Post by Dave on Aug 1, 2010 11:24:47 GMT
It seems like only yesterday I sat here and very excitedly put up the match day thread for our first game back in the football league where we really do belong against Chesterfield.
I remember how I felt as I turned the corner and saw Plainmoor the football home of league two side Torquay United, my eyes swelled up with pride and joy that after two seasons in the non league we were back and that was the most important thing and anything else that happened that day would just be a bonus.
I’m not sure if our opening game this season will be able to live up to last seasons one and not because I do not think it will be a good game or because I feel we might not win it as we did last season, but a number of other reasons and events that went on that day.
Last seasons opening game saw me up at Plainmoor for a marathon seven hours in total, I got to the ground at 11.40am to ensure I was there to meet and greet the TFF members who had put their names down for the carvery and what a great meal we enjoyed together. Sadly for me that carvery was one to be recorded in the history books as the day the famous Davey Gravy Stain happened.
Then there was the Tim Sills boots presentation to do and due to Leigh getting caught up in traffic we had to do it after the game and Tim being the gent he is gave us his time after the game and it all went well in the end. For those who may not know Tim Sills gave his boots he wore in the Wembley Play-off Final too young Lewis who was the mascot that day.
Lewis sadly was diagnosed has having leukaemia at eight years old and when he wanted to me a TUFC mascot for the Kettering game, the TFF members dipped deep into their pockets and raised nearly £500 to buy Lewis his kit, boots and also pay for him to have his own private drum teacher call at his home to give him lessons. As we know the club then choose him to lead out our team at Wembley, a day he loved and will remember forever.
I meet Lewis a few weeks ago and he is doing well and he told me how he had got into the schools cricket team as the wicket keeper, I told him catching will be good practice for him when the time comes for him to play in goal for us.
Lewis unselfishly wanted to auction the boots off to raise money for Megan’s mum and dad and we ran the auction here on the TFF and Leigh in the end was the highest bidder. Megan just four years old also had leukaemia and very sadly passed away earlier this year.
One other big event for me was finally having the opportunity to meet merse and after the game we sat in the empty family stand and talked about a better way forward on the TFF for the both of us. Merse was down here for four or five days staying at his sisters house I believe and while the recession had hit him a bit hard, I’m sure he never expected just one year on to find his life in the state it is now. I’m sure even those who have been in battle with merse over the years on forums will want to wish him all the best and a speedy return to life as he would prefer it to be for him and his family.
Before the start of the Chesterfield match I was talking with Mark Boyce who was concerned that as it was such a sunny day the crowd would be very low, he said they needed a good gate of 3500 and I told him not to worry we would get more than that and as it was nearly 4000 were there for our first game back in the football league.
Not so sure we will see that many for this seasons opening game but it would be a great start to the season if we did and a win as well will send us all home happy and dreaming and hoping this is going to be a very good and enjoyable season for all TUFC fans.
While we may have a smaller squad to kick this season off and lack a bit of cover in some positions, I’m very happy we have a very settled looking side that will remain together for the whole season and while I do not think the time is right to play in league one, I do feel we have a team more than capable of being in the top half of the table and might even make it to the play-offs.
We will not be able to make any judgements on how our season will pan out on this the very first game off it, but it’s always nice to get off to a winning start and while Northampton look a side capable of being in the top ten, this is football and we all know teams often lose games they might have been expected to win and then win games they were expected to lose.
I’m hoping for a good gate, a good game of football and a win to kick our season off with, as long as our players show effort, passion and commitment, then I will go home happy no matter what the result.
I think the team will almost pick itself and you can bet it will be the same eleven players who started the first half of the Yeovil game. Get to Plainmoor; take a friend, distant cousin anyone to help make it a bumper crowd and get behind the team and sings songs to encourage them and don’t get on their backs or Paul Buckles if things do not go according to plan straight away.
In other words go to Plainmoor in a party mood and enjoy the day for what it is and then come home and get that match report written, your forum needs you as well.
The shame
Lewis our Kettering game mascot
Crooky handing over a wonderful drawing he did for Lewis.
Tim handing over his Wembley boots to Lewis.
Lewis leads our boys to victory
Lewis and Megan on the day he called to see her and give her mum and dad the money raised from the boots.
I remember how I felt as I turned the corner and saw Plainmoor the football home of league two side Torquay United, my eyes swelled up with pride and joy that after two seasons in the non league we were back and that was the most important thing and anything else that happened that day would just be a bonus.
I’m not sure if our opening game this season will be able to live up to last seasons one and not because I do not think it will be a good game or because I feel we might not win it as we did last season, but a number of other reasons and events that went on that day.
Last seasons opening game saw me up at Plainmoor for a marathon seven hours in total, I got to the ground at 11.40am to ensure I was there to meet and greet the TFF members who had put their names down for the carvery and what a great meal we enjoyed together. Sadly for me that carvery was one to be recorded in the history books as the day the famous Davey Gravy Stain happened.
Then there was the Tim Sills boots presentation to do and due to Leigh getting caught up in traffic we had to do it after the game and Tim being the gent he is gave us his time after the game and it all went well in the end. For those who may not know Tim Sills gave his boots he wore in the Wembley Play-off Final too young Lewis who was the mascot that day.
Lewis sadly was diagnosed has having leukaemia at eight years old and when he wanted to me a TUFC mascot for the Kettering game, the TFF members dipped deep into their pockets and raised nearly £500 to buy Lewis his kit, boots and also pay for him to have his own private drum teacher call at his home to give him lessons. As we know the club then choose him to lead out our team at Wembley, a day he loved and will remember forever.
I meet Lewis a few weeks ago and he is doing well and he told me how he had got into the schools cricket team as the wicket keeper, I told him catching will be good practice for him when the time comes for him to play in goal for us.
Lewis unselfishly wanted to auction the boots off to raise money for Megan’s mum and dad and we ran the auction here on the TFF and Leigh in the end was the highest bidder. Megan just four years old also had leukaemia and very sadly passed away earlier this year.
One other big event for me was finally having the opportunity to meet merse and after the game we sat in the empty family stand and talked about a better way forward on the TFF for the both of us. Merse was down here for four or five days staying at his sisters house I believe and while the recession had hit him a bit hard, I’m sure he never expected just one year on to find his life in the state it is now. I’m sure even those who have been in battle with merse over the years on forums will want to wish him all the best and a speedy return to life as he would prefer it to be for him and his family.
Before the start of the Chesterfield match I was talking with Mark Boyce who was concerned that as it was such a sunny day the crowd would be very low, he said they needed a good gate of 3500 and I told him not to worry we would get more than that and as it was nearly 4000 were there for our first game back in the football league.
Not so sure we will see that many for this seasons opening game but it would be a great start to the season if we did and a win as well will send us all home happy and dreaming and hoping this is going to be a very good and enjoyable season for all TUFC fans.
While we may have a smaller squad to kick this season off and lack a bit of cover in some positions, I’m very happy we have a very settled looking side that will remain together for the whole season and while I do not think the time is right to play in league one, I do feel we have a team more than capable of being in the top half of the table and might even make it to the play-offs.
We will not be able to make any judgements on how our season will pan out on this the very first game off it, but it’s always nice to get off to a winning start and while Northampton look a side capable of being in the top ten, this is football and we all know teams often lose games they might have been expected to win and then win games they were expected to lose.
I’m hoping for a good gate, a good game of football and a win to kick our season off with, as long as our players show effort, passion and commitment, then I will go home happy no matter what the result.
I think the team will almost pick itself and you can bet it will be the same eleven players who started the first half of the Yeovil game. Get to Plainmoor; take a friend, distant cousin anyone to help make it a bumper crowd and get behind the team and sings songs to encourage them and don’t get on their backs or Paul Buckles if things do not go according to plan straight away.
In other words go to Plainmoor in a party mood and enjoy the day for what it is and then come home and get that match report written, your forum needs you as well.
The shame
Lewis our Kettering game mascot
Crooky handing over a wonderful drawing he did for Lewis.
Tim handing over his Wembley boots to Lewis.
Lewis leads our boys to victory
Lewis and Megan on the day he called to see her and give her mum and dad the money raised from the boots.
