It's exactly 10 years since we trooped over to Nonce Park for the first time as tenants rather than angry visitors. We were attracted in by the multitude of new signings, the new shiny facilities and obviously, the unmatched glamour of Irthlingborough.
It's fair to say the following 10 years have been diverting to say the least.
We no longer play in a multiple million pound stadium, one promotion from playing in the Football League, under the guidance of a money-is-no-problem Chairman promising us the world. No, these days we play on a bobbly field, with moderate but improving facilities under the measured guidance of a pragmatic Chairman promising us a carefully costed plan to inch our way to the top table of the National League at about the same time we will be writing a sequel article to this in another 10 years time.
I know which plan looks the better bet.
Below is a link to a short piece we wrote 10 years ago on the eve of our first Nonce Park home league game against Newport County. Looking back, we're ever-so-slightly proud that we managed to keep our feet on the ground and just about remembered to act like proper Poppies supporters and find the whole spectacle a little bemusing.....
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What the f*ck did we all think would happen? |
Crazy thinking back now. But one thing I do remember about that game against Newport was that the ground was rocking when he scored that late penalty!
ReplyDeletePossibly the last good moment before winning the Southern League South (?) division 3-4 years later?
DeleteProbably!
DeleteCertainly on the pitch it was.