by hector » 09 Apr 2014, 10:13
Neal wrote:Thanks for that Hector, gee that brought back memories. I lived in the bay then and went to nearly every game in those years. In some ways it was worse then but in some ways not. As I remember that team under Webb was awful but I sort of remember it fighting harder than the current lot, would anyone agree.
And yes I was on the pop side at the babbacombe end when Tony Currie scored that great goal. Those years the crowds had dwindled away to about 1000 fish so its interesting to note they haven't dwindled as much this season, wonder why? Because it the football has been as dreadfull.
Do we "oldies"
look back with affection now at those days, and will those still going to plainmore in 25 years do the same. In some odd way I do look back and think I enjoyed going even though the football was really bad.
Now this had made me think,
I was around 15 at the time and it was bad then and some games I did miss. I remember I had a girlfriend who lived in Thurlow Road and for some of the games - especially midweek - my Dad would drop me off on his way to the ground and pick me up on the way back. Probably only missed a few, looking back, because I didn't go out with her for very long!!!!!
The Webb years I cannot look back on with any joy at all. I still, almost 30 years later, cannot abide Webb for what he did.
The team that stayed up in 87, should have done better. It was a decent side. Cyril added Phil Lloyd, Sean Haslegrave and Dave Caldwell plus Sharpe came through, with one or two decent loans and we were suddenly one of the best teams in our history. I remember during the 86/87 season, David Thomas wrote a big article about Morgan with the headline 'Back him or Sack him' - fairly controversial stuff for DT, as he would never be so daring now.
At the time, I felt Morgan wasn't really doing a very good job because we had good players such as McNichol, Impey, Cole, Kelly, Dobson, plus Phil King who when he went to Swindon we got Gardiner plus McLoughlin and Charlie Henry on loan.
Cyril coming in, sort of proved that point and it went from the worst ever seasons to my best ever as I wasn't around for the glorious 60s.
I guess there is no reason, if the club want it enough, that we cannot challenge next year. The danger is the club itself getting sucked into the hole of apathy that their decisions and actions so far, have generated amongst the fanbase.
The infrastructure at the club is probably better than it has ever been. The ground is better than it has ever been. There is much for the club to learn in terms of trying to create a match-day experience, to try and build the fanbase, to encourage youngsters to come and watch - a daft bloke dressed as a seagull is not enough!
[quote="Neal"]Thanks for that Hector, gee that brought back memories. I lived in the bay then and went to nearly every game in those years. In some ways it was worse then but in some ways not. As I remember that team under Webb was awful but I sort of remember it fighting harder than the current lot, would anyone agree.
And yes I was on the pop side at the babbacombe end when Tony Currie scored that great goal. Those years the crowds had dwindled away to about 1000 fish so its interesting to note they haven't dwindled as much this season, wonder why? Because it the football has been as dreadfull.
Do we "oldies" :) look back with affection now at those days, and will those still going to plainmore in 25 years do the same. In some odd way I do look back and think I enjoyed going even though the football was really bad.
Now this had made me think,[/quote]
I was around 15 at the time and it was bad then and some games I did miss. I remember I had a girlfriend who lived in Thurlow Road and for some of the games - especially midweek - my Dad would drop me off on his way to the ground and pick me up on the way back. Probably only missed a few, looking back, because I didn't go out with her for very long!!!!! :whistle:
The Webb years I cannot look back on with any joy at all. I still, almost 30 years later, cannot abide Webb for what he did.
The team that stayed up in 87, should have done better. It was a decent side. Cyril added Phil Lloyd, Sean Haslegrave and Dave Caldwell plus Sharpe came through, with one or two decent loans and we were suddenly one of the best teams in our history. I remember during the 86/87 season, David Thomas wrote a big article about Morgan with the headline 'Back him or Sack him' - fairly controversial stuff for DT, as he would never be so daring now.
At the time, I felt Morgan wasn't really doing a very good job because we had good players such as McNichol, Impey, Cole, Kelly, Dobson, plus Phil King who when he went to Swindon we got Gardiner plus McLoughlin and Charlie Henry on loan.
Cyril coming in, sort of proved that point and it went from the worst ever seasons to my best ever as I wasn't around for the glorious 60s.
I guess there is no reason, if the club want it enough, that we cannot challenge next year. The danger is the club itself getting sucked into the hole of apathy that their decisions and actions so far, have generated amongst the fanbase.
The infrastructure at the club is probably better than it has ever been. The ground is better than it has ever been. There is much for the club to learn in terms of trying to create a match-day experience, to try and build the fanbase, to encourage youngsters to come and watch - a daft bloke dressed as a seagull is not enough!
