Supporters Club Notes

Mon 01 Mar 2010 8:39

MARCHING  ON

Now that March is with us, we march on and  into a new season. This season, we have a new manager, many new faces and indeed  a new hope too. It's always a good time of the year, with a decent stretch in the evenings and hopefully a  rise in temperatures. It was encouraging to get a Premier licence which shows that  at last we have got our act together off the pitch. A lot of people  put in a lot of hours to make that possible  and well done to all of you.The dressing rooms  and showers  have  been upgraded which should mean more under age Internationals which is something to look forward to this season. So  what  are our hopes  for the season  ahead? A return to the top flight? Don't shoot me  but I don't think we're financially ready  to head back up yet. We need  plenty of good results  at home to kick off with. If we can achieve that, we can rebuild our fan base. Even if results  don't go our way, we need  good solid performances  with oodles of passion  mixed  with skill. If we could get that, we'd have the old Flancare atmosphere  back  again, that'd bring the crowds  and after that, everything  would be a bonus. I suppose I have set the bar lower than you have, but maybe that's why I'll never be a manager!But one thing we really need, is having YOU  out in Flancare, it's one thing reading the notes, but better still is being there yourself. Some sports  journalists like to say  that  Irish ground standards  are way below  par, but Flancare  is one the best in the land. It's excellent value  for money,prices  have been reduced, the atmosphere is always welcoming  and  friendly, so see you out in Flancare as often as possible this season. 

HARPS  AT  HOME

Saturday night  sees our first home game of the 2010 season when we entertain Finn Harps  at Flancare. Last season , Harps gave us nothing so this game  should tell a lot about our chances  for the rest of the summer. We have built an almost completely new squad under the guidance  of an a well respected manager, so hopes  are higher than at this time last year. Will our hopes  be fulfilled? Wait  and see.We have performed reasonably well in the pre season friendlies, despite not winning. But we've tried to keep the ball down  and to play ball. Against the big spenders Sporting Fingal, we could easily  have won the tie  and our performance  against the talented UCD was top class. Our old friend and  manager Alan Mathews  was at that game  and was well impressed  and he expects us to be a real force this season.A good result on Saturday night  would be a dream start but equally a good crowd to witness that good start  would also be most welcome. So that means  you coming out and sampling  some  real live action, see you  there. 

CAR   BOOT  SALE

Our first Car Boot Sale takes place on Wednesday March 17 th, St Patrick's Day at Flancare, the best location in the land  for Car Boot Sales, 11am-3pm. Of course, if you want a good stand, you'd want to be out earlier, as we saw  all last year. Like last year, the first three charities registered  are free. You won't get much better fares than that anywhere.If you've never experienced the buzz of a Car Boot Sale, then this is your chance. If you want to make a few bob, load up your car boot, have a small handy table, lay out your goods on the table and then sit back  and watch the euros flow in. It's as simple as that. Car Boot Sales  are huge in England and we have one of the best  in Ireland out at Flancare, so don't miss our first one.Now that Jimmy Leavy is officially taking over the running of ours, we expect that they'll go from strength to strength. Later on, Jimmy hopes to run one each Saturday, so watch the notes here for more details. St Patrick's Day is our first, don't miss it. 

NEW  CLUBHOUSE  MANAGER

Congratulations  to Emmet Ryan , one of the hardest workers in the Club on his appointment as our new manager of our Clubhouse. Despite receiving a salary of rock bottom proportions, Emmet has  already started bringing in the changes. He's having shelves built which he hopes  will make the half time  tea  and coffee distribution much more efficient. Seemingly he has decided  against dancing girls but is considering reintroducing Superior Sambos a lá Mags.  When it comes  to price, Emmet  has no opposition. Wembley  was charging an arm and a leg at the Final on Sunday last, even Irish Rail was charging two fifty on the train home, but in our Clubhouse  we're still charging pre Celtic Tiger prices, a cuppa  for one euro. And unlike Ryanair, the milk or sugar is not extra.So with prices  like that, how could you stay away  from our Clubhouse at half time. By the way, say hello to Emmet  when you call in, he might give you ten per cent off. 

SUPPORTERS  CLUB  AGM

The main talking point after our AGM was the price reduction of joining the Supporters' Club. We decided to slash our joining fee  by a whopping 50%. So even if you're not good at maths, that means ten euro  will secure your membership this year. For your ten euro, you are supporting the Club itself, you'll get 10% off club merchandise, you get to vote  for Player of the month  and if you really want to get these notes e mailed , hot off the presses, that too can be arranged. Now in all fairness, where  would you get a bargain like that.All the former committee members  were returned unopposed to office. How our nervous  TDs  must envy us.You can join the Supporters' Club on Saturday night in the Clubhouse. It's the best value in the League. 

TOP  LEAGUE

For once, I agreed  with RTE Sports when they were discussing the new  domestic soccer season, on Sunday last. With only two teams from the real Ireland, Galway  and Sligo, the rest  will make up the new Airtricity M50 League, also known as the Premier Division. Many like Fingal,UCD and Bray  will attract fans  who don't like big crowds. Bohs  or Rovers  will win it  and that's that.The real action  and the biggest crowds  will be at the First Division games. The best supported teams in the land are Derry City  and Cork City and the friendliest  supporters are ourselves and Finn Harps  and  Monaghan. Wexford and Athlone  have lovely set ups and a game in Galway  can be matched  with a good week-end over there too. So make no mistake  about it,the first division is the place to be this season. And on top of that, the standard of footie is set to be top class. While Shels, Derry, Cork and indeed oursleves  have been expelled  from the top class  for various sins, this season we'll set the record straight  with  all the best entertainment in the country. The TV cameras and the media generally  ignored our very existence last season, not this time round though. 

GOLF  CLASSIC

It may only be March, but already Brendan Turner, Chairman  for an other year,  is already hard at work organising our annual Golf Classic. Brendan hopes  to be teeing off in June but the date  is not confirmed yet. With Tiger reconsidering his positions, he may decide to rise to the challenge of Longford in early summer to support De Town. Watch this space. 

REMEMBERING  OLD  FRIENDS

We'll be missing some right good old friends  when we kick off on Saturday night. But as the Supporters' Club up in Heaven continues to grow, at least we're guaranteed more prayers  from above. Lads, ye may be gone, but you are not forgotten.

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