Conference Days

[Awayday]

I am sure I do not speak for eveyone, but personally I really enjoyed our days in the conference league. We visited a number of small but pretty good grounds, and also some shockers. But at the end of the day every where we visited (apart from Grays on a wet midweek game) we seem to have a good laugh.

I would actually like to see Crawley and AFC Wimbledon come up next season (also pressuming we are in League 2 next season I would like to visit both grounds again). Many years ago I use to live quite close to Wimbledon and my dad use to take me to see them when they were a lower league side. As we all know they had a very succesful run before the days of ground sharing with Crystal Palace and then the franchise move to Milton Keynes. But AFC Wimbledon, for me, shows that a club is for the fans and not for corporate society of the Plc. When we played them in the FA Trophy we had a wonderful day chatting to their fans and Directors in the bar. Some of their key board room staff took time out to speak to the kids of Torquay United and explain how the club was set up and what it means to them to keep the name of Wimbledon alive. It was also at that time that MK Dons were told to give the FA Cup rights back to the borough of Merton who in turn gave it to AFC Wimbledon. For the youngsters it is just an extra bragging right but for those Wimbledon fans who were there at Wembley against Liverpool, and now stand in the terraces in Kingston it must mean so much for them to have their efforts and support recognised. Appreciate they still have a battle on their hands, but I will be arm chair supporting them for the rest of the season.

Some of you are thinking why the hell Crawley though........ I know come Saturday there are certain "larger" elements of the club that are going to get abuse from the Popside, but considering where they were 2 / 3 years ago you have to give them credit for topping the league at the moment with a good handful of games in hand. At the begining of the season I would not have put money on Crawley being above Luton let alone above them and top of the table. I honestly thought Luton would have p!ssed the league with the likes of Cambridge, Wrexham, R&D and Darlington nipping at their heals. Crawley sort of goes against everything that is good about AFC Wimbledon, however I think they have the backing to become something of a league club and potentially do what Wimbledon did all those years ago.

Lastly (and I am sure SG will agree with me) one club in the Conference South worth looking out for is Eastleigh. They have been a fairly big non league club outfit for a few years now, but for the past couple of seasons have made some massive improvements and are currently just sitting shy of the play offs, but have a couple of games in hand. I personally think if they do get promoted this season, it will not be long before we seem them at league level.

[citizengull]

As i used to live in and watch the mighty Winchester city i cant share your thoughts on Beastleigh it might not be the same as Torquay and exeter but the feeling is, i hope they go under with there director of football (southamptongull might know what i mean)

[Southampton Gull]

I certainly do citizengull, although as an ex-player I'd love to see Eastleigh rise to League status. I always enjoyed my games against Winchester City and was very good friends with the City legend Steve Whitcher. We were rivals on the pitch, both being keepers but always had a good drink after. He was a fantastic keeper, I have to say better than I was and he should have played at a higher level but was a Winchester City man through and through. I like to see all the local sides rise in status but I know exactly where you're coming from with Mr Malone

I'm with Paul regards AFC Wimbledon but not on the subject of Crawley. That might change if Pat Evans and Claire Rayner are kicked out

[citizengull]

Steve whitcher was class but when you talk of city legends Stuart Lang is up with the best of them who is also from Devon and played for Tavistock(i think).