Wednesday, May 10, 2006
The end of the road
My final article of the season from City's final league game against Scarborough 29/4/06
So another season comes to a close with City having nothing to play for. It’s so dull being an ECFC fan isn’t it? Nothing ever happens! It is of course the first time in 4 years that we’ve reached the final game and not been fighting for something – either league survival or the Conference playoffs – at least we can be sure we won’t be missing out on something by 1 point this season! We have been spoilt for drama over the last few years but have finally returned to mundane final game where whatever happens, we’ll be in the same division next season.
What is there to say about this season that hasn’t already been said? Quality has been lacking at key points, an unprofessional approach hasn’t helped the output and a distinct dearth of creativity has meant little of interest has happened. But despite all these problems I hope someone, somewhere enjoyed reading my articles at some point over the year. It didn’t truly appreciate how difficult it would be when I offered to do this. “600 words, 20 odd times? How hard can that be?” I thought. Ha! How foolish was I!?
On the (more important) playing side of things it has been a disappointing season, particularly after the start we made. I really thought it was going to be our season but we couldn’t maintain the momentum and things have rapidly tailed off since December. It wasn’t that we were playing amazing football in those first few weeks, more that we were winning despite not playing that well. Many people thought, I believe, that once we started playing better there would be no stopping us. Unfortunately that never happened and the rest is history.
Summer for a football fan can be a dull and empty time of year, despite the improved weather. Some will dig out those cricket pads, or do all that gardening or shopping they’ve put off during the season. This year, however, is one of those special years when England are going to win the World Cup (they come round every 4 years, except when we don’t qualify). Not just play and have a chance, but win it. The media will gradually build the country up into a frenzy as the tournament approaches. If the unthinkable then happens (i.e. we don’t actually win) it is a national disgrace and the players are the biggest underachievers in history.
Having said that, though, when discussing our potential side for the summer with a friend, I did reach the conclusion that we have a good chance this year. Many of our best players are reaching their peak, and we have a decent number of genuinely world class players to chose from. (I feel I’ve done my bit for World Cup hype now.)
There have been ups and downs this season, and while you may feel, like me, that overall the season must be rated as a disappointment you know you wouldn’t want to be a fan of any other club. The fans of ECFC have clawed it back from the brink of extinction, and they kept it going until we got “that” draw in the FA Cup last season. We have work parties of volunteers helping out all over the club (and even down at the railway station behind the Old Grandstand). We have one of the largest Supporters’ Trusts in the country in control of the club meaning that the fans have a big say in what happens. As fans of Exeter City we have much to be proud of and we shouldn’t let this season blind us to that.
So another season comes to a close with City having nothing to play for. It’s so dull being an ECFC fan isn’t it? Nothing ever happens! It is of course the first time in 4 years that we’ve reached the final game and not been fighting for something – either league survival or the Conference playoffs – at least we can be sure we won’t be missing out on something by 1 point this season! We have been spoilt for drama over the last few years but have finally returned to mundane final game where whatever happens, we’ll be in the same division next season.
What is there to say about this season that hasn’t already been said? Quality has been lacking at key points, an unprofessional approach hasn’t helped the output and a distinct dearth of creativity has meant little of interest has happened. But despite all these problems I hope someone, somewhere enjoyed reading my articles at some point over the year. It didn’t truly appreciate how difficult it would be when I offered to do this. “600 words, 20 odd times? How hard can that be?” I thought. Ha! How foolish was I!?
On the (more important) playing side of things it has been a disappointing season, particularly after the start we made. I really thought it was going to be our season but we couldn’t maintain the momentum and things have rapidly tailed off since December. It wasn’t that we were playing amazing football in those first few weeks, more that we were winning despite not playing that well. Many people thought, I believe, that once we started playing better there would be no stopping us. Unfortunately that never happened and the rest is history.
Summer for a football fan can be a dull and empty time of year, despite the improved weather. Some will dig out those cricket pads, or do all that gardening or shopping they’ve put off during the season. This year, however, is one of those special years when England are going to win the World Cup (they come round every 4 years, except when we don’t qualify). Not just play and have a chance, but win it. The media will gradually build the country up into a frenzy as the tournament approaches. If the unthinkable then happens (i.e. we don’t actually win) it is a national disgrace and the players are the biggest underachievers in history.
Having said that, though, when discussing our potential side for the summer with a friend, I did reach the conclusion that we have a good chance this year. Many of our best players are reaching their peak, and we have a decent number of genuinely world class players to chose from. (I feel I’ve done my bit for World Cup hype now.)
There have been ups and downs this season, and while you may feel, like me, that overall the season must be rated as a disappointment you know you wouldn’t want to be a fan of any other club. The fans of ECFC have clawed it back from the brink of extinction, and they kept it going until we got “that” draw in the FA Cup last season. We have work parties of volunteers helping out all over the club (and even down at the railway station behind the Old Grandstand). We have one of the largest Supporters’ Trusts in the country in control of the club meaning that the fans have a big say in what happens. As fans of Exeter City we have much to be proud of and we shouldn’t let this season blind us to that.
# posted by GrecianEd @ 9:55 am 
