Pissing on the chips of the programme hoarders!

The news that this coming Saturday a team called Kettering Town FC are due to play a game of football comes as a surprise to the footballing world in general and Poppies fans in particular.  OK, we're borrowing Corby's ground (any chance of getting the seats to spell out "KTFC" as this is something I've become used to?)  OK, we've probably assembled a team of UCL level players who can't get a game at their own clubs.  OK, there's no guarantee that this arrangement at Steal Park will be repeated.  OK, the tiresome "new investor" story is still being pedalled by Ladak.  OK, we still seem to be tied to Scum Park by the most deviously written lease written in the history of the written word.

But still....

This is a game few of us thought we'd ever see.  Beyond the insular world of the Imraan-hating Poppies supporting public it seems that our plight hasn't gone completely unnoticed.  Numerous pundits and websites have highlighted our plight, even if only to hold the Poppies up as an example when clubs over-stretch themselves.  Individuals too have stood up to be counted.  Alan Doyle, seemingly appointed to the post of Manager via text message from a club owner who hasn't seen fit to pay him since the summer is putting eleven bodies together.  Richie Jeune has sorted out this weekend's match and will underwrite the losses accrued.  This is a big gesture for someone with no previous connection to the town or the club.  Beyond shelling out money and getting sacked by Imraan for suggesting the very move Imraan has now asked him to oversee.

Home sweet home.  This week anyway.

We hear that Imraan was too sick to sort this weekend out himself.  Let us be grateful for this mercy as well as for the infection that has laid him low.  Had Imraan personally took control this week we would be scrabbling around on Friday for the hire of the artificial pitch down at the Leisure Village, dragging the local pubs for players and somehow got ourselves stuck with a 1000 year lease of the Olympic stadium.

If nothing else this Saturday will give me a chance to wear my new Poppies shirt, and annoy those people who purchased a dozen copies of the Bashley programme in order to sell them for a fat profit as the Poppies final game.  At three quid a pop for a cover and teamsheet masquerading as a programme, they just might make their money back if they keep in perfect condition for, say, the next 100 years.

I'd like to think that a reasonable turn out will make the effort of getting over to Corby to show that we appreciate the efforts of those involved, and apprecaite that KTFC still exist (whatever a reasonable turn out, and KTFC constitutes these days) but I fear the hundreds that have become disenchanted with KTFC under Ladak may have gone forever. 

The patient's not quite dead yet, even though the doctors are still actively checking to make sure they know which of his pockets has the donor card.