Admin
Administrator
Posts: 906
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Post by Admin on Jan 7, 2023 23:46:58 GMT
Today's effort was fantastic, well worth the drive. Yes, we should be higher in the table but some of our performances have, of late, been superb. It's a difficult league to get out of but I feel like we're in the ascendant at the moment and would be interested in other people's views...
Many of our games have been close, the odd goal either way deciding the issue. But we're definitely on the up. However I'd massively struggle with the idea of going up to the national division at the mo. We've done it before when the off-field (and very necessary) stuff just wasn't there and it eventually ended in disaster. It's not there now either (or anywhere near). So taking baby steps to build on what we've got and establishing ourselves at South level is fine by me.
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Post by Tom Bowen on Jan 8, 2023 10:47:04 GMT
It's a difficult conundrum.
On the one hand, we have proved that we can challenge national league level sides and prove ourselves at our own level and would probably hold our own.
However, financially, the National League requires a lot more. I'm just cautious of developing the club to the extent where the players are ready for the National League but the money isn't. Then we become a yo-yo club, and I don't want that to happen. I'm sure it won't and I trust that the club is being very wary of its finances after the runs we've had this year.
Twelve unbeaten in the league is not to be sniffed at, and as Nigel says it's all about improving little by little.
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Post by borobob on Jan 8, 2023 13:01:14 GMT
Absolutely agree. As much as it would be great to a promotion, and what a great achievement that would be, and well deserved, for the players and Management team, and the Club. I would, however, fear for the Club as a whole as we would be come a very small fish in a huge lake of much bigger, and hungrier, fish!!
The commitment that follows from such a promotion to NL however is huge, both financial, physical and strategic and, regretfully we are not, as far as I am aware, anywhere near that state of commitment just yet, as well as the Club is currently being run!.
That in itself is a compliment to the Ownership and Management, and proof of how far we have come from a very dark and distant past, times long to be forgotten I hope.
Nothing wrong with ambition, as long as it isn't misguided like some former Owners, and slowly. slowly, building on that, season by season is the only way forward, whilst still staying within our means where possible, is the ultimate.
Boom and bust doesn't work, as we have seen so many times before.
So, fair play to Rob, Spencer, Garbo, the Directors, and all the Management team and players, and the fabulous volunteers, for what has happened to date. The football is fantastic, the ground is the envy of everyone, crowds are up, and people are smiling again!
The transformation has been hard and difficult, and I hold my hands up, as one of the severest of critics in the past, but I have been proved wrong!!
So, the old adage of don't run before you walk, holds good as far as I am concerned!
I hope the season continues in the same excellent ways that it has, and we finish as high as we can in the league, consolidate the Club and lets see where the journey takes us.
That's not defeatist by any means, if we get a promotion, well wow, just wow! I'll take it, and what follows will have to be encountered!!
We will just have to work a bit harder and enjoy the Club we all love.
COME ON YOU YELLOWWSSAA!!
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Post by northlondonboro on Jan 8, 2023 14:05:18 GMT
Without our top scorer and Pendlebury we could have been a bit apprehensive about that but from the first minute we were on them with cohesion, desire and a cutting edge.
Quite apart from the 4 goals there was the sublime backheel from Page that hit the post and many more chances in the first half. Then we essentially missed a couple of open goals in the second half but no matter.
Mason really looks the part - would love to see footage of his second. What a strike.
Dulwich must have had an off day - in front of almost 3,000 fans (actually many have season tickets to Premier League or Championship clubs and just live in the area so go along, which explains the complete absence of noise or passion I guess...) they served up a stinker. Much worse than when we drew with them at home: no cohesion, didn't really play until the last 15 minutes (after the weather got Biblical) and every time they gave the ball away in midfield they looked like conceding. Looked to me like a team heading back downwards from mid-table, but that's not to take anything away from us - not that I've seen every game, but I suspect that first half was the best half we've played all season (yes, even better than the second half against Sutton...)
Superb performances across the park but the wing backs, wingers and our Marcus Rashford playalike up front really stood out for me. Just hope that 7 day approach someone else mentioned isn't for big Jack Turner....
Looks like the non-league paper took a one-star match for Dulwich fans and five-star entertainment for us and split the difference to give the match three - what nonsense; that first half was 10/10!
Good to see Coventry ship four against Wrexham in the cup too - and at home.
Hope Dulwich do stay up though - decent pitch, great beer options and nice and local for me. Better with trains though, of course.
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Post by dhfcfan on Jan 9, 2023 12:52:30 GMT
Hamlet fan who used to live in Farnborough and watch FTFC midweek so I keep an eye out for FFC. I am also a small shareholder in DHFC.
The club does a lot of work on fan analysis. I'm not aware of any analysis showing a substantial number holding a second season ticket. Some yes but not a substantial %.
They have many who moved to London already supporting a club, Wolves for me, and adopt Hamlet as a second side. Others move to the area and watch a pro club but switch when kids / family life means change to their lives.
There's a fair chunk of every gamers and a second group who do most but not all games. On top of that you get away fans and a surprisingly high % of fans who are one off visitors, often from miles away or abroad, presumably visiting as they have read about the club.
The flat atmosphere was probably more due to your staff doing a fine job and nullifying DHFC's attacking forces. They clearly watched us and came up with a plan, fair play.
Throw in the rubbish weather, loss of some key fans who drove the atmosphere (death and to Peckham Town/Fisher as they don't like Step Two rules and regulations) and the fact the club has plateaued, DHFC don't permit money men to buy in so only spend what they raise and are blown out of the water by bankrolled teams at step two as other factors .
Good luck for the rest of the season
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Post by borobob on Jan 9, 2023 14:25:41 GMT
Welcome to another Southern based Wolves fan, matey. Followed them since the 1950's myself, and Billy Wright is my hero!
My Daughter also now teaches in the Wolverhampton University, right next to the ground, so I get to visit 'Mecca' every now and again!!
Struggling times again for the Old Golds, but I'm sure they will come back.
VAR cheated them out of a win at Anfield, whoever gets anything there anyway?, so roll on the replay next week!
If Boro and DHFC get to meet again, make yourself know and we can have a chat about the Woles.
All the best.
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Post by dhfcfan on Jan 9, 2023 14:53:59 GMT
Thank you, suspect we will meet next season so will try to say hi.
Unfortunately my time at Wolves was the late 80's, I left in 1988 so my memories are of struggle and honest toilers. I was there on February 7th 1987 v Stockport County. Wolves were in free fall in the first season of relegation to the Conference. Ernie Moss put County in the lead on 54 minutes. Andy Thompson 79, Micky Holmes 87 and Steve Bull 88. Wolves won 3-1. The rest is history. Eleven minutes that quite possibly saved a club.
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duggy70
1st team regular
Posts: 142
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Post by duggy70 on Jan 9, 2023 19:05:06 GMT
Without our top scorer and Pendlebury we could have been a bit apprehensive about that but from the first minute we were on them with cohesion, desire and a cutting edge. Quite apart from the 4 goals there was the sublime backheel from Page that hit the post and many more chances in the first half. Then we essentially missed a couple of open goals in the second half but no matter. Mason really looks the part - would love to see footage of his second. What a strike. Dulwich must have had an off day - in front of almost 3,000 fans (actually many have season tickets to Premier League or Championship clubs and just live in the area so go along, which explains the complete absence of noise or passion I guess...) they served up a stinker. Much worse than when we drew with them at home: no cohesion, didn't really play until the last 15 minutes (after the weather got Biblical) and every time they gave the ball away in midfield they looked like conceding. Looked to me like a team heading back downwards from mid-table, but that's not to take anything away from us - not that I've seen every game, but I suspect that first half was the best half we've played all season (yes, even better than the second half against Sutton...) Superb performances across the park but the wing backs, wingers and our Marcus Rashford playalike up front really stood out for me. Just hope that 7 day approach someone else mentioned isn't for big Jack Turner.... Looks like the non-league paper took a one-star match for Dulwich fans and five-star entertainment for us and split the difference to give the match three - what nonsense; that first half was 10/10! Good to see Coventry ship four against Wrexham in the cup too - and at home. Hope Dulwich do stay up though - decent pitch, great beer options and nice and local for me. Better with trains though, of course. The back heel was from CJ
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Post by borobob on Jan 9, 2023 23:24:57 GMT
And I had a similar misfortune to be in the East Bank area with a mate when Aldershot played Wolves!! Horrible game, must have been a cup tie, can't remember?, because it ended up a draw, and the buggers beat us in a replay!! Almost went out of the League around that time, and had an awful few years clawing their way back up.
Saved by the wonderful Jack Hayward, who put them back on the map, only to have his great work undone again by the charlatans that followed on.
Superb stadium now though, and back in the big time but, like all heavily financed Clubs, there comes a reckoning, and I'm afraid that time is not too far of for Wolves. As long as we are above the Baggies though, that will do for me!!
Hope to meet up in the future.
For information, Nigel, or Modulator, is also a long time Wolves man, so maybe we can all get together sometime?
All the best.
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Admin
Administrator
Posts: 906
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Post by Admin on Jan 9, 2023 23:34:32 GMT
I'm liking the idea of being a Modulator, Bob. Where do I apply?
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Post by dhfcfan on Jan 10, 2023 17:06:52 GMT
I'll try to say hello to you both next season.
Today someone has tweeted a photo of Nigel Vaughan playing for Wolves, early 87/88 I reckon given the weather and crowd size. I can be seen standing in the crowd on the old East Bank.
Throw in George Elokobi, who I remember playing in the DHFC youth team, becoming temporary manager at Maidstone, and I'm feeling a little old right now.
Incidentally if you remember Hamlet old boy Barry Blackman, Wolves tried to sign him when he was at Saint Albans. They asked for crazy sums and the deal collapsed.
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Post by borobob on Jan 10, 2023 17:35:36 GMT
Sorry Nigel, faulty spell checker!!
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Post by borobob on Jan 10, 2023 17:44:12 GMT
Was that the same Barry Blackman that played for Croydon F.C, or was it Sutton Utd, as a youth? If so, I may have known him, when I did some secretarial work for the Surrey County Youth F.A. U.16s team.
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Post by pinkpanther on Jan 13, 2023 13:48:31 GMT
Was that the same Barry Blackman that played for Croydon F.C, or was it Sutton Utd, as a youth? If so, I may have known him, when I did some secretarial work for the Surrey County Youth F.A. U.16s team. Yes, he was a youth team player for Croydon in the late 80s, then played for Tooting and Wealdstone before joining Dulwich in the second half of the 1991/92 season, where he played a key role with several vital goals in winning promotion.
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