CHEERS!

Printed in the last home game of the season v Welling United 20th April 2024 We drew 1-1 in front of 1,849  our highest ever league attendance at Arbour Park 

photo by Scott McNeish

Well that was a fun season.

Yeah, we didn’t make the play offs but come on. Everyone's favourites to go down, rookie manager, new owners. Someone pass the smelling salts. A thoroughly enjoyable season and an FA Cup run to boot where we made friends and even raised a song about those nice fish faces from Grimsby, who’ve been having a slightly less enjoyable time.

And what about our manager Scott Davies. You can see his class in the post match interviews when emotions are often very raw. He doesn’t throw players under a bus. He praises the opposition. Even the officials. He has time for everyone. In fact I think he's the perfect role model for supporters. Look, I get things get heated during a game and we are all up for a bit of banter but sometimes it’s embarrassing. Does being abusive to the opposition players and supporters give your team an edge? I’m sure for most players it’s water off a ducks back. And to be honest if you want to attract new fans, then language and behaviour matter.

At the St.Albans game, a couple of youngsters approached me with their mum – I gave them some sticks and their joined in on the wheelie bin then they went off with tambourines and shakers (they did bring them back at the end of the game). Maybe its the new Ultra fan - ultra nice? But I bet that family will be back.

Having fun at football has got to be up there - well and winning games - cos surely at the end of the day, what we all want is to have a laugh (well that and home terracing where we can actually see the goals going in). Pack up all your troubles in an old kit bag and smile, smile, smile as they say.

Still its great to get some justice with the League deciding to give us the 3 points against the Bath City Roll-overs. Their manager soured our big Thames Hospice day, with his spoilt brat antics but hey I’m sure we wont mention it to him again. ‘We beat Jerry Gill, nil, nil, nil, nil. We beat Jerry Gill nil, nil...’

Like Dr. Foster I went to Gloucester in a shower of rain, I stepped in a puddle right up to my middle and I hope I never go there again. Mind you, I doff my hat to the ingenuity of raising the ground 4 metres to stop it flooding. It was like Glastonbury mudbath behind their far stand. Infact the whole surrounds had a Steptoe and Son feel to the place when Gloucester itself looks a delight. As for Truro its probably been a bit less fun, but suppose they’ve got to see more of the country. I’m also impressed with Hemel Hempstead who balanced out their delightful old town by building a carbunkle modern shopping centre next to it. Ying and Yang and all that.

So while we all catch our breath and refresh our depleted football away day bank balances, I’m sure behind the scenes there’s already been lots of plotting and scheming, forward planning and strategies. I can’t thank the new owners enough for the injection of ideas and passion they have bought to the club. What any organisation periodical needs. The ideal for me would to take over the running of Arbour Park from the council and open a bar 7 days a week a la Havant and Down with the Dover-ville. (it felt good to type that). Mind you Dartford being relegated as well – I didn’t see that coming, and just goes to show you what a competitive league the National League South is.

So enjoy the summer, I’m off to water our community garden and hunt down some snails.

HISTORY OF SLOUGH

Next season we are going to delve into the history of Slough post swamp era. If you’ve got any Slough photos you want us to share, let us know with the story behind them. Maybe starting with what Arbour Park used to look like?