The Football League 2013/14 season

[andy]

you have to feel for the pompey fans, however they stick by their team through everything..

[sussexpob]

Wasn't that long ago when Bradford had a couple of seasons in the EPL.

Feels like a lifetime away, those Premier League years felt fraudulent with the bandwagon support and the clubs future was gambled in sustaining top flight football.

Thankfully those dark days are gone and Valley Parade is a much more enjoyable place to visit, regardless of result.

Try going to the AMEX. A 25,000 stadium full of wankers who never gave a shite about the Albion when we were struggling to survive. I know people who signed the public petition to stop us buidling in the city because it was too good for a football team.... they are the same ones pulling ridiculous selfies while at the game, or posting #BHA4ever all the time.

I dont really identify with the Albion anymore. Me and my old die hard friend Martyn went last year, and we both agreed we would swap the home brewed pale ale, the branded fashionware and nice food for a bog reeking of piss and a 7 hour round trip drive to watch us get beat at Mansfield on a freezing January night!

Some people like success and the atmosphere, I personally liked following the Albion because it meant something to be part of it. The club is souless now.

[budgetmeansbudget]

Its a similar dilema down at my club Bournemouth. We've pretty much secured Championship football for another year which for me is all the success I want out of a season. But there is clearly ambition to try and get to the premier league at some point in the future, and there appears to be money available at the moment for that aim. However it would mean a new stadium as a 10k capacity and single tier stands simply doesn't cut it, and if we go to 25k capacity we ain't going to fill it and the extra support will be sporadic and reserved for the big teams in anycase. We're even getting a fair share of fair weather supporters at the moment. For instance last Saturday there were a couple of guys sitting behind me moaning their arses off due to the lack of goals and had clearly only turned up because we'd beaten Doncaster 5-0 the fortnight before. Needless to say they left 10 minutes before the end.

Part of me would love promotion to the premier league and all that goes with it, but it will only ever be a short term thing and I hate to think of the repercussions when we inevitably fall out of it again. A bigger part of me just wants to stay put in the football league and put up with poor refereeing and unattractive fixtures but somehow it feels more of a genuine football experience.

[Gingerfinch]

Is your ground in Boscombe, budget, by the running track?

[budgetmeansbudget]

Is your ground in Boscombe, budget, by the running track?

Yes, in an area known as Kings Park. Have you been there?

[Gingerfinch]

Is your ground in Boscombe, budget, by the running track?

Yes, in an area known as Kings Park. Have you been there?

Think that was it. Done the Boscombe 10k a few years ago, and kind of remember seeing their ground.

[budgetmeansbudget]

Is your ground in Boscombe, budget, by the running track?

Yes, in an area known as Kings Park. Have you been there?

Think that was it. Done the Boscombe 10k a few years ago, and kind of remember seeing their ground.

Quite a few changes to the ground since then including moving the direction of the pitch ninety degrees.

A long way to travel for a 10k run?

[Gingerfinch]

Is your ground in Boscombe, budget, by the running track?

Yes, in an area known as Kings Park. Have you been there?

Think that was it. Done the Boscombe 10k a few years ago, and kind of remember seeing their ground.

Quite a few changes to the ground since then including moving the direction of the pitch ninety degrees.

A long way to travel for a 10k run?

A good excuse for a night away in Bournemouth

Why did they move the pitch? Feng shui?

[budgetmeansbudget]

Is your ground in Boscombe, budget, by the running track?

Yes, in an area known as Kings Park. Have you been there?

Think that was it. Done the Boscombe 10k a few years ago, and kind of remember seeing their ground.

Quite a few changes to the ground since then including moving the direction of the pitch ninety degrees.

A long way to travel for a 10k run?

A good excuse for a night away in Bournemouth

Why did they move the pitch? Feng shui?

Do you know what i haven't got a clue. I remember them rebuilding the ground about 10 years back and they decided to change the direction of the pitch by ninety degrees while they were at it (you might well be right with the Feng shui suggestion!). We've also had to put up with only 3 sides to the ground off and on for a number of years and not only is it embarrassing in front of away fans but it scuppers the atmosphere big style. It was only at the start of this season that we had the four stands back again and the new temporary stand is where I tend to go, because when we really get behind the team we can make the thing move.

Actually thinking about it, it was probably in its current position when you did the run. Doesn't time fly when you get older!

[Gingerfinch]

2005 was when I done the run (slow trott). Think it had three sides, now you mention it.

Oxford's new(ish) ground only has three sides, and it looks bloody awful, with apparently little atmosphere, unlike the manor, which was a great little ground.

[budgetmeansbudget]

2005 was when I done the run (slow trott). Think it had three sides, now you mention it.

Oxford's new(ish) ground only has three sides, and it looks bloody awful, with apparently little atmosphere, unlike the manor, which was a great little ground.

Have never been to Oxford's stadium, see signposts for it every time I drive up the A34 on my way to Banbury to see the brother in law.

I guess another example of small clubs making it big is when under Robert Maxwell Oxford United also had a brief dalliance with the upper echelons of English football.

[Gingerfinch]

2005 was when I done the run (slow trott). Think it had three sides, now you mention it.

Oxford's new(ish) ground only has three sides, and it looks bloody awful, with apparently little atmosphere, unlike the manor, which was a great little ground.

Have never been to Oxford's stadium, see signposts for it every time I drive up the A34 on my way to Banbury to see the brother in law.

I guess another example of small clubs making it big is when under Robert Maxwell Oxford United also had a brief dalliance with the upper echelons of English football.

Oxford had big plans when they built that stadium, and ended up going out of the Football league.

Sometimes the grass isn't always greener.

Banbury? Rather him than me

[budgetmeansbudget]

Banbury? Rather him than me

He lives in a small village called Adderbury just far enough south of Banbury!

[Gingerfinch]

Banbury? Rather him than me

He lives in a small village called Adderbury just far enough south of Banbury!

I know it. Actually quite nice around that part of Oxfordshire.

[budgetmeansbudget]

Banbury? Rather him than me

He lives in a small village called Adderbury just far enough south of Banbury!

I know it. Actually quite nice around that part of Oxfordshire.

From what I've seen during my visits over the past 15 years or so I would tend to agree with you. The 15 minutes or so drive after coming off the A34 and reaching Adderbury is pretty much rolling countryside and small villages all the way.