One of the great things about writing regularly is that you can drag up old cliches and phrases. Football is full of them.
Every season there is at least one team that is a clear struggler. This year it's Dorchester Town. They have now played 13 and lost 10. The League's 'whipping boys' is an old phrase that came to mind as I thought about what I would write this week. A 'whipping boy' is someone who took a beating regularly. Strictly it was a servant for young princes or aristocrats who took the punishment for something their 'master' had done wrong.
Dorchester are being beaten regularly because of their parlous financial state. They have had to let good players go following savage budget cuts.
It is a real s shame because it's a Club with a lot to offer.It has a good modern well designed stadium in a lovely part of Britain. The Club is now community run but it inherited a terrible financial mess. I wish them well in rebuilding the Club.
City started as clear bookies favourites and duly delivered through 2 Dan Ball headers in the first twelve minutes. The game was effectively over then apart from Ross Stearn's sending off with half an hour to go. The consensus is that he retaliated after being fouled or said something to the referee. It is bad news because City's recent winning formula will be disrupted in his 3 game absence.
We are now motoring and certainly kept a foot on the pedal with a stirring home draw with high flyers Sutton United on Tuesday night. It was a great game particularly given that Sutton were in the top 5 and had only lost twice all season (and only once away from home). At 2-0 down with half an hour to go this team's 'never say die' attitude kicked in and we could have won it with a last minute spot kick. The ever impressive Stearn being denied by a spectacular save. The old buzz was back at Twerton and things really are looking up!
Whilst a 471 crowd wasn't bad by recent standards attendances remain a concern. The team are certainly doing their bit but I have always wondered whether twitter and facebook are the ways to get local people to come out and watch on a cold Tuesday night in Bath.
As a shareholder and long time fan of the Club I want to know what is being done to improve crowds. The Club's finances can only be getting worse. We cannot be put in the same position as Dorchester. When the Club's AGM finally comes I'll certainly be asking this question of the Chairman.
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