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At last!! Some real news!! [No. 217]: Ian Ridley

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By AFF
in St. Albans City Forum

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As I was queuing for my copy of 'Embroidery Monthly' in the newsagents this morning, I glanced at the back page of the St Albans Observer. Under the headline "Ridley:'Huge potential here'", most of the page was devoted to an interview with Ian Ridley who was unanimously elected to the board on Monday evening.

 

Gibbo is quoted "...we (the board) all want Conference football, and we have the chance this season so we need to take it". Reading between the lines, he seems to be saying that further money has been made available to Colin Lippiatt to strengthen the squad.

 

There are a number of quotes from Ian Ridley, who is chief football writer for the Mail on Sunday. [it doesn't say whether he knows Simon Barnes of The Times, however.] He will be trying to boost gates and sponsorship as he did at Weymouth. He intends to "help out one or two days at the start of the week". He can't make Saturday games due to work commitments, presumably, but he will come to midweek matches. He talks at some length about the potential here, and looking for gates of over 1000.

 

"We need to get companies around the City involved". "The biggest advert for the club just now is the team......the football (is) terrific.....Colin Lippiatt has done a marvellous job." "I felt I had a lot to offer. And St Albans and John Gibson were open and receptive to new ideas."

 

He talks of his love of non league football, supporting Muff as a lad and living in St Albans for 25 years. He says "Go down to St Albans and you can meet the players and regulars at a friendly ground". [i'll send him a memo concerning the number of players who are in the clubhouse after each game, later. And it's 'City']

 

His only reference to a move from t'Park was at the end "Yes the club needs a new stadium but the whole experience at Clarence Park is a lot more intimate. It's a real alternative (to Premiership football) and honest."

 

The only disappointment for me was when he was quoted: " We need to attract more people through the gates and make Saints everybody's second team". Sorry Mr Ridley. Take one person off the 'everybody', with all due respect. They aren't going to become my second team.

 

Welcome to The Mighty Saints from me Mr Ridley. This could be very interesting.

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Now then Rob. Rome wasn't built in a day. You media types are all the same.

 

We have a reasonably good idea of the areas of responsibility of the existing board members, and if Ian Ridley is to spend a couple of days each week at t'Park, it wont be to asssist the chap who used to drive the red tractor with the cutting of the grass. I imagine that one of his roles will be to help the Media & Communications operating division of the club, and, no doubt, high on his agenda will be a top level meeting - his people, your people - probably for a working breakfast at Webbo Towers.

 

Oh, by the way. Upon reflection, I imagine that when he referred to making The Mighty Saints everybody's second team, he had in mind those people living locally who currently support a Premiership club. People like the part-time P.A. chap who supports Spurs and even Webbo with The Wooood. There's two converts already! 129,996 to go.

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No. The St Albans Observer. 35p from all good newsagents.

 

[Oops. I've just noticed an unfortunate typo in a small section on the back page where they refer to a 'Conference midfielder' hopefully coming to t'Park for the rest of the season. Colin Lippiatt is quoted: "....Bognor....we were poor....need to regroup (etc.) and make sure we take something from our last home game of the season against Basingstoke on Saturday."]

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