FIXTURES

I couldn't agree more Pete, but I think that poorly equipped grounds like Accie and Macclesfield before the new stand was built are a kick in the teeth for the clubs who judiciously and conscientiously built up great grounds from humble beginnings.

I'm talking about Rushden & Diamonds, Kidderminster, MK Dons (whoops, get the tin hat on!) Cheltenham, Wycombe and Yeovil.

I particularly admire Kiddie, for the very first time I watched a game at Aggborough there wasn't ONE of the present day stands built and the stand I sat in is now in use as the pub that sits immediately behind the Main Stand and the pitch was surrounded by a cycle track. they had just been elevated into the Southern League from the West Midlands (Regional) League and one could never have envisaged that they would one day achieve Football League status and it would really make my day to see them return before too long!

You mean the one who gave us a glance of her buttcheaks back in november 2002 after the 3-3 draw?

Moose Travel it was I my memory serves me right?

You're a right bunch of bloody comedians you lot! Funniest things that I've read in ages. Anyway good luck to all you earnest travellers, you're gonna need it when those head-hankie wearing northerners come at you with their poison tipped spears after torquay stuff some of their teams up north. Me, I'll just content myself with the luxury that a working class life in semi-rural Devon brings. You cant beat it, and to all you loyal and faithful northern folk who've stayed put, I've only got two further things to say '' put wood in th'ole and go and make a brew!''

I was ignoring the politics of the moaning, groaning Wimbledon fans who provided feck all of any kind of deserving support when their team DID play locally. The humble beginnings I refer to was the NHS home of the MK Dons at the beginning of their re-location. As for R&D, merging Irthlingborough Diamonds and Rushden Town is really no different than the history of OUR club in the immediate years before Football League membership was attained when Torquay Town, Babbacombe and Ellacombe became Torquay United, and however it was achieved to have seen the original Diamonds ground and then see for oneself the current Nene Park as I have is indeed mind boggling.

Ask anyone who had to struggle to watch the game on that dreadful day at Accrington on an open hump in the pouring driving rain whether they would prefer that experience to sitting in comparative luxury at R&D and only a nutter would opt for the former.

The whole point of minimum ground criteria is for the benefit of travelling fans and in my opinion the bar has been set far too low in recent years.

Yes, there should always be a place for the little communities like Workington and Accrington in the National Football Infrastructure, but they must understand that certain standards need to be attained before they are allowed to rise upwards.

You have a good memory Ospel. It was a fun away trip. I remember pimping your boys out to the local females. Would never have believed a place like Macclesfield could encourage such behaviour!!! The birds certainly like vikings!

I suppose Accrington getting promoted to the Football League was rather like Farsley, Droylsden, Lewes (or even Accrington themselves) making it to Conference National. It wouldn't have happened if it was still about vote-gathering but it's different now it's on merit (unless there's something very remiss with facilities). But this way - just as strong clubs can wait forever if the team doesn't function - you also get examples of where the team is ready long before the club. I imagine this is what happened at Accrington. Or am I doing them a disservice?

When I was living along the way in Nelson in the mid 1980s it never crossed my mind to see a game at Accrington. They were just another club playing at a level which didn't interest me in those days. Here's their league table for 1985/86:



In all honesty Accrington's name didn't leap off that page other than being a reformed club from a small town which, against the odds, once had a Football League club. Notwithstanding the original Accrington club of the 1880s and 1890s, it was one of those places which only ever had a professional club because the Football League picked up a fair few stragglers in the 1920s. Certainly, by the 1980s, professional football in Accrington looked as likely as it did in St Helens, Leyland, Bootle or Glossop.

I left Lancashire in 1988 and noticed Accrington rising to the Northern Premier League which seemed a decent enough effort in itself. I wasn't really following their progress, but had I noticed, I doubt I'd have been surprised when they slipped from NPL Premier to Div 1 in 1999. But, after that, what went right? I'd love to know. Here's the stats from

1997-98 NPL-P 20/22
1998-99 NPL-P 22/22
1999-00 NPL-1 1/22
2000-01 NPL-P 9/23
2001-02 NPL-P 6/23
2002-03 NPL-P 1/23
2003-04 CONF 10/22
2004-05 CONF-Nat 10/22
2005-06 CONF-Nat 1/22
2006-07 FL-2 20/24
2007-08 FL-2 17/24
2008-09 FL-2 16/24

1999 stands out as the turning point because that's when John Coleman took over as manager. Ten years later he's still there and the club has improved - or equalled - its' position every season. The chairman has been around since the mid 1990s - and is often described as "ambitious" - so you can only assume they always had the Football League in their sights. But did they anticipate it happening so quickly? The side which won the Conference was settled - and accustomed to winning - but surely their success was a surprise? Maybe there was only ever one chance and they took it.

So I'm still baffled about what went right (does anybody have any insights?). Somebody there must be very shrewd, astute and able - the virtues of stability and long-term planning? (or creative accounting?) (team before facilities? or has the ground been transformed from what it actually was?) - but, after all those improving seasons, neither Accrington nor the crowds are getting much bigger. The fall, if it comes, could be a big one.