Salisbury City FC. Ok, hands up if you'd ever heard of them two or three years ago. Not many of you, other than those that live in the city. In fact, only about three or four hundred of the locals seemed to have heard about the club. At least, that was how many bothered to go to watch them.
It's all very different now. Under the careful and astute management of Nick Holmes and Tommy Widdrington the club finds itself, after two successive promotions, in the unchartered territory of the Blue Square Premier (the Conference to you and me.)
They're not just surviving in the big league, they are sitting comfortably in mid table, and looking up with some ambition at the play-off places following a run of seven unbeaten games.
The club is on the rise in spectacular style. Home crowds average over 1500 now, and following the promotions and great FA Trophy runs and an FA Cup adventure last year only ended by Nottingham Forest in a replay, the club is establishing itself on the footballing map.
The first team are achieving great things as a mixture of part-time and full-time players. The young reserve side under the stewardship of John Robson and Salisbury legend Simon Browne, have a 100% record so far this season, and are ensuring that the future looks bright.
The youth set up at the club is developing nicely under Neil Benson, and more and more players will be produced from within as time goes on.
With all the excitement of the development of the club it is a great place to be at this time. The club is friendly and approachable and the fans are so happy to be where they are that they are just enjoying the ride.
With the increase in crowds has come things like more policing and segregation. That is the one shame about moving away from the lower reaches of the game. The friendly banter between sets of real fans, seems to be lacking as you get higher in the football pyramid.
So what is so great about watching a game at The Ray Mac? Well, firstly the standard of football is good. Secondly you can stand up to watch. Thirdly it is only £10 to get in. Fourthly the players give absolutely everything to the cause. There are no prima donnas at this level. Fifthly, and lastly, it is a joy to see a club come from nowhere and threaten to challenge the big boys.
Premier League football is exciting, but it is not something many of us can relate to. It costs a fortune to watch, and you have to sit down during the game. Watching Salisbury play at the Ray Mac takes me back to my time as a youngster watching Watford at Vicarage Road. It takes me back to a time when I fell in love with the game. It is real football.
Graham Fisher News, views and observations about the beautiful game.http://viewsofafan.blogspot.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Graham_Fisher
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