Thetownend.com

When did it open, I always thought it was for the Premier season, but just watching the highlights of Newcastle visit in September 1993 and its still the old Aldershot stand in the background?

The season after Prem, so 94/95.  Think the first game was v Port Vale.  For a few late 80's early 90's years, we had a little conmmunity in the Shrivenham Road.... good bunch of lads, only time I saw them. It was about on the half way line. half time flasks would come out and whisky, rum or brandy would be fired in especially in winter.

With the Intel, an effort was made at first to try and recreate, but it just wasn't anywhere near the same and soon faded.

The Andy Mutch goal in that Magpies match adorned the opening sequence of Grandstand, for a while showing the South Side in all its rust covered glory.

That would make sense, we seemed to play Port Vale at home near the start of every season in the mid/late 90's always seemed to get that game in before going back to Uni.

Anyone who sat in the new stand in that first game vs Port Vale (which I think we won 2-0?) came a way with a thin layer of concrete dust on their shoes/clothes.  It was so new.  Over 20 yrs later, I still think of it as the 'new' stand.

Indeed, they looked a good partnership at the start of that season, in fact, we looked good for a bit.  We still had moments towards the bitter end as well, like trouncing West Brown away.  That was our Forest under Clough being too good to go down season.

More a typical Town season, finish 4th bottom in a season when 4 go down due to trimming the Prem. There was one other, but they'll be the only 2 when that could have happened.

Similar was 86/87 when we finished 3rd in Div 3 which for a number of years was an auto slot, so we have to go into the lottery of the first PO.  Happily we prevailed but very tight.

The only slight saving grace from that season was Reading finishing second and not going up automatically. Flunked the play-off final too.

The only slight saving grace from that season was Reading finishing second and not going up automatically. Flunked the play-off final too.

Good recall. Was Jimmy Quinn manager?

Think you're out by about 10 yrs.  Reading missing out on automatic promotion and losing to Bolton in the PO final was in the mid/late 1990s.

That was 1995, went to Bolton two Wednesdays running thanks to the flash flood.  :badmood:

The clubs portion of payment for the stand came from our year in the Prem, hence why we didn't spend a significant amount on players, bar Fjortoft (£500k) which was our record signing.  Mind you that was the year before parachute payments were introduced so we lucked out on timing.  Can't really blame them for not spending a chunk on the squad.

I was a steward at the club in the Prem season and remember standing in the South stand for a good portion of that season.

Ray Hardman got the stand built I believe, he'd worked in the construction industry pre-STFC. Definitely opened for the Port Vale game in the summer of 1994 - with plans to do a similar build for the Bank (see plans in the Town at the Top book), but never came to fruition.

Be interested to see the plans for the Bank, did they ever get PP?

A while back, I wondered how many FL grounds (old money) are older than the CG.

 A cursory look  led me to give up as it all seemed to be Premcentric, with Chelsea given longevity even though they didn't form until 1905

A quick look at the current 92 shows there are 15 grounds (locations) as old or older than the CG:

- 1896 - County Ground
- 1896 - Craven Cottage
- 1895 - Sincil Bank
- 1893 - Priestfield
- 1892 - Goddison Park
- 1892 - St James Park (Geordie version)
- 1890 - Ewood Park
- 1889 - Molyneux
- 1888 - Portman Road
- 1888 - Oakwell
- 1885 - Gigg Lane
- 1884 - Anfield
- 1883 - Turf Moor
- 1875 - Deepdale
- 1862 - Bramhall Lane
- 1861 - Field Mill

York Road, the home of National League side Maidenhead Utd is claimed by the FA to be the oldest senior football ground continuously used by the same club (1871).
 

And Preistfield has had scaffoldiing since 1894.

When I looked I noticed these types of lists, but for me some bits are dodgy... Field Mill, for example Mansfield weren't formed until 1905, when they moved to Field Mill.

Blades were formed in 1889, cricket and sometimes Sheffield FC had used BL.

Portman Road was a sports field mostly used for rugby... Ipswich didn't turn pro until 1936.

So it seems based on sports being on site.... in which case the CG was first used in 1866, the pavilion was built in 1893 and STFC played there in 1895, before moving over in 1896.

My bad.  I thought the question was "...how many FL grounds are older than the CG?" not 'how many FL grounds have been in use by current professional FL clubs longer than the Town have been playing at the CG?'  Oh, hang on, it was!  :)

My bad.  I thought the question was "...how many FL grounds are older than the CG?" not 'how many FL grounds have been in use by current professional FL clubs longer than the Town have been playing at the CG?'  Oh, hang on, it was!  :)

Club announced a new ‘fan zone’ behind the DRS for next year. Not sure where it will be, as the junior reds room is staying. But another good, positive off the field step, of which there’s been a few in recent months

All good stuff, but the Adver article alludes to the broken club, and although initiatives are welcome, it is going to be very difficult to put the pieces back together again.

Club announced a new ‘fan zone’ behind the DRS for next year. Not sure where it will be, as the junior reds room is staying. But another good, positive off the field step, of which there’s been a few in recent months

Can you not just stop your negative tripe for one minute. We aren’t a broken club, we are a normal lower league club operating within our means. A broken club is Bury, or Notts County, or Macclesfield, we aren’t even close to them.

“The relationship between the club, our fans and the press hasn’t always been great.

He said: “I want to change the feeling around this club. At the moment, this club is just a football team, it’s not a football club.

“We’re going to do loads of work in the community next year, in terms of going out to coach local young football teams and things like that.

“I want there to be a connection between the players and the supporters and I don’t think we’ve got that right now.”

Didnt they build the stand in 3 months?

This is about the link between club and fans which I've highlighted down the years.... the fella charged with improving things alludes to it...

Wellens alluded to it when he pointed out it feels like a team and not a club....

In my opinion that link has become broken, fair enough if you think it's fine..

Then the link between the fans and the club has become broken....

The Adver article did not indicate or allude to the fact we are a broken club at all...

It's classic understatement....link hasn't always been great

If something isn't broken it doesn't need fixing....

FWIW I think it a very difficult thing to do.... Town have been trying with varying degrees of lack of success for years now.

The best way to re-engage fans is by being decent on the pitch.... just so long as we don't get clackers.

Didnt they build the stand in 3 months?

But its the LINK that is broken.......

NOT the Club....that is a different thing entirely as a previous poster has stated - Bury , Bolton and Macclesfield are broken clubs

Again with you Reg manipulating things to suit your 'Arguement'

You read one line 'link hasn't always been great' and from there you get the adver is alluding to we are a broken club

Its like a lot of the fans passion has left them and are in a state of regrouping until we get someone in at the top who can galvanize players and fans again so we are a club again all wanting to improve and feeling that it will.

Unfortunately Power came in at a very bad time and was always on a hiding to nothing, he wasn't as "minted" as Black or most other owners of league clubs, he stated from the off he was only interested in improving previously rejected players to sell for money and not to further the club as a club, no interest in developing the CG, not integrating the club more with the community, no positive PR coming out of the club, basically he wanted and still wants just to make money from this club however he can.

That won't ever change with Power in charge.

The fans want players who give 100% or at worst 90% every game, want to play for the club, want to play for the fans and respect them as their main wage payers, a manager than can galvanise fans and players, put some positive mental attitude into the fans and club as a whole.

The link was a bit shit for a while but this is another example of the numerous efforts that have been made to mend that link in recent months, fair play to them.

You can also see a real concerted effort on the social media side in the last recently as well.

Wasn't there something in last few days along the lines of 200 free season tickets being given to local schools as well?

Then the link between the fans and the club has become broken....

Yes, that’s in today’s Adver.

To be fair to Power - over the last 12 months he has made an effort to try and right his wrongs I feel. Yes, he brought a lot of it on himself, but there are things being done off the pitch which seem to be positive.

And that is a two way street.....

Problem is there are so many fans that want him to fail and seem little bothered if that means the club is relegated, in fact some seem to relish the idea.

You can also see a real concerted effort on the social media side in the last recently as well.

But what is the Club?  For me the club is nothing without its fans....

The broken link between club and fans, is a symptom of the wider problem of decline o the pitch... well summed up by Venkers...

If such a link were broken decline on the pitch would be one of the causes, it wouldn't be a symptom of decline on the pitch that makes no sense at all.

THis is the definition of symptom that I'm using....

an indication of the existence of something, especially of an undesirable situation.

in this case the broken link

If there is a bar and stuff for the kids to do, they will be onto a winner.

FanZone sounds like a good idea generally. Will it heal the rift (for those who feel there is one)? No, but it's one of several steps that might start to make a difference. Shows willing anyway, so got to be welcomed. Be interesting to see how it pans out in practice.

Hopefully there won't be an age restriction for the bouncy castle.

If such a link were broken decline on the pitch would be one of the causes, it wouldn't be a symptom of decline on the pitch that makes no sense at all.

FanZone sounds like a good idea generally. Will it heal the rift (for those who feel there is one)? No, but it's one of several steps that might start to make a difference. Shows willing anyway, so got to be welcomed. Be interesting to see how it pans out in practice.

Hopefully there won't be an age restriction for the bouncy castle.

Its all very well the club showing willing, but will the fans reciprocate or just continue to moan at every opportunity about essentially nothing.

Somewhat off topic but my 6 year old decided this year that she wanted to arrange a surprise birthday part for her (mid 30's) mum, I had a bugger of a job persuading her that we did not need to hire a full bouncy castle for her mum to have a good time!

I'm by no means trying to discredit Power, but I think we can thank Wellens for most of the recent initiatives. He really seems to be taking the job on head-on.

I like him, hopefully it'll work on the pitch as well.

I don't think you are wrong there.

The CG has been toxic for about 4 seasons, with fans on the edge of their seats waiting to be able to boo the slightest mistake. A better match day experience would certainly help take away some of that toxicity, although of course on the pitch also needs to replicate that.

In those 4 seasons our home form for league games reads W 34 D 24 L 34. That is unacceptable, and why fans get fractious.

It's what Wellens needs to get right for the coming season.

Same people moaned when we winning, see the old get it forward brigade, moaning about loans etc. There is a toxic and very vocal element to our fan base who love nothing more than to bask in negativity and find a fault with everything.

That has been the case since time immemorial, and is the same at many clubs... for some fans it's a form of catharsis, if your life is shite, then a chance to vent at football is welcome, some don't even realise they're doing it.

That has been the case since time immemorial, and is the same at many clubs... for some fans it's a form of catharsis, if your life is shite, then a chance to vent at football is welcome, some don't even realise they're doing it.

Personally don't have a problem at least they are there.

Does that rule apply to people who emit a continuous stream of negativity on football forums as well? 8)

You might want to think about it. 

My stuff is observational, so for example pointing out we've achieved our lowest league position since 83/84, is done out of a desire to see that improve... I see no gain in ad hominem attacks on the messenger, to me that's all negative. I want to enter discussion about what's to be done about it.

My stuff is observational,

Reg, you are sounding like my Dad!

Is it, we are always told its factual?

Observation can lead to facts... like the lowest league position since 83/84, being a fact.

It's then up for individual interpretation of the meaning.... there are those who aren't too bothered about it, as long as Power puts on a bouncy castle, and others who are less chuffed, and want to see some improvement in performance. I incline to the latter group.

What is he a belligerent misery as well?  ;) :D

Observation can lead to facts... like the lowest league position since 83/84, being a fact.

It's then up for individual interpretation of the meaning.... there are those who aren't too bothered about it, as long as Power puts on a bouncy castle, and others who are less chuffed, and want to see some improvement in performance. I incline to the latter group.

Observation can lead to facts... like the lowest league position since 83/84, being a fact.

It's then up for individual interpretation of the meaning.... there are those who aren't too bothered about it, as long as Power puts on a bouncy castle, and others who are less chuffed, and want to see some improvement in performance. I incline to the latter group.

What fucking chance does the club have if you keep running on about our lowest position, its in the past, let it go and try to think of the future which we all hope is a decent one!cheer up man, we might finish one place higher this coming season and you will be happy to see progress!

Selling Fjørtoft killed us.

Yes because those are the only two positions people have aren't they? For a man who deals in facts, that looks a lot like deliberate exaggeration to suit your own argument.

There's no future in burying your head in the sand Ronnie... which is why I'm looking for signs of intent from Power, that we might be able to compete this season. We should have a clearer idea by the end of the month.

Why not use the second concourse?

Why not use the second concourse?

Out of interest, can you tell us all what you would  consider to be a sign of intent?

Sort of thing required... get recruitment done early. Get a structured set of friendlies in place asap. If there is to be a bonding trip like Brown had, early recruitment means you have the players to bond, not like last year's brush up Phil's tan mission.

Have an open day at the CG in the school hols... doesn't have to be all singing/dancing Fitton style... more a meet and greet new players, maybe an open training session get the kids/mums etc having selfies taken etc.   Mix this up with the Trust revealing plans for the CG purchase , and trying to sell some shares... emphasising the joint venture and reassuring fans that we're in this together.

Hold a Q and A forum at the CG, one evening.... ideally Wellens and Power, but I wouldn't expect Power.... maybe Anderson would do, or Morfuni.

For so long I have heard about this second concourse and I have never been able to work our where it is?

Much like when they talk about taking seats out and putting boxes in.

Why not use the second concourse?

With regards to club fan interaction..... this was my wish list at the end of the season

As regards the squad, Wellens has mostly done his business early and provided a reasonable explanation of why he hasn't so far got a striker over the line. He's also said he's going to use Kaiyne through the middle, as well as Yates being his prime target.

Intent, with what's left to come in would be holding midfielder, assuming Toumani, ian't coming back into the picture, some sort of cover for Rose, as I think his fitness record is just to suspect to rely on for a season.  Then if we can land Theo, another body up front, to provide competition, rotate and come off the bench... chuck Bennett into that, and it would certainly look a whole heap better than a year ago.

So, basically, what you are saying is that there are signs of intent.....