Congratulations malcxscfc.

[Sultan of Cannock- SRFC]

What can i say? Today was a meeting of two clubs heading in opposite directions at a rapid rate, one that's runby people who know what they're doing, building solidly and sustainably, against one sinking into a crumbling mess of concrete and mecchano.

Matt Tubbs gave one of the best performances by a striker at Marston Road this season. and this could have been even more embarrasing. I'm certainly not looking forward to next week, when no doubt i will have to bend the knee to the Tamworth Tinpotters when they turf us out of the Trophy.

Remember you said on another thread that you would be at Stafford on FA Cup day but would keep an eye on the Hawks unless you were losing and i replied "You won't be losing..trust me"?

My analysis was totally spot on! However, no matter how much your head grasps the reality, the heart still has it's hopes and this was one game where a little part of me thought that this might, just might, have been one where we came away with something.

We go into each game at Stafford now, knowing, realistically, that the odds are that we we lose. Apart from a few games, such as when we've drawn 1-1 with Cambridge (twice) and run a couple of the big boys close it's been defeat after defeat and no league win at home for almost a year now.

We are now totally rock bottom. I've been following Stafford since 1971 and seen some pretty poor times mixed with the good but cannot remember ever feeling as utterly crushed and hopeless as this. Even when we plummeted down to the Southern Midland and the first game i took my son to was a 4-1 defeat at Blakenhall i didn't ever entertain the idea of giving up on the Rangers. Even then there still seemed to be some spark of life in the club, some hope for the future. Not now!

I don't think i can carry on any longer, either with this thread or this club.

Congratulations, malcx and all the best to SCFC.

[davetscfc]

Don't give up. We reached such a rock bottom that we were an administrative oversight away from not having a club at all.

Sad to read about how bad things have got for Stafford, as I found it one of the friendlier clubs I've been to in the BSP (shame we weren't allowed out to put some money over your bar at half time though). Even your 'yoof' dished out the banter with good humour.

[coops]

It's the bloody Conference, that's what it is. That league sucks the very life-blood out of any club that dares to think it is big enough to compete in it.

Like Stafford, us Tamuff fans have had bad times, we've had to endure away league trips to Bilston and GKN Sankey, but nothing compares to the soul-destroying hurt of losing every week in the bloody Conference.

Cheer up, we'll see younext week and then we'll renew our "friendly" rivalry in Conf North next season.

[malxscfc]

Cheers for your generous praise, Sultan, but be under no illusion that I deserve any! ;D

Your defence is truly awful, but the rest could be savaged salvaged, I reckon. Your strikeforce seems okay, even if we were daft enough to be still in the Dressing Room until minute 50.
As Dave says, we've had some turbulent times the past 6 years. Even when we were clearly rescued from financial oblivion, we were further tested in the Ryman by a brief period of threatened relegation.
About a year ago we fans talked about enjoying golden times - the best imaginable - but oddly enough I think they're currently improving still....

You met us a tad below par for the day, but on a superb run of form: 7 games unbeaten now.

If it can help at all, we were a far lesser team last year yet (albeit in Cups) beat Southport at home, and Kettering away (0-2), so we'd be the first to admit there's a considerable margin between Steps 1 and 2 in Non-League, so there's a very good chance you can do a Southport and be right back up there a year from now.
Promotion is so much more dramatic than relegation, so you're potentially in for a cracking season next year, so don't give up hope just yet.
Sure, I haven't a clue about what's going on off the pitch at yours - it doesn't help when you've barely had a Forum for some time either, but hopefully things will look right come August.

You've got a very tidy ground there, and all the makings to be a League contender with the right infrastructure, so just put this season down to experience, remain as one of the faithful, and look back on this year in future years as a learning experience!

We're currently on the proverbial crest, but we're realistic, and know it won't last forever.

Some of us almost look forward to our inevitable return to the Connie Sarf, to be honest! ;D (Assuming we don't drop 3 Leagues and never manage to return... )

You may not have come across Tubbsy before now, but we all love the cheeky little bastard. He's been at the forefront of our strikeforce ever since our renaissance. He scores plenty, but is so much more than just that. For the record he scored that winner last year which took us through the Play-Off final, typically!
He came through Bolton's Academy, and has been on trials at Millwall this week, but we won't be letting him go that easily!

Good luck against Tamworth. Since you're fated not to win at home, I'm hoping for a draw, than a win away. You know it can happen!