Chronicle Article 8 September 2000

It's Goals that Count

"No one is fanatically shouting that the sun is going to rise tomorrow. They know it's going to rise tomorrow. When people are fanatically dedicated to political or religious faiths, or any other kind of dogmas or goals, it's always because these dogmas or goals are in doubt."*

This is doubly applicable to football clubs and their fans. Goals are certainly in doubt and crowd response is often wholly dependent on them. Conversely, if we could reproduce the Great Escape atmosphere regularly, with surround sound and flags flying, it might even be worth the odd goal. Vocal support for 90 minutes is difficult to sustain and despite the efforts of the terrace cheerleaders there are quiet periods when isolated shouts from around the Deva are clearly audible. Whether players or manager hears them is debatable, but criticism of Graham Barrow during Saturday's defeat by Southport registered with many supporters and the media.

The result was disappointing and no doubt Graham and the players were also less than pleased. Criticism comes with the territory and managers know it. However such early flak is unhelpful and unwarranted, considering that he has built a (depleted) squad from limited resources and that we have only conceded a penalty since losing to Rushden, the overwhelming favourites. City cannot always produce a "Doncaster performance", nor do we have a divine right to beat part-timers. Football isn't like that. Some weeks we will play badly and lose, some very badly yet win. Performances should be judged over a longer term and several player permutations may yet need to be tried.

City quickly got back to winning ways at Morecambe, and despite two or three scares, Wayne Brown had to deal with just one decent shot on target. Despite missing chances, we scored two excellent goals, Woodsy's looking like a well-practised set-piece routine.

The ISA's goals haven't changed but we are stepping up social and community activities. Members will receive news, views and plans for the future in the latest edition of the Independents. We are already implementing ideas submitted at the last members meeting and the first Quiz Night has now been fixed. However, if you can name City's record goal scorer, send us your answer to arrive no later than Thursday 15th and you could win a pair of tickets for next Saturdays home game vs Hayes.

*Robert T Pirsig, Zen and the Art of Motor Cycle Maintenance

Les Smith ISA Press Officer

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