Flushing Out Fake News

Two fakes make a real, Pete. It's forum rules.

I can't say that Jimmy Connors' shorts are my specialist subject, but the history of Plainmoor is.

History room readers will know that 1881 is the year that Plainmoor first became a major football venue. We are in the 136th year of fending of property developers. Perhaps we should erect a statue of the Reverend Percy Baker between the family stand and the old Ellacombe vicarage.

THE FUTURE'S BRIGHT, THE FUTURE'S

                                          








Reasons to be 'Bullish' about the future ?


BTPIR recently tried a 'Hereford United, a model to follow?' thread, though it fizzled out after a couple of replies, and Petef not so long ago made mention here that 'The demise of Hereford Utd and its reemergence and progress in another guise is encouraging'. 

While it's only natural to wish to avoid the short term disappointment of relegation, might it not, if that should prove to be our fate, be possible to benefit in the same way that Hereford have, setting out on a new journey with a properly constructed springboard for success, while being able to steer well clear of the negatives such as TUST ownership which would, as most now seem to accept, have proved suicidal for TUFC.

Many seasons of struggle on the pitch, defeats seeming almost like a foregone conclusion to supporters, money difficulties off the field, and is it any wonder a feeling of depression encompasses fans as they endure prolonged periods of failure ?

After the long years of disappointment and struggle, are Hereford fans now just extremely relieved and pleased to be watching their team score lots of goals and winning far more matches than they're losing?. Isn't the return of the almost forgotten winning feeling, the cheering of goals, and walking from the stadium at full time smiling again, a far greater plus factor in comparison to any negative considerations such as 'It's only Southern League standard'?  Success...even at a lower level can be the best way to kick start things if it's done properly....and is such a blessed relief for supporters who have almost become accustomed to constant relegation battles.


And if we apply that to TUFC's possible situation next season, Floridagull words it far better.



'Obviously a club in the 5th tier doesn't offer those revenue streams but there is still money to be made if the club is run correctly. At the moment it appears GI's interpretation of 'correctly' is to square away off-field activities, and as I've said before, sometimes you need to step back to consolidate before pushing on to improve. It now looks as if GI aren't worried about dropping a level but if they get the support and admin structures set up properly, then we may find the club begins to blossom again'.


No guarantees that you always 'come back stronger', but if you don't resign yourself to it meaning doom and disaster, then at least you don't fully close the door on building your way back up, but this time on stronger and better built foundations,



I think I'm right in saying that either via one of the Forums, or at one of the recorded Fans Forums, Steve Breed has indicated that the intention was still to keep us full time, even if we'd been relegated last season. The current owners might be thinking along similar lines, in the event that we do go down. The Weekly Forums might give clearer guidance to that as we get closer to the end of the season, and indeed how seriously there's a need for it to be considered at all.



Hopelessly off topic of course, but I'm sure there'll be some more FAKE NEWS coming along soon to get us back on track  .

Not sure if it qualifies given that - it is conceded - other parts of the Council have said nothing, but the person providing a report for the Mayor's "Plainmoor Decision" (Kevin Mowat) and the Mayor himself have stated they've not had any proposals from GI re Plainmoor, yet Osborne unconvincingly told us the Council were "excited" about his plans when trotting out press call 1 version 3 the other week.

Perhaps a planning office bod, a councillor or two, a bin man or social worker was the excited party as he didn't clarify. In any event, we are due his Q&A promo video later today or thereabouts, so should be plenty of potential fakery to lighten the mood and reignite GI Joe's fake hunt. Perhaps penning something about other branches of the Council will be enough for our resident fake finder.

Part 2 - Doing a Budleigh

Stating that relegation needn’t consign us to hell and damnation for ever more, and that it could be a springboard - if used in the right way - to better things in future, is clearly swimming against the tide, particularly when nothing less than a declaration of full blown catastrophe would be enough to satisfy some.

But I took inspiration from a long time hero of mine, although realising that, like him, your words can make you a hostage to fortune when others look back on them with the benefit of hindsight.

A couple of years back, when finally accepting that my admiration for Budleigh had reached an unhealthy level, I did reluctantly dismantle the photographic shrine, although still couldn’t stop myself admiring the effortlessly stylish way in which he wore a Barbour jacket.

A widely anticipated Good Friday defeat at Lincoln, will see many declare that our National League survival hopes are dead; with no likelihood that they can be resurrected.

I recalled how bleak things were in late February of the 2013/14 season, as relegation loomed and there’d been Knill cause for optimism. Yet Budleigh bravely raised his head above the parapet, and boldly declared that despite the catastrophic prophecies of others, ‘There is the excitement of a future of promise’

It was a bold prediction, particularly coming from Budleigh whose usual diplomatic approach made him ideal for the task of compiling suitable Forum comments for inclusion in the matchday magazine. But suddenly the usual self imposed shackles were off, and he was telling it like it was. The football club was a rubbish business, Non league was probably just a case of us finding our true level, and our firm foundations would see us through !

We’ve had to wait a while, but that ‘excitement of a future of promise’ finally arrived when Clarke Osborne walked through the door, unveiling his ambitious ideas, and plans for a smart and modern new stadium for us.

Budleigh continues to be an inspiration, and so for old times sake I set about tracking down his prophetic words. Not posted on TFF as I suspected, but on Merse’s fine BTPIR site (recently endorsed by CO himself, and where, incidentally, I’m a Bronze medal holder in one particular category).

Here are the highlights of Budleigh’s historic post :







Time waits for no man; and for no Director sat under the Extence clock. But it will eventually reveal the accuracy or otherwise of our past pronouncements, irrespective of whether it was a tale of sustainable success, or of catastrophe, that we foretold.

www.gazetteandherald.co.uk/sport/15206034._No_new_home_for_Robins_this_season___admits_Russell/?ref=rl&lp=4

"Gaming International Limited, the owners of the Abbey Stadium site, have not responded to approaches about the stadium delay from the Swindon Advertiser".