City 4 Totton 2: reflections

[Rijs]

It was so appropriate that we were playing Totton today.
Everyone will remember City took a humiliating 6-0 drubbing there in our first away match this season. Totton had hit the road running and City hadn't. Pre-season had gone well and we had begun a little complacently, sacrificing a first half lead at home to Redditch a few days before.
That defeat was the best thing that could have happened to us. It was the wake-up call we needed. Since then City's defence has been the best in the division, their away record also the best, and their team spirit must have been among the best, growing stronger as the season progressed.
By the time we took on Totton at home just before Christmas, we'd had a few days topping the table and reached the first round of the FA Cup, but we'd been going through a bad patch just lately. We had a habit of going ahead and then sitting on our lead, and getting caught out in added time. Which was exactly what happened that day; 2-1 up and looking ok on the hour, City began to defend deeper and deeper until in the 95th minute: 2-2. Still, a big improvement. Although we were dropping points at home, City were now proving hard to beat.
So to today. Not phased by the big crowd and occasion as we had been in that foggy November replay, we were not put out by the equaliser and an hour into the match, City were again 2-1 ahead, but this time they took the game to their opponents and were rewarded with three goals and two near misses. Their confidence had grown and Totton must have wondered how those scorelines could have been so different between the start and end of the season.
It has been a team of heroes, the best we've had the privilege of watching here in my 13 years as a supporter, and the credit must go to Mike Ford. He has had his critics over the years, who maybe have mellowed him a bit, but now I am struck by how level-headed his Ford Focus column is and how astute his signings. Jason Mooney has to be the best loanee ever (certainly the best keeper we've had since Stuart Nelson), Adam Learoyd has got better and better, and getting Chris Wilmott here was a master-stroke. But he has also not been afraid of bringing through the youngsters. Last season it was Felipe, this year Kynan Issac (what a goal he scored today for his first at this level!) and Albi Skendi (likewise!) with Conor McDonagh just emerging, and Pablo Haysham successfully introduced. And best of all, he has been patient with players suffeering long injuries. I had almost given up hope of seeing Darren Pond and Mark Bell in City shirts again. Dazza has played a major part this season and Mark has shown recently he is on the way back to his previous best.
Thank you, Mike, for creating the team which gave us such a fine season, and such a wonderful climax to it today.

[exile]

Not surprisingly, I have been comparing this magnificent season's achievements with the good run City had in the late 1960s. Back then, the Isthmian League was extremely competitive and City were I think underfunded, compared with the London clubs, so we never finished higher than 4th or 5th, but were fairly consistent and played to a high standard. Where we 'struck gold' was in the FA Cup run of five consecutive Round 1 appearances. Having said that, we always had exemption to the 4th Qualifying Round from 1967 onwards, before the FA changed the rule.
This season in the Southern League has surpassed all expectations, and I would have to say that this squad has performed better than those 1960s teams. Two FA 1st Round appearances in three years are also strong evidence of continuing improvement, particularly the way we beat Eastleigh and Weston on their own grounds. I am sure that we can hold our own in the Blue Square (whichever division).
Looking at the way the weather turned nasty after the game yesterday, we were extremely lucky to get it played at all, a situation similar to the semi-final against Cambridge. I am sure that the club will be looking at some remedial action for the playing surface.
What we also need is for more support in the city, to bolster attendances for next season. We are making people sit up and take notice, even if the Oxford Mail could only manage a five line summary in this morning's Internet edition! I think we can gradually build this up, but we will need some good early results and a cup run to get people talking.
I hope Mike Ford can keep this squad together as far as possible, and as mentioned elsewhere build it up where necessary. Keeping Jason here would be a great start, as he has been such an immense presence (in all senses of the word).
So, a fantastic end to a superb season, and all to play for from August onwards. Come on you Hoops!

[Guest]

Good honest squad put together , good blend and not forgetting fordy changed his staff as well , bringing in peacey Sinnott think was already at the club , fitness coach etc all in all possative across the club , agree with above post , need to bring in more support somehow , and improve playing surface , trouble is it all costs . But well done for a memorable season .

[david newman]

hi rijs. a very good posting raising many excellent points. one of the things we all at city have to do is increase numbers through the door as has been rightly noted. raising our profile is a main priority. however the best marketing for sales is word of mouth unforetunately also the slowest. one of my roles in the club as community coach i try to encourage young children in schools to come to a game with family. i know many of us try to encourage friends to attend a game and sometimes its impossible but we are all in sales and marketing at our club.
one of the points you and others raise is good team spirit. you are only partly right. its a club family spirit. like many families we disagree, argue and debate but we are all city and entitled to. all in it together.
as youth coach this season i have watched many progress into the nomads and albi into the first " what a goal " as well as the 15s and 16s below who have some real talent coming through so the future looks even brighter. this is all built over past seasons hard work within a family club structure.
Finally before this turns into a tolstoyan novel you rightly mention certain players in the first team but it is what they bring outside of sat at 3pm. bash has been out with the youth early season coaching for one example. jason mooney is a giant of a man yet gracious, humble and always willing to have a word with all. this is the attitude of all first team squad members. when you have a couple of ex premiership players in the club who lead from the top by example as more people come to City they will notice this family friendly club which in my opinion is our strength which will allow continued growth. we just need to all try to help to speed it up. regards and thanks.

[richardtyrrell]

Whilst I agree with all the comments in this thread and, after all the deserved adulation for the players and management who have been magnificent, I would like to make one point which I hope will not put a dampner on things. I refer to the dismissal in January of Lee Steele. Lets not forget that he, too, played his part in this seasons achievements and, apart from anything else he brought to the team, scored nine goals in seventeen appearances. Thats half the goals that Steve Basham scored (18) in just over half the games that Basham played in. At that rate if he had stayed its possible the City could have won the league outright by a stretch which would have saved us all the tension of the two play off games! Mind you the club would have missed the income from the 1,200 odd gate.
Steele's commitment to the City was remarkable in this day and age. Aged in his later 30s and travelling from Liverpool it must have been much more than what he found in his pocket each week which kept him at City. I remember that, after a hat trick away at Didcot in the last game last season, he gave his boots to a supporter behind the goal. I thought then, ah well thats the last we have seen of him. But no, following an injury ravaged season he came back for one more season because he felt that he owed City something. What loyalty!! And what a response from the City Officials in answer to it after his ill conceived homophobic comment regarding Gareth Thomas. First offence? How about being called into the office for a slapped wrist and warning as to future conduct? Thomas would have glad of the publicity if he knew about the situation.
Its fair to ask after Monday's result, did we miss Lee Steele? Well, I did! Having been drummed out I hope someone had the decency to ring him to just say 'Thanks'!
Regards

[hedges]

This seasons reflections:-

Highlights:-

• Play Off Winners!! - the celebrations and beating Matty 'My View was Blocked' Stansfield from 25 yards!
  
• Seeing Pondy and Bell take to the pitch again!!!
  
• The opening of the community arena and G3 Pitch!
  
• Away Day at Hitchin - Good banter!
  
• The FA Cup away day to Eastleigh...the driver who couldn't reverse without hitting something and the pub that was 'a 10 minute walk away'
  
• The FA Cup away day to weston, easyily the most hostile match ive been to while following City...but we won!
  
• The Coach Journey to/from Redbridge....'try not to use the loo to much everybody the tanks already half full'...less than 5 mins pass and we're not even out of oxford..'Ive got to go, ive got to f*ing Go!!'..... OOOOOOO BUNDLE!!!
  
• The local FA cup game at Thame and my all day Drinking Session (as its on my doorstep!)...
  
  ......wait there is a pattern emmerging here!
  

And Lowlights:-

• The Whole Steele affair, easyily the lowest point of the season for all involved and a time when noone covered themselves in glory (that includes me and the old man!)
  
• The farce that was the 45minute Barwell game on a frozen pitch - though did give everyone a chnace to air there grievences over Steele's sacking...which some did better than others!
  
• The Hammering at Brackley (again!)....happily I didn't go to Totton!
  
• Relying on Weymouth to win a football match....never gonna happen...which spawned a song at the expense of Stevo and myself .Instead of playing us, Weymouth had to play a FA cup reply and we had a Bnb Booked and everything!...Song went soemthing like 'You can shove your BnB up your arse!'
  
• Watching us cruising and ultimatily throw away a 2 goal lead against st Albans.
  
• getting Belted with Bottles and Coins at Weston-Super-Mare...But we still Won!!
  
• The embrassing State of our playing Surface.
  

Steele Aside...A bloody Fine season to all involved!!!

[Rijs]

Just a response to David and Richard. Yes, I agree there's a special family feel to City which is undoubtedly one of the club's attractions and maybe was one reason why 'Steelo' was prepared to travel so far. I'm delighted to read about Bash who seems a nice guy on the pitch too, and oted that Jason came to matches e.g. Redbridge to support us when he had that leg infection, which a loan player doesn't have to do--like others on here I really hope we can keep him, at least for one more season, he's a bit special. But then so are others--players like Mike Lyon who's come down from Milton Keynes to watch when he's been out of action. And every player you meet on the terraces is prepared to talk to supporters and be friendly. I suppose that's true at other non-league clubs too, it's why we prefer them to League outfits, but we shouldn't take it for granted.
About the crowd size--obviously we have the odds against us being in the same city (and it's not a large one) as United, which has some passionate support from quite a large number. A lot of our matches this season have clashed with United home games--the fixture designers could help us out here--but I don't think Friday evenings or Sundays would help. Cost is also a factor, and if you've spent a lot at a United match on Saturday, you'll save your pennies on Sunday. City are on the right track but it's a slow process as David says.
Regarding Lee Steele, I always liked him and am grateful for what he did for City, especially last season when his goals helped us clear of relegation danger and he brought Felipe on quickly. But I did feel he wasn't playing as well in the autumn, which may have been one reason why our goals dried up a bit in November/December--age was finally catching up with him and he was a yard slower than a year or two before. So when the end came, I was shocked and wondered what had been said and how it had been handled, but I also felt the City management and committee have done a brilliant job overall in recent years and I wouldn't be too quick to assume it was badly handled on their part--maybe there were factors unknown to us. And I don't think it hurt City much not having Lee; Aaron Woodley came in to join Bash and Felipe up front and frankly he has more of a future now than Lee. But Lee has his place in our history books, no-one can take that away from him, and in our affections, and I hope in the end both sides will forgive each other. Lee was crass and the City management may have been a little harsh in response, but felt they had to make a stand; perhaps both are sorry now (Lee said he was); and we have moved on. We wish Lee well and note he's been scoring a few for Leamington recently...
Finally, the playing surface. We all agree it's been a nightmare. In a way, better when wet because the ball doesn't bounce and bobble so much, but every season it's hard to play smooth football on once we get past January. It may have helped us a bit, as we are more used to it, but we'd play better (as we did at Frome and Hitchin) on a better surface and this would entertain the crowd more. I'm sure the committee have taken it to heart and will try to do what they can.