Chronicle Article 1 September 2000

After a year in the media spotlight, sometimes welcome, sometimes not, Chester City has now probably faded from national attention. Last week the club declined to take part in Radio 5 live's Saturday football programme to reflect on life as a Conference team. It was subsequently felt that supporters could constructively contribute very little in isolation on live radio (before the Dover game) and the item was abandoned.

The Sheffield Wednesday chairman had finance foremost in his mind. when questioned this week on 5 live about the impact of relegation from the Premier League. Despite being over £12m in debt he believed that most fans were only concerned about points, and not pounds. At Wednesday, first division football has meant commercial revenue and attractive ticket prices have assumed greater importance. Likewise, it is good to see that inventive schemes are now being introduced at the Deva, enabling savings on the matchday prices.

Many supporters are acutely aware of the importance of good financial management to any club's viability. For those who have an interest in how money comes in (and goes out) and how and why clubs are bought and sold, "The Football Business" by David Conn makes compulsive reading. Although focused on the Premiership, a section on new rivals, Northwich Victoria, with the oldest ground in the world, (and a welder called Eddie Bishop in midfield), puts the football business into perspective. When school and local football come under scrutiny the future looks bleak; reasons why the ISA financially support Football in the Community, and Chester City Ladies, Girls, and ISA football teams.

At Tuesday's ISA meeting, many members rightly wanted the ISA to throw visible support behind Graham Barrow and the team, and numerous suggestions were made as to how this might be achieved. Richard Wightman also spoke about his formation of a Disabled Supporters Association. These items will receive our full attention, as will social activities and a more frequent Newsletter. Now is the time to move purposefully forward.

The fans who moved purposefully to Boston will probably know that a fixture clash with the local Bingo Hall was responsible for the game not being played on Bank Holiday Monday. Apparently the two venues share the same owner and car park. The Conference is indeed a League apart, but nonetheless we will all strive to be apart from it.

Les Smith ISA committee

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