theowlsman
New member
- Jun 7, 2012
- 22
A piece from the heart about your beloved club, and a good read too. (I refer to the piece posted elsewhere about the stick you receieved from Reading and Wednesday fans) and "the plastics".
After our game with you on Tuesday, I just wanted to quash the myth that Wednesday fans don't rate you as a club.
I think you currently have a side to be proud of, playing decent, honest, football, and the fact you remain unbeaten in the league, is testament to the excellent work Chris Hughton is doing, and just reward for your playing performances.
I thought there were two evenly matched teams on the pitch on Tuesday, it was a tactical battle ultimately resulting in a stand-off, with both teams apparently content with the final result, that maintained unbeaten runs.
The inter-forum banter that went on prior to the game, was just that, and Brighton should not take it personally, as Wednesday fans enjoy this kind of banter on a regular basis, with fans of many clubs. We did notice that you took some of the comments more seriously than fans of other clubs though, which was a cue to agitate the pot further. Being on the "wind-up" qualifies as valid entertainment in our part of the world - when we're not walking the whippets or cleaning out the pigeon lofts.
In terms of our history, we have a bit, and like yourselves, over the last 15 years or so, it's not been great, we have endured a torrid time, almost going out of business a few years ago as the Tax Man took us to court over owed taxes. Sat reading twitter accounts of the court encounter, knowing we were days away from going out of existence, wasn't a pleasant experience.
We do have our principles however, and for us, administration has never been an option in times of trouble. I'm proud of my club in that respect, preferring to soldier on rather than finding an easy way out of trouble via administration, and by doing so, shafting local businesses, and damaging community ties.
We've had to endure a marked decline in our footballing fortunes, and after leaving the Premier League in dire straits financially, eventually dropping to League 1, we continued to get in more debt, arguably leading to us having to field some of the worst Wednesday teams I've ever had the misfortune of watching. Still, the loyal and fantastic fans of this wonderful club have continued to support the team in numbers, both home and away (we have a fantastic away following), and believe that things would eventually change.
Not sure what qualifies you as a sleeping giant nowadays, but over 38,000 fans v Wycombe Wanderers in a League 1 game, 49,000 back in 1979 for another third tier game - still a league record attendance for this level of football, and over 50,000 fans taken to a League 1 play off final at Cardiff, under Paul Sturrock, against Hartlepool United, could be considered as valid indicators.
Unfortunately, it's these games we've had to focus on recently, not the games we were reguarly winning against Man Utd, Chelsea, and Liverpool, etc as a founding member of the Premier League. Finishing 3rd in the Premier League, and competing in Europe, beating Man Utd in a League Cup Final, and appearing at Wembley four times in one season, getting beaten in both Cup Finals by Arsenal, are very distant memories now. As for Highbury, Jimmy Case and Steve Foster, even the nightmares have faded now
So now to present day, rather than the past. After being saved from going out of existence by Milan Madaric, whose main motive was apparently to tidy up the club, and sell us on for a profit, we now have a new owner with a few bob. We offloaded 11 players from last season, brought in about 15, a combination of purchases and loans, sacked Stuart Gray as manager, and brought in an unknown Portuguese coach who has completely turned the club around.
We took a good number of early season games to find a system that worked for us, and for the new squad to get to know each other, and play consistently well. Eventually, we started pick up points, and haven't really stopped since, we're still on an upwardly mobile trajectory.
The football we are now playing is the best I've seen since the days of Hirst, Waddle, Bright, Warhurst, Sheridan etc and we're looking like a quality side.
So, please forgive the over-exhuberent Wednesday fans, getting excited at the thought of our first half decent season for many, many, years, and our "giddiness" and desire to share our ever-existent (though sometimes misguided), sense of humour, that has been the only thing that has kept us going through the bad times.
So, good luck to you fellas, let's hope both Brighton, and Sheffield Wednesday, reach the Premier League this season.
In your case, I think adding to your offensive options in January may be adviseable, in addition to being more cavalier in approach at times, as simply avoiding defeat doesn't guarantee promotion. Draws can kill your aspirations. 4 draws = 4 points. 2 wins and 2 defeats = 6 points etc.
All the best Seagulls. Good luck.
After our game with you on Tuesday, I just wanted to quash the myth that Wednesday fans don't rate you as a club.
I think you currently have a side to be proud of, playing decent, honest, football, and the fact you remain unbeaten in the league, is testament to the excellent work Chris Hughton is doing, and just reward for your playing performances.
I thought there were two evenly matched teams on the pitch on Tuesday, it was a tactical battle ultimately resulting in a stand-off, with both teams apparently content with the final result, that maintained unbeaten runs.
The inter-forum banter that went on prior to the game, was just that, and Brighton should not take it personally, as Wednesday fans enjoy this kind of banter on a regular basis, with fans of many clubs. We did notice that you took some of the comments more seriously than fans of other clubs though, which was a cue to agitate the pot further. Being on the "wind-up" qualifies as valid entertainment in our part of the world - when we're not walking the whippets or cleaning out the pigeon lofts.
In terms of our history, we have a bit, and like yourselves, over the last 15 years or so, it's not been great, we have endured a torrid time, almost going out of business a few years ago as the Tax Man took us to court over owed taxes. Sat reading twitter accounts of the court encounter, knowing we were days away from going out of existence, wasn't a pleasant experience.
We do have our principles however, and for us, administration has never been an option in times of trouble. I'm proud of my club in that respect, preferring to soldier on rather than finding an easy way out of trouble via administration, and by doing so, shafting local businesses, and damaging community ties.
We've had to endure a marked decline in our footballing fortunes, and after leaving the Premier League in dire straits financially, eventually dropping to League 1, we continued to get in more debt, arguably leading to us having to field some of the worst Wednesday teams I've ever had the misfortune of watching. Still, the loyal and fantastic fans of this wonderful club have continued to support the team in numbers, both home and away (we have a fantastic away following), and believe that things would eventually change.
Not sure what qualifies you as a sleeping giant nowadays, but over 38,000 fans v Wycombe Wanderers in a League 1 game, 49,000 back in 1979 for another third tier game - still a league record attendance for this level of football, and over 50,000 fans taken to a League 1 play off final at Cardiff, under Paul Sturrock, against Hartlepool United, could be considered as valid indicators.
Unfortunately, it's these games we've had to focus on recently, not the games we were reguarly winning against Man Utd, Chelsea, and Liverpool, etc as a founding member of the Premier League. Finishing 3rd in the Premier League, and competing in Europe, beating Man Utd in a League Cup Final, and appearing at Wembley four times in one season, getting beaten in both Cup Finals by Arsenal, are very distant memories now. As for Highbury, Jimmy Case and Steve Foster, even the nightmares have faded now
So now to present day, rather than the past. After being saved from going out of existence by Milan Madaric, whose main motive was apparently to tidy up the club, and sell us on for a profit, we now have a new owner with a few bob. We offloaded 11 players from last season, brought in about 15, a combination of purchases and loans, sacked Stuart Gray as manager, and brought in an unknown Portuguese coach who has completely turned the club around.
We took a good number of early season games to find a system that worked for us, and for the new squad to get to know each other, and play consistently well. Eventually, we started pick up points, and haven't really stopped since, we're still on an upwardly mobile trajectory.
The football we are now playing is the best I've seen since the days of Hirst, Waddle, Bright, Warhurst, Sheridan etc and we're looking like a quality side.
So, please forgive the over-exhuberent Wednesday fans, getting excited at the thought of our first half decent season for many, many, years, and our "giddiness" and desire to share our ever-existent (though sometimes misguided), sense of humour, that has been the only thing that has kept us going through the bad times.
So, good luck to you fellas, let's hope both Brighton, and Sheffield Wednesday, reach the Premier League this season.
In your case, I think adding to your offensive options in January may be adviseable, in addition to being more cavalier in approach at times, as simply avoiding defeat doesn't guarantee promotion. Draws can kill your aspirations. 4 draws = 4 points. 2 wins and 2 defeats = 6 points etc.
All the best Seagulls. Good luck.