Alan Mussell- Chairman
Alan Mussell
I am delighted to have the opportunity to return for a second term as Chairman of Andover Football Club, requested by our President, Mr. Bill Maynard, which was willingly accepted.
I was born in Andover in 1944 and have lived in Andover all of my life. I began my support of Andover Football Club in the 1956/57 season and, this year, will amass fifty years of recording the clubs achievements in hand written manuals. I have spent many hours in the Andover Advertiser archives collecting more information from 1883 to 1956, which now completes a full 122-year history of the club.
I am now retired from Test Valley Borough Council where I worked in the leisure department. During the 1960s I was Groundsman at the old Andover Football Club ground at the Walled Meadow and the London Road Sports Ground.
The Board of Directors has a high level of commitment to the club and shares an objective to provide a top class Football Team that will bring entertainment, excitement and playing success for our supporters. January 2006
Geoff Yates - Vice Chairman / Director of Football
Ray Bulpitt - Commercial Manager
George Underwood - Director / Groundsman
Chris Jeremy - Club & Football Secretary
Laurie Noble - Company Secretary
I was born in Torquay during the war years, moved back here in 1987 having been educated at Andover Grammar School, and am very happy with life in Babbacombe.
I retired from the Financial Services industry in 2000 having gained my MLIA{dip} and Ceemap qualifications and have since been working on the desk in the Torquay/Paignton Tourist Information offices, where I receive regular visits from Andover folk.
My late grandfather, Mr.F.E.Noble, who lived at 91 Salisbury Road in the town, founded the Andover Junior League in 1902 and served on the Hants FA, including the Disciplinary Committee for over 50 years. In addition, he chaired the North Hants FA, was President of the Andover and District Junior League and regularly handed out the trophies and medals at the Walled Meadow.
One of the reasons I returned to Devon was to assist my ex- Andover mate Peter Vear by acting as football/cricket coach to his school team (Warberry C of E primary). We retired five years ago having won all of the Torbay Primary Schools trophies on a record number of occasions, twice reaching the South and West Regional Soccer Finals only to be knocked out by the eventual national champions on each occasion.
This meant that we were twice Devon County Champions and added the Devon runners up spot in the hard ball Cricket game. I also served with Exmouth Town at the time they reached the Vase Semi Final in 1985/6.
When AFC was in financial difficulty in 2003, I was able to persuade my friend and business investor Bill Maynard, to underwrite the debt and gradually put the club back on its feet. The Board of Directors, two more of whom I introduced to the club, have since put an enormous amount of time, effort and money to steer the club to calmer waters.
We are working with a 5 year business plan devised by Peter Vear and are making steady progress whilst remaining competitive on the playing field. I know what is required to make this club successful both commercially and in the footballing sense.
Currently, I do not hold an executive position on the Board, preferring to help and assist the Chairman wherever and whenever I can.
I am proud to hold a seat on the Board of this famous old club and will do all that I can to push AFC Ltd forward to become a real force on and off the field.
Living in Devon, I am unable to get to the Portway very often but travel by train at my own expense to attend Board Meetings and the occasional match.
I am able to listen to the non-league reports on Radio Solent at 6pm on Saturday evenings and receive personal reports on match days from several sources enabling me to know precisely what is required to bring real success to the club.
Away from the sporting field, I founded the Harmoniums Group in 1973 { now the Harmonium Singers Chamber Choir} whom I conducted and ran for 7 years although time does not allow much musical activity these days.
Watch this space-I mean business and the fire still burns!
June 2005
Martin Mitty - Director Of Youth Football
Martin Mitty
Director of Youth Football.
Jerry Webb - Shareholder & Sponsor
John Randall - Finance
Peter Vear - Business Planning
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