With no Saints game this Saturday, everyone is more than welcome to come along to the Silverlake Arena to watch the Boatmen taking on Newport Isle of Wight FC. Newport are currently top of the Wessex League, with Sholing (who have played 2 games less) a point behind them. Sholing are undefeated this season in the league and have won all their home games. Both sides average over 3 goals per game (Sholing won 6-0 at Cowes Sports last night in the Hants Senior Cup), so it should be a cracking game. Kick off is 3pm Adults: £5.00 Senior Citizens: £3.00 Juniors (12-16) : £2.00 Under 12 (when accompanied by an adult) : FREE Parking : FREE Thank you!
Used to be a season ticket holder at Newport...£50 if I remember properly I was there for their glory years. Luckily I saw their promotion to the Premier League (Beazer Homes?), but missed the next year when they struggled and ran out of money. Also remembered their decent run in the FA Cup when three games were shown on TV. Sky had decided to follow a team from the qualifiers through, then switch to their conquerors until the final. Interesting concept. Local football is enjoyable and just as full of joy and pain.
Surprised Newport are involved at a top of the table clash. They've been relegated almost every season from when I saw them.
I was at the home game between Winchester last Friday when Sholing beat us 3-0. It was a pretty low key performance by City who never came out of the traps and were well beaten by a far more organised Sholing team. Of the games I've been to this season, I thought Mangotsfield in the FA cup represented our toughest challenge but would have to say that Sholing were even better. We will meet again in the F A Vase next Tuesday when both teams have been drawn at the Den Plan. I doubt if the 307 attendance figure will be matched for this game - the highest attendance at a game I have seen there. Winchester started the season very strong and didn't cocnede a goal for something like 7 matches. They've started to slip a bit but I hope Newport stop Sholing from running away with the title. Does anyone know how many teams get promoted from the Wessex this season? There is also a rumour that Sholing will decline promotion if they win although I am a bit sceptical about this.
Sometimes promotion can mean you have to upgrade the ground and this can cost money which non-League clubs just can't afford. Newport lost part of their crowd area (nice little hilly picnic spot) because the land around the pitch had to be flat (why?).
The club decided to voluntarily drop a division last season (despite finishing 7th) due to financial pressures. I believe the travel expenses alone last season were over £30,000. Therefore, I expect the club board would decline promotion for the same reasons. Also, the club wanted to focus its funding on redeveloping the clubhouse & changing facilities at the Silverlake Arena. I believe the parachute payment from what was Vosper Thornycroft runs out this season, so another loss of income (club used to be a branch of Vospers before becoming independent in 2010). The club has been working hard to be awarded grants from the various national sporting bodies to help towards redevelopment. This in itself is costly when employing planners, architects & lawyers etc. So, the more people who go watch the Boatmen, the better & not for hunting glory, but for the whole club & community. The club was awarded the "FA Charter Community Club" award in the summer due to the excellent work done in providing a full age range of youth teams with proper coaching, as well as starting up a ladies team. It's wonderful that so many people volunteer so much of their time for these teams, so money gained via the first team definitely helps the wider community of eastern Southampton.
The rain appears to have blown through for today, so forecast is saying it will be dry & sunny this afternoon. Hope a few of you can make it along for what should be a cracking match.
Sholing 1-1 Newport, so they'll have to go to the island midweek for the replay. And probably swim home. Eastleigh 2-3 Oxford City.
