Well hello to all the .orgers that still frequent the site from back in the day, and hello to those I don’t know.
Time moves fast, too fast for my liking sometimes.
Firstly, I wanted to pay my respects to Nev for the years of work, brilliant writing and management of the .org.
This place gave me my first outlet to share, moan, vocalise and opinionate (yes I’m making that a word). It was always done with humour, and fairly managed by Nev.
The early days of fans forums, moving away from the paper fanzine, it had a fantastic buzz and group of passionate fans that made a brilliant site.
I was so sad to learn of his loss, but really pleased to see Louis take on the mantle, and that new forum members are contributing.
I’ve been away a long time. Life evolves, things change, priorities move.
I’m no different, managing a family and work I had to concentrate elsewhere.
However, this will be the first time 25 years I’ll be giving up my season ticket.
Is it knee jerk reaction to the inevitable and deserved relegation?
No. Been through this more times than I care to remember. And maybe (hopefully) it may push Sully out to the wasteland where he belongs.
No, this has been long coming.
The first death knell was VAR. Killing in stadium experience, second guessing myself when a goal is scored, to the extent that I now never celebrate properly until I’m convinced everything is agreed.
I won't even discuss the decisions is does or doesnt give...its just beyond the pale.
The second was the football. By almost every team. Sheep. The keeper having the ball more than a forward. Sideways passing, going back, ball retention. Bores me to absolute tears.
I can count the number of games that have had me excited on one hand in the last 5 years.
Everyone trying to copy the Pep method, but with players nowhere the same standard. So we end up in a banal, lifeless cycle of turgid football.
The third was the 8pm Saturday KO. Even though I hate the 12:30, as it’s far too early to generate an atmosphere, even the 8pm Monday I swallowed as I could often go from work. But 8pm on a Saturday? That’s when I’m going out (well, I sometimes have a social life) or watching a film on the sofa, having a takeaway – essentially having down time and family time, not watching football and getting home at 11:30. Really is the TV companies ruling and now actively pushing attending fans away.
And they’ve won.
I don’t care enough anymore. The accumulation of the above has just drained my love of the game.
I’ve frequented lower league games more in the last 3 years. Having a beer, standing watching, knowing you only have to check the lino for a decision, and the game only lasting 90 – 93 mins tops.
I’ve not even mentioned the stadium, and lack of effort or attempted effort to create a home, a surrounding area to make it feel like us, but we know that ship sailed the minute they signed the lease.
There have been some good atmospheres in there – European nights obviously – but it just became abundantly clear from day one it would never work as a football stadium.
Tifos and flags won’t change that.
Tourists masked attendances….well, the Championship will show them what they’re actually left with.
The cavernous distance from the pitch, but worse, the gaps between stands, will never address that. Sure, UP had quiet days, BUT, it was OUR home. This place has never felt like that.
Another point that drilled that home was Bonzo’s death. I took flowers up there, and all we had was some railings outside his stand – no actual physical monument for anything WHU related – just blowing in the wind…homeless.
Unless we get some rich, decent owners, with plans for a purpose built stadium, ambition to engage with fans and listen, implement a strategy that we can all see and understand, agree a playing style and culture from youth ttoo first team…then I cannot see us ever reaching what most of us dream of.
There is the counter argument that no one has a divine right to all this. And that’s true. But we play and watch the game to dream and aspire to be better don’t we? I’d rather dream than fade and die.
So if you’ve read these ramblings, thank you.
I’ll be lurking in the future! But the days of the Flying Physio Room are gone. While it was fun to dramatize the often bizarre decisions our club made, it was always tongue in cheek – and always with a tinge of sadness that we’re so often poorly managed from top to bottom – but, humour is a great combatant and antidote to that – and maybe we shouldn’t take things too seriously? I certainly don’t anymore over football.
So we’ll see what future hold over the weekend.
I’ll still follow us with interest, but now from an armchair…and not at 8pm on a Sunday...
