Post by hendo on May 26, 2018 8:35:54 GMT
After years of comfortable stagnation, like Icarus, we soared quickly and flew too close to the sun.
Having risen way above a position a club of Godalming’s size could sustain, we have had our feathers badly burned and have since tumbled earthwards unchecked.
Success helped and hurt us.
The ascent was exciting and intoxicating but when it faltered, ultimately it lost us the people that got us to those giddy heights. Consequent desperate attempts at rebuilding to halt the inexorable slide were predictable and ultimately destructive as each hastily applied Band-Aid was never going to be able to cover the gaping wound.
But this is where it stops.
We can, and will, recover by starting again properly.
Slowly this time.
With an eye only for the future, we can build a new team of fresh faces and not just one made up of old mates, itinerant mercenaries and discarded players who couldn’t hack it elsewhere.
A 17-year-old lad from Chelsea Academy I introduced to the club at the start of last season was considered ‘too young and slight’ by the passing management and so rejected. Less than a year later he has been signed full time for Colorado Rapids in the MLS.
We can’t afford to make mistakes like that.
I’m with TG and so many other supporters. At this level we now can put our trust in youth and, that way, build consistency, loyalty, trust and an unbreakable team spirit both on and off the pitch.
We have the largest travelling fanbase in the league and we must be patient and make the players and staff feel appreciated.
Let them grow and flourish with our support until eventually they, and the club, are ready to step up again as a strong proud unified team that can sustain the rise.
If that is what we actually do, then I would like to be part of that New Godalming.
Having risen way above a position a club of Godalming’s size could sustain, we have had our feathers badly burned and have since tumbled earthwards unchecked.
Success helped and hurt us.
The ascent was exciting and intoxicating but when it faltered, ultimately it lost us the people that got us to those giddy heights. Consequent desperate attempts at rebuilding to halt the inexorable slide were predictable and ultimately destructive as each hastily applied Band-Aid was never going to be able to cover the gaping wound.
But this is where it stops.
We can, and will, recover by starting again properly.
Slowly this time.
With an eye only for the future, we can build a new team of fresh faces and not just one made up of old mates, itinerant mercenaries and discarded players who couldn’t hack it elsewhere.
A 17-year-old lad from Chelsea Academy I introduced to the club at the start of last season was considered ‘too young and slight’ by the passing management and so rejected. Less than a year later he has been signed full time for Colorado Rapids in the MLS.
We can’t afford to make mistakes like that.
I’m with TG and so many other supporters. At this level we now can put our trust in youth and, that way, build consistency, loyalty, trust and an unbreakable team spirit both on and off the pitch.
We have the largest travelling fanbase in the league and we must be patient and make the players and staff feel appreciated.
Let them grow and flourish with our support until eventually they, and the club, are ready to step up again as a strong proud unified team that can sustain the rise.
If that is what we actually do, then I would like to be part of that New Godalming.
