28th January 2012
The new year is well under way and the first month has seen a busy time for the Club and Trust off the field, whilst the business of trying to get points on the field continues.
The new investment into the Club has been the major development. The official statement from the Trust Board is on the ‘front’ page of this website and featured in a recent match programme. There is in the statement a thanks from Bob Dorrian to the Supporters Trust for their help and involvement and as is noted without the Trust’s assistance this fresh investment would not have been possible.
The topic of a ground move has been brought up too. Much has already been said and I will give here my personal view and stress this is a personal view from me as a fan of over 50 years. So...... Sincil Bank is our spiritual home and always will be. I would love to see it developed with decent roads around it, good access from those roads, a new stand(s) and facilities that mean the ground is used every day as well as match day with the obvious extra revenue that brings to the Club. (I remember when we first went to Shrewsbury’s new ground, they told me they took around £50,000 from Christmas lunches!!!) Now the first question is.. can Sincil Bank be developed? Then of course can the finance be found to do it? If the answer is no to those questions, then the option might have to be to move. I will say straight away that personally I am against a concrete block stadium built somewhere well out of town on a bypass . (Something ‘wrong’ about the Shrewsbury ground – it relies on buses and cars etc to get to). However, if a site can be found within the City limits with easy access for both cars and fans who wish to walk then that might be an option.
A thanks here to Trust member John Roddam, who has written to existing shareholders to invest in the Club. The monetary figure is growing daily and I understand is already over £4000. Not only thanks to John but also to the fans who have invested and take pride in owning part of the Club.
On the field, the inconsistencies continue – good wins against Forest Green, Southport and a fighting draw against Gateshead have been balanced out by the poor displays against Carshalton, two losses against our neighbours and rivals Grimsby and last Saturday, a defeat at Kettering.
In mentioning Kettering, they and of course Darlington have been in the news recently as they stand on the edge of the unthinkable as far as their fans are concerned. We had a long chat with the officials from Kettering (not Mr.Ladak) and the fear and concern could be seen in their eyes and voices. Their ‘D’ day appears to be soon as they face a winding up order in Court and they really didn’t know if they would survive or not. I won’t comment on the rights and wrongs of either Club but the fans must always have a Club to support.
Ever onwards and upwards
David B.
12th December