Shrewsbury to East Thurrock

[geoff pay]

It's just over two years since that stinking hot day on the terraces at gay Meadow. Oh how the mighty can fall. Yesterdays trip to East Thurrock reminded me of those trips to Fleet and Erith in the late 90's but with a difference. Those 90's trips would perhaps have a dozen or so gate fans. Yesterday, as i said earlier, we had half the crowd or more at East Thurrock. The oficial crowd was given as 160 but i'm sure they counted their own fans as double. There was an excellent atmosphere amoungst the gate fans which included a rendition to KP 'we can see you sneeking out' as KP went around the ground after we were two down. All said in jest. We stood in the rain and carried on singing. What we witnessed was a team of real potential. A young team and a vibrant one in the hands of KR and Ck and i think a team that could go better than five years ago, given time. What i do find hard to swallow is the poxy grounds that we now have to put up with.

 

Rookery HIll

 

1. No tannoy system at all(can you believe that)

2. Two stewards, no only one.

3. One tiny cafe thing that when i went to get

tea had already shut.

4. Parts of the pitch had no surrounding fence.

5. Those horrible little thin goal posts.

6. No crowd of home support.Our goal was cheered

louder than theres.

7 A car park for twenty five cars if that.

8 Not their fault but we lost.

 

Oh and the floodlights sort o f worked. It's a real comedown and to be honest i felt sorry for their team who played as well as any team i've seen this season. I've been spoilt me thinks.

 

But as i say, if we stick in there we will have a cracking team once again. I dont want to go there ever again--please. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

[michael]

Was'nt there yesterday Geoff,(but do remember fondly the Shrewsbury game and the stylish red away kit. Worse still so does my wife who keeps wanting to know why she is'nt taken shopping in Shrewsbury these days -its no use trying to explain.Of course the shopping is better still in Thurrock but could not make it yesterday ).

In fairness to ETU for two and a half seasons we did not even have a pitch let alone a ground,so maybe a bit harsh on them ?

 

12 months ago, i think most of us would have been happy to have had ETU's ground, even if we remain unhappy at being in the Ryman

[ETU Fan]

What is the problem with our little thin goal posts?

 

As for parking. There is more parking space available. Not sure why it was'nt in use.

 

As for the other things... 'fraid I cant really offer any defence.

[seasidesteve]

12 months ago we could have had a better ground than that and still have been in the conference if only certain individuals with p initials had not been so greedy

[seasidesteve]

sorry that does not mean mr piper

[Chris1]

Quote:

geoff pay said:
7 A car park for twenty five cars if that.

A little bit of pot/kettle there surely? How big is our car park?

[Cookie]

Talking Dover there are you Steve?

[zhukov]

Your ground does need some investment in all sorts of ways but I found everyone was very welcoming and good humoured. It was very good entertainment. I hope you can attract more investment and larger support.

When you come to Hartsdown Park have a good look at our playing surface.

[michael]

Hopefully not talking too soon Zhukov.

 

I think we have been lucky with weather as most of home games played in dry conditions and probably through the worst of the rain now, and only two home games this month.

 

A new pitch can easily cut up in the wet so think we have had a touch of good fortune in this aspect at least ,and should be better still next season !!

[Coffin Ender]

I thought East Thurrock's programme was pretty good and they seemed a decent set of people.

[zhukov]

Michael, I hope the club maintains a policy, as far as possible, of restricting the use of our pitch so that the quality of the playing surface is maintained. Once the surface is degraded it is difficult and directors often view it as too expensive to rectify.

However we do have an excellent playing surface and just as important, an excellent groundsman in Ray.

[webmasteretu]

IT WAS GOOD TO SEE SUCH TRAVELLING SUPPORT YOU GUYS HAVE.

 

ON OUR PART, WE ARE A SMALL VILLAGE TEAM PLAYING AT ITS HIGHEST LEVEL IN ITS SMALL HISTORY.

 

WE FIND IT HARD TO ATTRACT FANS COS WE HAVE SO MANY TEAMS IN THE AREA PLAYING AT MUCH HIGHER LEVELS. (SOUTHEND, GRAYS, ETC ETC)

 

THE CLUB WAS TAKEN OVER AFEW YEARS AGO AND SINCE THEN WE HAVE JUST IMPROVED AND IMPROVED. THE GROUND ITSELF HAS HAD A NEW STAND ERECTED, THE PITCH HAS BEEN RE-DONE AND NEW FENCING PUT UP. SO IN OTHER WORDS. UR LUCKY YOU DIDNT VISIT AFEW SEASONS AGO WHEN IT WAS 10 TIMES WORSE!!!

[seasidesteve]

spot on cookie it will be their turn next

[Cookie]

Once it starts to go wrong it will, without a doubt Steve.

[Chris1]

To the ETU fans who are reading this thread, I would just like to say thanks for making us welcome. I have been to plenty of worse non-league grounds, including our local rivals Ramsgate.

 

I think the original poster was more making a point about how far we have fallen in the last two seasons since our conference days.

 

Your team were better on the day and your coach had done his homework, knowing we concede early and throwing 5 men forward in the first 10 mins. Results count more than thickness of goalposts.

 

Good luck for the rest of the season (except Feb 4).

 

ps. a PA system would be nice though!

[ETU Fan]

We have got a PA system. Not sure why it was'nt used. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

[seasidesteve]

the batteries probably needed changing