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A Saturday without football
So here comes summer! Lazy days, warm nights. No football!
Euro 2008. Not interested. Cancelled in the UK!
Time to catch up with all those chores you haven’t done since August 11th.
Bliss.
I was asked coming back from Rochdale, what ‘I’ really thought of this season. The person in question gave me a vitriol of just how crap Town were. And after calculating that he’d spent nearly three grand on watching Salop, why didn’t ‘we’ do something about it!
The next time I want to volunteer for SUFAN, shrewsTRUST et al, I think I ought to consider the obvious ‘joy’ it could bring me ;-)
To be honest I wouldn’t disagree. Last week I felt words such as ‘unacceptable’ were the right tone for Town performances. After watching us draw 1-1 to a Rochdale reserve side, the feeling of gladness that actually this season was well and truly over was there for all to see.
My mood changed a tad after two events. Firstly the Staff v Supporters game on the Meadow on a beautiful Bank Holiday evening. The staff won handsomely in the end, but mainly thanks to one Paul Simpson, who single handily won the game for the staff and didn’t give up at 3-3, with time running out. It showed to me Paul’s determination. That he is a winner! That he wont give up, and for me, to see that fight and passion about the game, was all I need to confirm that Town have made their right choice in Mr S.
Then there was the Supporters Awards Do. The palatial surroundings of the Sovereign Suite hosted the awards ceremony on an again barmy night in Central Shropshire. But it was Simo’s words that struck. ‘It may have been a bad season, but we are not here to hammer them. They are a good and professional bunch of lads. Were here tonight to celebrate individual achievements’
It struck a cord. No, we should just roll over and have our stomachs tickled over what was a poor season and with the resources and facilities shouldn’t have been, but there is talent in that squad. And now is the time for it to come out.
I still think back to away days at Stockport, and Wycombe. To even as recent as Boxing Day, when Town took apart the Hatters, and wonder ‘where the hell did it go wrong?’. Ok, we can go over and over and analyse everything. The change was made but even then, you’d question whether things did improve, as normally happens when a new manager comes in.
Two wins in the calendar year so far is unacceptable. No away win this calendar is unacceptable, with a support that numbered 600 for a nothing game in May. An average that came very close to seeing us as the third best supported team in the division and the highest average attendance since 1980-81 (Our second season in the Championship), no, it is not good enough.
But can the squad be moulded into a team that can take us to the next step?
I think if I’m honest next season no. I think mid table and a good cup run would keep the interest flowing, and a team building for the future. If we’ve got three and a bit years to attain ‘Roland’s Dream’ of Championship Football, building a team next season, gaining promotion to League One in 2009/10, and another promotion the following season seems the only way it can be done.
A couple of people have said to me, that Town getting into the Championship is ‘pie in the sky’. It’s almost the same argument that Town fans had in 60s and 70’s when so many near misses caused Town fans to ponder whether the board at the time wanted ‘Second Division’ football. You certainly can’t say that this time it’s the board that don’t want it. But maybe the fans are just being cautious and not wanting Town to bankrupt themselves and busting a get for a one-season excursion. If we get to the Championship we get there to stay. Not just for ten years, but for always.
Adrian Plimmer
shrewsTRUST
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