message to fans from Barry.

[baswaldsmate]

I hope everybody had a great Christmas and new year. As many of you have picked up, I have stepped down from my position as Vice Chairman of the Board of Braintree Town Football Club Ltd on the 31st of December. After 25 years of service, I now feel that it is time for me to re-evaluate my priorities and to spend more time with my family.
Over the last 25 years I have had some fantastic times. From 18 people and a dog at my first match, to live on television in 60 countries round the world last month. I have seen my ambition to get the Iron into the National Conference. The one result that stands out for me was the day that Braintree was put on the football map. Braintree 5 Grimsby 0 .I shall never forget the faces and smiles as fans hugged each other at the end of that game. Braintree had arrived! The club is in good hands, we own our ground, have money in the bank and in a survey last week we were one of the safest places in national football to watch a game.
I could go on and on, but I was a fan who had a dream and believed in the spirit of the Iron. THE IMPOSSIBLE IS POSSIBLE.
I still wish to help the club and the suggestion by the Board Members in the meeting that I become a Life Member would be a real honour and allow me to continue my association with the club and to help out on match days in the Board Room.
So I am not going away, just taking a back seat, and I will never forget the support I had from you all when in hospital last year. You are truly wonderful people. I needed to tell you that.
Yours Truly




Barry Shepherd

[ozbrit]

Thank-you Barry for all you've done at the club, you've been a loyal servant and a good bloke to boot, always approachable and friendly.

[layon]

Hi Barry
You have done a great job at the club for many years, and as you say the club has come a million miles from where it was - you have played a very big part in that progression.
I agree with you the best game ever was the 5-0 win againsy Grimsby, our first home game in the National Conference.
All the very best for the future, and I look forward to seeing you at many more games in the future.

[ironfoureva]

I agree with the previous messages, enjoy your retirement Barry. I hope they have a replacement lined up.

[chelmerboy]

When I had the priviledge of working with Barry when I helped out at the club, it was always obvious the real passion and desire he had to make Braintree Town a forward thinking club. I am sure that everyone that has seen him at a game will also realise that at heart he was just a fan that had a bit of money to go that one step further than most of us could. With all the stories of clubs being bled dry by their Directors we at BTFC should thank our lucky stars that we had the luck to have Barry and the others running our club. Enjoy your rest Barry.

[stevea]

all the best. Hope you continue to enjoy the success along with the rest of us

[Iron In Me Blood]

I see from Saturdays programme that Jerry Carter who does all the playing kit and sells replica kit has joined the board which from a commercial point of view can only be a good thing as he has many links n fingers in many pots all over the country!!