WAVING THE FLAG FOR SLOUGH TOWN

 

Printed in the National League South game v Hornchurch Saturday 20th September 2025. We lost 5-2 in front of 782

If you really want to see what we are up against in this league then I present Torquay as my evidence. As we ambled into town, splendid in the September evening sunshine, it looked picture postcard perfect with buildings perched on the hills overlooking the bay. The waterfront seems to have a new lease of life as we sipped our beers alfresco. The football club has also had a fresh injection of life after all their troubles. They are firing on all cylinders and are my favourites to win the league.

As we settled into Friday night there was a new face at our table.

It transpired that James aka Jimmy the Mullet was so fed up with the Slough performance at Torquay last season that he went on tinder. Fast forward a few months and chats on the phone and he’s meeting his date in town – with me, Vinny and Gaz as the gooseberries.

Its a well known fact that you are never more than 10 feet away from someone who has a connection to Slough. As we prattled on about football, suddenly the bouncer announced she was from Britwell but left when she was 11 – and really shouldn’t we leave them on their first date and drink elsewhere. Which was sensible advise as James whispered into his dates ear ‘Me and you are a product of a rubbish Slough performance.’ How romantic.

The next day, the Rebel Rabble gathered in a local boozer; but not so many in town this time – just 69 to be precise. Devon is bloody miles away and it wasn’t so long since we’ve been to Eastbourne. We agreed that this was a free hit but we got off to the worst possible start as Torquay carved their way through our defence. The pitch is perfect rather than previous quagmire, they’ve got massive support and to be fair Torquay supporters are always friendly and happy to chat and the security much better behaved this time. They looked the best team by a country mile in that first 30 minutes, but Slough did open them up and if we could have got a third by half time then who knows what might have happened. Instead we made the long journey home empty handed – well apart from James.

Welling United away probably wasn’t the FA Cup football romance we were hoping for. But I doubt they were massively impressed either with drawing us.

Welling is still a proper high street – with ten pubs if you count the two microbreweries and British Legion – from the train station to the ground, making it a decent away day. But it really wasn’t a surprise they were relegated last season. Their ground – with promises every year that it was going to be redeveloped – is falling to pieces. Last season Clubshop Sue managed to dislodge a drainpipe while grabbing hold off it to stop falling over some rubble. There’s scaffolding and boarded off areas; it’s in need of some serious investment.

We also need some serious investment in this country, and the Elizabeth Line is the perfect example of how new infrastructure can help transform the places its serves. But there is something making people profoundly unhappy and angry about everything. Social media really ain’t helping as those algorithms fuel the flames. This week the inventor of the World Wide Web – who gave his invention away for free - said these addictive algorithms cause polarisation and should be banned for children. We don’t let kids drink or smoke so why do we give them access to so much misery and violence? Others seem to be stuck in a rose tinted view of the past. Look I had a brilliant time growing up in Slough but nearly every party I went too, every gig I put on ended up in disrupted by the local gangs. Football was a battleground until rave music came along and turned everyone peaceful!

We want our country back! From what? From who? Being married to someone whose Jewish I’m very wary when people point at others and declare their country would be better off without them. We’ve heard that rhetoric not so long ago and it didn’t end well.

But I get people feel powerless, Our public services have been flogged off and profits diverted not into making things better but into shareholders pockets (£200 billion since you ask). Our youth clubs, pubs and places where people meet have been closed, bills keep going up, social housing has been sold off but the money raised wasn’t allowed to be spent on new houses. Infact everything has been stripped out to make more profit. It’s been going on for 40 years and it feels like this is the end game.

As I’ve said many a time, football is one of those ways to bring people together. As we all stood on the terraces teasing, cajoling, singing, wishing John the Trip happy birthday (and who wouldn’t want to spend their birthday with the Rebel Rabble). Then groaning at a last minute penalty to force a replay.

I’m not saying we shouldn’t be angry, but cheering on people whose whole purpose is to create hate and division. No thanks. Surely its better for the soul – and the country – to get involved in the thousands of community groups across the country working together to make things better?

I love England. But the England I love is tolerant, playful, creative; about having a beer in a pub and taking the mick out of your mates. And of course moaning about the weather. Or your football team.

Right I’m off for a curry.

BUILDING ON THE FUTURE, REMEMBERING THE PAST

 

Printed in the FA Cup 2nd Qualifying round replay v Welling United Tuesday 16th September 2025  We won 1-0 in front of 450

“Nothing would change in this world if it wasn’t for the doers and dreamers, the people who carry on with what they believe in when others have thrown in the towel. Chris Sliski was one of those people.

For nearly fifty years Chris supported his club Slough Town and helped shape and build it through its many ups and downs. He always seemed to be there with his trade mark ‘boot’, wading through nettles to rescue another mis-kicked ball.

He always had a smile on his face and through our darker periods when you felt like giving up he would offer little nuggets of news to cheer us up and think just maybe the good times were around the corner.

Nothing was too much trouble for him and he would make any supporter, old timer or new on the scene, welcome. There was no cliqueness with Chris, no ‘you scratch my back.’ He wasn’t flash, he wasn’t rich just an honest, hard grafting, working class man who touched hundreds of lives.”

These were the words I spoke at Chris Sliski’s funeral 13 years ago.

So it was an honour to be given the Chris Sliski Memorial Shield at the end of season awards. Oh and a mini bin. An award that’s been given to supporters since 2011 for services to Slough Town, with lots of old names on their, some of them sadly no longer with us like Dave ‘the programmes’ Piercy and Noreen Bridle. I really don’t think I deserved it if I’m honest. Yes I come from Brighton to games; but there’s plenty of other people who put in the miles to get to games. Yes I write for the programme and help get the atmosphere going and often have in depth discussions about the merits of using bins as percussion instruments with grumpy stewards.

The late great Chris Sliski was one of a kind – Mr. Slough Town kept the club going especially during our darkest days. After my award his wife Julie commented ‘it’s hard to go to matches wondering if anyone realised just how much he did..but he would have been happy just knowing Rebels’ were back in Slough…x’ Julie kicked the first ball at Arbour Park and its great the club now have a memorial wall and honoured past footballing legend Terry Reardon.

The club are blessed with so many individuals who put in so many hours. People like Keith Philips who has supported the team for ever and who last year was putting together some great historical articles together for the programme - reminding us just how many inventions has come from the town. Like an early Silicon Valley. As the song goes – ‘Zebra crossings, Thunderbirds, MarsBars and Bins….but that doesn’t even touch the – we discovered Uranus - sides. Keith's eyes haven’t been so good lately so he’s having a rest from writing but I recently asked him the sort of thing he did for the club

Keith replied “Off the top of head I’ve..

Helped with new Rebels bar.

Fitted out Sue’s new shop.

Refurb Kev McGoldrick’s medical room.

Refurb kit room.

Plumbing repairs.

Electrical repairs.

Furnishings repairs.

Painting.

Parking steward.

Litter picking.

Tournament helping.

Ball Boying trialist games.

Ball retrieve out of ground.

Beer lines clean (when Barry can’t help Mike).

Weeding the carparks.

Installing advertinsing signs and TV’s

Goal repairs.

Lights fitted in bin store.

Cutting back brambles etc.. although we now have landscapers.

Occasional post match cleaning of 1st floor kitchen, (we have a 5-star hygiene rating).

“And all travelling from Bracknell and back to boot! I’ve developed quite a sun tan in this close season being outside so plenty of natural vitamin D.

“Must say Ashley’s dad Alec (my partner in crime) has been a huge help also, he’s given up a lot of his time to help out. Many supporter’s are probably not aware of the work he puts in. He travels in from Hazlemere. He and his wife Amanda recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. They had a do at the club and I produced a playlist of their favourite songs.. voluntarily of course! They also had a harpist (a lady doctor) playing for about an hour, very soothing modern tunes. Didn’t think it’d be into it but was very good.

“Loads of other volunteers also putting shifts in behind the scenes to keep the club ticking over, all of whom are heroes. Let’s be honest were it not for all of us pulling together we wouldn’t have a football club.

“It was very encouraging to see some new faces turn up to our volunteer’s evening in a packed board room on 1 July. A very interesting and informative event held by Ashley and Steve.”

As the club grows it will be even more important to remember those that came before us. But also to welcome with open arms new supporters as they start to make memories as they cheer on the Rebels and build on the legacy of people like Chris Sliski.

REELING IN A BIG FISH

 

Printed in the National League South game v Chippenham Town Tuesday 2nd September 2025  We won 3-2 in front of 556

‘Ball hit bar, fans hit roof, feet hit the steps as a surge of stripes swept down onto the pitch, mobbing and sobbing, leaping and weeping, players held aloft, holding Harry Haddocks aloft, the ground throbbing. And the world outside our little window now sees what we see. Proper football in a proper ground with proper owners and proper fans.’

Breathless commentary on a night of thunderstorms and biblical rain. Grimsby Town v Manchester United in the League Cup where David v Goliath doesn’t even come close to describing the financial chasm between the clubs.

Most Slough supporters have got a soft spot for Grimsby after our FA Cup tussle with them. It started with Nick the Trumpets ‘A Welcome to You Grimsby’ and the banter between the supporters grew into respect. And most football supporters love an underdog story, and could not quite believe what we were seeing as Grimsby battered them. Like a rowing boat taking on one of those mega trawlers that destroy the whole sea ecosystem. But for once, the minnows won.

But how did they do it? They are building a model similar to what is happening at Slough, harnessing the power of the football club to change the fortunes of their town. A town that is stepped in the fishing industry but also needs to look at other opportunities if it is to thrive.

The clubs community partners include Navigo (mental health), East Marsh United (who tackle everything from housing, education to arts and a whole lot more) and the NSPCC, while the players support the Sunflowers Children's Action Group, a local charity for children suffering life limiting conditions. They have joined forces with Our Future , a project creating new and an extremely green economic model for England's post-industrial communities.

The club’s shirt sponsor is Myenergi, a local green business whose innovations include the Zappi, a solar electric vehicle charger and whose owner has rejected several offers to relocate the business abroad or elsewhere in the UK. “The talent in Grimsby is amazing. Other companies might manufacture overseas but if you invest in your local area you get so much more back. I love this town and the football club is its heartbeat.”

Kristine Green, part of the Grimsby Town and Common Good Foundations is responsible for the community organising that is instrumental in creating the ties binding the team to town. “Grimsby’s full of strong, intelligent people and the club helps them build trust and collaborate,” she says. “There’s no easier way of bringing people together than football; it gives them a voice.”

All these plans are now coming to fruition. “You get a sense this is your moment, we’ve got to seize it.”

And then a night like this comes along. As their manager put it ‘The beauty of working for a club like Grimsby Town is you can bring so much joy to the community’. But its more than that, you can change a place for the better. Beating one of the biggest football club in the world will have just turbo charged that vision.

In contrast Man United's American owners have bled the club dry while they stumble around like floundering fish cutting jobs and removing perks and penny pinching for the lowest paid; who don’t understand loyalty or supporting staff who earn in a year what some of their players earn in an a few days. These things really matter if you are trying to build a successful organisation.

So can a football club carry the place it represents on its shoulders? Can it remember its past while embracing future possibilities? I think it can, and with the right commitment, can break out from what happens on the pitch and lift and support all those other organisations trying to make a difference to peoples lives. I love what Grimsby Town are trying to achieve and if the whole town can also be given a new sense of optimism, better housing, more money in peoples pockets, more opportunities,, greener energy, then surely everyone is a winner? I think clubs like Grimsby can provide the inspiration for clubs like Slough Town where our smart owners continue to transform the football club and with it the place where it sits.

Whatever happens I will continue to admire the Mariners and see just how far a football club can shape and regenerate the place they call home.