Welcome, everybody, to Franklin’s Gardens for today’s game against the Pertemps Bees. Currently they are 38 points below us in the league table, so they won’t be starting as the bookmaker’s favourites. However I know that Jim and the team will be treating them with the utmost respect. Someone could beat us before the season’s out and it won’t necessarily be the most obvious.
A big welcome to the Bees and all of their fans. I can never think about them without thinking of Chris Budgen, who propped for them before joining us. We drew them in the cup and I remember us winning a tight game. Garry Pagel told me afterwards to sign Chris: “one of the best players I have ever propped against”. Compliments don’t come much better than that!
Today’s game marks another milestone. Exactly a third of the National League One season gone! Can we continue to keep nudging our way a few points clear of the following pack? November will be a big test. After today’s game we have two challenging away matches at Exeter (currently third) and Nottingham (currently fifth). We just have to keep our heads down and play some rugby.
Challenging away games are like Par 5s on a golf course. I always hated them, fearing a double-figure score. Better players always liked them, seeing an opportunity for a birdie and a chance to go further ahead. I suppose that’s what makes sport exciting.
The weeks do slip away quickly. December 8th sees the half-way point in the league and hopefully we will be able to see the writing on the wall.
This week has been a big week for us all. Monday night a Wanderers Guinness ‘A’ League game against the Newcastle Falcons. Wednesday was Hallowe’en and Thursday All Saints Day. Today at home to the Bees, tonight the Academy Ball and tomorrow the fireworks display here at the Gardens. I hope to see you all there.
It is important to the town that the annual firework display continues and we are very happy to take it forward. I went to most of them at Becket’s Park. Unfortunately Piggy wasn’t up for the bonfire on the pitch, but you can’t win them all! We’ll do our best to make it a safe and enjoyable evening.
Jim and the coaching team are beginning to have some thoughts about the players we need to make sure we perform well in the Guinness Premiership if we make it back. Against the background of a new deal the clubs and the RFU are about to sign this will be an interesting thought process. Obviously with still two-thirds of the season yet to go we mustn’t count our chickens… however nearly all recruitment is done in the first three months of the year, that is January, February and March. So we have to have some thoughts, even though we keep them to ourselves!
I understand we are taking over 1,000 supporters to Exeter next week. More pasties and pints…..and hopefully more points as well.
Enjoy today and thank you again for your wonderful support.
