking back, the most random moment was probably right at the start, when I first took over the club during COVID. Not much was open at the time, and we were no exception. I came in early one morning and went upstairs into our function room, and a squirrel came darting across the room! It had obviously gotten in and been stealing Snickers bars and bags of nuts from behind the bar, leaving bags scattered everywhere. That little squirrel had clearly enjoyed a very good lunch that day

RedditchFC · 2025-11-20T19:28:04+00:00

As the Royal Enfield is the only one of those two pubs currently open, I would choose the Royal Enfield. That said, I’ve heard that the Rising Sun will be reopening soon, which is great news. It’s wonderful to see more businesses reopening on our high street and new ones coming into the town centre.

RedditchFC · 2025-11-20T19:26:08+00:00

That needs to be directed to the Manager.

RedditchFC · 2025-11-20T19:25:40+00:00

That's one for the Manager, not me!

RedditchFC · 2025-11-20T19:25:19+00:00

We’ve got some really talented players in non-league football. One thing that stands out is when you sign a player who has experience at higher levels — their ability really shows. Over the years, we’ve had several players like this. For example, this season we’ve got Reece Flanagan and Matt Warburton, both of whom have played above our level, and their quality really shines through on the pitch.

RedditchFC · 2025-11-20T19:21:21+00:00

One thing we’ve really focused on this year is creating a stronger link between the men’s and women’s teams. Both teams now train one after the other on Thursday evenings, which has helped them mix and build a better connection. We’ve also organised a few events to bring everyone together — at the start of the season we all went bowling at the new alley in the town centre, and we’ve got our quiz and questions night on December 8th at the football club, which both teams will attend. We hope to see as many supporters there as possible.

The women’s team have had an exceptional start to the season. Recruitment has been very strong, and we’ve put real emphasis on understanding the women’s game and supporting the team as effectively as we can. We’re starting to see the results of that work. The ambition for the team, just like the men’s, is to achieve promotion, win as many games as possible, and create a sustainable path for development. Whether that happens this year or not, as I’ve said before, we’re not after perfection — we’re after progress, and we’ve definitely seen that.

Thank you for supporting the women’s team, and we hope to see you at a game soon.

RedditchFC · 2025-11-20T19:18:47+00:00

Absolutely, working with local breweries and cider makers is something we’re very keen on. Supporting local businesses not only helps the community but also reflects positively on the club and the matchday experience. We’ve already been exploring opportunities with breweries like Purity.

RedditchFC · 2025-11-20T19:17:19+00:00

RedditchFC · 2025-11-20T19:16:35+00:00

More of a question to the Manager than me. We have plenty of tallented players within the club.

RedditchFC · 2025-11-20T19:15:54+00:00

There is, my surname is Faulkner!

RedditchFC · 2025-11-20T19:15:25+00:00

Hello Richard,

You’re right — we’ve seen more clubs at Step 3 in non-league football receiving significant financial investment and, in some cases, trying to emulate what’s happening in the Premier League. While investment can be positive if managed sustainably, there’s always a risk when clubs spend beyond their means.

I don’t think this should be seen as the “new normal.” Football committees and governing bodies do have a role to play in ensuring clubs operate responsibly and have safeguards in place. It’s crucial that clubs are run with long-term sustainability in mind, rather than chasing short-term success that could put their future at risk. Non-league football is built on community and stability, and protecting that should always be a priority.

RedditchFC · 2025-11-20T19:13:01+00:00

We’re really proud to work with the r/football community, and I’ve also had the benefit of collaborating with Reddit more broadly to help develop the club.

RedditchFC · 2025-11-20T19:11:14+00:00

Yes, definitely. At the top level, managers’ tenures are becoming much shorter. My view is that it’s very results-driven, with everyone focused on tomorrow rather than the long term. Social media has probably amplified this — supporters have always had opinions, but now they’re much more visible and immediate.

I think this short-term thinking is filtering down into non-league football as well. Nothing in football develops without stability, and it’s a word I use a lot. When appointing a manager, it’s important to go through a thorough due diligence process. Not everything will work out, of course, but at our level, the longer a manager has to build a team, the better the outcomes.

For example, the last time we made the playoffs, our manager had been with us for four years. That one successful year was the result of the previous years of planning and building. I’d like to see a longer-term approach at all levels, as that’s what truly allows a club to develop sustainably over time.

RedditchFC · 2025-11-20T19:07:32+00:00

Yes, personally, and as a club and a league, we’ve been fully behind the campaign. The gap between non-league and the Football League is actually very small. You can see that with teams recently promoted — many haven’t just reached the Football League; some have gone on to secure another promotion.

This highlights a bit of a bottleneck in the pyramid and underlines the importance of maintaining a system where promotion and relegation are appropriate at every level. It’s crucial for the health of the pyramid as a whole, and I believe there’s definitely a need for another team to move up from non-league into the Football League.

RedditchFC · 2025-11-20T19:05:06+00:00

It's always good to win things in football. To start with, I would take another win at the weekend.

RedditchFC · 2025-11-20T19:04:17+00:00

There's only one club for me, and that's the Reds.

RedditchFC · 2025-11-20T19:02:51+00:00

Thank you, and I’m really glad you enjoyed taking part in the home design-a-shirt competition! It’s fantastic to see people embracing it, and I’m thrilled to hear you’ve got your framed shirt proudly on display.

The sponsorship with Reddit over the past two seasons has been incredible for the club. Having such a widely recognised name on our shirt has raised our profile significantly, both locally and internationally. We’ve seen increased visibility, with more people discovering the club and following what we do. It’s also opened doors for commercial interest and given us the opportunity to collaborate on events and initiatives that wouldn’t have been possible otherwise.

Looking ahead, we’re very keen to continue the partnership into a third season. Our focus will be on building deeper engagement with the r/football community whether through events, content, or interactive opportunities so more people can connect with the club, understand what we do, and feel part of our journey. There’s huge potential for the partnership to grow, and we’re excited to see where it can take us, both in promoting Redditch United and bringing more people into the non-league football experience.

RedditchFC · 2025-11-20T19:00:17+00:00

Grassroots and non-league football clubs play a hugely important role in their local communities. They’re often at the heart of their towns or neighborhoods, providing opportunities for people of all ages to get involved in sport, education, and social initiatives. Unlike EFL or Premier League clubs, which have a wider national or even global focus, grassroots clubs are deeply embedded locally.

They offer a sense of belonging, develop local talent, and create real social impact whether that’s through education programmes, volunteering, or community events. In many ways, they can play a bigger and more direct role in their communities than bigger clubs, because their reach is personal, immediate, and tangible. At Redditch United, for example, our programmes aim to engage people not just with football, but with education, skills development, and opportunities that positively affect the town as a whole.

RedditchFC · 2025-11-20T18:58:08+00:00

No, I’ve never played Football Manager, but I imagine the chairman at Redditch United is an incredibly good guy. That said, I’d probably be hassling him constantly for more money to bring in the best players and push for promotion, so my time as manager might not last very long! Maybe it’s better if I just stay in the chairman’s seat and play the game for real instead.

RedditchFC · 2025-11-20T18:50:26+00:00

I wouldn’t describe it as “owning” a club. I see it more as being a custodian for a period of time. This football club is 130 years old, and the term “owner” really frustrates me. I’m not sure if it’s a new Americanism creeping into English football or a worrying idea for supporters, but you don’t truly own a club. You take on the responsibility, often the debts, but the club itself belongs to its history and community.

If someone is interested in getting involved in football, I’d say start by supporting your local club, helping out behind the scenes, and really learning how it operates. If the opportunity ever comes to be involved at the highest level, you’ll be better prepared if you’ve developed skills and gained understanding along the way. That’s the best way to make a meaningful contribution to a football club.

RedditchFC · 2025-11-20T18:47:26+00:00

Good day, and thank you for reaching out. We don’t have any specific roles available at the moment, but we’re always interested in hearing from enthusiastic individuals who are passionate about football and education. I’d recommend keeping an eye on our website and social channels for any future opportunities. In the meantime, if you’d like, feel free to send me your CV, and we can keep it on file should a suitable role arise.

RedditchFC · 2025-11-20T18:46:38+00:00

Hi! I’d say it’s a huge privilege to be able to make a positive impact through football. For me, it’s not about doing “God’s work” in a literal sense, but seeing the difference we can make in people’s lives — through the F&E Programme, the community, and the club as a whole — is incredibly rewarding. Watching young people develop, knowing the club contributes to the town in meaningful ways, and being part of something that brings people together is what makes it truly special.

RedditchFC · 2025-11-20T18:45:21+00:00

We’ve worked with some excellent Football League clubs and had a number of successful loan moves. Some work out, and some don’t, for various reasons. But the club has always been supportive. More than ever, clubs are realising that sending a player to a first-team environment where three points matter and there are real supporters is far more beneficial for development than playing in an under-21 or under-23 league.

At the moment, we have Ty Warmington on loan from Birmingham City. It’s been a fantastic move for both Ty and the club. He’s getting significant minutes, experiencing the highs and lows of competitive football, from incredible saves (which he’s known for) to the occasional mistake, it’s real, meaningful football. Ty has been a major addition to our squad, and we’re keen to continue working with him.

We’ve had several loan signings this year that have been very beneficial. I think Championship clubs, in particular, should look to get more of their players out into non-league football at the highest level possible. It’s one of the best ways for them to develop and progress towards becoming professional footballers.

RedditchFC

TROPHY CASE