[feedthegoat]

Originally posted by Luan:
Anyone have any recommendations for decent places to visit below the Conference within 90 minutes drive of Reading?

I've only been to Scours Lane (Reading Town), Park Lane (Canvey) and Clarence Park (St Albans) are the only ones to even vaguely fit this description. Will cross post this elsewhere, but suggestions here would be most welcome.

Try going to Melbourne Park and watching Chelmsford City. Not only will you get to see some great football, but you'll encounter a good atmosphere, which is friendly and reasonably family orientated, the ground has plenty of seating should you require it, and has some covering.

The last time I went in there the club shop was well stocked with a lot of memorabilia including club shirts, ties, pin badges, magazines and large range of old programmes. Also the refreshments at Melbourne Park are legendary amoung City fans as being very good! Should you wish to venture into the clubhouse for a swift half I really wouldn't know if you need to be a member or not, although I wouldn't think so. The clubhouse has only recently been built and has some very, very good facilities including a wide screen tv showing Sky Sports News on matchdays, and live Premier League games, it has a bar offering many types of drink as well as a stage that has hosted mini-concerts and talk evenings (most recently with Tony Cottee & Frank McAvennie and also Ron Atkinson).

Depending on who they are playing crowds can reach over 1000, but be aware there is no real segregation like you get at Conference level, although I have never ever heard of any crowd trouble at any of City's games.

iirc the admission for the home games this year will be £9, which isn't too bad really.

[Big Geordie]

It's amazing the difference in travelling for Southern non-league clubs, as opposed to their Northern counterparts. Blyth's 'local derby' this season is Harrogate - a mere 90mins+ drive away ! :-/ It's no wonder not many clubs from the Northern League are prepared to make the jump up the pyramid. Travelling costs would cripple them.

[Macca_SAFC]

Chertsey Town is inside the M25 iirc.

Only mentioned because I've played there.

[Raid]

Originally posted by Gav Stone:
<BLOCKQUOTE>Originally posted by Will Smith:
saw john buchanan yesterday in woking, hes helping out down at guildford city these days hoping to get them rolling again.

This be the same Guildford City who have been spared relegation from their league. Very lucky indeed, but then the knock-on is that Godalming stay one step up on the ladder :thup:

Never realised there was such a West Surrey gathering on OTF, what with you, Herman, Macca and me. Perhaps a get-together at some random non-league match could be in order this season? </BLOCKQUOTE>

Add me to the list

Eleven years of watching Woking and counting

[Rob1981]

finally it's the weeked \o/

Mildenhall Town v Cambridge tomorrow.

It all starts again.


Anybody else dipping into the friendlies this weekend?

[Will Smith]

Originally posted by Raid:
<BLOCKQUOTE>Originally posted by Gav Stone:
<BLOCKQUOTE>Originally posted by Will Smith:
saw john buchanan yesterday in woking, hes helping out down at guildford city these days hoping to get them rolling again.

This be the same Guildford City who have been spared relegation from their league. Very lucky indeed, but then the knock-on is that Godalming stay one step up on the ladder :thup:

Never realised there was such a West Surrey gathering on OTF, what with you, Herman, Macca and me. Perhaps a get-together at some random non-league match could be in order this season? </BLOCKQUOTE>

Add me to the list

Eleven years of watching Woking and counting </BLOCKQUOTE>

10 years for me (on and off) mainly hardcore the past 2 seasons. My dad however was alot more involved with the club and helped get them sponsored by the council in 1997/8 i think it was

[bnek]

Back page of our local rag has Davenport appealing to locals to provide 'digs' for trialists in the next few weeks.

3rd favourites for the bs north, MY ARSE!!!

[Will Smith]

Letter: Don’t ignore residents
EDITOR — I read with interest your article on the future of Woking Football Club.

Mr Ingram may be able to blackmail Woking Borough Council into obeying his orders but if he thinks he can do the same to the residents he has another think coming.

I, on behalf of the residents, have written and hand-delivered four letters to the football club asking for details of his proposals and asking to be involved in the consultation process. Mr Ingram has not had the courtesy to reply to any of these letters. He ignores the residents at his peril.

Whilst most residents would be happy to see the football club progress into the Nationwide League it will not be done to the detriment of the residents, and we would not care if the club sank so low that it was relegated to the Surrey Pub League.

Mr Ingram complains about the amount of his own money that he has sunk into the club but I am sure he did so with his eyes wide open, and a very important ulterior motive.

My message is quite clear, Mr Ingram, don’t ignore the residents.
Robert Shatwell
Lime Grove, Woking

EDITOR — Having read Mr Shatwell’s letter, ‘Don’t ignore the residents’, I think some clarification is necessary.

1, I am not ‘blackmailing’ the council or anyone else and I find this accusation highly objectionable. I rescued the club when it was in dire financial straits more than five years ago.

Three years ago, I gave notice that in 2007, I would cease to support the club financially and warned of the implications. (I thought giving three-year’s notice was ‘helpful’, not ‘blackmail’.)

2, Because we have fallen behind schedule, we are only now able to submit a plan. The possibility was to have a big new stand, crammed full of facilities but be playing in the Ryman League! So, rather than stop the cash outflow last month, I decided to put money into the club for one last year.

3, Ever since I became involved I have said my main aim was to make the club financially viable without relying on a ‘benefactor’, as that was much healthier for the club and the community. (Mr Shatwell can search as much as he likes, but that is my ‘ulterior motive’.)

4, I certainly don’t intend to ignore the residents — far from it. When we have something to show, then we will show it. However, it would be foolish to assume that all residents have the same view. I noticed that some local residents were against the Hoe Valley scheme and others were keen because it reduced the risk of flooding. Incidentally, if our scheme is successful, it will include a substantial contribution to flood prevention work.

5, Our Woking Football In The Community Scheme does a lot for Woking, way beyond our matchday fan base.

And those people we help, without shouting about it, include, of course, local residents as well as those throughout the community.
Chris Ingram
Chairman
Woking FC

[Macca_SAFC]

The aptly named Mr Shatwell can stick his best pen up his arse sideways. Just some w*nkstain who moans about everything and anything, had another letter in the paper about Westfield Tip apparently. Lime Grove is also a good 5-10 minute walk from the ground.

[Will Smith]

Woking YMCA Award for Chairman

Woking FC are delighted to announce that our Chairman Chris Ingram has received an award from Woking YMCA for his outstanding contribution to the local community, and for young people, in Woking.

To quote Terry Eckersley, CEO, Woking YMCA

“We are really impressed with the outstanding work you continue to do in the town of Woking. Others honoured at this event are Ray Morgan OBE CEO Woking Borough Council and Jid Hussain who is doing a great work with sport and young people.”

but willing to send the towns football club into oblivion.

Ray Morgan is also an utter cnut