Friday, January 13, 2006
Hidden Message
It seems my article in last weeks programme didn't have much effect. At the game last week the team were booed off at half time (the score was 0-0) and then booed during the second half. After we scored the winner, my self and a few friends launched into the chants: "You only boo when we're drawing" and "You're not booing anymore" etc. Ah the hilarity. Well I laughed anyway.
So, after the failure of last weeks subtle dig at the home crowd, my article for Saturday's game is a lot less subtle and might annoy a few people. It's especially likely to annoy the old "I pay my money so I can say what the hell I like" type person who clearly has a different understanding of "supporter" to me. Ah well. It's a good thing I didn't give the editor a pic to put next to my article.....
Now, where did I put my balaclava.....
So, after the failure of last weeks subtle dig at the home crowd, my article for Saturday's game is a lot less subtle and might annoy a few people. It's especially likely to annoy the old "I pay my money so I can say what the hell I like" type person who clearly has a different understanding of "supporter" to me. Ah well. It's a good thing I didn't give the editor a pic to put next to my article.....
Now, where did I put my balaclava.....
Sunday, January 08, 2006
Positive and Patient
My article from the programme for ECFC v Gravesend & Northfleet 7/1/2006
It has to be said that St James Park is not the fortress it has been in the past. I remember many seasons in the Football league where our home form was pretty good, but we couldn’t win away. I believe that we once went for over a year without winning an away game. The best example of the Park being a fortress is our amazing home record in the 1989/90 championship season where we suffered no home league defeats but were pretty average away.
This week, in order to help overcome the somewhat funeral-like atmosphere at the Park in recent seasons and to re-establish Fortress St James Park, I thought I’d set out the lyrics from a few chants rarely heard at home.
“We’ll score again, don’t know where, don’t know when,
But I know we’ll score again some sunny day,
Keep Smiling through, just like we always do,
‘Cos I know we’ll score again, some sunny (some sunny day)….
Now will you please say hello to the folks that I know tell them we’ll be along
And as they wait for a goal they’ll be happy to know ...we'll be singing this song…. “ (Repeat.)
“And it’s Exeter City, Exeter City FC, we’re by FAR the greatest team, the world has ever seen.”
“Inglethorpe’s red and white army, we’re so good it’s unbelieveable” (Repeat.)
“Scotty Hiley football genius, he’s so good he ‘megged Ronaldo”
One thing you might notice about the above is that I’ve not included any anti-Argyle chants. This is deliberate. With Argyle three divisions above us I find it slightly odd that some still feel the need to sing about them. All it does, as far as I’m concerned, is remind us of the gap that has grown up over the last few years. There is also the fact that we currently have an Argyle player on loan (and playing well).
It’s not just the lack of chanting at home games that is a problem. There also seems to be a lot of negativity around at the moment. In a way I think we're struggling with the expectation now we're fighting at the top of a table. For so many years we were at the other end, and turned up to games expecting the worst but hoping for the best. Now the opposite is true and we're not coping with it well. I think there is a lack of patience amongst fans at the Park which means we get frustrated and start getting on the players’ backs. This does nothing to inspire our players and contributes to some of the nervous displays we’ve seen this season.
So what would I like to see (or rather hear) at home games? A few more chants wouldn’t go amiss, but the most important thing would be for people to think whether or not them having a go at a player who has made a mistake is going to help the club. Alex Inglethorpe often says it, and I agree, that we have an honest bunch of lads in the squad who are always trying hard to win for ECFC. We can help them by being more positive during games. If we continue to lack patience at the Park, it is quite likely we will continue to witness nervous displays. It is when things aren’t going quite right on the pitch that the supporters can be their most effective.
It has to be said that St James Park is not the fortress it has been in the past. I remember many seasons in the Football league where our home form was pretty good, but we couldn’t win away. I believe that we once went for over a year without winning an away game. The best example of the Park being a fortress is our amazing home record in the 1989/90 championship season where we suffered no home league defeats but were pretty average away.
This week, in order to help overcome the somewhat funeral-like atmosphere at the Park in recent seasons and to re-establish Fortress St James Park, I thought I’d set out the lyrics from a few chants rarely heard at home.
“We’ll score again, don’t know where, don’t know when,
But I know we’ll score again some sunny day,
Keep Smiling through, just like we always do,
‘Cos I know we’ll score again, some sunny (some sunny day)….
Now will you please say hello to the folks that I know tell them we’ll be along
And as they wait for a goal they’ll be happy to know ...we'll be singing this song…. “ (Repeat.)
“And it’s Exeter City, Exeter City FC, we’re by FAR the greatest team, the world has ever seen.”
“Inglethorpe’s red and white army, we’re so good it’s unbelieveable” (Repeat.)
“Scotty Hiley football genius, he’s so good he ‘megged Ronaldo”
One thing you might notice about the above is that I’ve not included any anti-Argyle chants. This is deliberate. With Argyle three divisions above us I find it slightly odd that some still feel the need to sing about them. All it does, as far as I’m concerned, is remind us of the gap that has grown up over the last few years. There is also the fact that we currently have an Argyle player on loan (and playing well).
It’s not just the lack of chanting at home games that is a problem. There also seems to be a lot of negativity around at the moment. In a way I think we're struggling with the expectation now we're fighting at the top of a table. For so many years we were at the other end, and turned up to games expecting the worst but hoping for the best. Now the opposite is true and we're not coping with it well. I think there is a lack of patience amongst fans at the Park which means we get frustrated and start getting on the players’ backs. This does nothing to inspire our players and contributes to some of the nervous displays we’ve seen this season.
So what would I like to see (or rather hear) at home games? A few more chants wouldn’t go amiss, but the most important thing would be for people to think whether or not them having a go at a player who has made a mistake is going to help the club. Alex Inglethorpe often says it, and I agree, that we have an honest bunch of lads in the squad who are always trying hard to win for ECFC. We can help them by being more positive during games. If we continue to lack patience at the Park, it is quite likely we will continue to witness nervous displays. It is when things aren’t going quite right on the pitch that the supporters can be their most effective.
