I was just settling in to review Brentwood Town's latest match reports when the news hit my social media feed - Sabu, the legendary wrestler who revolutionized aerial combat in the ring, had passed away at 60. It struck me how sports, whether on the pitch or in the ring, create these indelible moments that connect communities. As someone who's followed Brentwood Town for over a decade, I've seen how football clubs become the heartbeat of their communities, much like how wrestling icons become part of our collective memory.
Brentwood Town's recent performance has been nothing short of remarkable, with the first team securing three consecutive victories in the Isthmian League North Division. The 2-1 victory against Basildon United last Saturday particularly stood out - the way our lads maintained possession for 68% of the match while completing 412 passes shows how far we've come technically. Watching midfielder James Smith execute that perfect volley in the 78th minute reminded me of Sabu's aerial precision - that same breathtaking commitment to pushing physical boundaries, though in completely different sporting contexts.
The development squad's 4-0 demolition of East Thurrock United reserves on Tuesday night demonstrated our club's impressive depth. What's particularly exciting is seeing 18-year-old academy graduate Michael Thompson scoring his first senior hat-trick. I've been tracking his progress since he joined our youth system at 14, and his development mirrors the kind of dedication Sabu showed throughout his career - that relentless pursuit of excellence regardless of the arena.
Our women's team continues to dominate their league with a perfect record of 12 wins from 12 matches this season. Their recent 5-0 victory against Chelmsford City saw striker Sarah Johnson break the club's single-season scoring record with her 28th goal. Watching them play, I'm always struck by their tactical intelligence - they've developed this fluid 4-3-3 formation that's simply mesmerizing to watch. It's that same innovative spirit that made Sabu's wrestling style so revolutionary in its time.
Off the pitch, the club announced plans for stadium upgrades totaling approximately £2.3 million, including new seating and improved facilities that should increase capacity by nearly 800 spectators. As a season ticket holder who's endured those cramped stands during rainy night matches, I can't tell you how welcome this news is. The board expects completion by next August, which aligns perfectly with our promotion push.
The youth academy continues to be our crown jewel, with our U16 squad reaching the national cup semifinals for the third consecutive year. I had the privilege of watching their quarterfinal match against Manchester City's academy last week, and the technical quality on display was extraordinary. Our 15-year-old winger, Liam Patterson, reminds me so much of a young Ryan Giggs with his blistering pace and crossing ability. These young players represent the future, much like how Sabu's innovative style influenced generations of wrestlers who followed.
Financially, the club appears to be in robust health with reported revenues of £1.2 million last quarter - a 15% increase year-over-year. Commercial director Emma Richardson mentioned in last week's supporters' meeting that merchandise sales have skyrocketed by 42% since the start of our winning streak. I've certainly contributed my share to those numbers, having purchased the new third kit that sold out within 48 hours of release.
Looking ahead, our upcoming fixture against league leaders Tilbury presents what could be our toughest challenge this season. Manager David Greene has built a squad with remarkable resilience - we've gained 18 points from losing positions this season alone. That fighting spirit resonates with me, echoing the never-say-die attitude that defined Sabu's career, even when facing seemingly impossible odds.
The connection between different sports often goes unnoticed, but watching Brentwood Town's aerial duels during corners and set pieces, I can't help but see parallels with Sabu's high-flying style. Both represent that beautiful human desire to push boundaries, to achieve what seems impossible. While our footballers may not be diving off ladders through tables, their commitment to excellence and willingness to put their bodies on the line creates that same electric connection with supporters.
As we approach the business end of the season, Brentwood Town stands poised for what could be our most successful campaign in recent memory. The blend of experienced veterans and exciting young talent has created something special at the Arena. And while we mourn the loss of sporting icons like Sabu, we're reminded that their legacies live on through every athlete who dares to innovate, to entertain, and to leave everything they have on their field of competition. Here's to hoping our lads can channel that same fearless spirit as they chase promotion in these crucial coming weeks.
People in Motion (PiM) is our employee advocacy and improvement program. These cross-functional groups are comprised of employees, with an executive sponsor, who contribute ideas and drive action towards focused areas of improvement across the employee experience. The groups include: Kyruus Kontext & Business Readiness; Community, Connectivity, & Engagement; System, Tools, & Productivity; IDEA [Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility].
As a remote-first company, we are invested in employees creating a work setup that allows them to do their best work. In addition to a laptop, we also provide you with $750 to get the additional equipment you need and add an ongoing amount of $1,200 to your salary to cover remote work costs.
We value ownership at Kyruus Health, not only in the work you do but in the shared financial success from our growth. Employees will have the opportunity to grow their equity ownership throughout their tenure.
We care about creating the time you need to bond for any team members at Kyruus Health growing their families. We offer 8 weeks of fully paid leave to all parents. Birthing parents are also eligible for additional time and coverage through our Short-Term Disability plan.
We encourage all employees to save for retirement through our 401(K) plan. Employees have the option to begin contributing to their accounts on their first day of employment and we offer an employer match of up to $1,500 per calendar year for all employees who enroll.
We offer employees a lifestyle stipend of $2,000 per year to help them be well. This is designed for Kyruus Health to offset the cost for items, experiences, or home expenses that enhance team members’ well-being
We want to provide employees and families with health insurance offerings to support them getting the care they need. Our health, dental, and vision plans are desiged to allow employees the opportunity to choose options that work best for themselves and their families.
We are committed to flexibility and empowering employees to do work that matters in a way that works for them. Our unlimited PTO policy is anchored on that flexibility – encouraging employees to take time off for what’s important to them, in addition to the many company holidays we celebrate. To highlight our commitment to a healthy work-life balance, we provide a specific stipend each quarter for employees to use on a recharge day.
