Graeme Lee has written an open letter to Spennymoor Town fans following his departure as the Club’s Manager over the weekend.
This isn’t the column I wanted to be writing today but I felt it was really important for me to reach out and tell you how much I’ve loved being at your Football Club over the last two years.
It was an extremely proud moment for me and my family when I was appointed as Manager here in January 2024 and I think we can all look back on the time that followed with a smile.
I knew there was a big challenge when I arrived but being able to have an impact and see the team move from 17th in the table up to within touching distance of the play-offs was such a brilliant period for us. We had an unbelievable run of form during which we just couldn’t wait for the next game to come around, and we were so unlucky to miss out on the top seven in the last moments of the final day.
Last season we were able to build on the platform built and enjoyed another fantastic season in National League North. In fact, I think I am right in saying that the points tally we ended up with was the highest since the Club came into this division; we had some fantastic results and great runs.
However, alongside that we also created some incredible memories during that brilliant run to the FA Trophy Final. Some of the moments we celebrated together during those games will live with us all forever. The dramatic penalty shootout win over Boston after coming from behind, the fans with their shirts off celebrating the win at Hampton & Richmond, the unbelievable performance at Sutton United and that absolutely magnificent day at Rochdale.
Leading the team out at Wembley is something I will always remember and being able to look up at you all in such amazing numbers in the stands made me so proud. Those are memories that nobody can ever take away from us and I will carry them with me for the rest of my life.
That makes it all the more frustrating that we’ve not been able to build on that success this season. Sometimes you get that kind of year after you’ve had the incredible highs we did last season, but it’s still been disappointing in terms of getting the right players in to help the group improve even more.
This is a great Football Club, and I have nothing but appreciation for the time I have spent as Manager. I have loved every single minute of it. I will look back on my time with Spennymoor Town as a successful period of my career.
I would like to thank every one of you for your support. The backing the Club gets at The Brewery Field is brilliant but I want to give a special thank you to all those familiar faces who you see at our away games cheering the team whatever the conditions or the travelling distance.
I also want to thank all the staff who work at the Club. From the top to the bottom, the people behind the scenes have the best interests of Spennymoor Town at heart and it’s special when you have that inside a Football Club.
I wish you all nothing but success for the future and really hope that the players can deliver a strong end to the season and give you plenty to cheer between now and April.
All the best and thanks for the memories.
Graeme.