When times are hard

FGR whilst much maligned had been in the 5th tier for a long time so the law of averages suggested one year they probably would make League 2. The investment they have had is out of sync to the size of the Club most probably but they seem to think they can build up the fanbase over time? Like mentioned above I would sooner have the traditional Clubs back on the basis it`s still raw how much it hurt being non league for us. Those Pools/Tranmere fans who came on here taking the pish though trying to lord it over us and calling us tinpot I reckon they deserve a good few more years suffering

Quoted from Maringer

The moneybags aspect of things and recent crappy treatment of opposition fans makes them unlikeable but I prefer to think that's pretty much all down to Vince who strikes me as being an almighty helmet.

Think I met him at the bar in a pub in Stroud once. I thought he was a helmet, also thought he was a tramp and needed a wash. I'd had a few mind, it may have been a tramp who needed a wash.

Quoted from ginnywings

I don't wish ill will on any team particularly, but someone has to get relegated and we've done our stint. Yes, it's hard to see old established clubs like the ones mentioned struggling in the lower reaches but that's what a league system is all about. They were not good enough to stay in the league and the Crawley's and FGR's of this world were good RICH enough to replace them. We may think it goes against the established order, but that's the way it goes.

Got that one for you mate

Quoted from Jarmo.Is.God

Got that one for you mate

Many clubs have bought their way to success over the years. It's not a new thing and i think the animosity we have toward FGR is for different reasons. Before we dropped into non league, i knew nothing about it and the teams it contained.

Quoted from ginnywings

Many clubs have bought their way to success over the years. It's not a new thing and i think the animosity we have toward FGR is for different reasons. Before we dropped into non league, i knew nothing about it and the teams it contained.

I really don`t want FGR on our wavelength for a rival

I’m with grimrob on this one, as much as I’d hate to go back down to that level, it only takes a couple more established league clubs to drop down there and the likes of Darlington, York and Stockport to get promoted and you’ve got one hell of a league! I think it should be made a full time league and become the fifth tier of the football league.

Every traditional or established club was new once.

For me it’s not the history of a club I have issues with, it’s how welcoming or not they make us, and how they  play their football.  Apart from MK Dons of course.

Every traditional or established club was new once.

For me it’s not the history of a club I have issues with, it’s how welcoming or not they make us, and how they  play their football.  Apart from MK Dons of course.

Quoted from jaygy

I’m with grimrob on this one, as much as I’d hate to go back down to that level, it only takes a couple more established league clubs to drop down there and the likes of Darlington, York and Stockport to get promoted and you’ve got one hell of a league! I think it should be made a full time league and become the fifth tier of the football league.

If only it was that easy to become full-time. Sadly, unless you’ve got a financial backer ploughing millions into the club, you won’t go full-time.

Look at Stockport, crowds in excess of 3k per week and still can’t afford to go FT. Shame to see so many ‘traditional’ clubs fall down the pecking order but that’s football. As I’ve said for the last 5/6 seasons, we will be back somehow. Don’t know when, don’t know how. But we will.

Hopefully pass Hartlepool on their way down.

Quoted from Maringer

I don't think you can claim FGR aren't a 'proper' club as they were members of the Conference for donkey's years before Vince took them on as his vanity project.

The moneybags aspect of things and recent crappy treatment of opposition fans makes them unlikeable but I prefer to think that's pretty much all down to Vince who strikes me as being an almighty helmet.

Indeed. They had a good few seasons before the pony-tailed one took over. And they are a long-standing club going back to the 19th century.

However, I disagree with Mickey's comment that it might have been a matter of time before they were promoted to the League. They were perennial bottom feeders before Dale and only survived in latter years through other clubs being penalised for falling foul of financial regulations.