Stickied Non-League Away Support 2023/24

[Back in the DHSS]

i remember going to wolves when only one side of the ground was open

Went to Molineux in 1986 for a 4th division game when 2 sides of the ground had been condemned in the aftermath of the Valley Parade disaster.

 

[GTFCfish]

I remember those days well. In the early to mid 1980's there was a group of clubs always battling for re election. Crewe, Hereford, Rochdale, Hartlepool, Halifax and Tranmere. I remember Tranmere being that skint in 1982 that they started the season with only 7 professionals on the books including player manager Brian Hamilton and player coach Ray Mathias. Only one side of the stadium was open as we didn't have the funds to maintain the other 3 sides. On match days there always seemed to be more people heading away from Prenton Park than to it. Other than this period though Tranmere were pretty much a solid division 3 team.

I never actually realised Tranmere were constantly scrapping around the bottom of the Football League as I started watching Grimsby around 1989 and Grimsby Cambridge and Tranmere all went up together from Division 4 to Division 2 in successive seasons, then I remember Tranmere being in the play offs for promotion to the Premier League a couple of times so I've always seen you as a much bigger club than that.
Never realised you used to have such problems in the early 80's.

Edit: just checked it was Grimsby Cambridge and Southend, always thought it was Tranmere but Tranmere just went up with us 3 to the second tier.

 

[Raymondo316]

If we're gonna include Stockport id have it

1. Tranmere
2. Orient
3. Wrexham
4. Stockport
5. Hartlepool

 

[RLC]

I remember those days well. In the early to mid 1980's there was a group of clubs always battling for re election. Crewe, Hereford, Rochdale, Hartlepool, Halifax and Tranmere. I remember Tranmere being that skint in 1982 that they started the season with only 7 professionals on the books including player manager Brian Hamilton and player coach Ray Mathias. Only one side of the stadium was open as we didn't have the funds to maintain the other 3 sides. On match days there always seemed to be more people heading away from Prenton Park than to it. Other than this period though Tranmere were pretty much a solid division 3 team.

I remember that period well. There was an attendance of 1,700 at my first home game and I remember a couple of occasions when we added the stewards to the gate to get the crowd above 1,000 !

However, that was a relatively brief period in our history, of less than a decade really. I am not sure you can say the same for Halifax.

 

[doveranddover]

As a 'Neil Diamond forever in non-league' fan, I would put Hereford above Hartlepool, who down here are known for nothing except for being bad, at least Hereford are famous for their cup run in 73[?]. Probably York too, for their FA Cup exploits.

 

[Soup Ladle]

As a 'Neil Diamond forever in non-league' fan, I would put Hereford above Hartlepool, who down here are known for nothing except for being bad, at least Hereford are famous for their cup run in 73[?]. Probably York too, for their FA Cup exploits.

All clubs are small in this league with relative scales between them, but Hereford have only spent a small amount of their history in the FL, that's like saying Sutton are bigger than us because they beat Coventry in the cup. We once beat Man Utd 6-1. And West Brom, Palace, Stoke in the cup (but we've beaten them in league games as well), so what it's the cup. York are similar in size to us and historic achievement but our support is a bit bigger.

IMO, Tranmere are the biggest in this tinpot set up followed by Orient then Wrexham, us, Stockport and York. All them are the biggest outside the FL. But it's debating over nowt really. Not that many genuinely big-ish clubs have played here apart from maybe Luton.

 

[GTFCfish]

Not that many genuinely big-ish clubs have played here apart from maybe Luton.

I'd also put Bristol Rovers in that category, massive potential when the going is good.

 

[Master D]

Oxford and Luton are probably the 2 biggest to have ever played down here.

God I love a good debate on the Natural Order.

 

[MTFC_07]

Stockport are much bigger than they’re being given credit for in this thread. I think they’re right up there with Tranmere and definitely bigger than Hartlepool/Orient.

 

[Soup Ladle]

Forgot about Oxford, but I can't stand them so fuck 'em.

Stockport are much bigger than they’re being given credit for in this thread. I think they’re right up there with Tranmere and definitely bigger than Hartlepool/Orient.

Historically i'd agree but it's probably more about where they're at nowadays. They're part time and have spent god knows how long in the North.

 

[DarkSithLord]

Forgot about Oxford, but I can't stand them so fuck 'em.



Historically i'd agree but it's probably more about where they're at nowadays. They're part time and have spent god knows how long in the North.

Heading for their 6th season in the North.

 

[E10rifle]

I'd also put Bristol Rovers in that category, massive potential when the going is good.

Potential hasn’t been realised since the 1950s. Big club in waiting, even if they do play in a terrible rugby ground. Best club song in football as well.

 

[E10rifle]

Oxford and Luton are probably the 2 biggest to have ever played down here.

God I love a good debate on the Natural Order.

Moi aussi.

Not sure a traditional non league club like Oxford can ever be considered as big in this context.

 

[GTFCfish]

Moi aussi.

Not sure a traditional non league club like Oxford can ever be considered as big in this context.

Mmm forgot about Oxford. Any idea on the circumstances of how they were relegated.......

 

[Soup Ladle]

Mmm forgot about Oxford. Any idea on the circumstances of how they were relegated.......

(A chilling, rather spine tingling wind sweeps through as the shadowy figure of Eric Read emerges from the foundations of Oxford’s long awaited fourth stand)

 

[E10rifle]

Stockport are much bigger than they’re being given credit for in this thread. I think they’re right up there with Tranmere and definitely bigger than Hartlepool/Orient.

Hartlepools you could attempt to make a case for, but risible to suggest that a part time club with smaller gates who have only spent 7 or 8 seasons in their history in a higher division are a bigger club than Orient.

Easy to forget, I suppose, but Orient have been a top division club as well as spending 20 years in the second tier which is more than any of the other sides mentioned (Tranmere included). The other sides have all spent decades bottom feeding fighting re-election in Div 4 whereas the only significant time we spent there (1995-2006) was precipitated by the Rwandan civil war (no, really).

 

[DontBringBertie]

Woking are easily the biggest club in the Conference to have never played in the Football League.

 

[E10rifle]

Mmm forgot about Oxford. Any idea on the circumstances of how they were relegated.......

I mean I suppose I could re-post the tale in case there were any perennial non league fans on this forum who by some miracle had not heard the saddest lament ever heard in these here parts. But I’m sure no-one would be interested in that, would they...?

 

[rudebwoyben]

Hartlepools you could attempt to make a case for, but risible to suggest that a part time club with smaller gates who have only spent 7 or 8 seasons in their history in a higher division are a bigger club than Orient.

Easy to forget, I suppose, but Orient have been a top division club as well as spending 20 years in the second tier which is more than any of the other sides mentioned (Tranmere included). The other sides have all spent decades bottom feeding fighting re-election in Div 4 whereas the only significant time we spent there (1995-2006) was precipitated by the Rwandan civil war (no, really).[/QUOTE]


I remember hearing something about this. What exactly happened?

 

[E10rifle]

I remember hearing something about this. What exactly happened?

Insignificant compared to the human cost of the war of course, but our Chairman at the time, Tony Wood, made his fortune in Rwandan coffee plantations. They were burned to the ground and all his workers massacred. He lost his income, we went bankrupt and finished bottom of the table with a youth team (sounds familiar). That’s when the whole John Sitton/Club For A Fiver debacle happened. And then Bullshit Barry Hearn, who took around a decade to work out how to run a football club, arrived. Happy times.

 

[rudebwoyben]

Insignificant compared to the human cost of the war of course, but our Chairman at the time, Tony Wood, made his fortune in Rwandan coffee plantations. They were burned to the ground and all his workers massacred. He lost his income, we went bankrupt and finished bottom of the table with a youth team (sounds familiar). That’s when the whole John Sitton/Club For A Fiver debacle happened. And then Bullshit Barry Hearn, who took around a decade to work out how to run a football club, arrived. Happy times.

Ah yes, I remember Tony Wood being portrayed as absolutely desperate to sell the club in that infamous documentary!

 

[Back in the DHSS]

Insignificant compared to the human cost of the war of course, but our Chairman at the time, Tony Wood, made his fortune in Rwandan coffee plantations. They were burned to the ground and all his workers massacred. He lost his income, we went bankrupt and finished bottom of the table with a youth team (sounds familiar). That’s when the whole John Sitton/Club For A Fiver debacle happened. And then Bullshit Barry Hearn, who took around a decade to work out how to run a football club, arrived. Happy times.

I actually met Tony Wood once, in his role as a British Consul official for Rwanda in Kigali back in February 1991. A friend of mine had run into financial problems whilst visiting and Tony's assistance proved invaluable. Remarkable man really because the Rebels had just crossed over the border from Uganda and shelled the northern town of Ruhengeri, i saw with what looked like the French foreign legion securing Kigali airport. The country was in mayhem, no one knew what was happening. Foreigners were being rounded up suspected of being mercenaries. Absolute chaos ensued.

 

[E10rifle]

Ah yes, I remember Tony Wood being portrayed as absolutely desperate to sell the club in that infamous documentary!

Yeah, poor guy. He was a Walthamstow boy who ran the club with his heart rather than his head, but he did far more good than bad. Really put the community at the centre of the club; reintroduced Leyton to our name, reinvigorated our formerly-famed youth team (Chris Bart-Williams, Adrian Whitbread and Darren Purse probably the best kids to come through for 15 years or more), doubled attendances and got us promoted after our previous financial ruin/Div 4 disaster. Losing everything broke him. Died in 2002.

 

[E10rifle]

I actually met Tony Wood once, in his role as a British Consul official for Rwanda in Kigali back in February 1991. A friend of mine had run into financial problems whilst visiting and Tony's assistance proved invaluable. Remarkable man really because the Rebels had just crossed over the border from Uganda and shelled the northern town of Ruhengeri, i saw with what looked like the French foreign legion securing Kigali airport. The country was in mayhem, no one knew what was happening. Foreigners were being rounded up suspected of being mercenaries. Absolute chaos ensued.

Never had the pleasure, but by all accounts he was an absolute gent of the highest order.

 

[RLC]

Oxford and Luton are probably the 2 biggest to have ever played down here.

God I love a good debate on the Natural Order.

I think Luton are by far the biggest club to have played at this level. They spent two decades in the top tier including a number of top half finishes and appeared in three major finals, winning one of them.

I would put Oxford in the second bracket with us. Their time at the top level was very brief and they did not even enter the League until the early 1960s. Likewise, I think people imagine Bristol Rovers are a big club purely because they have a big city in their title. They have hung around the third tier on modest gates for most of their history.

These notions of how 'big' a club is are strange and fluid though. I still think of Wigan as Northern Premier League upstarts, even if they have won the FA Cup.

 

[Master D]

The ultimate study of the Natural Order was on here a few years ago. It was the complete and comprehensive guide of every club based on their historical position in the pyramid, average attendances and honours.

Someone must have it somewhere. Or was it on TFF.....

 

[GTFCfish]

I would put Oxford in the second bracket with us. Their time at the top level was very brief and they did not even enter the League until the early 1960s. Likewise, I think people imagine Bristol Rovers are a big club purely because they have a big city in their title. They have hung around the third tier on modest gates for most of their history.

These notions of how 'big' a club is are strange and fluid though. I still think of Wigan as Northern Premier League upstarts, even if they have won the FA Cup.

I do get your logic with this but we've spent 12 years in the top flight and 61 seasons (if I've counted it right) in the second tier, much more than Oxford yet we are nowhere near as big a club as them.

 

[Luke Imp]

The ultimate study of the Natural Order was on here a few years ago. It was the complete and comprehensive guide of every club based on their historical position in the pyramid, average attendances and honours.

Someone must have it somewhere. Or was it on TFF.....

I can't find it, but search results for 'natural order' basically brings up only your posts.

 

[Master D]

I can't find it, but search results for 'natural order' basically brings up only your posts.

You do remember it though....

 

[Glenn Tamplin]

Who’s the biggest club in this league?

1. Billericay
2. Tranmere
3. Orient
.
.
.
.
235234. Dagenham & Redbridge

Tossers