JOHN MACK, the man who transformed Slimbridge Football Club on and off the pitch, has been re-elected as their chairman.

Keith Sparrow has stood down from the role due to family commitments, two years after taking over the reins from Mack, who was chairman for the previous 11 years.

The return of former committee member Paul Chappell as vice-chairman helped Mack make what he said was an easy decision in the end to take on the role again.

“I have been involved with the club over the years, so it’s not as if I left the club,” said Mack.

“The committee voted me on so I accepted the position again.

“It is an honour to be chairman of Slimbridge Football Club.

“We did really well last year considering we’re not paying anyone, there’s a good atmosphere and we’re in a positive situation to go forward.

“We are always looking for extra committee members, we’ve gained several more this season, and as soon as someone wants to take on the role (of chairman) I will step down, but it’s a big club and it needs a lot of attention.”

A successful local entrepreneur, Mack helped Slimbridge rise from the Stroud League to the Hellenic Premier Division between 1999 and 2003 and has also overseen ground developments up to Southern League standard.

They won the Hellenic Premier Division title in 2007 and were set to take their place in Division One Midlands of the Southern League before the first team disbanded, with Mack citing a lack of commitment from members of the club.

After almost starting all over again in the Northern Senior League, Slimbridge rose through the leagues and finished fifth in their first season back in the Hellenic Premier Division, but Mack insists the infrastructure and financial situation at the club must improve before they consider re-applying to the Southern League.

He said: “We’re probably four or five years away from that because it’s a big commitment to go up.

“When we go into the Southern League we want to be strong enough to go forward again.

“We could certainly get Southern League status as far as the ground is concerned, but we’ve got to make sure everything is in place.”

After a good first campaign with Leon Sterling at the helm as manager, Mack is looking forward to the new season, which will also see Slimbridge play in the FA Cup again.

He said: “With three games to go we still had a chance of winning the league so we’d like to be in a similar position next year and go from there.

“We probably punched a little bit above our weight, we won a lot by the odd goal so hopefully that will continue.

“We’re in the FA Cup and hopefully we’ll get a big team so it’s all very positive.

The reserves are in Stroud One and getting nearer.

“Forest Green ladies are playing here next year, which is a good standard, and hopefully they will have a good run in the FA Cup so we will have some good teams down there.”

Slimbridge have also announced that they are set to play Forest Green, who have agreed to bring their first team, in a pre-season friendly at Wisloe Road on Wednesday, August 3 (7.30pm).

Rovers played in the inaugural floodlit match at Slimbridge in a pre-season friendly in 2003, in front of a then record crowd of 427.

On Tuesday, July 28 (7.30pm), the Swans will also face Southern League side Bishops Cleeve, managed by Rednock School teacher Alex Sykes.