|
HalfMan/HalfBiscuit
Golden Balls
Joined: 29 Oct 2006
Posts: 456
|
| The Western League, Burgers, and everything ! |
 |
|
I know there's a few plaudits being handed around to the players for their magnificent acheivements, and rightly so, but I just thought the moment couldn't pass without a few words about the Western League.
I'm sure many others who hit the road on their away travels would probably concur that the experience of encountering a myriad of different football clubs around the South West has been a fantastic fringe benefit. I'm sure some of the memories of the good, mad and frankly bizzare sights on away days will linger on amongst our collective support for a few years to come. In addition there have been many friendships formed and aquaintances aquired. Whatever the future holds for the Truro City adventure I for don't doubt for a minute that many of these bonds will last for a long time into the future.
As for the Western league clubs themselves respect where it's due, I think they can all be proud of their collective contribution to the competition. The impression that could be easily formed from afar by the raw statistics that are attendance figures would be of clubs struggling on minimal support. The reality is that there are clubs like our visitors today, Hallen, who boast facilities and a community ethos that would put many clubs in Cornwall to shame. Hallen aren't an exception either. Personally I'd like to thank all those that have made us welcome on our travels, the hospitality out there has renewed my belief in Football. It's almost a pity that we are leaving the Western League but the way forward as supporters of Truro City is to embrace the Southern league with as much enthusiasm as we did with the Western. The trips will be more arduous but the lads will still need to count on our support at the journey's end,
Let's Get There
!.
Anyway in my humble opinion, others might like to disagree - debate is most welcome & encouraged !, I rate the following Western League Premier Division Burgers thus:
1, Barnstaple 2, Bideford 3, Welton Rovers
Bishop Sutton gain an honourable mention in dispatches for laying on all those Chocolate Cream Eclairs.
Best ground visited: Bideford - top set up & great floodlights!
Best impromptu Radio commentary: Gazza at Melksham 
see you on the road next season. |
Sat May 03, 2008 7:34 pm |
|
|
Boys of the 70's
Golden Balls
Joined: 25 Aug 2006
Posts: 312
Location: Plymouth |
Thanks for sharing your experiences with us. It seems that you have enjoyed travelling around the grounds, especially sampling their fayre!
Glad that you are looking forward already to next season. It will mean loads more miles but with people like yourself supporting the City I can see good things on the horizon. Well done for your efforts. This goes to all who have supported City away. |
|
Sat May 03, 2008 8:01 pm |
|
|
Dave S (MUFC)
Dodgy Keeper
Joined: 01 May 2008
Posts: 5
Location: Bristol |
|
|
|
Glad you generally enjoyed the Western League.
It's no secret that it is not as strong a league as it used to be back in the early 90s and that is no slight on your achievements because you can only beat what is in front of you. It is a weaker league these days - and Ted will know this - because the likes of Weston-super-Mare, Clevedon, Tiverton, Taunton, Mangotsfield Utd, Chippenham, Paulton Rovers & Team Bath (apologies if I've missed anyone!) have all moved up to the Southern League and no side has ever come back down yet from the SL to replace those teams.
Any new sides into the Western League have always come up from trhe lower levels, so by and large, there are a lot of sides of fairly equal strength in the WL these days, since the "Big Guns" all moved up. Now, of course, Truro can be added to the list and very well done indeed!
I would certainly agree with your praise of Bideford in particular. Excellent well-run & friendly club and I do know of 2 fans of theirs who travel from Bristol every week! |
|
Sat May 03, 2008 8:09 pm |
|
|
oddballs
Defensive Liability
Joined: 27 Feb 2007
Posts: 45
Location: Falmouth |
|
|
|
HM/HB has persuaded me to add a few thoughts on our travels having just had the privilege of being voted the Supporter of the Year partly for having attended every game this season.
He has very succinctly summed up a lot of my own sentiments about the joys of visiting other Clubs this season. After more than 50 years of watching and being involved in football here and overseas, I have never tired of going to new grounds to meet new people as much as going back to visit old friends. Whilst on the road, it has been good to cement friendships with such as Ted from Backwell(who sadly will be leaving the Western League) as well as making new friends like Dave.S from the Mangos and another intrepid traveller from Taunton.
Happily we travelling folk from Truro have made new friends as often at away matches, fans of clubs not involved in that game have made a point of coming up to say hello which makes a lot of things worthwhile.
Iwould agree that Bideford is the best all-round ground that we have visited this year but we have also had the delights of the 'cricket' scoreboard and sofa at Melksham, the great facilities and playing surface at Hallen, the incredible slope at Chard!, the Bishop Sutton Chocolate eclairs down to the somewhat depressing visage of arriving at Calne Town on a wet, cold, dark night despite the very friendly and hard-working people there battling to keep that Club going. Everywhere you go has something different and unique to offer and this will not change next year nor incidentally will the average level of attendance figures. The one common theme has been the friendly welcome we have received everywhere on our travels which has added to each occasion. Likewise hopefully those opposition fans who have made equally long trips down to Cornwall will have left with good memories.
One good thing in the old SWL was that by playing the same clubs each year, one was able to cement long-term friendships although the League itself had become very lost in its own isolation. By going through the Leagues this ability is far more difficult to achieve but those possibly, passing friendships and acquaintances have been just as valuable.
I must also offer a big thank-you for the friendship of my fellow-travellers and chauffeurs during the long season - see you all on the A303 and at numerous new transport cafes next year!
To keep HM/HB happy - my choice for 'Burger of the Season' goes to the locally-made gems at Probus!
_________________
Success is a journey not a destination.
Freedom just another word for nothing left to lose
I've Got a Ph.D in 'I Told You So' |
|
Sat May 03, 2008 11:39 pm |
|
|
ted
First Team Regular
Joined: 17 Sep 2006
Posts: 179
Location: North Somerset |
|
|
|
Just in case there is any confusion, its Backwell leaving the Western league not me! Sadly the costs of keeping a team in a village that is these days a commuter suburb for Bristol has proved too much. I have been going there for quite a few years, I always like to support local clubs wherever I have moved around the country. They had a great run to last 16 of vase a few years ago but nosedived after that team broke up.
I shall continue to match hop as now , have been to Ilfracombe v Frome this afternoon for last Western league game of season. I wont be at Les Phillips cup final next saturday as it clashes with FATrophy final where Ebbsfleet take on Torquay. I rarely visited Ebbsfleet when prevoiusly called Gravesend as although I lived there for a number of years it was in the days i still followed a league club Gillingham. Ironically mainly in div 4 where they are now back after relegation.
Fear not having got on Truros adventure in the first Western league at Backwell I shall be watching for Southern league fixtures to attend. It will be the FATrophy for Truro next season instead of the Vase and I should think odds on winning that at first attempt will be long. I may even do my bit and stay away from home cup games, a record of 1 win in 4 over 2 seasons is almost into jinx territory.
Thanks for another great season and look forward to seeing some of you next.
Ted |
|
Sun May 04, 2008 6:12 pm |
|
|
 
|
|
All times are GMT. The time now is Fri Sep 05, 2008 4:36 pm
|
|
|
|
| |
