ALL THE REBELS, SO MANY REBELS...

Printed in the Southern League Premier Division game v Cinderford Town on Saturday 18^th March 2017 We won 4-1 in front of 626

 

It's hard not to ramble on like the pub bore at the moment, repeating myself endlessly that something amazing is happening at our club. Another top day out, this time at Top Field with Slough fans traveling in huge numbers swelling the Armed Forces day crowd to 838 and sweeping aside the team in second place with a well deserved 3-2 victory. About five of us used to sing 'All the Rebels, so many Rebels...' but now when we do, its true. It's fantastic that I didn't recognise all the Rebels at Hitchin and its worth remembering that not so very long ago Slough Town nearly ceased to exist but thanks to a few people, one or two who unfortunately never saw our day back in Slough, that we are here. Watching Slough getting hammered week in, week out was hard work, helped by alcohol and a backs-against-the-wall mentality football fans seem to discover when its not going your way.

That's why I think Arsenal fans could do with a reality check and a bit more humility. Leyton Orient are facing a winding up order and in danger of heading out the Football League, Coventry continue to battle with owners and are looking likely to return to the bottom division for the first time since 1959, Blackpool fans are boycotting games until their owners go – whereas Arsenal, in the semi finals of the FA Cup but might not finish in the top four for the first time since 1996. Stay strong, Gooners.

After Hitchin I ended up for a beer in my old Aunt Bets dodgy old boozer The Scottish Stores in Kings Cross, which she ran during the war. Draft dodgers, gangs, prostitutes, it sounded a lovely place and until recently was a strip pub. It's been given a fantastic make-over and I got chatting to York City fans who look like they are heading for back-to-back relegations into the National League North.

So I'm pitching for a new TV reality show called Life Swap where you literally get put in someone else's shoes. First up would be a moaning Arsenal fan who would have to manage the football club for a month. Then it would be a pushy parent who would have to become a teacher for a month to a group of excitable teenagers.

With the spread of social media its so easy to have a pop at other people while the media is quick to point the finger when things go wrong.

I think the Lincoln City manager summed it up perfectly 'Footballs crazy isn't it? I wouldn't dream of going to the dentist and telling him what to do or shouting abuse at my plumber. But people come into your profession and tell you what to do. Of course that makes football great. People love football and that brings passion – when you don't think clearly or act normally. I know the Arsenal fans are passionate but I don't like the way some of them treat Arsene Wenger.'

What you have got at our level is a connection and the way people have rallied round our goalkeeper Mark Scott after his horrific injury has been heart-warming. Quite a few Hitchin fans asked how he was and individuals and other clubs have raised nearly £7,000 in two weeks. It must have been hard for our managers too, who not only have to deal with the injury but on top of working full time have to try and find a new keeper with just 11 games left to go of the season.

Thankfully Mark Scott was in safe hands with Slough legend Kev McGoldrick and the Basingstoke physio doing a fantastic job. It seems only right that Kev is to be given a testimonial at the beginning of next season for over 30 years service to Slough. If ever there was a man who deserved to see Slough flying again its him and I wish him well as he battles against a serious illness.