The next eight weeks are massive for all of us: seven games, five at home and two away. We will be trying very hard to win all of them starting with today. You have a big part to play. No matter what the score, I need you to be loud… very loud in supporting Saints right down to the last second of play. Believe me, it does make a difference.
A big welcome to Tom Walkinshaw, Dean Ryan, the Gloucester team and their supporters. Gloucester are having a good season, are riding high in the Premiership and are still in the European Challenge Cup. In fact, we could be playing them at Kingsholm in the semi-final if things work out for both clubs.
A point of note, or should I say, pint of note. At the last home game, we took £49,897 on the bars – a new club record. Could it be broken again today? I suspect the Sarries supporters did not drink much but the Shed Heads are made of sterner stuff, so who knows?
At this time of year, all supporters want to know what new signings are going to be made next year. Paul Grayson has presented to the board a succession plan for the next five years. We are hoping that this summer will be the last of dramatic changes within the squad. In future, we will prefer to build on what we have got and supplement from our own Academy, whose budget will be increased by another £100,000 for next year. Obviously, some signings have already been announced, and we are being very careful to make sure those players buy into the Saints work ethic. I am particularly excited by the signing of Soane Tonga’uiha – the 23-year-old Tongan international who weighs in at nearly 21 stone. I promise you we will keep you informed on all the latest on comings and goings. Soane comes from Bedford of course and congratulations to them for once again making the finals at Twickenham with a last-minute drop-goal from a certain Ali Hepher.
I don’t apologise for keeping pushing the extra game we have organised for Friday night, March 24. The warm-up is Saints’ Old Boys v England Legends and the main event in the Saints Academy v Leicester’s academy. The funds raised will go to our Academy and the Matt Hampson Trust Fund. Please come along.
On a final note, regular readers of the Chron will have noticed a bit of unpleasant banter between a small group of Cobblers and Saints supporters. Please do not get drawn into this. Like most Northampton blokes, I support the Saints, the Cobblers and the county cricket team. I wish them all success. The Cobblers regularly train at Franklin’s Gardens – free of charge – and we have a good relationship with them. It’s important that this continues. Enjoy yourselves today and I will see you here on April 1 when we play Worcester in the European Challenge Cup quarter-finals. Keep smiling.
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