Slough Council Demolition Man

[Burnham Lad]

Magnificent - Daily Telegraph Sport Section Page 4 - Tony Francis does a demolition job on the council. Even if you have never read the Telegraph in your life, buy this one and treasure every word!

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[Nelson (Daggers)]

For those who can't be bothered to sign-up...

 

Slough exiles heap misery on Merson

By Tony Francis

(Filed: 15/11/2004)

 

 

 

Don't be surprised if they close the shutters and play loud music in the council chamber today. It's a form of denial. You couldn't really blame civic leaders in Walsall for behaving this way. It ain't easy when you've been bounced out of the FA Cup by Slough.

 

 

 

Bang goes Paul Merson's hope of a decent run to raise a few quid for team strengthening. Bang could have gone his job. Don't jump to conclusions, though. The council chamber I'm talking about is in Slough not Walsall.

 

Saturday's heroic 2-1 win over the Saddlers is not what they wanted to hear in the town hall from hell. These are the elected representatives who told Slough Town FC to sling their hook. In the words of Richard Stokes, the council leader: "We don't want your type around here. It's bad for our image."

 

Image? This is the place John Betjeman wanted to flatten: "Come, bombs and blow to smithereens.

 

"Those air-conditioned bright canteens. . ."

 

This is the place Ricky Gervais characterised in The Office. If you believe local estate agents, the TV series has demolished the commercial lettings business.

 

Glue manufacturers and drain-clearance companies no longer wish to be associated with a blot on the landscape. Slough needs all the help it can get and yet the football team with their impassioned following of 400 are forced to pursue their future in Windsor who came to the rescue when the lease ran out on Slough's stadium.

 

One of the greatest days in the town's humdrum history had to be celebrated in the town next door. It was preceded by an orderly demonstration from furious supporters who want to shame the Lib Dem-dominated council into a U-turn. Match of the Day's highlights will have enhanced their cause as well as contributing £13,000 to the kitty. It costs Slough £25,000 per season to shack up at Stag Meadow, only a deer's leap away from Windsor Castle. If he hadn't been otherwise engaged at a Remembrance Day service in the Royal Albert Hall, Windsor and Eton FC's patron, the Duke of Edinburgh, could have trained his binoculars on their modest little ground and witnessed these strange goings-on for himself.

 

Pictures of him and the Queen decorate the cosy boardroom where Merson told reporters he was devastated. This, he said, was an even blacker day than January 1992 when Wrexham slew the mighty Arsenal team in which he played.

 

Somewhat thicker around the waist but patently the best player on the park, Merson was unable to bring Walsall's 13-match losing sequence on away soil to a close. Cajole as he might, the forwards fired blanks and the defence crumbled under an assault by the Ryman Premier refugees.

 

Goals by a postman called Ian Hodges and a teacher called Glen Harris rubbed out Darren Wrack's response from the visitors. While Slough's unlikely heroes were interviewed on television for the first time in their lives, Walsall's team bus departed with its disconsolate cargo. "Five of these players will hurt like hell," said Merson. "I'm not sure about the rest."

 

They face a battle for survival in League One the season after being relegated. Their likeable player-manager is not sure what he faces: "If I was the chairman I'd be after me," he smiled. Geoff Bonser, the man in question, is holidaying in Cyprus. My guess is he'll keep faith with Merson.

 

What is to become of Slough Town? On this evidence, the part-timers could well see off their next FA Cup opponents Yeading.

 

It was heart-warming to watch Jock and Vic enjoy their mugs of tea and slices of cake in the clubhouse. The two OAPs had spent all week helping other volunteers to erect crowd segregation barriers, organise car parks and sell 2,000 tickets.

 

"Great day," said Vic. "Yeah," said Jock, "You can't beat non-League football." Councillor Stokes was unavailable for comment.

[GarySTFC]

Good coverage in the Sun and Star as well. Mirror and Express are just round ups with us headlining, but getting no more than a paragraph.

[chris sliski]

Andrew you beat me too it....

 

Great Report from Tony Francis....

 

Stokes & Janik Read it !!!

 

We are a part of this town !

 

and proud of what our team did this Last Saturday its time for you to come on board and help us...not have secret talks with another consortium

to under mine everything we are trying to acheive.

 

?????????????????????????

[PJ-STFC]

And to any councillors who happen to be reading this forum...

 

Do not be ashamed to admit you were wrong.

It is not a crime to change your mind over a decision that you now realise was not the way to go.

 

PJ <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/chat.gif" alt="" />

[Guest]

That article is superb. Stokes will get a jolt when he reads it - that is, if he's ever opened a Sports section.

 

Well said Tony Francis! <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/excited.gif" alt="" />

[GarySTFC]

Just been out to buy it now. Looks even better in print! Will be making a photocopy and sending it into the council and in particular Mr Stokes.

[PJ-STFC]

...somehow I don't think they'll appreciate quite how beautifully written it is!

 

PJ <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/chat.gif" alt="" />

 

(PS - v. good idea, Gary)