Yes you are so correct about that season. It still rankles with me now, a decade later. We were trying to prepare for a season in the same league as Sheffield Wednesday with the usual random trialists in pre-season, people like Lee Canoville's older brother, Dean, who had been released by someone like Chertsey Town, Kain Bond, Jamie Gosling, Owen Story and the worst collection of keepers since Tony Fowler. The fact that we nearly stayed up was a miracle but staying up could have easily been achieved if Bateson had demonstrated a modicum of ambition that year. We also had a Portugese midfielder that year, who played briefly, Bruno Merielles, who did look like he had something about him, but sadly it wasn't to be.Kernowgull wrote:The reason Leroy's league one team didn't stay up was threefold. Yes, we did spend 75k on Constantine, but that wasn't until Christmas. Very little other money was spent. We started very slowly if I recall, a great day out at Bristol City on day one where we grabbed a point late on with an Aggy penalty was followed by lots of defeats. We left ourselves with a mountain to climb. But the main reason in my eyes, was that Leroy was either incapable of identifying on unable to attract a decent keeper. We went down on goal difference, and throughout the season used about 10 different keepers. Some an absolute joke, like Gottkalksen. He was awful, then went on the run, and has since been imprissoned for armed burglary!! It was only when we got Marriott towards the end of the season that we started winning consistently.
That last day at Colchester was so frustrating, not because we lost and didnt turn up when all we needed was a point to stay up, not because we won 4 on the bounce to put us in with a chance that year, not because MK Dons scored in the 100th minute against Tranmere who rested players to send us down, but because a decent keeper from the off, or even half a season, and we'd have been comfortable lower mid table.
Still one of my favourite season despite all that. 3 of my best ever away days, Bristol City (1-1) Sheffield Wednesday (2-2, but two up at half time) and Oldham (2-0 win, 600 odd gulls, what an atmosphere!!).
That season demonstrated the folly of Bateson's 'penny-wise, pound-foolish' philosophy. Had we stayed up, we would have been in the same division as Bristol City, Nottingham Forest, Swansea, Swindon, Bournemouth etc who would have brought plenty of away support and boosted attendances. Two years later we were in the Conference playing Farsley Celtic and Droylsden. Such a waste.
