PICKERING Town manager Rudy Funk has set out his vision for the future of the club – with the town’s community at its heart.

Funk, who was appointed to the role in September, believes that engaging with the local community, whether through offering matchday tickets, hosting events or developing their skills, can only benefit the club in the future.

Pickering will face a new challenge in 2023-24 after being moved laterally across from the Ebac Northern League division one to the Toolstation Northern Counties East League premier division.

But Funk is confident that he can guide the club back to the Pitching in Northern Premier League, something that he has achieved three times during his 23-year managerial career, including with Scarborough Athletic.

Funk began his 45-minute speech on Thursday evening with thanks to the club’s players, fans, and chairman Wayne Taylor, saying that he was “grateful and honoured” to be at Pickering, whom he adores, and who “have great foundations to build on”.

“I deliver. I don’t do empty promises,” the charismatic manager promised the club’s fans, and asked for their help and advice to help him to build a club that will stand the test of time and become a sense of pride for the next generation.

Gazette & Herald: Rudy Funk and chairman Wayne Taylor.Rudy Funk and chairman Wayne Taylor. (Image: Pickering Town)

‘Our Pickering, our community’, he labelled his pledge, saying that he was confident that if the town’s community worked together, they would all benefit from it.

Funk’s plans target six core areas of the community that he believes the club should engage with in order to develop – young adults aged 18-25, senior citizens, families, those in care homes, schoolchildren and teenagers.

“Young people have a lot to give, we need to give them a chance here,” he began, explaining that he was keen for the generation to be given the chance to refresh the club’s website and improve their online communication to reach a wider audience.

This could involve giving their website and social media a new, modern look and take inspiration from clubs like Manchester City to interview players and live stream on Facebook and TikTok, he explained.

They would benefit from working alongside the existing volunteers to learn and develop their skills, whether it be the media team or in other departments, as well as improving their confidence, he said. “I’ve given hundreds of youngsters an opportunity at clubs over the years. Football is powerful.”

Senior citizens and care home residents were next on the agenda for Funk, who hoped that the club would provide both groups with an outlet or hobby, whether on a Saturday afternoon or a midweek evening.

Care home residents would receive free entry in order to “give them something different to look forward to” and “give something back to the community”, he said, while senior citizens may also look to become volunteers at the club.

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Funk raised the idea of not just hosting football matches at Mill Lane, but also family fun days that could encourage them to use the club’s facilities and spread interest.

“We need to do something for the people in Pickering outside of the club”, he said. “We can not only plan activities, but we can offer an affordable afternoon. Children will receive free entry to matches, with any parent half price.”

He also proposed that players from the club’s junior section be given the opportunity to be mascots at matches, saying that his granddaughter had been given the chance to last season and that she had really enjoyed the experience.

“They’re our future”, Funk said. “We also have a thriving junior section under Mark Barber and Tony Hackworth. Their programme is directly linked with schools and colleges, with players developing on both the footballing and academic sides.”

That would also provide the opportunity to potentially progress into the first team, following in the footsteps of five players this season.

Away from on-field matters, he believed that sponsors should be given a VIP matchday experience, in which they would be seated in a designated private area and receive a personal greeting – with Funk also talking to them about Pickering’s opponents and tactics.

Personnel from St John’s Ambulance Service should also be present at every game to ensure the safety of those in attendance, he said.

Finally, he proposed that fans and the club’s management should meet regularly at forums throughout the year to ask questions, as he would like the ideas and input from all involved.

The 2023-24 season is certainly shaping up to be an exciting one at Mill Lane.