His name was Ernie...

We’d heard he was ill, but even so it came as a jolt to hear he’d passed, really quite young at 71 and a shudder of mortality for those who saw him play.

It’s a pleasure to be among those who did. When Ernie came to the Poppies in the autumn of 1988, he was already pushing 39, long after most pro footballers have hung up their boots. He had nearly 250 League goals across 750 appearances and was a legend at his home town club of Chesterfield. Did he imagine when joining us that it would be anything more than a twilight season before retirement?  Maybe not.  But it was.     

Ernie made a massive impact in that first year, providing buckets of old-pro calmness and expertise which more than offset his diminishing mobility. Through that classic FA Cup run he was there again and again at key moments. In our mind’s eye and YouTube we’ll always have that little lay off to Robbie to set up the winner v Bristol Rovers, the winner at Halifax in the replay, and then the moment that is probably the most distorted in Poppies folk memory. Last minute at Selhurst Park, Ernie doesn’t quite convert what would have been a joyous equaliser. It almost shaved the post… it did shave the post… the post was shaved closer than a man can get.  In at least one telling, the shot struck the post, dribbled agonisingly along the line and was hacked clear.

In that first season Ernie did more than enough to continue into 1989/90, where my main memory of him is his enduring fitness, and ability to win free kicks. Ernie would go down, looking a little pained. The referee blew. Harry Kane does it now, but with less finesse. By now Ernie was so ancient that a disrespectful newly launched rag tried to mine comic material from his extreme old age in all kinds of clunky ways.

In 1990/91 Ernie had moved on, with grateful thanks for his service.  We thought we’d seen the last of his durable contributions until, despite sitting on top of the Conference with a 10/12/15 point lead (depends on alcohol level when discussed), Peter Morris made a shock addition to our squad for the New Year’s Day return at Boston. Ernie Moss, former League striker, ex-Chesterfield. Now in his 42^nd year. Of course he came on and bundled in a late winner. We loved him then and we love him still.

Sleep easy old friend

Not Quite the Ticket

 It's now been a few weeks since the Club's "offer" to existing season ticket holders was announced to less than universal acclaim.  This was the deal where having been allowed in the stadium for all of 2-games last season at a cost of £110.00 per visit (almost like being a Spurs fan...) the club still wanted a substantial wedge this season to continue to attend.  Whilst other clubs were carrying over season tickets from last season or asking for a token amount, we are looking to charge at least £150.00 or as much as £207.00 to add this season's 21 games to last season's 2.  This means someone who purchased a season ticket for this and last season will be paying over £16.00 per game.  Assuming they attend EVERY game.  

Such was the initial, universal outcry against the unfairness of this "offer" I think we all expected our officials to at least ask themselves had they dropped the ball in this instance.  Perhaps check their working out to see if they had in fact come up with a deal that didn't purely benefit the club at the entire expense of their staunchest supporters.

But no, nothing more has emanated from the club.  No review.  No better offer.  Not even a news story to tell us the offer had been reviewed and stood as is.  Nothing.

We can't help thinking the club is shooting itself in the foot.  At the same time as the club was seeking to shake-down it's season tickets it also got involved in an ugly, public spat with BM Pallets who had been the main club sponsor for several years.  It seemed like a return to the ugly-Ladak days that the club seemed to alienate their hardcore supporters and a loyal local sponsor at the same time.  And so unnecessary.

It would be interesting to know how many season ticket holders have yet to renew for the forthcoming season, given this, and the unknown situation.  I know I haven't done it yet.  I probably will, and more than likely most others will.  But, how many non-renewing ST holders will it take for their absence to hit the club?  Without their season ticket will an appreciable number of supporters pick and choose their games more?  At what cost to the club's coffers.

As said, I will probably renew my ticket.  I'd like to say I would do this out of loyalty to my club, but I fear this time it's as much to do with not flushing down the toilet the £220 I handed over last season. If we choose not to renew our season tickets we get nothing for our previous payment.  This means that if a season ticket holder from last season doesn't renew, but still attends all the games this coming season they will end up paying an eye-watering £21.00 per match.

Again, shades of the Ladak-era.  Not exactly what the club have been striving for I should imagine?