The close season has always seen some of the busiest times at the Fleet and with two close seasons in quick succession having lasted longer than any since 1939, the club’s volunteers have, as ever, stepped up to the plate. Although the 2020/21 season ended sooner than anyone had hoped, Fleet Supporters Trust members and the volunteer sector of the club have kept things ticking over under government guidelines.

Around the ground there is always much to do where maintenance is concerned and one long-term supporter who has devoted his time throughout is Percy Scudder. At the age of 83 (no, we don’t believe that either!), he has volunteered to take on a veritable sea of painting – and as he used to be a decorator before retirement, Percy’s a dab hand at it!

Percy has been a devoted Fleet fan since the club’s formation in 1946 when his dad first took him to see a game at the age of nine and he has been with the club every step of the way as we approach our anniversary season. He also played for the Fleet Reserves XI (as it was then) as well as Chatham Town and Sheppey United in his days as an inside right!

Percy and his fellow volunteers have been hard at it sprucing up the stadium surrounds in preparation for your visit this Saturday and they’d like nothing more than to see a bumper crowd in the house. Booking for Saturday is on sale for the remainder of the week via our online shop.

Around the ground the volunteers have completed a number of restoration projects, assisted by Trust funding and support. The work will continue throughout the summer, which is of enormous benefit to the club before our 75th season kicks off in August.

Percy is one of a number of volunteers who the club are blessed to call upon. Earlier this season John Snow won the richly deserved Vanarama Volunteer of the Month award and, of course, our army of helpers ensured the match against Hampton & Richmond Borough progressed by clearing the pitch of snow in a superhuman effort.

All of our volunteers have gone beyond the call of duty – if you would like to add your name to our database list, please visit this page to do so. We will have a number of work days coming up this summer and we will email our volunteer list once again ahead of those.