So it’s official, fees for students will go up to a maximum of £9,000. But amid all the rhetoric and riots, the broken promises and broken windows, party politics has served to disguise what to my mind is the real disappointment here – that the principle that a free education is a right for everyone who seeks it, seems to have been ignored.
The argument for fees has often come from Joe Public, repeating the same mantra – ‘why should they get it for free?’. Well, they don’t, do they? Prior to the fees that Labour introduced in 1998 do you know how they used to be paid for? That’s right, taxes!
Governments used to have the balls to increase and decrease tax depending on how much they needed for their programmes, but Labour, rather than, say, stick 10p on the top top rate of income tax, set us off down a path that has become increasingly common. That is, the things that used to be paid for by taxation suddenly became extra, to be paid for by the user.
At the same time the Government set about cutting basic rate tax for headlines in the red tops. The tax that would have paid the college fees that subsequently couldn’t be afforded.
Now, tax isn’t necessarily for anything specific, as Joe Public now seems to require, but it all went into the pot that paid for everything...health, welfare, education, transport, defence...you know. Apart from for the kids, I’ve haven’t claimed from the welfare state and I don’t use the NHS much, but I don’t begrudge my deductions being spent in those areas. I can see that what I pay helps to cover these things, but I don’t expect those that need it to pay money back when they start to get back on their feet.
General taxation has been sacrificed though, and the tax our parents had contributed to pay for our education and that graduates paid after university to pay for it again was suddenly not enough, for a bit of spin. Labour had to make their Public Relations tax cuts.
In the North West, we saw another example a couple of years ago when Manchester City Council tried to introduce a congestion charge. The electorate told them to think again, reminding them that they had already paid for transport improvements – trouble was the Government spent it on Iraq instead. That was their choice, and the electorate has the right to chuck them out because of it. A Government should NOT think it is able to come back for more indirectly having wasted what they’d already collected. If you are going to tax us, tax us properly, not by secondary means.
But we are where we are and today’s government must deal with what is before them. The fees genie was let out of the bottle many years ago and the likelihood was always that it would be the thin end of the wedge. Labour have been incredibly disingenuous during this malaise, particularly when they support a graduate tax. As pointed out previously on here, the measures voted through mean that students pay nothing up front and then pay back a little bit each month as they earn over a certain amount. A graduate tax means that students pay nothing up front and then pay back a little bit each month as they earn over a certain amount. The only difference is that the measures voted through appear to be finite.
Labour commissioned the Browne report, and let’s not be in any doubt about this; they would have reacted to it by putting fees up somehow. As it is, they have revelled in opposition, as is their right. And whilst I can’t pretend it hasn’t been fantastic to finally see students politicised, you can’t help but think that they are being led by the nose by their Labour Party Member president, who also supports a graduate tax.
Somehow, the Tories have come out of this relatively spotless. The Browne report suggested fees should be uncapped, and they would have gone with that were it not for Liberal intervention, which certainly would have made those elite universities out of reach of the less well off. Repayment terms may not have been so generous, the 30 year write off may not have been there or the threshold as high as £21k but they have not been the bad guys of the piece. Somehow they are getting credit for the progressive nature whilst the honour of being the hate figure falls to the Lib Dems.
And they deserve some of that flak I’m afraid and it is going to be a long drag persuading people to vote for them again. Despite their influence in tempering the proposals and making them progressive, the bottom line is they made that pledge. When it came to the coalition agreement, that should have been one of their ‘red lines’. A right to abstain was not enough and nor is it enough to simply change your mind and put it down to not winning the election...you made the pledge.
Deep down, it’s not the voting through of the measures that has disappointed people, because I give the public some credit for recognising that all political parties would have produced proposals like this, it’s that Nick Clegg and his party have turned out to be just like the rest of them. Labour and the Conservatives have broken many many promises in my lifetime, but sadly the Liberal Democrats have strengthened the old adage that no matter who you vote for, the government always gets in.
Thursday 9 December 2010
Thursday 25 November 2010
Elwyn Watkins and Party Loyalties
I received an email the other day from the Liberal Democrat hierarchy imploring me to volunteer my services to Elwyn Watkins in Saddleworth, and give my time to help him get elected.
Now given that his opponent, Phil Woolas, the people representing him, have been found guilty of lying their way into office, I should be enthused to jump to the assistance of Mr Watkins and make sure he claims the place in Parliament that is justly his. The problem is, I’m not and I won’t, because this is a very different political landscape to that we had in May.
Since being given a slice of power from the election result, the Lib Dems have taken a kicking for forming a coalition with the Tories, a much of it has been unfair. Some party members were up in arms about an alliance with the Conservative Party from the start, but that rather suggests that they didn’t understand the manifesto. You can’t believe in Proportional Representation if you only believe in it so long as you get the result you prefer. You go with the hand you are dealt, and after a disappointing set of results, the Lib Dems did not find themselves with too many options.
It was clear that a period of election, hung parliament, election, hung parliament would not have seen the country thrive at a time it needed decisiveness. There was no practical chance of a coalition with Labour and that left one choice only, and although it was not a very palatable one to the likes of...well, me...there is a need to recognise it had to be done.
Where they have failed is not being able to trumpet what they have achieved. Politics is bound by collective responsibility – Blair’s Labour was exceptional at it – meaning everyone is on message. So despite the fact that dyed-in-the-wool Conservatism has been diluted by their presence, they have been stymied in shouting that achievement from the rooftops.
Meanwhile, Labour are quite enjoying opposition, the electorate having already forgotten the preceding years of arrogance that made them utterly undeserving of a 4th term of office. They can now, as their position suggests, say the opposite. But let’s look at the biggest controversy thus far in this government – student course fees.
How would Labour have reacted to the Brown Report? Well, of course no-one will ever know, but you can bet course fees would have gone up. As for paying those, certain Labour members (now) say that they support a graduate tax. A graduate tax would have meant that all students would pay nothing up front, then a tax to pay their fees for the rest of their working lives. Meanwhile, the Government have proposed introducing a system that sees them pay nothing up front, and students’ paying what is effectively a tax, probably for the rest of their working lives. But only when their income reaches a certain level. Spot the difference? The only one is that the Government has put a price on the education.
But anyway, back to Saddleworth. You almost feel a little for Woolas. Actually, that's not true, but he has been unlucky. Had they been in power, Labour would have fought tooth and nail for him – let’s face it, a dirty campaign is not unusual, and Lib Dems & Tories have been equally as guilty in other places. But in their current position they have cut him adrift ruthlessly, in the pursuit of good PR and the safer seat they will probably achieve.
Because ultimately that is the decision I suspect the Saddleworth population will make. The reason is the same as the one I made when asked to campaign – that is despite reasonable defences I can make of the Lib Dem position, Elywn Watkins isn’t standing in a General Election, he is in a by-election. The simple fact is that we already know what the make up of the Government is and I wouldn’t vote for it given the choice.
Now given that his opponent, Phil Woolas, the people representing him, have been found guilty of lying their way into office, I should be enthused to jump to the assistance of Mr Watkins and make sure he claims the place in Parliament that is justly his. The problem is, I’m not and I won’t, because this is a very different political landscape to that we had in May.
Since being given a slice of power from the election result, the Lib Dems have taken a kicking for forming a coalition with the Tories, a much of it has been unfair. Some party members were up in arms about an alliance with the Conservative Party from the start, but that rather suggests that they didn’t understand the manifesto. You can’t believe in Proportional Representation if you only believe in it so long as you get the result you prefer. You go with the hand you are dealt, and after a disappointing set of results, the Lib Dems did not find themselves with too many options.
It was clear that a period of election, hung parliament, election, hung parliament would not have seen the country thrive at a time it needed decisiveness. There was no practical chance of a coalition with Labour and that left one choice only, and although it was not a very palatable one to the likes of...well, me...there is a need to recognise it had to be done.
Where they have failed is not being able to trumpet what they have achieved. Politics is bound by collective responsibility – Blair’s Labour was exceptional at it – meaning everyone is on message. So despite the fact that dyed-in-the-wool Conservatism has been diluted by their presence, they have been stymied in shouting that achievement from the rooftops.
Meanwhile, Labour are quite enjoying opposition, the electorate having already forgotten the preceding years of arrogance that made them utterly undeserving of a 4th term of office. They can now, as their position suggests, say the opposite. But let’s look at the biggest controversy thus far in this government – student course fees.
How would Labour have reacted to the Brown Report? Well, of course no-one will ever know, but you can bet course fees would have gone up. As for paying those, certain Labour members (now) say that they support a graduate tax. A graduate tax would have meant that all students would pay nothing up front, then a tax to pay their fees for the rest of their working lives. Meanwhile, the Government have proposed introducing a system that sees them pay nothing up front, and students’ paying what is effectively a tax, probably for the rest of their working lives. But only when their income reaches a certain level. Spot the difference? The only one is that the Government has put a price on the education.
But anyway, back to Saddleworth. You almost feel a little for Woolas. Actually, that's not true, but he has been unlucky. Had they been in power, Labour would have fought tooth and nail for him – let’s face it, a dirty campaign is not unusual, and Lib Dems & Tories have been equally as guilty in other places. But in their current position they have cut him adrift ruthlessly, in the pursuit of good PR and the safer seat they will probably achieve.
Because ultimately that is the decision I suspect the Saddleworth population will make. The reason is the same as the one I made when asked to campaign – that is despite reasonable defences I can make of the Lib Dem position, Elywn Watkins isn’t standing in a General Election, he is in a by-election. The simple fact is that we already know what the make up of the Government is and I wouldn’t vote for it given the choice.
Sunday 17 October 2010
Premonitions
Well, this blog post from August - http://haggisinwonderland.blogspot.com/2010/08/youve-got-to-have-fun.html - certainly became prophetic. As of this weekend, I have decided to absolve myself of all my responsibilities at the club. I have stopped enjoying it.
So what led to this point? There is no one thing you can pin it on, it is a complicated mix of things that have served to frustrate, depress, annoy and ultimately restrict my time.
In varying amounts of size, the factors at work are :- some people at the club who I believe are actively undermining the manager, and therefore the team; the manager constantly banging on about the wage bill; some supporters not realising what supporting means; getting a new job that is going to be tough and longer work; and my own thin skin.
About 10 days ago someone has had a pop at me, and I've always said that when that happens I wont hang around. I don't like it, or need it, as I take it too much to heart. I gnaws at me at work, and at home. So I have taken myself out of the firing line.
The list above exacerbates North End's current malaise. In the bottom two of the league and not playing well, struggling to get sponsors and probably losing money. These situations require a club to pull together, close ranks and work as a team. Instead folk appear to be sniping at each other, sometimes in public. Ironically, it was a call for everyone at the club to act as one that led to the straw that broke my camel's back.
I've done six years at the club and have enjoyed almost all of it. There are a lot of people to thank, and I will forget some...sorry. But thanks to Pete Hammond for all his assistance and advice. He takes the shit I avoided like teflon, mostly unjustifiably. Thanks to Dave Atky for allowing me to run with some things others may not have. Thanks to those supporters who I have stood shoulder to shoulder with and shared many a laugh, not least those who were at that freezing cold night in Newcastle, where we were in fits of giggles from start to finish. And thanks to High Peak Radio who have allowed me to indulge a long standing love of football on the wireless.
Muchos muchos thanks though to Steve, Terry and the players (and Nico before them), who have welcomed me into the dressing room without suspicion, despite the potential for me writing nasty things about them each game. But particularly 'cheers' to Steve and Terry, who have indulged more than a couple of whims over the years. They wont like me bringing up 2009 again, but for me to have been in the dressing rooms, traded teamsheets in the referee's room, sat on the bench, done a press conference and walked on the turf at the National Stadium is all down to their good grace. As was my place on the FA Cup bench earlier this season. I still think about that Vase final daily, and they and their 2009 squad were the architects of one of the best days of my life.
It's not like I wont be at games, but it will simply be as a spectator, enjoying the game just for football, not worrying about what else may take place. I must say, it is a while since I watched a game just for the craic and I'm looking forward to it.
The fact that I wont feel obliged to be at the game though is good. My family might be pleased to see me on a Saturday (although they may not!) and it will be fun to go and stay with friends the odd weekend having neglected them for six years while I was doing this job.
And one day, I have no doubt that fully refreshed and enthused again, I'll be raising my hand for some more GNE duty. Until then, see you in the trenches.
So what led to this point? There is no one thing you can pin it on, it is a complicated mix of things that have served to frustrate, depress, annoy and ultimately restrict my time.
In varying amounts of size, the factors at work are :- some people at the club who I believe are actively undermining the manager, and therefore the team; the manager constantly banging on about the wage bill; some supporters not realising what supporting means; getting a new job that is going to be tough and longer work; and my own thin skin.
About 10 days ago someone has had a pop at me, and I've always said that when that happens I wont hang around. I don't like it, or need it, as I take it too much to heart. I gnaws at me at work, and at home. So I have taken myself out of the firing line.
The list above exacerbates North End's current malaise. In the bottom two of the league and not playing well, struggling to get sponsors and probably losing money. These situations require a club to pull together, close ranks and work as a team. Instead folk appear to be sniping at each other, sometimes in public. Ironically, it was a call for everyone at the club to act as one that led to the straw that broke my camel's back.
I've done six years at the club and have enjoyed almost all of it. There are a lot of people to thank, and I will forget some...sorry. But thanks to Pete Hammond for all his assistance and advice. He takes the shit I avoided like teflon, mostly unjustifiably. Thanks to Dave Atky for allowing me to run with some things others may not have. Thanks to those supporters who I have stood shoulder to shoulder with and shared many a laugh, not least those who were at that freezing cold night in Newcastle, where we were in fits of giggles from start to finish. And thanks to High Peak Radio who have allowed me to indulge a long standing love of football on the wireless.
Muchos muchos thanks though to Steve, Terry and the players (and Nico before them), who have welcomed me into the dressing room without suspicion, despite the potential for me writing nasty things about them each game. But particularly 'cheers' to Steve and Terry, who have indulged more than a couple of whims over the years. They wont like me bringing up 2009 again, but for me to have been in the dressing rooms, traded teamsheets in the referee's room, sat on the bench, done a press conference and walked on the turf at the National Stadium is all down to their good grace. As was my place on the FA Cup bench earlier this season. I still think about that Vase final daily, and they and their 2009 squad were the architects of one of the best days of my life.
It's not like I wont be at games, but it will simply be as a spectator, enjoying the game just for football, not worrying about what else may take place. I must say, it is a while since I watched a game just for the craic and I'm looking forward to it.
The fact that I wont feel obliged to be at the game though is good. My family might be pleased to see me on a Saturday (although they may not!) and it will be fun to go and stay with friends the odd weekend having neglected them for six years while I was doing this job.
And one day, I have no doubt that fully refreshed and enthused again, I'll be raising my hand for some more GNE duty. Until then, see you in the trenches.
Saturday 11 September 2010
I can barely believe I'm writing this, but leave HMRC alone
There is much to criticise HM Revenue and Customs about, and believe me, I know. It's 13 years since I left them to become gamekeeper turned poacher, and ever since I have dealt with them every day of my working life. Often, they are utterly hopeless, and their 'customer' service has become simply appalling.
This week though, they have been getting an unfair press.
The media has absolutely loved this week, being able to take a pop at HMRC over these letters that have been sent out to people over these under and over payment letters. Some 6 million sent out, according to reports, and all the papers have been united - this is a B L U N D E R. Yet more evidence of a useless organisation.
They could barely be more wrong.
These discrepancies have arised purely because the the PAYE system is imperfect. Any deductions in a tax code are retrospective, a guess based on what happened in the past, and unless the individual tells HMRC of changes, how are they supposed to know? They wont, unless YOU tell them.
These inaccurate deductions have been going on since PAYE began, and believe it or not, HMRC have usually found out in due course. When I was there, each of us was given a list of names and NI Numbers, some 80 pages of A3 paper, all of whoms deductions didn't quite add up. Our job, as 'Revenue Officers', was to plough through this list in time, issuing the assessments and await the phone calls.
Except of course, often there wasn't time, so these lists often got forgotten, (Not mine though - why do you think I left, I was good at it!), and as a result the government's revenue and individuals refunds would be left under the carpet.
So all HMRC are guilty is investing into a new swanky computer system that does the assessments all at once, taking those lists away from hard pressed staff and probably making savings. Ironically, those debasing the new system the most are of course those papers that lambast public services for 'waste' with the most vigour.
This week though, they have been getting an unfair press.
The media has absolutely loved this week, being able to take a pop at HMRC over these letters that have been sent out to people over these under and over payment letters. Some 6 million sent out, according to reports, and all the papers have been united - this is a B L U N D E R. Yet more evidence of a useless organisation.
They could barely be more wrong.
These discrepancies have arised purely because the the PAYE system is imperfect. Any deductions in a tax code are retrospective, a guess based on what happened in the past, and unless the individual tells HMRC of changes, how are they supposed to know? They wont, unless YOU tell them.
These inaccurate deductions have been going on since PAYE began, and believe it or not, HMRC have usually found out in due course. When I was there, each of us was given a list of names and NI Numbers, some 80 pages of A3 paper, all of whoms deductions didn't quite add up. Our job, as 'Revenue Officers', was to plough through this list in time, issuing the assessments and await the phone calls.
Except of course, often there wasn't time, so these lists often got forgotten, (Not mine though - why do you think I left, I was good at it!), and as a result the government's revenue and individuals refunds would be left under the carpet.
So all HMRC are guilty is investing into a new swanky computer system that does the assessments all at once, taking those lists away from hard pressed staff and probably making savings. Ironically, those debasing the new system the most are of course those papers that lambast public services for 'waste' with the most vigour.
Friday 10 September 2010
HBTY
Today I become the parent of a teenager. This life landmark, along with the other big one looming in two months time, are likely to bring on a severe attack of naval gazing (metaphorically, rather than literally - I can only properly look at my naval in the mirror) and conclude with agonies over whether it is all worth it. But that is for tomorrow.
All that matters today is wishing a happy birthday to Phoebe Haggart. 13 awesome years.
All that matters today is wishing a happy birthday to Phoebe Haggart. 13 awesome years.
Sunday 22 August 2010
You've got to have fun
I love working for Glossop North End. It has given me some experiences that I could have got anywhere else, and that will be remembered for ever.
But I'm not daft. Those events were extra special, and should not be considered the norm. The day-to-day is more mundane - e-mails heading back and forth to opposition, referees, The FA and the Vodkat League. The match-day routine of teamsheets and post-game match reports. Trying to find opportunites to get the club into the press.
I see the work as some sort of community service - the town ought to have a football club, and all football clubs must be run by volunteers. A club can become a focal point for a town, and can bring an area together like nothing else can...we have had real experience of that.
But most of all I have to see it as enjoyable. There has to be some satisfaction, otherwise why I am committing my family to my being missing every Saturday, meaning weekends away are a rarity. Their patience must be rewarded with me at least not coming home in a mood that suggests I've been banging my head against a brick wall.
It's four years since I resigned as a director. Things had been brewing for a while, with me getting a fair share of angry telephone calls, and then at a game, a fellow director and the then manager had a stand up slanging match on the pitch that nearly came to blows. It was as depressing a spectacle as you could wish to see should you wish to take the club forward. It took place in full view of anyone hanging around the dug-out area, and reflected badly on the club, shortly before an important FA Cup tie.
The reputation of the club should always be more important than that of individuals, so I vowed to keep my head down, and just get on with what I do. But come the game next Saturday, I was apparently guilty by association and the manager refused to speak to me. Given my job was to gather the team sheets, and relay information to him, this made things very difficult. And we lost 5-0
It was the tipping point. Bad results I can take, they are part of the game - but the fun is gone when people start having a go at you, and this was now more like a bad job and I was taking the ugly bits home. It was time to walk away. So I did.
If a similar situation developed, I would walk away again. I think I have a positive influence on the club, but it has to have a positive influence on me in return.
But I'm not daft. Those events were extra special, and should not be considered the norm. The day-to-day is more mundane - e-mails heading back and forth to opposition, referees, The FA and the Vodkat League. The match-day routine of teamsheets and post-game match reports. Trying to find opportunites to get the club into the press.
I see the work as some sort of community service - the town ought to have a football club, and all football clubs must be run by volunteers. A club can become a focal point for a town, and can bring an area together like nothing else can...we have had real experience of that.
But most of all I have to see it as enjoyable. There has to be some satisfaction, otherwise why I am committing my family to my being missing every Saturday, meaning weekends away are a rarity. Their patience must be rewarded with me at least not coming home in a mood that suggests I've been banging my head against a brick wall.
It's four years since I resigned as a director. Things had been brewing for a while, with me getting a fair share of angry telephone calls, and then at a game, a fellow director and the then manager had a stand up slanging match on the pitch that nearly came to blows. It was as depressing a spectacle as you could wish to see should you wish to take the club forward. It took place in full view of anyone hanging around the dug-out area, and reflected badly on the club, shortly before an important FA Cup tie.
The reputation of the club should always be more important than that of individuals, so I vowed to keep my head down, and just get on with what I do. But come the game next Saturday, I was apparently guilty by association and the manager refused to speak to me. Given my job was to gather the team sheets, and relay information to him, this made things very difficult. And we lost 5-0
It was the tipping point. Bad results I can take, they are part of the game - but the fun is gone when people start having a go at you, and this was now more like a bad job and I was taking the ugly bits home. It was time to walk away. So I did.
If a similar situation developed, I would walk away again. I think I have a positive influence on the club, but it has to have a positive influence on me in return.
Monday 16 August 2010
One for the grandchildren
No-one knew it as it happened very quietly, but on Saturday 14 August 2010 I fulfilled a near lifelong ambition. At the age of nearly 40, I made my first appearance on a club's team sheet for the FA Cup.
The FA Cup, or to give it the official name,'FA Cup sponsored by E-on' has lost its lustre to most in recent years. Why? Well it can be partly explained by that horrid official name, but mostly it is because it has been usurped by the behemoth Premier League, which because of the prize money involved, has now become more important to the clubs. Coming 7th rather than 10th is now more vital than actually winning a pot. (My own Premiership preference, Manchester City were the first to adopt this approach, from 1976, but forgot about the league position bit).
The degrading of the "oldest cup competition in the World" has advanced so far now that this season, not only will the Premiership not have finished when the final is played, as has happened before, but in fact there is a full set of Premiership fixtures scheduled on the day of the final. That this disgraceful timetable has not warranted even a single tweet from journalists further indicates the Cup's new standing.
But for those of us of a certain age, the FA Cup still matters, and always will. The Cup Final was the first game we ever saw on TV (1977) for the majority of us in their late 30s and above, and the only game we saw all year. It provided lifetime memories like Alan Sunderland's last minute winner, Tommy Hutchinson scoring at both ends and Trevor Brooking's header whilst making household names of hitherto unknown players like Roger Osbourne.
Because of this, when I was growing up, I wanted to play in the FA Cup. The final, preferably. Sadly, I was never even nearly a good enough player though to even make the early rounds.
Latterly, as the Cup has become less relevant to the public, it has remained relevant to me as I got involved at Glossop North End. A couple of wins in the early rounds could mean a couple of thousand pounds for the club, and when GNE were in dire straights, this was certainly welcome. I remember only too well the gloom around the place when there was a Preliminary Round defeat to Ludlow Town, who had looked eminently beatable.
And it is that involvement with GNE that has allowed me, sneakily, to finally tick another box on the list of things I want to happen before I die.
My role has many facets, but handily two of them are assisting in the player registration forms and completing the team sheet before a game. So pre-season, I filled in my signing-on form - I am now possibly the oldest player registered with the Vodkat League - and then before our tie with Wigan Robin Park on Saturday,once the proper team had been entered onto the sheet, I added my name to the list. Teams are allowed seven subs in the FA Cup, but rarely pick more than five, extraordinarily six, so there I was - in substitute number seven heaven.
I didn't tell anyone, and I didn't put myself on the printed list for the clubhouse window. But I did keep the clubs copy of the official teamsheet, and this will be going in a frame and kept safely in my possession as proof on my involvement in what in truth was an ordinary game, but marks a special moment personally in my continuing love affair with the competition.
The FA Cup, or to give it the official name,'FA Cup sponsored by E-on' has lost its lustre to most in recent years. Why? Well it can be partly explained by that horrid official name, but mostly it is because it has been usurped by the behemoth Premier League, which because of the prize money involved, has now become more important to the clubs. Coming 7th rather than 10th is now more vital than actually winning a pot. (My own Premiership preference, Manchester City were the first to adopt this approach, from 1976, but forgot about the league position bit).
The degrading of the "oldest cup competition in the World" has advanced so far now that this season, not only will the Premiership not have finished when the final is played, as has happened before, but in fact there is a full set of Premiership fixtures scheduled on the day of the final. That this disgraceful timetable has not warranted even a single tweet from journalists further indicates the Cup's new standing.
But for those of us of a certain age, the FA Cup still matters, and always will. The Cup Final was the first game we ever saw on TV (1977) for the majority of us in their late 30s and above, and the only game we saw all year. It provided lifetime memories like Alan Sunderland's last minute winner, Tommy Hutchinson scoring at both ends and Trevor Brooking's header whilst making household names of hitherto unknown players like Roger Osbourne.
Because of this, when I was growing up, I wanted to play in the FA Cup. The final, preferably. Sadly, I was never even nearly a good enough player though to even make the early rounds.
Latterly, as the Cup has become less relevant to the public, it has remained relevant to me as I got involved at Glossop North End. A couple of wins in the early rounds could mean a couple of thousand pounds for the club, and when GNE were in dire straights, this was certainly welcome. I remember only too well the gloom around the place when there was a Preliminary Round defeat to Ludlow Town, who had looked eminently beatable.
And it is that involvement with GNE that has allowed me, sneakily, to finally tick another box on the list of things I want to happen before I die.
My role has many facets, but handily two of them are assisting in the player registration forms and completing the team sheet before a game. So pre-season, I filled in my signing-on form - I am now possibly the oldest player registered with the Vodkat League - and then before our tie with Wigan Robin Park on Saturday,once the proper team had been entered onto the sheet, I added my name to the list. Teams are allowed seven subs in the FA Cup, but rarely pick more than five, extraordinarily six, so there I was - in substitute number seven heaven.
I didn't tell anyone, and I didn't put myself on the printed list for the clubhouse window. But I did keep the clubs copy of the official teamsheet, and this will be going in a frame and kept safely in my possession as proof on my involvement in what in truth was an ordinary game, but marks a special moment personally in my continuing love affair with the competition.
Tuesday 22 June 2010
Memories of Frank Sidebottom
What a sad day mid-summer turned out to be, as news came through to me that Chris Sievey, the creator of Frank Sidebottom, had died. We shouldn't forget the name Chris Sievey, because without him Frank never existed, but John Robb pays tribute to him far better than I ever could here - http://johnrobb77.wordpress.com/2010/06/21/frank-sidebottom-rip/ - and I'd urge you to read that.
But for me, Chris is Frank Sidebottom, a ridiculous character who entertained me to the point of obsession in the late 80s and early 90s. So whilst I eulogise about the loss of Frank, it is with the greatest respect to Chris, who to me was a genius for coming up with this ludicrous idea, that made me laugh until I ached.
I can't recall when I first came across Frank, but it is possible I heard him before I saw his papier maché'd bonce. I used to listen to Piccadilly Radio late at night for the left-wing leanings of James H Reeve, but when he went on holiday, Frank Sidebottom stepped in for a week, and introduced me to his surreal world. On Monday his guest was Little Frank. Tuesday, Little Denise. Wednesday, Amoeba Frank was on air, all with the same song request - Living in a Box, by Living in a Box. I was hooked.
Over the next few years I bought the e.p.'s and albums, wore the t-shirts and saw Frank live on a number of occassions. At the 1990 Reading Festival he came on as Santa Claus, then played a Carol, before removing his red cloak and beard with a "ha...fooled you, it was me all along". In Manchester he spent almost an hour showing us pictures of Bury New Market, before tricking us with a picture of Glossop Bank Holiday Market, to extra lusty cheers from me. In Preston he chucked large silver wooden kitchen utensils into the audience, and I claimed a fork that I kept for years, until it was inevitiably lost in a house move.
As life caught up with me, it co-incided with Frank disappearing from public life. I don't know where he went, and the odd 'whatever happened to...' question was met with no answer apart from tales of one shambolic drunken performance at a City supporters club night.
Then, a few years ago he returned and I was delighted. Props must go to Channel M for their decision to give Frank a series, which seemed to enliven his taste for public life as well as the public's taste for Frank. Whilst I failed, regretfully, to see Frank live since his comeback (although I did see him DJing with customary enthusiasm at Eurocultured a few years back) I was heartened that he was still out there, making people laugh as he had me. Latterly, his tweets were keeping me happy.
He didn't seem worried about the tumour that it seems killed him, cancelling only a few gigs with apologies, but still performing when he wasn't feeling poorly. His messages were hugely optimistic, and it was in this cheerful spirit I ran the Manchester 10k last month in a Timperley Bigshorts t-shirt, with 'get well soon Frank' written on my number. That's why it was a real shock to read about his death yesterday.
I think the world is a poorer place without him. I don't think there will ever be an act so unlikely to succeed on paper, but so brilliant in reality. In this 'Britain's Got Talent' age, he would be booed off stage before he'd finished the first lengthy 'ooooooh' of 'I Should Be So Lucky'. If he has any legacy over and above the fun he gave us, perhaps it could be for those who are outside of the 'norm' get their chance to shine. The outpouring of affection upon Chris/Frank's death should be telling people to persevere, no matter what the self-appointed experts tell you.
You know it should, it really should. Thank you.
But for me, Chris is Frank Sidebottom, a ridiculous character who entertained me to the point of obsession in the late 80s and early 90s. So whilst I eulogise about the loss of Frank, it is with the greatest respect to Chris, who to me was a genius for coming up with this ludicrous idea, that made me laugh until I ached.
I can't recall when I first came across Frank, but it is possible I heard him before I saw his papier maché'd bonce. I used to listen to Piccadilly Radio late at night for the left-wing leanings of James H Reeve, but when he went on holiday, Frank Sidebottom stepped in for a week, and introduced me to his surreal world. On Monday his guest was Little Frank. Tuesday, Little Denise. Wednesday, Amoeba Frank was on air, all with the same song request - Living in a Box, by Living in a Box. I was hooked.
Over the next few years I bought the e.p.'s and albums, wore the t-shirts and saw Frank live on a number of occassions. At the 1990 Reading Festival he came on as Santa Claus, then played a Carol, before removing his red cloak and beard with a "ha...fooled you, it was me all along". In Manchester he spent almost an hour showing us pictures of Bury New Market, before tricking us with a picture of Glossop Bank Holiday Market, to extra lusty cheers from me. In Preston he chucked large silver wooden kitchen utensils into the audience, and I claimed a fork that I kept for years, until it was inevitiably lost in a house move.
As life caught up with me, it co-incided with Frank disappearing from public life. I don't know where he went, and the odd 'whatever happened to...' question was met with no answer apart from tales of one shambolic drunken performance at a City supporters club night.
Then, a few years ago he returned and I was delighted. Props must go to Channel M for their decision to give Frank a series, which seemed to enliven his taste for public life as well as the public's taste for Frank. Whilst I failed, regretfully, to see Frank live since his comeback (although I did see him DJing with customary enthusiasm at Eurocultured a few years back) I was heartened that he was still out there, making people laugh as he had me. Latterly, his tweets were keeping me happy.
He didn't seem worried about the tumour that it seems killed him, cancelling only a few gigs with apologies, but still performing when he wasn't feeling poorly. His messages were hugely optimistic, and it was in this cheerful spirit I ran the Manchester 10k last month in a Timperley Bigshorts t-shirt, with 'get well soon Frank' written on my number. That's why it was a real shock to read about his death yesterday.
I think the world is a poorer place without him. I don't think there will ever be an act so unlikely to succeed on paper, but so brilliant in reality. In this 'Britain's Got Talent' age, he would be booed off stage before he'd finished the first lengthy 'ooooooh' of 'I Should Be So Lucky'. If he has any legacy over and above the fun he gave us, perhaps it could be for those who are outside of the 'norm' get their chance to shine. The outpouring of affection upon Chris/Frank's death should be telling people to persevere, no matter what the self-appointed experts tell you.
You know it should, it really should. Thank you.
Wednesday 19 May 2010
Chester fans, welcome to the Vodkat League
The news that came through on Monday that Chester FC, the new club formed by the fans of the wound up Chester City FC, was to be placed in the Vodkat League would have been greeted with excitement in Vodkat League quarters. It certainly was with me, as it gave the prospect of another big game in an exciting few years.
FC United of Manchester, whatever you might think of their reason for being, gleefully came through the Vodkat league in a fug of noise and good times, largely sweeping all before them, but doing so with humility and good humour. The big crowds they generated generally allowed most clubs in the league to make a useful bit of money, in some cases helping to keep the clubs alive.
So I logged onto devachat.com to see the CFC reaction and to say I was surprised was an understatement. The people of Chester, it would seem, were not amused. Some ripped up their season tickets before they had bought them, stating that they would not be watching football that they reckoned was just a small step up from pub league. Most were fuming at the FA for having the audacity not to place them, at worst, in the Unibond, sorry Evo-Stick, Premier. Only a few pointed out that given the last few years they felt happy just to have a side at all.
It was an ungracious reaction, borne from an indication from the NPL that should the FA place them in the Evo-Stick, they would be happy to have them. Devachat contributors pointed out 'precedent' where Halifax and Telford had been relegated only to the NPL when they had gone out of business, and accused the FA of selling them down the river by not similarly putting their new club in that league.
I think we need to put the precedent thing to bed right away. There is a difference. Halifax and Telford both finished the previous season albeit under a cloud, and as such, when they went down the divisions they we effectively accepting a demotion in FA eyes - although I would still argue even now that they should have started at Step 6. But the crucial thing is that the season before they played their 42 games. Chester meanwhile, didn't. They failed to turn up to one, and had another abandoned, then went out of business all together.
This of course was not the Chester fans fault. In Steve Vaughan they had a crooked owner and were quite rightly desperate to get rid of him. They had suffered enough embarrassment before the disastrous 2009/10 season, but that first season in the Conference had seen them given a clean slate with a new company (and no relegation, perhaps unlike the Halifax and Telford 'Phoenix club precedent') they ran up further debts to HMRC, whilst Vaughan claimed that the club owed him the best part of three quarters of a million pounds...run up in about 6 months. When the club was wound up, you could hear the sighs of relief from here...they were rid of him and could start again.
But there's the rub, starting again means just that...meaning that the bottom of the pyramid is where you have to be. That is the fair way of doing things, no matter how many supporters you have, or how big your home ground will be. You might argue that the clubs with an average attendance of less than 100 would not be able to cope, but that has already been disproved, as they all coped with FCUM, borrowing grounds if they had to.
The FA appear to believe in starting again too, and rather than sell Chester down the river, they appear to have kept the integrity of the game intact, showing that their are no short cuts. The FA didn't suggest that Chester would start in the Evo-Stick league either, that was an eager NPL looking to have them. They have no qualms about short cuts, their open-armed welcome of Halifax et al have already shown that.
So, Chester fans, you are where you deserve to be, and welcome to the league. Speak to FC United fans and they will tell you about the fun they had when they cut a swathe through the league. They will also tell you what to expect, but I'll add a little to that.
First of all, the disappointment - I think you'll start in Division 1. You've already read my opinion if you've got this far, and although I don't have a vote I expect the member clubs will be of similar mind. However, once you are with us the clubs will try to pull out all of the stops to welcome you, making it as friendly as possible. You can expect entry prices of about £6 too, which will be a welcome change I am sure.
There will be no FA Competitions for you this year, but there will be the Vodkat League Cup. Next season will see you able to enter the FA Vase and the season after will allow you in the FA Cup. The Vase will bring all sorts of fun with the prospect of a Wembley final at the end of it. And what a weekend that could be.
Rather than pub league standard, the Vodkat league is one of the strongest Step 5 leagues in the land, rivalled only by the Northern League in the North East. The players are fit as a fiddle and talented too. They can play more than a bit, and any side that comes into the league thinking they can sweep all before them without working hard for it will be in for a shock very quickly.
I doubt that will happen though, as you will undoubtedly have the financial clout to do very well. Here, you will find, that rather than put people off, the public will come out and support a winning side. Look (again) at FCUM. Crowds were down this season in the Unibond Prem, as were the results. When they were winning every game, the crowds were larger, noisier and having tremendous fun. They loved playing sides with names like Daisy Hill, Blackpool Mechanics (sadly renamed an dull-as-ditchwater AFC Blackpool) and Atherton Laburnum Rovers. They loved the pies made by local companies rather than massed produced in processed meat factories. They loved taking over the grounds and the fact that they were leaving a financial legacy to all they met.
So embrace it Cestrians. Come the kick off on 7 August love the fact that the team is yours, and yours alone. Love the new experiences that you are going to have rather than the sanitized matchday routine of leagues higher. Love that you are most likely going to win every week. Love the knowledge that away grounds are close enough for you to be home for Doctor Who, never mind Match of the Day. You will find that Vodkat League people are all volunteers doing it out of fondness for their town, their club and their community. Sound familiar? We have common ground and are genuinely looking forward to seeing you.
Monday 3 May 2010
Two 'Must Win' Evenings for the Blues
I've got a couple of tickets to special events this week, and I cannot wait for either. On Wednesday I'm snubbing Glossop North End for once, and instead will be heading down to Eastlands for the match that could help shape the new order in English football - if Manchester City can beat Tottenham and pip them to fourth place, they could shake up the system that has been in place since the late 90s. Barely any other English club bar the 'Sky 4' has had a place in the 'Champions' League since runners up were allowed in into the cup in 1997, but a place for the Blues could cause ructions in the established order, at the expense of the Reds, Liverpool. They will claim it's due to the money they've been able to throw at it.
My other ticket could also see me witness the Blues causing ructions at the expense of the Reds - also for the first time since 1997 - as I will be at the General Election count for the High Peak Constituency on Thursday night, where Tory Andrew Bingham will be hoping to pick up the seat vacated by Tom Levitt.
Levitt only just held off Bingham in 2005, by less than a 1000 votes, and it is fully expected that the High Peak will turn blue once again, having dallied with Labour since Tony Blair's initial romp. Despite Bingham's camp having to deny accusations about the source of his funds.
This wont be my first count. I was fortunate enough to be there in 2005, when I witnessed the bizarre sight of a Labour MP cheering when a (left-leaning) colleague announced that he thought he was beaten. In the end, Bob Marshall-Andrews came through, which could have made for an awkward moment when the two met, had he heard about Mr Levitt's 'yes!' when he near-conceded.
The second moment of note came at about 2am when there was a flurry of activity. It looked as though we had a result, and the candidates were gathered. We knew it was close, but not close enough to need a recount surely...we wanted to go home. Unlucky! Mr Bingham thought 800 to be close enough to keep us all there for another couple of hours. I got home from Buxton at around 5am.
Of course, this time Tom Levitt has gone, retired, not least because it would seem that he was so utterly certain to lose. He had not won any friends by being to faithfully loyal to the party on all matters, including Iraq and latterly the mess of a congestion charge proposal in Manchester. He finished himself off with the expenses claims, given unfair stick for a genuine oversight in claiming for a rememberance day wreath, but strangely not lambasted for asking us to pay for a hairdryer. Look him up on Google images if you are not sure why.
So it seems our Labour candidate Caitlin Bisknell has been given the most poisoned of chalices - and Mr Levitt has been noticeably absent in her campaign. It would be extraordinary if she could defend this marginal seat. Her chances are not helped by the national rise of the Lib Dems skewing the polls. Marc Godwin (now defected to the Tories in an apparent fit of pique) lost to Labour by nearly 10000 last time, but could the pendulum have swung so far away from Labour that a vote for their Alistair Stevens now the most effective vote against the Tories? And even if it hasn't, can the Lib Dem supporters be persuaded by the 'Guardian' argument that a vote for Labour could at least keep out Bingham?
The Lib Dem candidate spot has been plagued with problems. Apart from Godwin turning, previous candidate Steve Sharp was charged with fraud (and subsequently convicted) and he clung on for an embarassingly long time. Without Clegg's performance on TV, Stevens would have had no chance at all, and those that wish to keep Cameron out more than remove the Government should bear this in mind.
I envisage that Mr Bingham will stand on the Pavilion Gardens stage as a victor on Thursday. He has been the Tory candidate for a good eight years now, and has used his funds effectively to make himself well known. Bisknell will be second, with stubborn Lib Dems voting for their own to keep the percentages high, but coming in third. That said, if the Tories are to have any chance of winning nationally, this is a constituency they HAVE to take...and many many more like it.
One things for sure, both nights are going to be exciting.
My other ticket could also see me witness the Blues causing ructions at the expense of the Reds - also for the first time since 1997 - as I will be at the General Election count for the High Peak Constituency on Thursday night, where Tory Andrew Bingham will be hoping to pick up the seat vacated by Tom Levitt.
Levitt only just held off Bingham in 2005, by less than a 1000 votes, and it is fully expected that the High Peak will turn blue once again, having dallied with Labour since Tony Blair's initial romp. Despite Bingham's camp having to deny accusations about the source of his funds.
This wont be my first count. I was fortunate enough to be there in 2005, when I witnessed the bizarre sight of a Labour MP cheering when a (left-leaning) colleague announced that he thought he was beaten. In the end, Bob Marshall-Andrews came through, which could have made for an awkward moment when the two met, had he heard about Mr Levitt's 'yes!' when he near-conceded.
The second moment of note came at about 2am when there was a flurry of activity. It looked as though we had a result, and the candidates were gathered. We knew it was close, but not close enough to need a recount surely...we wanted to go home. Unlucky! Mr Bingham thought 800 to be close enough to keep us all there for another couple of hours. I got home from Buxton at around 5am.
Of course, this time Tom Levitt has gone, retired, not least because it would seem that he was so utterly certain to lose. He had not won any friends by being to faithfully loyal to the party on all matters, including Iraq and latterly the mess of a congestion charge proposal in Manchester. He finished himself off with the expenses claims, given unfair stick for a genuine oversight in claiming for a rememberance day wreath, but strangely not lambasted for asking us to pay for a hairdryer. Look him up on Google images if you are not sure why.
So it seems our Labour candidate Caitlin Bisknell has been given the most poisoned of chalices - and Mr Levitt has been noticeably absent in her campaign. It would be extraordinary if she could defend this marginal seat. Her chances are not helped by the national rise of the Lib Dems skewing the polls. Marc Godwin (now defected to the Tories in an apparent fit of pique) lost to Labour by nearly 10000 last time, but could the pendulum have swung so far away from Labour that a vote for their Alistair Stevens now the most effective vote against the Tories? And even if it hasn't, can the Lib Dem supporters be persuaded by the 'Guardian' argument that a vote for Labour could at least keep out Bingham?
The Lib Dem candidate spot has been plagued with problems. Apart from Godwin turning, previous candidate Steve Sharp was charged with fraud (and subsequently convicted) and he clung on for an embarassingly long time. Without Clegg's performance on TV, Stevens would have had no chance at all, and those that wish to keep Cameron out more than remove the Government should bear this in mind.
I envisage that Mr Bingham will stand on the Pavilion Gardens stage as a victor on Thursday. He has been the Tory candidate for a good eight years now, and has used his funds effectively to make himself well known. Bisknell will be second, with stubborn Lib Dems voting for their own to keep the percentages high, but coming in third. That said, if the Tories are to have any chance of winning nationally, this is a constituency they HAVE to take...and many many more like it.
One things for sure, both nights are going to be exciting.
Monday 15 February 2010
My Unibond League Dreams Shattered
So, 1767 words carefully crafted to try to get everyone pulling in the same direction so that we might have the opportunity to play in the Unibond League, and within 72 hours that ambition has already been taken from me. Unibond have decided to end their Northern Premier League sponsorship after 17 years.
Given that their signs are in football grounds all around the country, I would be not in the least surprised if we found that we were gunning for promotion in future years...to the Vodkat League!
Anyway, in other news, the current Vodkat League has decided that the Semi Finals of the league cup will be played over 1 leg this year. Not altogether a surprise after last 16 replays were put back to the date of the quarter finals. The side drawn first will be at home. Let's hope we're in the hat, travelling or not.
Friday 12 February 2010
Planning for the GNE future
The news that Glossop North End were not applying for promotion came as a surprise to me and, if I'm honest, a disappointment. We all know the ground isn't up to scratch, but it appears to have been decided that the work will not be done this season. I think that was the let down...not missing out on possible promotion, but the apparent inaction. However, it has transpired that the process of applying for grants is still ongoing, slightly stalled.
As part of the grant application process, the club is required to produce a ‘detailed’ report that backs up the application to the Football Foundation and other bodies, which seems fair enough, given that it is asking for pots of their cash.
To do this, the club has to take a fairly searching introspective look at itself, which will involve taking where we are now, where we want to be in the future, how we are going to get there, and who it is we need to do it.
Right now we have a ramshackle ground that needs a large amount of work doing to it. I understand that the ground grader last season announced that Surrey Street was one of the worst grounds he had ever been asked to grade. Enough said – open your eyes, face in any direction at the club, and you can see something that needs doing. Meanwhile, the team is very nearly good enough to earn automatic promotion, and next season ought to be challenging for it.
I will always maintain that getting the ground right before promotion is imperative, and that it should be of step 3 standard rather than step 4 (the level above where we are now). However, should we consider whether or not it is worth a quicker fix to achieve that aim rather than place all eggs in one grant pursuing basket, only to be met with disappointment 18 months or longer down the line, with no work at all having been done.
What is clear to me is that in 10 years, Glossop North End has the potential to be in, and be surviving in, the Unibond premier league. We need only look across the hills to see what is required. Buxton have a tidy ground, but aside from a stand that includes all the facilities that we might want – changing rooms, offices, washrooms, press & commentary positions and 500 seats – it’s not actually that far away from our beloved Surrey Street. There are a lot of smaller, bitty jobs, that will be required, but if we can build a stand that will hold much of those named requirements, we have broken the back of what is needed for the next step. However, even with Football Foundation funding, such stand could prove to be at a prohibitive cost and a vision of utopia.
At the moment we appear to have a pot of FA Vase money sitting in the bank, (gaining pitiful interest I would imagine). I would hope that this cash is ring-fenced, not to be touched - but away from this we have no identifiable income other than the hand to mouth income from match days. Perhaps we can find a way to add to this pot of gold?
There can be no disguising that having no other income of significance is disappointing. At Wembley last season we had 5000 people watching the club at the highest profile game that it has ever been involved in, but rather than tap into this potentially rich seam of sponsorship, the club has instead lost its main sponsor, and at the same time a director who up to that point had been shown through his actions over the summer to have a real drive to take the club forward.
We MUST find someone to sit on the board with the commercial nous to bring in sponsors. It is plainly a skill that is lacking at the moment. Think about it...5000 potential sponsors, ok maybe 3500 if you take the kids out, but we didn’t even publish details of how much it cost to sponsor a game, a match ball, a player. Whilst other club were actively out there gaining sponsors, we weren’t even making it easy for sponsors to find out with their own initiative. We only have to look at the tax return behind the clock or the unfinished shelving in the kids rooms to know that people need to be reminded, badgered, to get round to things. How many of those 3500 were thinking they would do more for the club next year, only to never get the reminder.
The team and some overheads should, if possible, be run with the income from match days, and to some extent that allows for cloth to be cut accordingly. But that means that income from sponsorship money could in part be saved, put away for the next project that has been identified. Maybe a stand, maybe a new clubhouse. Perhaps this clubhouse could be used commercially for local people. Then we earn more money for the next project...etc. We HAVE to get the commercial side sorted, as a matter of priority for 2010/11 - who knows, maybe there is a philanthropist out there, just waiting to be approached and ready to donate in the right circumstances. It happened to the rugby club.
There are, of course, many more jobs around a football club that just the commercial side. We must also consider that in the future what the make up of a board would be and ensure that we have the right people with the right skills to do it. I would suggest that the board breaks this down to the basics, and makes a simple list of every job that is required to be done in the facets of running a club, be that on a match day or during the week, and then delegates the appropriate board member to be responsible for them. If a particular skill set it missing, then a board member is responsible for finding a person with, inviting them onto the board if they feel that is what is required.
At the moment, things appear to be disjointed so that sometimes no-one is aware whose job is what. One thing is clear though, is that ultimately the board is responsible for everything, and if something isn’t getting done, it is up to them to arrange it. Being a board member is not a position to be entered into lightly, and those of you who may seek to criticise should bear this in mind. By the same token, when things don’t get done, it is not sufficient for the board to suggest ‘then you do it’ to those that may snipe. That person has not undertaken to run the club.
The current board did a tremendous job of battening down the hatches and chasing wolves from the door when that is what was required. Having emerged on the other side of that, we have to change the mindset and look forward to creating the opportunity for good times. By identifying the jobs that need doing to achieve our aims, and who is required to do them, we might expand or streamline the board, but we will get an outfit that pulls in the same direction, as a team, just like we would expect the lads on the pitch to do.
Ambitions must be clear and achievable. Personally, I would eventually like to see an integrated club, from Juniors (boys AND girls) upwards, with some facilities that the town could be proud of, such as some 3G pitches, indoor facilities and the like. This would take some vision from the council too, as they will have to take the lead with this and spot an opportunity for development in the centre of town. Our Leisure Centre is 30 years old, in which time the population of Glossop has increased by 33% from 30,000 to 40,000 people. The centre is too small for us now. Perhaps some Brownfield land where an old factory once stood with its large chimney could be developed to become the focus of sport and leisure in the town with the football club at its heart…if only we knew of such a place eh?
But let’s be realistic, that is unlikely to happen.
But the aims of the board as stated by Adrian on the messageboard certainly are achievable. To recap –
1/ Scratting Shed. This has to go and ideally being replaced with a structure running down that side, incorporating standing, enough flip seats to reach the minimum criteria with what we already have, ( could need about 200 - 250 in total ) a proper, yob proof press box in the middle and lighting / emergency lighting within.
2/ Changing Rooms. They will have to be replaced, firstly because they are falling apart and also because they are actually not quite officially big enough, for the next level up.
3/ Outside wall. This does not reach the minimum height standard. Surrey Street side would definitely need doing, but we may get away with some of the other sides.
4/ Outside Toilets. These would need improving and possibly a new small block building.
In addition, you would have to add that the integration of the football club into the community is vital. We have been shown that there is interest out there, and the club will need to find ways of reaching out to the community to draw their support. Be that through coaching sessions for kids, ensuring that there is representation at local carnivals, getting merchandise into local shops…and other ideas that people may have.
I believe that whatever the result of applications for grants, we should pledge to have the ground ready for promotion by inspection time in 2010/11. Not least, the anticipation of ambition of promotion and evidence of some drive to achieve it will help the turnstiles to tick over and keep the crowds high which will fund the team to do it. If the grants are not forthcoming (either in time or at all) the money to improve the ground will have to come from outside of that raised on match days.
Make no mistake, this will take hard work on behalf of everyone one us who can spare some time, together with some effective and dynamic leadership and communication from the board to inspire people to put the hours and effort in, to reach a collective goal.
So where do YOU want to see GNE in, say, 10 years, I’d be interested to know.
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