Welcome back to the American Express Community Stadium for this afternoon’s Premier League match against Liverpool.
We extend our welcome to the Reds’ players, staff, officials and supporters, many of whom will have started out very early to make the long trip from the north west for today’s lunchtime kick-off.
Liverpool are enjoying another fine season and, despite Tuesday’s loss at home to Inter Milan, they progressed through to the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals and are continuing to pursue honours on all fronts, not least in the Premier League where their efforts to chase down Manchester City are making for great viewing for neutrals as well as for the Liverpool faithful.
In addition to a rich history of domestic and European success, Liverpool, under Jurgen Klopp’s astute leadership, have fashioned one of the most recognisable, exciting and entertaining teams in world football, and we know that we are in for another very tough match in front of a sell-out crowd today.
After just four league defeats to the middle of February, we’ve obviously endured a difficult month – outlining just how tough the Premier League is. Last weekend’s loss at Newcastle United, where we were the better side for the majority of the game, was particularly tough to swallow but indicative of the way momentum can swing very quickly against you at this level.
More positively, good performance levels help to maintain confidence and belief, and there have been no shortage of those this season, particularly on the road where we have been very difficult to beat and where we have posted some very good results, not least against today’s visitors.
Indeed, the 2-2 draw we secured at Anfield earlier in the season, coming back as we did from two goals down – and almost taking all three points away from Liverpool for the second successive season before Leandro Trossard’s ‘goal’ was chalked off by VAR – will live long in the memory of the 1,872 Albion fans who made the journey north at the end of October.
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Our continued progress on the field this season has no doubt helped to secure an excellent season-ticket renewal rate for the 2022/23 season. At the time of writing these notes – just ahead of the deadline – we were closing in on a 90% renewal level which, given the long-lasting financial effects and impact of the pandemic, is an incredible number.
Once again, season-ticket renewals at this level reflect the fantastic loyalty and support of a still-growing Albion fan base, and is genuine recognition of the work Graham Potter, his staff, and our players are doing to maintain our progress in the Premier League.
These season-ticket renewal levels also reflect the fantastic efforts of our staff in all areas of the club, to ensure that the matchday experience at the Amex is as positive as it can be, particularly during a period when restrictions have been so prevalent. Thank you very much for your support and loyalty. It is truly appreciated by everyone at the club.
To further enhance and formalise our regular fan engagement, earlier this week we published details of how to become involved in our new Fan Advisory Board (details can also be found on pages 18-19 in this programme), and we hope to receive applications from an entire cross-section of our support.
The Fan Advisory Board – a concept recommended in Tracey Crouch’s recent Fan-Led Review – will provide another channel for fans to liaise directly and regularly with senior club officials and, at least once a year, for representatives to meet with the club’s main board of directors. We look forward to the election process and to meeting initial Fan Advisory Board representatives later this year.
Sadly, today’s match, like last weekend’s fixture programme, will be overshadowed by the ongoing events in Ukraine. The terrible loss of life and human suffering is as harrowing as it is unforgivable and so, like all clubs up and down the country, and indeed across the world, we will continue to show our support for all those affected.
Many of you have already got behind the club’s efforts to raise money for the British Red Cross’ relief efforts by buying our yellow and blue third shirt – it was great to see so many of them up in the gods at Newcastle last week – and sales continue to be strong. We will continue to donate all of the profits from these sales to the British Red Cross.
Our sincere hope is that a peaceful outcome to this terrible conflict is realised as soon as possible. In the meantime, we will continue to lend our voice to the many calls for peace, and will ensure that the Ukrainian people, many displaced or separated from their families and friends, others fighting – and, very sadly, dying – to defend their homeland, stay at the forefront of our thoughts.
Finally, as you would have read elsewhere, the Premier League is highlighting its No Room For Racism message at all clubs this week.
Last year, the Premier League’s No Room For Racism Action Plan was launched, outlining a series of commitments aimed at improving access to career pathways in football for people from under-represented ethnicities, to combat racial abuse and discrimination, and to improve governance and demonstrate leadership in embedding equality across all areas of the game.
In the past 12 months, progress has been made in all areas but there is still so much to do and, as we know only too well as a football club, online abuse handed out to players continues to be a very real and very concerning issue in the game.
As a club, we will continue to work hard to act where it is deemed appropriate to support our players and staff, and to make sure our matchdays are free from all forms of discriminatory behaviour. We will take action, and have done so on a number of occasions, against those directly responsible for such despicable actions.
The message is abundantly clear from us as a football club and throughout the game: racism will not be tolerated anywhere. So, if you hear, see or witness any form of discrimination, please don’t hesitate to contact the club through the appropriate channels. We will act.
Enjoy today’s match.