City's players responded to the mini slump admirably by comfortably beating a poor Gosport Borough side 2-0 in the FA Cup qualifying round 2 last Saturday.
A goal from Dave Pratt in the first half and talented Ross Stearn's deft chip late in the second secured a 3rd Qualifying round game against Bridgwater Town away on Saturday 12th October. It will be a difficult tie for City but at least it is local and a win will take us closer to the prize......a live TV game against attractive Skrill Premier or League opposition. There will surely be a large contingent of City fans there to back the team.
It is a shame that the FA Cup has become one of the only ways a non league Club can keep its head above water financially. I remember when it was the sporting glory that mattered and the money was a bonus.
City's game against Gosport was a case in point with the post match headlines stolen by the £4,500 prize money.
The bigger headline for me and many City fans is the disappearing support for our beloved Club. Only 441 turned up to watch last Saturday even with the incentive of reduced prices (£10 instead of the usual £12). This compared to 560 who watched the equivalent game last year.
Where have the 120 gone?
I have written before about the number of people I used to watch City with who no longer attend for various reasons but a lot is to do with the way the Club is being led. If only we could recapture that spirit of unity that propelled us to the Southern League Championship, some great FA Cup runs and the heady heights of the Conference Premier. Until we have a leader who is able to harness the energy and goodwill of supporters it is hard to see this changing.
My support for the Club goes back a long way and I intend to keep backing the team even though I am deeply unhappy with the Club itself. I plan to be at Bridgwater on 12th October in the hope that City's players can show the renewed spirit and determination they showed against Gosport.
Before that City face a Chelmsford City side who are struggling. One of the premium teams at our level for many years, their current slump is a mystery. Our rivalry goes back a long way. I can remember going to their cavernous Writtle Street ground to see City on many occasions and more recently enjoyed City's second leg semi final win at Chelmsford's new ground. What a day that was!
It's days like that that supporters live for and whatever happens in the near future, I am sure that over time we fans can rebuild the Club into a truly united and community based force.
No comments:
Post a Comment