The 'Now' Or The History?

Now that I've got my sarcastic (but true) response out of the way, I'll try and put forward a reasoned argument for this Shrewsbury match to be celebrated as the last ever league match at the Vetch.

That, in itself, is a huge reason - the very fact that it is the last league match to be played there.

For those who think that celebrations should be postponed to any possible play-off semi final - the tension surrounding that is likely to be much greater.

The FAW final - the majority of fans seem to have a "take it or leave it" attitude to this match.

What other options - some sort of open day where everybody goes to the pub, come in to the ground, have a chat and sing-song, tear it apart and go away again. Sorry - but totally meaningless.

For me the commemoration of our departure from the Vetch needs to remembered as a typical Vetch day - one full of high drama, and not relegated to some non-entity of an event, with nothing on the game, which would be totally not our way of doing things.

This talk of the manager and players needing to be totally focused on the game - I accept that this needs to happen, and that they could become distracted by the events of the build up. Although my cynical side struggles to equate their frequent night time dalliances with "focus".

I am sure that the club are well aware of this, and will be addressing it by removing the players from the city in the days leading up to the game. As to the immediate pre match build up, they should be kept clear of that so that they can be kept totally focused.

Promotion is important - but I don't see the off field events having a great bearing on the achievement of that - the club/management have already tried to play down the importance of promotion this season, and the more I have seen us perform (?) , the more I am coming around to the thought that promotion would not necessarily be a good move - it hurts to say it, but I do not think that we could cope, or that the management has even recognized, the massive surgery required .

Now for another selfish reason - I made my first visit to the ground (can never bring myself to call it a stadium) in the mid fifties - this Saturday is the day to say a proper goodbye to her. There are obviously others with older and far more poignant memories than I have.

This ground has played a huge part for nearly fifty years of my life, from early instinctive memories as a 5 year old on my dad's shoulders, my first regular attending in 1961, the early 60's of classic quality football, the unforgettable 1964 cup run, the spiral to the Fourth division, temporary and short lived revivals, the unbelievable rise through the late 70's and early 80's, the subsequent low of the drop back to the basement and Black Friday 1985, gradual rebuilding and false dawns and promises of the 90's, and the nightmare of Petty/Lewis and almost losing our League status (the one plus to come out of their tenure was a tremendous galvanizing of fan support). As we depart the old girl we should at least be able to look forward to a period of stability in White Rock with a local (and fans) board of directors.

In my lifetime memories of, to name but a few, Allchurch, Charles, Jones, Nurse, Griffiths, Dwyer, Herbie, Jimmy Mac, Curt, Robbie, Tosh, Leighton James, Jimmy and Ante, Corny, Roger, Tommy Hutch, Latchford, Geoff Thomas - the list is endless

Saturday will be a huge occasion - for so many people , as the last ever league game there, a time to reflect, to relive the memories, to think of others, to say goodbye- to probably shed a few tears.

In the light of that, what importance is attached to a group of mediocre, basement division professionals, who in ten years time will be long forgotten, let alone another fifty years + .

Sorry, but to those who would wish to postpone this weekend's celebrations, to me the commemoration of 93 years is hugely significant to thousands of people, should be recognized as such, and should have little impact on the focus of professionals to do the job for which they are paid, and who would walk away tomorrow for the proverbial shilling.

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