United’s annual Fixture Release Breakfast [sponsored by MKM Building Supplies] was a great way to kick off the build up to the new season, with almost 100 sponsors, partners and local businesses in attendance.
The morning kicked off with a chance for some networking, and a few wayward guesses at what the first game back in League One would be for the Blues, before the new home and away kits were revealed for the first time.
Hosted by club ambassador John Halpin then took to the microphone to introduce chief executive Nigel Clibbens.
“I’d like to thank MKM Building Supplies for sponsoring this event,” Nigel said. “And, I have to say, how good is it for us to be able to say that this is a League One fixture breakfast!”
That particular comment unsurprisingly raised smiles and an impromptu round of applause.
“We’ve been in League Two for far too long,” he continued. “But we got there through what was a tough and relentless season.
“All of the hard work brought the best possible end, with that fantastic win at Wembley, and that’s a day that I know will live long in the memory.
“But we all know that football is a brutal, unforgiving business, and the fact is that it moves on quickly.
“We tend to see that today – Fixture Release Day – is the line in the sand. What went on the season before is now gone, and it’s about making sure we’re ready to hit the ground running for the season to come.
“We’re about to see the fixtures and, having had a sneak peek, I have to say that it is all really exciting.
“The new kits are about to come out, that’s always another big talking point, and thank you to Bimson Haulage (front of shirt), Story Homes (back of shirt) and Aqua Pura (shorts) for their sponsorship of our first-team strips.”
“I also thank you, our sponsors and partners,” he concluded. “It’s great to see the room packed, as it is now. This is certainly the biggest one of these that I’ve been to, which is wonderful for us as a club.
“Speaking to the commercial team they told me that they could have filled the room two or three times over, and that’s testament to the support that the local business community is now looking to give us.
“I can’t overstate how grateful we are for that. Many of you have backed us through some very thin times and the reward for you, and us, is to taste a little bit of the success that we’ve enjoyed over the last couple of months.
“I can’t single people out, it wouldn’t be fair, there’s too many of you, but I can tell you that the support we get from each and every one of you is vital. Paul wouldn’t have had the platform to do what he needed to do without it.
“The club simply couldn’t continue to progress without it. It just leaves me to say thank you, enjoy the morning, and hopefully we’ll all have a fantastic season together.”
Click HERE to visit the official website of our event sponsor, MKM Building Supplies.
