There is much in the old adage that you don’t chose your football club it chooses you. I have been a long time football fan ever since as a small (and impressionable) child I saw Newport County win three games in a row and put West Ham United out of the FA Cup. That was enough and I have been a supporter ever since, through thick and thin, rain and shine, promotion, relegation, bankruptcy, and rebirth, and even two periods of exile, one of which paralleled my own personal economic exile in London (between 1991 and 1998).
Coming home in a sporting sense as well as an economic sense in 1998 meant that I could watch the County more regularly and as some might say further hone my football related disorder. Since 1998 there have been highs - Blackpool in the FA Cup, Cardiff City (at Spyty and at Ninian), Swansea City and Wrecsam in the old FAW Premier Cup, and promotion with Dean Holdsworth. There have been lows – let us never speak of Caernarfon Town in the FAW Premier Cup (unless you support Caernarfon Town at least), or Bangor and Merthyr in the old Welsh Cup and Bath City away on Tuesday evening last (and so far in truth much of the current season).
I had a good Christmas with families, friends and loved ones, but, what I would have wanted most as Christmas present was three (precious) points). In my heart of hearts, when it comes to both politics and football despite everything I remain an optimist and firmly believe that Justin Edinburgh can save us from relegation (although it won't be easy). Avoiding relegation aside my one hope is that the club wakes up and takes seriously the sporting opportunity that is our participation in this seasons Welsh Cup.
One belated Christmas present that did arrive was Swansea City’s first away win – which was a long time coming – but which will soon hopefully to be followed by a few more. Cardiff City also seem to have got themselves back on form with a few back to back wins. And Wrecsam’s form continues to shine as they sit on top of the Blue Square Premier (County had enough opportunities to win the game outright, rather than draw, when they played up in Wrecsam earlier this season).
Tribalism aside I want success for the other Welsh football clubs (and Welsh football period). I want to see Swansea City stay in the Premiership, and Cardiff City join them (preferably not via the play-offs) in the Premiership next season. I not only want to see Newport County avoid the drop (and at a push finish the season mid table) but also want to see Wrecsam promoted as Champions from the Blue Square Conference this season. I also hope that Colwyn Bay can make the play-offs from Blue Square North and see no reason why Merthyr Town can also not get promoted this season.
Sporting success (or even competence) on the field is difficult enough but made more difficult by the economic situation, which hits costs and attendances. What would be nice would be better all round media coverage for Welsh football (outside of the Premiership and the Championship) for the rest of us. S4c’s Sgorio does an excellent job on Monday evenings but the BBC could do better. Better if not improved balanced more detailed coverage would be good for the game in general and the clubs specifically.
Here's hoping that the second half of the County's season is better than the first half and everybody else's is as good as the first half of their season was. My sporting optimism goes beyond the round ball game to rugby and I am ever hopeful (being a season ticket holder) that the Gwent Dragons (“Try not to pass the ball to opposition players and try to kick it between the posts, rather than past them”’) and Newport RFC will turn the corner between now and the end of the season.
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