The club continues to go from strength to strength and is now recognised as one of the biggest clubs in the whole county, with our player numbers, teams and reputation continuing to grow every single year. This season, we were proud to retain our FA 3-Star Accreditation and also be recognised by the FA as one of their “Thriving” clubs — a fantastic achievement and a reflection of the hard work being put in across every area of the club.

On the pitch, there has been plenty to celebrate.

Our Men’s First Team once again brought silverware back to the club by retaining the Derbyshire County Cup for the second year running — a tremendous achievement and one everyone connected with the club should be proud of. Our Men’s Reserves also had a very positive season, with more of our younger players making the step up into senior football and continuing the pathway we are building within the club.

This season also marked a hugely important milestone with the launch of our two Ladies teams. Both teams have had outstanding first seasons. Our Ladies First Team enjoyed a fantastic campaign after gaining promotion and also produced a superb run in the FA Cup. Meanwhile, our Ladies Reserves capped off a brilliant year by securing promotion themselves.

Across our Junior section, we continued to see tremendous growth and success. There was more silverware added to the club cabinet with league titles and cup wins across both our boys’ and girls’ pathways. Just as importantly, participation numbers reached record levels once again, with more players and teams than ever before representing Melbourne Dynamo.

Off the pitch, we have also enjoyed some fantastic fundraising events throughout the season, helping us continue to invest in the future of the club. There is still plenty to look forward to this summer, including our very first Junior Summer Tournament taking place at the end of July, which promises to be a fantastic occasion for the club and the wider community.

One of the biggest milestones in the club’s history this season has undoubtedly been the installation of our brand new floodlights at the MSP. This project simply would not have been possible without the incredible efforts of our volunteers and the generous support of local businesses and grant funding partners who believed in the vision of our club.

The floodlights represent far more than just a facility upgrade — they are a huge step forward in the development of Melbourne Dynamo and open the door for continued progression across every level of the club. What once felt like a vivid dream has now become a reality, with football finally being played under the lights at the MSP. It is a moment that everybody connected with the club can take enormous pride in, and one that will help shape the future of Melbourne Dynamo for many years to come.

However, with the continued growth of the club comes increasing demands behind the scenes. As Chairman, I have personally dedicated over 500 hours of volunteer work to the club over the last 12 months. While I am incredibly proud to support a club I care so deeply about, this is simply not a level that can be sustained long-term without more help and support from others.

We are therefore in desperate need of more volunteers to help drive the club forward. Over the summer, we will be looking to launch a Youth Committee aimed at giving young volunteers the opportunity to gain valuable experience that can support future work, college and university applications. We also need more parents to step up and get involved. Currently, we only have three non-coaching parents volunteering at the club, and for a club of our size, that number simply has to improve.

More information will be sent out over the summer regarding volunteer opportunities and how people can help support the continued growth and success of Melbourne Dynamo.

Finally, I would like to say a massive thank you to every single person connected with the club for your continued support throughout the season. From committee members, coaches and volunteers to players and parents — everyone pulling together in the same direction is what makes this club so special.

I hope you all have a fantastic summer, stay safe, enjoy some well-earned rest, and take a break away from football before we go again next season.

Up the Dynamos!