Who knows?

Below is my first article that appeared in the Grecian matchday programme yesterday. If you manage to get through it (it's very dull) then good for you! I'd planned to write the next one today but haven't done it for no reason other than lazyness. Deadline is Tuesday so it'll have to be done tomorrow at the latest. I've got the basic idea, it's just a question of putting it down on the page and trying to make it sound a bit more interesting than this:

The summer break is over and the new season is finally upon us. I‘ve been through the usual thought processes of a City fan during the close season. It starts off with disappointment at the previous season’s finishing position. In our case, 1 point outside the playoffs for the 2^nd year running. This feeling of disappointment gives way to quiet acceptance of some explanation as to why it did not quite work out (in my view, because of a poor start which left us a lot of ground to make up).

Gradually as the summer goes on, thoughts turn to the upcoming new season and the idea soon takes hold that things will be different this year. I should point out that, other than during matches, when I always believe the worst is about to happen, I’m generally very optimistic about all things ECFC. This normally leads me to reach the opinion a few weeks before the season kicks off that our squad for the season ahead is much better than the last, that we’ve learnt from previous disappointments and that we are serious title contenders. Of course, this means I’m usually wrong. For example, I had the same feeling before the 2002/2003 season and no one needs reminding of what happened then.

But this year it seems to me that there are a larger number of people who believe that things are looking good for ECFC for the season ahead: more fans than normal seem to be thinking that the odds on us winning the Conference title are worth a pound or two (we’re about 6^th favourite with most bookies, though I’m hoping they’re wrong as finishing 6^th three seasons in a row would be more than a bit annoying) and we’ve sold more season tickets than ever before. Why is this?

I think there are two main reasons. Firstly, the FA Cup “journey” of last season and its financial effects. While we clearly haven’t solved all our money troubles, those two games against Manchester United have ensured that we can at least meet our obligations under the CVA. With the continued support of the Supporters’ Trust and all fans we have relatively stable financial foundations on which we can, and must, build.

For me though, it is the second reason that is most important. If last season had started on the day Alex Inglethorpe took charge we would have won the Conference. He completely turned our fortunes and performances around. From lying 15^th we made a rapid rise up the table. He has made some shrewd signings and the players seem to have taken to his managerial style. Furthermore, Inglethorpe appears to not have rested on his laurels but to have continued to improve the team over the summer, within the obvious budgetary constraints. The Bristol City game aside, pre-season has been encouraging with strong showings from new and old players alike.

While a few players moved on in the summer, for me the only significant departure was that of Sean Devine who has joined the New Zealand Knights. Someone clearly has to step up and take Devine’s place as our top goalscorer. It is a big challenge (he scored 42 goals in his two and half seasons with us), but one I believe the strikers should relish.

All in all, things are looking good for the season ahead and perhaps for the first time in a long time my pre-season confidence is based on some relatively solid foundations. I guess we’ll soon find out if things really are going to be different this year.

A thrill a minute. I have a long way to go.