It was awful today. Seven years since we've beaten our rivals Sittingbourne. Its the sort of statistic you expect Guy Mowbray to run out ("Its 7898 years since Blackpool beat Arsenal"), but we've been in the same division for all but one of those seasons. And today, it hurt.
It hurt that we were really quite good for the first half hour. It hurt that we seemed to stop caring. It hurt that a Sittingbourne side with as much of a budget as us won the game justifiably. Despite Leroy Huggins second goal in as many games (and a very well taken one it was too), we were never in this in the second half, and lost to frankly, two crap goals, the first, a retaken penalty , the second a placed shot across goal where the Chatham defence apart from the larger than life Kevin Winchcombe appeared to have stopped playing. It was like watching a weird sci-fi film, where some character finds everything frozen still and just walks through it.
The biggest attraction today was, in his own mind at least, referee Mr Venamore. From the off, and I mean it, it was the first tackle of the game, he called it back for a foul on Nick Hegley. It wasn't. Here was a man who dreams of the Premier League. He might be lucky enough to get a Ryman Premier game once. Every moment he could find, he gave the big lecture, took his eye off the ball to call back incidents that are just part of the game at any level (football, it should be remembered, is a contact sport). He did though, play no part in our downfall. We deserved to lose, as the Bourne keeper made not one save. He took plenty of wayward crosses, but not one save to make. His knees left the pitch as clean as they came on.
When we were good, we were very good, but we just weren't good enough. And Foley made perhaps his strangest tactical decision, one I didn't frankly understand, and that was to play Joe Fuller in the middle, where you would normally expect to find Matt Solly, or Lee Maskell. Fuller, to his credit, played well, but when you need a killer pass, its not him that will do that - its Solly.
Which got me thinking. How many of today's starting eleven are local lads? I know its about more than that, but the thing that this club always did well was local. I've not been going forever, but could comfortably say Ross Finn, Dan Larkin, Mark Brookes, Brendon Cass, Pat Bishenden, Justin Ascheri, Tommy Binks, Dave Botterill, Micky Dodsworth, Richard Stroud, Rob Denness, all local lads from Medway, and there just the ones that trip off the tongue. Today's starting eleven (Tedder, Winchcombe , Barton, Fuller, J Hogg, Potter, Powell, Ward, Huggins, Ibemere, Hegley) does not, to my knowledge (and I may be wrong, but I think I'm not) include one player either from the Medway Towns, or from the youth set up. Without wishing to sound all Daily Mail, it just isn't right. The clubs appeals to be a beacon in the community. Solly and Restell, the two greatest products of the youth set up in recent years are on the bench. What does that say to the youth coming through? The only exception to the rule is Brad Potter. He's an adopted Chat, because he's been here with three managers and still loves the club.
And there's something that's really getting my goat. We've got to put faith in Foley. We have no choice. But he starts needing to put a bit of faith in us. Have you noticed how in press interviews, and comments on the website, he refers to "us" or "we" but refers to things that are not Chatham Town FC?
Example: Kentonline, Thursday 14th October,(http://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway_messenger/sport/2010/october/14/chatham_fc.aspx) Foley, when asked if he is worried by us not beating Sittingbourne since before the Industrial Revolotion says "I’m not fussed by that all and have no connection with any ‘history’ between the sides over the last few seasons." You may have no history or connection Paul, but you should bloody feel it for the fans, committee and members of the club.
When commenting on the signing of Leroy Huggins (a good one too), he says, on the Offfical Site "'I'm delighted to welcome Leroy back home really as we know him so well and he knows most of the lads in the squad." Yes. Home. Really, come on.
I'd be unhappy with this if we were winning, if I'm honest. Its like we've built a team and not a club. Let's all have a love in and sort this out.
Away from that, I've been thinking about the Bondholder scheme. Needs to be half the price, or you need to get a lot more. Why will I pay £50 to part fund a bar I won't be allowed in, and that will take the players and officials even further away from the fans? If I'm going to part with £50 I want a permanent discount in the plebs bar, and a discount of 25% on the gate. And the programme? £2!!! Don't get me started. Whether or not its any good I don't know, because I won't buy one. That plus entry leaves no change from a tenner. Not good value.
But, a positive, and that the free entry to the Chipstead game on the 18th December - free that is if you buy three match programmes for the November games. Otherwise, its £2, which is a very good idea. Its being sponsored by the nice people at Plumbase. Should be applauded. What shouldn't be applauded is the free pint at the bar for Season Ticket holders. A great idea, if you know how to buy a season ticket... its not something I've ever seen advertised or know anything about. How much are they, where do you get one etc etc etc...
Right. That's officially my last moan until the next one. I've been trying to be positive, but we were never in it today, and if the Manager doesn't appreciate what a game against Sittingbourne means to the fans, then how will the players? I'm sure Matt Solly and Ryans Restell and Laker would have a feeling, but there you go. They don't get a game. Perhaps we could get fired up for the big derby game with whoever it is that are VCD's rivals... you never know, we might meet them in the KL next year if we don't sort this out.
Home to table topping Leatherface next week. Come on lads - get winning!
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