Pride and Passion. For years now it has been the slogan which adorns the club crest. In truth, I have always thought of it as just as clever little addition to the badge, all clubs have them and why should ours be any different. Yesterday, I felt a little differently. I felt those words could be perfectly used to sum up exactly what being a supporter, a volunteer, a board member, management or a player of Chippenham Town Football Club is all about. 

On a day usually reserved for the comfort of the armchair, a nice roast dinner and a healthy dose of Super Sunday, yesterday, damn near 2000 Chippenham residents, got up, got out and headed down to the ground that we love to support the team that we love. With our average attendance being around the 500-600 mark, this means some 1200+ "casual" fans came out to make the day what is was. 

A message to you people. THANK YOU! So many people will sit their and moan about the so called "plastic" fans but without you, days like this are nothing, just another game in front of 500+. You are as important as anyone on days like this. Would we love to see you more? Of course we would. Imagine those kinds of crowds week in week out. You saw yesterday the gulf in class between the Football League and Non League Football, but I am telling you, some great stuff is played at this level, some big games and quality football on display and we could so use the support, those lads deserve the support, the board deserve your attendance and this ground welcomes you back anytime, it doesn't discriminate and whoever you are, whether you are in a big group or just someone who came along on a whim, there is always a place for you in the ranks of the Blue Army! Come and join us behind the goal and be a part of an already incredible season as it unfolds over the coming months. To the supporters that are a little more frequent, this one is for us! A culmination of what we have dragged our arses to Cirencester for Home and Away, Slough Home and Away and the couple hundred that came down to Whyteleafe to see us to this point. Standing with you is an honour, our vocal support yesterday was commented on by a League 2 outfit as being better than most in the EFL! And I thought we had an off day!! This goes to show that when we are all together, we are a force. Let's get there again in our numbers, as often as possible as being the 12th man might not have made a difference yesterday, but it certainly will against others at this level. 

Neil Blackmore and the board of Directors.. You did it! Every single one of your efforts, every solitary pound you put into the club are for days like yesterday and I hope every single one of you enjoyed your day. Seeing Neil running around pre-match like a blue arsed fly is not something unusual for me to see. Owing to getting to the ground dead early from Portsmouth for Mum and the Turnstile duties, I see the work not just financially but physically that he puts into the football club, last week against Welling in the League, chucking it down with rain, Neil is out flipping switches and trying to get the electricity to play ball whilst getting absolutely drenched and SMILING!! This is for you Neil, everything that happened yesterday is a tribute to your hard work and commitment and on a day where all that was missing was the upset, I hope you and your board basked in the reverence of those who owe you a tremendous amount. 

And now to the amazing guys in the dugout and on the pitch. I have watched this team home and away for as long as I can remember, from a child to an "adult" and the pride I felt as you took to the field yesterday was right up there with any memory or anytime in my 25 years with the club. You didn't look out of place at any time from the second you arrived at the ground to the second you left it and gave everything for us as supporters. Will Puddy you were absolutely magnificent, you knew you were going to have a busy game but my god some of those saves were beyond incredible, so good in fact that it gave us a sense of disappointment when you were beaten which is not something I was expecting to feel against League 2 opposition. Rhys, Will, Curtis, Jay, as a back four you will not be tested like that again this season and to concede three goals I know will have disappointed you but 3 goals from 3 crosses with men like Vad Oliver and Harry Smith waiting in the middle is absolutely justifiable, they were absolute giants, Harry Smith wasn't even off the floor to win his header and Oliver was on the spot twice. These players work all week on attacking positioning and finishing these moves and you have kept them down to 3 goals in a game that had a lot more chances than that for a much higher league opponent. Hainer, Whelan, Riggy, Gunner, Elias, you boys in that midfield ran and ran for us in that midfield and considering 2 of you are here on loan, the commitment shown by all of you to keep us ticking over and creating chances is nothing short of magic. Zeb, everyone commenting you could still do a job in the EFL is a total understatement, absolutely brilliant yesterday and I think we could all agree that you won us a penalty at the death and that would have been absolutely nothing more than we deserved. Jarv, if only mate, if only the angle on that header was slightly better you notch a goal that would have been completely deserved for your endeavour and dirty graft that is on display game after game. Last season your game was about goals, goals, goals. This season you are an absolute target man and playing the role so well that we have goals flying in from everywhere! Well done you! Karnell, you were magic yesterday son, scaring the life out of League 2 defenders with that pace and dribbling, did everything but put the ball in the back of the net and for me, was my man of the match. Hops when you came on again put yourself about and on a different day, a couple of those chances fall and you too would have ended up on the score sheet. 

The fact we were still grafting in the 93rd minute for a goal and in my opinion, had the better of the second half is a testament to the fitness and desire of this team to perform. You have earned the respect of the 2,600+ in attendance yesterday and sadly the highlights show didn't show the full story where you were much more "in the game" than people would have seen watching the good old BBC! 

Immensely proud to be Chippenham right now, I hope you are all feeling it as well as you deserve to be. Everyone who volunteered time and effort into making yesterday what it was, I personally thank you from all of the supporters who enjoyed the day yesterday due to your efforts and unwavering support of this club. You are the lifeblood of the club, the people that make it so we can enjoy watching the team we love and I really hope that even though yesterday was a work day for you, that you can take pride in what you have achieved alongside the board and the football club because money cannot buy you that sense of Pride & Passion (see what I did there). 

Back to reality this week, back to the League and Slough. I don't know much about Slough (of course I joke I could name you all of their players and what foot they kick with after the cup exploits) but the salient fact is they will travel with some numbers again this weekend like they always do, how nice it would be to ride the crest of this wave into the game this weekend with a few extra supporters and that sea of blue to really give ourselves a chance at a team who are flying in this league and will definitely want a little revenge!! 

Stay tuned around 1pm for the FA Trophy Draw and fingers crossed for a nice home tie against a lesser opponent for a chance to progress in that competition as well.. 

COYMB!!!