Chiptown100 wrote:

I have just seen the news about Chippenham Park. Although it puts strain on the pitch (which has been cut up badly this year) however this was an excellent platform for local lads to play football on. Lots of talk about an u23 side being put in place by current manager joe Sharples and his assistant Shane Blackmore (conveniently the chairman’s son) but looking at results from the season it’s clear to see these lads are no where near good enough talent wise and won’t ever be at a standard of Chippenham town players. Surely if they were that good they would be in academy sides now ? Put into comparison to last few years at park with older lads, they had better results, provided more for the club money wise at the bar etc.
If anything it seems Joe Sharples has no idea what he is doing and clutching at straws.

Didn't Harry Rutty come from Park/Academy....just saying

I think the original idea of having Chippenham Park was to provide a "reserve" side, with the opportunity for Park players to maybe progress but also to provide for Town players coming back from injury/suspension etc.  This hasn't happened, primarily I suggest, because the gulf between Western League Div 1 and Southern Prem (then) & National League South (now) is vast.  Until this season Park were made up of average local footballers who do the rounds of the numerous clubs at that level (i.e. Calne, Corsham, Devizes, etc).  Nothing wrong with that but, with the odd exception, they're not likely to play higher up the pyramid.  The change of direction last summer was done with the best intentions I feel, with the Academy players playing for Park and Football ID (Wiltshire League) to give them real experience of 'adult' football for want of a better expression.  At least four (could be five) have signed for Town and will no doubt be involved in some capacity next season.  At least two, Rutty (19) and Lea (just 18) have gone out on loan to Mangotsfield to gain experience, with Rutty playing a handful of games for Town at the end of the season, and not looking out of place.  At least one other Academy player (not yet 18) has just experienced a handful of games under difficult circumstances at Melksham, and again more than held his own at that level.   Who has progressed from the old Park set up?  Ryan Campbell at Marine?  Any others?  The club have done the right thing in disbanding Park in my opinion - the disadvantages of running a Western League side far outweigh the advantages, not least financially.  There are other avenues for the Academy players to play in, and ones that will presumably not require them to play at HP, thus helping the regeneration of the pitch.  Good decision all round. 

I feel it is the only decision the main club could have made in disbanding Chippenham Park. From a financial point of view on Park match days, the gates rarely exceeded 50/60 paying fans, so in that respect the club would have been losing money when you factor in match official fees, heating and lighting etc. On the flip side that means the pitch will be solely for First Team use as I understand it, which means the pitch will have time to recover after each game now, which it has not had chance to do. Work starts on the pitch 2 weeks today, and all work will be overseen by Nigel (don't know his surname), who is one of the main groundsman from Stanley Park. As others have stated, Chippenham Park was created as a feeder club for the First Team, with a few to providing players for that squad, but as the First Team progressed to the National South, the gulf was to big. In my view the club has make the right decision, and I wish Park every success in the u23 league.

A statement just posted on the club website states lower club income (for CTFC) than expected this season as the reason - not just long term injuries to a few players but also gate receipts. Something to be concerned about?