TO THE WIRE

Published in the Southern League Midlands Division match v Aylesbury United. We won 5-1 in front of 261. With two games to go we are still fifth and if that stays the same will be in the play-offs. This is the last article on my blog till next season.


If I’m honest, I am always ready for the end of the season. I need a few months to recharge my batteries, enthusiasm, bank balance – and finally my season ticket for the next one ahead. And even a big gob like me eventually runs out of things to rant about. Whatever last twists and turns the season has too offer, it’s been a good one when you compare it to previous campaigns of unrelenting misery. But as we all know, when expectations are raised and we have spent the best part of the season in a play off position, it would be hard to take to see us fall at the last hurdle. I want to be involved in at least one more gut churning, nerve shredding, all or nothing battle to escape this level of football. Comparing the way we are run to so many clubs up and down the country I don’t think it will be long before we start to rise up the divisions. It will be a good day at the office when we don’t not outnumber home fans at away games or have to freeze in the cold at wind swept places I didn’t know existed.
It was strange enough at Bury at the weekend being outnumbered by at least 6 to 1, nearly double the biggest league gate we have played in front of this season (605 since you ask). That’s not to say there wasn’t a great turn out yet again of Rebel fans, with the more cultured of us making a weekend of it in a town so twee it makes Brighton seem like Basra. We’ve been lucky with our end of season games where some of the towns we are playing in are worth staying for more than ninety minutes. I’d sold the game to my girlfriend as a birthday trip of a life time; a lovely little Suffolk town with a ruined Abbey, more higgidly piggidly houses than you could shake a stick at, independent shops, a massive Saturday market and the smallest pub in the country; so small that even the combined forces of ever Windsor supporter would fill it up.
And oh what a co-incidence, Slough happened to playing there at the same time as we were staying! Not only that but I’d managed to book a hotel with a room so close I could smell the burgers cooking in the ground. Fourteen Slough supporters met later in the evening for a curry and agreed that despite the narrow defeat it was the best Slough had played in a long time. The only thing that left a bitter aftertaste in the beer we gulped, was the fact that if Sutton Coldfield were breathing down our necks before the game, they were practically in our trousers now.
It’s going to be anxious couple of days, and by the time you read this we would have to played Bromsgrove and hopefully have another 3 points on board. Today we face an Aylesbury side who were 3-2 up against second placed Hitchin last Saturday only to lose 4-3. Despite their lowly position they will be no push over’s and are desperate not to join their mates Aylesbury FC in the level below.
My brain is hurting for the permutations of the play-offs and how surrendering a two goal advantage to Sutton Coldfield in both games might seriously come home to haunt us.
Instead, let’s enjoy our last Saturday home game of the season. Look forward to more winning ways next season, a hung parliament, a decent World Cup, a baking hot summer and the news we all really want – when can we can start playing our home games in Slough again.