President's Notes #1: Why We Came Back

I was four years old in Napoli, holding an Italia '90 football like it was the crown jewels. That was the moment football got me, and it never let go.

I grew up on the Gazzetta dello Sport, Football Italia and Championship Manager. I followed Zola to Chelsea. I played Pro Evo until 3am more nights than I'll admit to. And somewhere along the way, I realised the game I loved had been quietly swapped for something else.

So why come back?

Because I don't think I'm the only one who feels it. There's a whole generation of us who miss the mavericks, the noise, the shirts that meant something. We're not against football. We're against what's been done to it.

What happens next

We're building a club. Not a shop. Shirts first, then collabs, then whatever this squad wants it to become. No discounts, no shortcuts, no VAR.

Every week I'll write here from the boardroom. Sometimes bitter, always honest.

Welcome to the squad.

Jon Stainer, Club President