What do Histon fans want next season ?

[berbatov]

With the likelihood of playing SL South football next season what are people's expectations of Histon FC ? I enjoy watching the stutes. And look forward to match days. I have been thoroughly entertained by the early season form with Jordan and Sam leading the charge but then , as seems usual, the wheels start to come off. First the groundsman doesn't get paid , followed by the Academy coach and the writing is on the wall. Even with the Nicholson transfer money ( surely 20 grand?) the club have to ask for senior players to be loyal only a few weeks later. Some stay and some go. Can you blame the players who go for some wages you would expect at this level? It's the same story most seasons and it's time the hard working Directors of Histon FC got their sums right and gave the manager and players a chance to build something. To keep relying on Academy players is possibly the only way and if so at least the club will find its level. All I want is to see a team similar to the one that starts the season finish it. At least everyone knows where they stand and the football side of the club is not undermined. Whatever I will be there next season as the GW is a great place to watch football.

[cliveh]

Yes, agree totally with berbatov. Our fate is sealed unless there is a reprieve of some sort at the season's end.
As I've said before, relegation is an unwanted enemy, but may not necessarily be such a bad thing, just as long as there is a determination to get back up ASAP.
This CAN be done with the youngsters, and that will be the way forward, though some new financial blood into the club wouldn't go amiss.
Winning matches will bring in more fans I reckon. Just look at St Ives. About the only successful local non league club currently, and getting better gates than Histon, St Neots, and City. The football folk of St Ives are clearly not interested in watching SLP football until their own team makes it.
So, I hope there is a plan afoot for next season. One thing for sure is that many of the grounds in that lower Division are atrocious, and we must not remain at that level for longer than is necessary.
Looking forward to Merthyr on Saturday. Us fans might have learned quite a lot by 5pm.
COYS

[hfc08stutes]

Agree, Can I add not training for 6+ weeks also was a result of miss calculating the funds we had. Being realistic with the budget would be a first, even if it means not having one at all. It's far more disruptive to start the season with a "better" team which isn't sustainable, only to see them drop out one by one than to start with a team made up of youth players, loanees and players playing for free who are more likely to stay on. I tiny run in a cup would be nice as well, we've done our best to thingy both the FA comps up which has deprived the club of an extra bob or two. Not for one minute saying we should rely on them, but going 2 or3 rounds would be nice for a change.

We're going to have to be so clever with recruitment next season, if both glees and rogan stay on then I think they should definitely be a massive part of this process, utilising all our contacts will be key and bringing in players who are here for the right reasons and have a good attitude is important too. If we do go down we have to somehow ensure that we don't go into freefall. Hopefully, money isn't so much of a factor for success in the step below and who knows, as mad as it sounds it could turn out to be a good thing? Anyway we're not down yet, 3 points Saturday and we'll be making City nervous. COYS

[histonfan01]

Agree with posts above.
Here is my wish list to Santa!
I want to be able to watch the same team at the beginning and the end of the season.
I don't want to read in the local rag that we are in financial difficulty several times throughout the season.
I want to see a team able to compete and play with confidence.
I want to continue to see players develop
I want more communication from the club. Who's signed, who's left, what the financial situation is etc.
Not too much to ask I don't think!!
Whatever happens and wherever we end up I hope the majority of supporters watching now continue next season. I sure will be!

[stevec]

I have to agree with what has already been said cos it covers pretty much what everything fan wants. Cannot be easy for anyone to put a budget together, but as someone said if its nothing then that's what it is. This football club can still attract good young players and develop them because we have lots of recent history of doing just that. At the next level down the academy and under 21 sides will be much closer playing wise to the first team and we have seen in recent seasons these young players can step up so what an opportunity! Agreed gates may be down because of fewer visiting supporters but may well go up if we can get a few wins together. Will be there whatever.

[cliveh]

I liken the Histon FC situation to that of several other clubs who have risen, then fallen within the non league structure.
I have a particular affection for Farsley Celtic of the NPL North, the equivalent of the SL South, where the Stutes will be next season, unless a miracle occurs.
My son, whilst at Leeds University had three seasons at Farsley, at the beginning of their rise up the pyramid 12 or 13 years ago. Anyone remember them coming to Bridge Road in the FA Trophy around that time? Anyway, they reached the Conference Premier, though their stay was only one season. They overspent drastically and relegation followed further relegation and then administration. They re-emerged in the NCE league, the equivalent of the ECL. They are now back in the NPL North, which appears to be their level. They are surrounded by other non league clubs, and only 5 miles from Leeds. It is a super football club still, with a lovely ground. As I said, very similar to Histon FC. Their gates average around 150.
Relegation is not the end of the world. What the Stutes have is a a great stadium in a lovely setting, and excellent facilities. Plus of course,the excellent Academy, and some really good people behind the scenes and on the terraces.
So I for one will look forward to SL South football next season.

[manchesterstute]

Have we been told we would be in the South division? There would be much better fixtures if we were put in the Central division with several potential local derbies.

[cliveh]

Quite correct ms. My mistake. Central it should be

[ewstute]

Another defeat today and again the team had a lead but have thrown it away to lose 3-2, poor. Twice that's happened recently, against Hitchin and now today against Bedworth in a must win game. It's almost like it's ok to get relegated.

My thoughts for next season.

I think the whole club needs a bit of a reboot and restart.

The Board have brought in new people which is a good start. Having the women's team come over from Shelford is good and the men and women's team can work together hopefully. If the pitch is turned into a 3G then excellent, can be a money maker and cost saver.

Does Fallon even want to be manager?? He looks bored and uninterested in games, except once away at City. He quit Soham because he'd had enough and wanted a break. Next season the budget is probably going to be tiny so he won't be able to make any major signings, or he could do a Brian Page and waste the budget early on (as reported at the Fans Forum). The football at times has been reminiscent of Page's reign, smashing the ball forward and hoping for a flick on from Josh that hardly ever works. Last week against Merthyr in the second half against the wind it kept happening and shockingly we kept giving the ball away. Defensively the team have not improved despite it clearly being a huge weakness of the team, but to be fair when the team keep gifting the opposition the ball they will have to defend a lot so have more chance to concede. A few glimpses of promise have been negated by the majority of performances by the team.

Most of the contracted players will leave or have left. In the bar last week there was a rumour that Rogan might stay, but nobody else. So a whole new squad will need to be formed. Many of the youngsters who have played this season have done well, so you'd expect them to play a major role next season. The problem is that the club will have no pulling power next season and the youngsters can be picked up by other clubs as soon as they show any promise because there are other local teams in a higher division. Plus, will the club still be able to recruit players of the same calibre? Probably not as they'll prefer to go elsewhere to another club in the league above, no matter the fact that Histon is the club in the area with the record of giving youngsters a chance, developing them and then the player moving on. It's going to put a lot of pressure on the Youth Teams to develop players as they have in the past. It's blatantly obvious the youngsters aren't big, so stop sodding smashing the ball forward, get the ball on the deck and let the players show their technical ability!!!!!!! They can all clearly pass and dribble the ball well, so let them blooming well do it instead of having them smash the ball forward and have to compete in the air against much larger and experienced players. It's brainless and pointless. It also clearly hasn't worked for the past few seasons. That's why any and all of those in the management and coaching side who have been involved in advocating it should be moved on to. New ideas and new approach needed.

[ewstute]

And City drew, so we are relegated. What an awful end to what has been the best day of the year weather wise.

Get the reboot of the club started now and get things sorted out early!!!!

[histonne]

Grim day
If we think that getting out off the Southern Central will be easy then we are living in cloud cuckoo land.
Players at that level still command £100+ a week, if we can't pay players now where are we going to get the money from in the future???
Unless there is some investment from somewhere I fear for the future

[hfc08stutes]

Oh well folks, it was going to happen sooner rather than later. Went from an exciting pre-season to gradual disaster. Poor budgeting has put us to the sword really but there we go, nothing new. Now is the time to start planning, we know our fate, therefore we should already be estimating what we'll get coming through the gate a week, (150 season ticket holders/paying fans max I'd say) any more is a bonus. We need to reach out to potential sponsors and only add their money to the budget when it physically sits in our bank account, see which of the youngsters from the squad will stay on, (I think it would be silly if any of them left but it's their choice) and finally when the season is over we'll have to scour the region and see if we can find any gems from the lower leagues. We'll have sod all money to play with next season so fall, glees, rogan if he's still with us and any of the board will have to rinse their contacts and find us players that are up for the challenge! The sooner we are prepared the better.

[stevec]

Yes I watched today as we turned a lead into a loss which on balance was probably a fair result because Bedworth did create more chances, most of which they were unable to convert. We missed a penalty and made two mistakes which they scored from, Dan changed things in the second half which gave us the lead, great skill from Christian to give Josh a decent chance which he took well for our second.

I agree that having a decent passing game would help us but I don't think its that simple though, players have to be strong whatever their size, they have to read the game and know when to hook the ball out and when to pass, they have to know how to mark. They have to be able to win the ball in the air from goal kicks and dead ball situations (which we were unable to do today). Most of the teams we have played this season have used a combination of many things to win games against us and I cannot remember one that only played a passing game alone to beat us. Yes at crucial times they passed accurately and with skill to create chances which they took and their pass completion rate was higher than ours but other factors played a part.

I hope Steve Fallon, Rogan, Dan and the others all stay because at the next level down I think we could have a competitive season

[ewstute]

"They have to be able to win the ball in the air from goal kicks" - Why not pass the ball out or throw it out? Not saying for it to be anything like Barcelona or Arsenal, but it's just common sense.

Defensively we aren't great, we all know that. So instead of lumping the ball forward for anyone to chase or try to flick on and lose possession, why not keep the sodding ball and let the lads use their speed and skill, that's what youngsters offer you. I'm sorry, but people need to open their eyes and realise that no matter who has played for us the past few seasons, the team have played the same way and it hasn't worked. We don't create much doing it and actually end up having to defend for the majority of games as a result. I don't know why there has been a fascination with playing the style we have the past few seasons, but whoever has encouraged and made the players do it has a lot to answer for and should be held accountable. That's part of the reason we are where we are. Complete clear out needed!

I am fed up and angry seeing us go down and down, struggle and struggle. We all loved the years getting to the Conference and being there, the rot has set in and it needs to be rooted out and removed as soon as possible!!

[histonfan01]

"Complete clear out needed"
Do you think before you post ewstute?
Relegation should not have come as a shock to anyone. With the current situation at Histon we simply aren't good enough for the league we are currently in.
Great commitment shown (as in previous seasons) by the players who have stayed to see out the season. It's been very evident this season there are far to many turncoat players and management in non league football.
Interesting things look like they are coming our way so I for one will continue with my love affair with Histon FC