Welcome back to Kenilworth Road for our second successive home match in the Blue Square Premier in the space of two days.

I would like to extend a warm welcome to Garry Wilson, his staff, players, the directors and supporters of Eastbourne Borough to this afternoon's fixture.

Due to the Christmas printing deadlines these notes have been written before our Boxing Day game with Histon but hopefully we have achieved a positive performance and the right result that will give us something to build on today.

Eastbourne are a superb example of a club who have done exceptionally well to rise through the non-league pyramid and, following their successful first season at this level last year, they will pose difficult challenge for us.

Today is our last match of the 2009. While everyone at the club is naturally disappointed with a relegation during the year, we all hope that 2010 is a year to remember.

Since I have come to the Club I have been overwhelmed by the support that you have given myself and the players.

We are average almost 6,500 people for our home matches in the Blue Square Premier which is a quite remarkable feat at this level.

Your support away from Kenilworth Road has continued to astound us and I am sure many clubs would like to see Luton Town play them at home every week given the numbers of people that travel to see us play.

It really is much appreciated and gives the players a huge lift. Many people talk of the expectancy placed on the players such is our magnificent backing but they are professional and experienced enough to deal with the kind of so-called 'pressure' of playing for this club.

It is sometimes hard to believe that this is a club that finds it playing outside the Football League but we must accept that this is the case and strive for success between now and the end of the season in a bid to win back that place we lost last season.

I truly believe that this is possible and I will reiterate what I have said many times before: there will be disappointments along the way but it is how we react to these setbacks that is the most important.

Any success is the result of hard work and dedication and I believe with a bit of luck we can still make this a season to remember.

It won't be easy as, as I have found out already, this division is better than many people give it credit for.

I am pleasantly surprised by the quality of football in the Blue Square Premier which makes it all the more tougher for us.

However, we must not use that as an excuse. We have a group of players at this Club who have the ability to take us forward and produce the success I have outlined above.

This is our last match in the league until we travel to meet one of our promotion rivals Mansfield Town which will be another crucial game.

Before then, however, we go to Southampton in the third round of the FA Cup on Saturday.

That will be a marvellous occasion for us as we represent the Conference and no doubt we will have plenty of you there to cheer us on.

Have a great New Year and enjoy today's game.

Richard.