A decent match and good performance by a weakened Witton 11 against promotion chasing Chorley, cannot fault the effort by the whole team and several very good performances, my MOM Macca, drove them on used all his experience and nearly pinched the points with a fine burst from midfield, good effort all round but unfortunately the quality up front and on the wings was not great no real threat but hard work, maguire was looking very good until he was forced off with an injury - hopefully a minor one.
Team : Cooper,Woolley,Woods,Pritch,Kearns,Harrison,Maguire,Macca,Southern,Hancock,Ennis
Subs Used : Ennion, Kinsey ( I think )
Must concur with everything you’ve said here CJ. I thought this was one of our better displays this season with all the lads on view giving 110% against a team near the top. I thought our younger players Harrison Hancock Woolley and Woody really gave their all ably supported by the warhorse Macca, Kearns and the follicly challenged young lad at the back who’s name escapes me. I hope we can hang on to Danny Maquire as he looked to be coming right back on form till he went off injured. Ennion came on and again his work rate was superb.
Where we go from here is very much down to our managers in the close season. We need some reinforcements obviously but I’d like to think its building on what we have all ready! I know the two lads do have plans and targets for next season which is good. I believe the decision to give Macca and Pritch the job is right. These guys are role models who give their all so hopefully they can transmit this to the players when they go out there to do combat. Nige Deeley coaching, Murph scouting, Yatesy Physioing with help from Ed Robinson is an impressive back room staff. I guess the thing we don’t know is the contacts Macca and Pritch have but they’ve both been round the scene long enough and I’d back them to bring in the players we need to challenge for a play off spot next season. Time will tell but we all know it won’t be for want of trying from the football and club management team despite out lowly budget. Mr Harris is doing superbly keeping us out of the mire unlike some other clubs.
On the merger and ground share front I’d forget this for now. Had we done this 2 years ago we might have flogged our ground for £2.5 Million and bought the stadium over the way for a £1 million. With the property market at rock bottom this is just not a viable move now. As other people have pointed out Vics can’t bring anything to the table and must be in dire straights with gates tumbling and having to find rent for the ground and pay back debts. OK we ourselves are not pulling up any trees but we do own our ground we have a proud heritage and a team of fantastic volunteers and fans. We can’t lose really if we stay where we are now because if eventually we do get housing surrounding the ground we can make money if we get it right from the new residents using our facilities. Its either that or housing developers will offer a lot more cash for us to vacate the site. I therefore think our stance of stay put at the moment is our best option so forget any association with Vics as it simply is not a viable option at the moment!! We need to continue the good works in finding alternative funding ideas e,g the Beer festival, Camping and caravanning for the Thundersprit, the Legends campaign which must help the gates. I’d like to see if we could explore open air concerts on the ground in summer but I guess health and safety might be an issue and nearby residents could complain.
Must emphasise views are entirely my own personal thoughts don’t expect anyone to agree but after 52 years of supporting the club I think we have reached a crossroads and next season could really shape our destiny. If we can be up there challenging I believe we could start a ball rolling that would take a lot of stopping because if Chester do go up it could be a more level playing field financially.
Anyway Onward and Upward.
Appeal to the stay awayers stop watching telly or going shopping on Saturdays and support your GREAT LOCAL CLUB where there are no overpaid, overbloated, overhyped, tempremental superstars, we only have HEROES both off and on the field who work for nothing or peanuts.
I can honestly say I was not, saw nothing of the game. Anyway, I am off to Mallorca for five weeks on Monday but may I wish the club and the people running it a very successful Beer Festival. I shall be back on the terraces come August, God willing.
WHS.