Bit of an Anticlimax

[Alan W (GNFC)]

Todays game was certainly that - we didnt really get going until Ben appeared in place of Chris Moore, when he seemed to liven things up. Certainly it was his battling that set up Walshie for his cross that Pinno headed home.

 

And if anyone deserved a goal, it was Pinno, who worked his socks off throughout, and was definitely my Fleet man of the match.

 

Still, I guess the team are allowed one off day right at the end of an ultimately successful season, and after all, we didnt lose and extended the unbeaten run to 12, and only 2 defeats in our last 19.

 

Shame that we didnt get the 3 points to finish ahead of Accrington though.

 

Most disappointed fans today must have been the 8000+ that turned up at Exeter hoping to cheer them into the play offs - they won, but failed to get to the playoffs as Aldershot drew and Barnet won. Perhaps some come uppance for the hassle they gave other Conference clubs this year.

[Slartibartfast]

Today wasnt the best performance but at least we kept the unbeaten record going, lets hope it will continue at the start of next season.

Also sad to hear that Rob Owen wont be around next year still good luck to him and hopefully he will come back after his gap year.

 

[Bill Kent]

1400+ turned up today expecting a few fireworks. what happened? We were fortunate to draw. Bringing the ball under control was Ok, but the passing was abysmal in most cases. The performance today of Northwich Victoria belies their position. It's a shame to see them drop.

 

C'mon Fleet. Get it together for next season. I hope Lee Protheroe adds his finesse to our fortunes next season,(Especialy against Canvey) which could take us into the 3rd Division. For goodness Fleet sake don't go fulltime yet until our gates increase,it has been tried in past seasons and failed to huge cost. On todays performance we may lose say 2 to 300 punters at the start of next season

[Brian A]

Anti climax would have been my phrase also but only because I was hoping for the win. I enjoyed the game. Like the season there were some memorable moments, both Fleet goals were well executed and that second half run of Drury's deserved a great finish (why do player's try and power a shot? A Micky Cotter pass into the net is the answer).

I thought the ref was excellent today.

It has been a long and enjoyable season.

Well done one and all at the club.

[meldrew]

Good news that Andy is going full time next year,it was nice to see all the players in good spirits after the game and congratulations to Matt Lee,Chris Moore and Andy on their awards.Thanks to everyone of the staff and players for a great season!All the best for Northwich for next season,their supporters were top dollar today!

[Fleet til i die]

Couldn't make the game today due to going up to old trafford, what has happened with rob owen?

[jc]

Apparently he announced when signing autographs at the end of the game that he is going travelling for a year to take a break from football, but hopes to be back with us when he returns.

[Hempstead Gaz]

I have to agree the passing today , especially from midfield was pretty poor. I put it down to a degree of tired ness after a long season and two long distance away games recently.

HOWEVER, we do take a lot of plus points from the season.

Andy Ford and Ade Pennock. Have we ever had a better managerial partnership?

Brian Kilcullan, knows what's best for the club, but will only spend it if the cash is there.

Team spirit. Long may those team huddles continue, I have never seen a Fleet side pull together like this one.

True balance in the squad. This gives the manager lots of options for suspended, injured or out of form players. (Remember the days when Portway or Cotter were injured we wouldn't have a striker in the club)

Gladwish. Like him or loath him, he is rich, and has given us a lot of cash.

Sky TV. Our 2 hours of fame. We didn't do ourselves justice, but hey, we WERE famous!

 

The above must be tempered with a couple of negatives, which hopefully won't be repeated next year.

Starting a season with an untried, new team.

Average attendaces down on last season, in spite our our best league position for 24 years.

The hole in the roof.

The queues at the burger bar and tea bar.

The grumpy old gits who stand in front of the club shop.

If they don't like what they see, why don't they stay away.

Paul Gibbs. May have cost us a fortune.

 

I shall now start saving for my season ticket, and look forward to some good pre season freindlies.

 

My sincere thanks to every person involved with the playing and running of the Fleet this year. I cannot think of a more enjoyable season ever, and some of the football witnessed has been of the highest order.

 

[Hempstead Gaz]

 

Quote:

Good news that Andy is going full time next year,it was nice to see all the players in good spirits after the game and congratulations to Matt Lee,Chris Moore and Andy on their awards.Thanks to everyone of the staff and players for a great season!All the best for Northwich for next season,their supporters were top dollar today!

I heard Chris got the award for player of the year. Well deserved too. But what were the awards Matt and Andy got?

 

[Alan W (GNFC)]

Andy is going full time next year?? Presumably this was also announced at the awards after the game??

[Red Neck]

Northwich Victoria seem to be our 'bogey' team. No matter how well we've been playing or how far down the table they are, they always put on a good performance against us. We should of annihilated them, but we couldn't. Without a doubt this game was an end of season match. Tired bodies and tired minds, looking forward to the summer break with little to play for. Thankfully, we won't have to play them next season.

[John@TheFleet]

Quote:

Alan W (GNFC) said:
Andy is going full time next year?? Presumably this was also announced at the awards after the game??

Yep, he announced it after his achievement award speach, reckoned he was 1 or 2 days away from signing a full-time contract.

[chilled out entertainer]

Didnt hear the awards because i was standing more than 3 feet away. Come on jessica, deep breath and open those lungs! <img src="/images/graemlins/megaphon.gif" alt="" />

 

Slightly disappointing game, but hey, I think we have our fair share of blinders this year, so one disappointment doesnt matter i guess.

 

What a great atmosphere before and after the game though. The players seemed really happy to be part of this club, long may it continue. Just out of interest was the guy walking around with the mousse his translator? Or a new signing maybe?

 

Thank you fleet players/management/fans for such an enjoyable season.

Can't believe I have to wait so long for the next game!

[Hempstead Gaz]

Good call , squawk.

At the end of the day, we look at the season as a whole and we must all be absolutly delighted with finishing 11th and unbeaten in 12 games.

With most of the squad now signed for next year things are looking promising for a top ten finish.

Let us not get carried away with talks of play offs next season, though.

a) We are still only part time.

We haven't got a big enough fan base.

c) Our ground needs a lot of work doing to it.

 

Talking of ground repairs, I understand the ground improvement grants for newly promoted clubs are only extant for 3 years.

Does this mean that if we don't apply for it/spend it next season we lose the grant to another, newly promoted club.

I should hate for that rich fat slug at C****y to apply for a grant and get it rather than us.

[jc]

Quote:

meldrew said:All the best for Northwich for next season,their supporters were top dollar today!

They certainly were - and it was nice to see an opposition team's fans praising us for once:

"Just to say I have visited every ground during our years in the Conference and the welcome and hospitality we received at Gravesend yesterday has never been bettered . Good luck for next season ."
(From the Northwich message board)

Not a great display from us today - often there were too many ambitious shots from distance and complicated flicks when it would have been better to keep things simple. Having said that, 11th is a fantastic finish after such a dreadful start to the season, and it was nice to be able to watch a football match in the sunshine in a relaxed frame of mind - unlike the end to last season.

I have to agree with Alan W - Pinnock was my man of the match too, and Ben certainly livened things up when he came on. Also, a special mention for Roy - to be our top scorer for the season in such a short space of time shows what a key player he is likely to be for us next season.

P.S. Best wishes to Rob Owen for his year away from football - the fact that he is one of our longest serving current players despite often being in and out of the team is testament to his commitment to the cause. Well done Rob!

[UP FLEET]

Yes squarwks it was his translator.

[Wobbly Wayne rides again]

Quote:

Also sad to hear that Rob Owen wont be around next year still good luck to him and hopefully he will come back after his gap year.

 

Are the rumours that he and Perks are eloping true ?

[FourFourTwo]

Perkins, Owen, Walshe - as I said in another thread - looks like Andy has a fair bit to do in the summer

[jc]

More praise from the Northwich boys - one has described Stonebridge Road as "a lovely little old style ground". It's great that, rather than taking the mick about the hole in the roof like all other Conference fans do, they accentuate the positives!

[Blinkjim]

have too say that the northwich fans seems like a nice bunch, its a shame that they are going down when, teams like shrewsbury (i was told were quite hostile) are staying