PORTLAND United chairman Robin Satherley looks back on a very successful 12 months for the island club.

IT IS OFTEN said that you shouldn’t look back, what is gone is gone and you cannot undo the past.

However, I believe there is some virtue in reflecting what progress has been made in order to help plan and inspire progress for the future.

At the same time, assess if any mistakes were made!

For Portland United the last 12 months has probably been one of the most successful periods both on and off the pitch since the club was founded in 1921.

On January 1, 2016, the Blues were top of the Sydenhams Wessex League Division One, eventually becoming league champions and gaining promotion to the Wessex Premier.

In June, extensive work was carried out involving a new ground barrier and pathways to complement the new floodlights installed the previous season.

All together a total of £100,000 was invested in the ground, 70 per cent of which was grant aided by the Football Stadia Improvement Fund.

As we approach the end of 2016, the Blues find themselves in third place in the Wessex Premier, top of the gate attendance figures and boasting some of the best facilities in the league.

Despite a considerable outlay in updating our facilities and the extra costs involved in playing in the Wessex League, the club is on a sound financial footing at present.

Gary Bailey and his assistant Mark Carter have assembled a very strong squad of players and a top-six finish in the first season back in the Premier League would be fantastic.

Our reserves in the Dorset Senior League, managed by Justin Faulkner, are providing good support for the first team and have achieved a place in the semi-final of the Dorset Senior Trophy.

The positive attitude of our players together with the excellent support of our sponsors and supporters augers well for the Blues in 2017.

Quite naturally our supporters would like to see the club progress up the non-League structure.

However, as a club we need to make pragmatic decisions and not let our hearts rule our heads to the possible overall detriments of the club.

‘Steady as she goes’ would seem to be appropriate for Portland United FC at the present time.