Today’s game should be exciting. Both teams have played six and won six and only a single point separates us. Winning and losing can make a 10-point difference today. If we win we could be as much as six points clear of Doncaster. On the other hand we could be four points behind if they win in style. So please get behind the team today and shout them to victory.
As always a big, big thank you to the 500-or-so fans who travelled to Sedgley Park last week; a tremendous turnout considering the England-Australia game was on TV. I suspect we made 50% of the crowd.
It’s good to have the World Cup players back with us, and though Sean Lamont and Euan Murray will be disappointed not to still be in France there is a long league campaign for them to get stuck into. I’m sure you’ll all join me in welcoming Euan to Franklin’s Gardens.
A warm welcome too to Doncaster’s directors and supporters. I must admit that I don’t know their team well but I can feel them breathing down our necks! I also know that they are very ambitious and are one of the four or five teams who fancy their chances of getting into the Premiership this season. We will have to be 100% on the ball today.
A little plug for next week’s home game versus Esher. This is a magnificent team whose recent players include Harvey Thorneycroft and John Inverdale. Esher only lost to Bedford by the odd point or two and that was at Goldington Road.
I do like one thing about National League One and that is we play every Saturday, week in, week out. No Friday nights. Very few Sundays – only three in fact with just Cornish Pirates, Nottingham and Doncaster away. We also get the chyance to visit different clubs who have been immensely warm and welcoming.
Today’s game will be the seventh in the league and I’m looking forward to December 8th when it will be the half-way point and we will have played every team once. This should give us some idea of what the remaining challenges will be like.
Between now and then we have two key games – today against Doncaster and on Saturday, November 10th when we visit Exeter. Let’s all make a weekend of it. We need to round up every supporter we can for this game against one of the league’s top sides.
The Esher game also coincides with the Saints with Heart walk. It’s not too late to join in. Please telephone Bob Stainsby (07734 459477) or Paul Flatt (07841 104396) if you want to help this great cause.
I watched the France versus New Zealand game with mixed feelings. Part of me wanted France to win on the basis we ought to support the northern hemisphere. But a large part wanted the Kiwis to win. My wife was planning to spend this weekend with Trish Smith and I knew how much victory would mean to Wayne and his family. Maggie was screaming at the tele towards the end but alas to no avail. I love sport but sometimes it’s very cruel.
A thought crossed my mind while I was writing this column. Last year we got relegated with 33 points. This week after seven games we could pass that mark. Another milestone but there’s a long way to go yet.
Keep smiling!
