Let me be entirely honest about this. I joined this Forum a couple of years ago to carry out some research about Phil Neal, prior to his coming to speak to the Supporters Trust at Gloucester City, where I had to introduce him - and he was excellent !
Sadly, it is extremely unlikely that any of us will go back to Meadow Park now. You must have seen the photographs of our almost submerged football stadium a few weeks ago. Now that the waters have receded the damage we are left with has totally devastated the club.
We have managed to fix up a ground share with Forest Green Rovers, but whether we can afford or running costs this season remains to be seen. Our own ground was uninsured because it was uninsurable after two previous floods, and how we shall ever get back to Gloucester Heaven only knows.
We have never wanted to go out with a begging bowl. Our faithful 400 fans have paid for ground maintenance, floodlight repairs players' medical needs and all that goes with sustaining a non-league team. We found £7500 in the close season, and it's all come to nothing. Even our Club Shop, including replica shirts and other memorabilia, is in ruins. In the past six seasons we have raised £210K, but now we have nothing to show for it.
Our first friendly after the flood was at Frome Town, and they gave us £300. Bath City gave us the gate receipts when we switched the next game to Twerton Park. Chippenham Town sent a cheque. Northampton Town Supporters Trust gave us the proceeds of their raffle the other night, and I had the pleasure of going there to receive it.
The bigger clubs seem slower to respond. If there is any supporters organisation in Liverpool that would care to help, please let me know, or go to our fans web-site : Tigerroar.com. We need every kind of help. For instance, one of our number is looking for auction items and has written to the twenty two most wealthy clubs in Britain. The first to respond positively to his request and send an autographed football was Glasgow Rangers.
My apologies if this appeal offends. Just think what you would be prepared to do if it were your club whose existence was threatened. Next March marks the 125th anniversary of the first meeting in Gloucester to try to introduce association football. We desperately want to reach that birthday.
We have a fantastic manager, who has built the best squad for ages this season. Watch out for us. Perhaps we can play Liverpool in the Cup !
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