You Do The Dziekanowski

Yep! Still at the Mundys, would say a lot has probably changed since you last been there, but frustratingly probably not much has… Still plucking away though and the only way we can improve is by staying at this level and getting the odd large gate a season, whilst trying to improve the off the field. Next year looks to be even trickier again, Hartpury, Malmsbury could be play off challengers. Corsham will have a hefty budget again no doubt and then you have Highworth, Slimbridge, Mangos and either RWB/Cinderford on top of Roman Glass and Worcester Raiders (who could also have a budget).

Not really an exodus but a funny story from an away game at Brentford. Think we lost 3-2 or Drew 2-2. Mate went for a piss and missed our first goal, was too slow finishing a half time pint and missed our second goal. Same friend missed Jon Stead’s goal at home to Coventry just after half time and had to leave early and missed Bolasie and Woods goals at the death. (how bleak were those times? Old useless players and next to no excitement)

Was it ever a question? Some of the comments are funny, going on about 1982, which in reality is more embarrassing for them, as we’ve achieved more in 42 years than they have in all their years, even the years as a non league club. Also, I saw a few times this season, on Twitter, that their home games are near sell outs? Have they reduced their capacity? Because not one game has been close

My top 5 favourite grounds - Griffin Park (decent away allocation, perfect location coming from Bristol and plenty of pubs - Upton Park (loved the style of the ground) - St James Park (away end is crap, but the ground is brilliant) - City Ground (style of the ground, location, away allocation) - County Ground (as above) Facilities could probably be better in all bar St James Park, but from an atmosphere, day out perspective, those were the most enjoyable

Just in case anyone wanted an update, Worcester won the league that night and the crowd was smashed at 570 through the door. A fair few Thornbarians in attendance but mostly Worcester fans. Thornbury survived another season in the Hellenic Premier League, despite being the only team without a playing budget. Relying heavily on local lads playing for the club and youngsters from Cheltenham, Forest Green looking for men’s football. (Honestly, if you have a 16/17 year old at an academy, push them for a loan to step 4/5/6 football, they will progress much more than playing against other u18, then u21 players) I may have mentioned it before but as a club we are years behind the majority of clubs in the area in respect to facilities and probably crippled ourselves by getting consecutive promotions to the Hellenic Prem, where all our money was then spent on meeting the ground requirements instead of growing off the pitch Anyway, we’re slowly getting there and creating a ground/facilities that we can be proud of, but god it can be difficult!

A potential (and needed) little earner for Thornbury Town tonight in the Hellenic League. Worcester City come to Town with a point securing the title for them and also confirming safety for Thornbury. Rumours online that the record attendance of 394 is about to be smashed… If anyone’s at loose ends tonight and in the area, could be entertaining.

That was useless. Toothless up front. Piss poor in midfield and defence that is never far away from a sloppy goal going in. Every season it feels like we struggle to score and have a leaky defence… Arrrggghhh

We’ll be fine… Planning permission is in and there’s plenty of time to get the stand up Anyway, our new clubhouse didn’t hit any problems when building that (meant to open September, still not open yet…) so we shouldn’t have any issue with the stand. Trying to progress on Council/Trust land is proving to be extremely difficult. Our main issue is having a ground that was out of place in County League and then having a really good group of players who got us back to back promotions to the Hellenic Prem. We’re still 5 years behind (at least) off the pitch to even come close to some of the teams we face. As we’re, probably nationally as well, the only team without a playing budget at that level. We are punching way above our weight. Unless some local millionaire (Aaron B*nks lives nearby…) wants to plough money in, we’re constantly playing catch up. Anyway, lovely game tonight against Worcester City. Hopefully a big crowd down there!

@Harry I remember those chants being sang. Still sing the Little Mark little one to this day. (Even though I don’t think I’ve ever got over us selling Ayling and keeping Little….) Im all for new songs, but I hate the crap thats spouted at every ground. Surely we can just reuse some of our old ones. You do the Gardner-Hickman (doesn’t really suit him like it did Jacki) Cant remember who it was sung at now, but the Your dad’s alright, but your a **** chant was funny 1,2,3,4,5 if you want to stay alive

How is it fair when a team could be knocked out in round 1 because a lino doesn’t think a shot has gone over the line. But elsewhere in the same round, a team like Bolton win 1-0 thanks for goal line technology? How’s it fair if someone dives against Maidstone and gets a penalty and at Anfield, it wouldn’t get given. Imo, for the integrity of the competition the rules should be the same from Qualifying Rounds through to the final. That way, each team is off the same rule book so to speak. Appreciate the sentiment of if you have technology use it, but if it’s not the same for all participants then it’s not exactly fair. Going back to goal line technology argument. Maidstone vs Ipswich, at Ipswich a shot could narrowly go over the line and be given, the same shot at the other ground may not be due to the lack of technology. So a team could be out of the cup because of where they played and not because of the end result so to speak.

Singing a Song for Cameron Pring, As he’s running down the left wing, You’ll always be, City with me Just changed the words of the old Bobby Reid song. So if anyone was thinking, Christ, lyrical genius, you’re far from it

Without Twine, it’s pointless having a LW out there. Mehmeti offers very little and McRorie is naturally going to be deeper than a RW. If we were to start Wells/Cornick and Conway, I feel we’d offer more going forward. And that’s coming from someone who doesn’t rate either Wells or Cornick…. just seems like we’re very balanced at the back and midfield, with players complimenting each other well. Then up top, it’s all over the place really

Well within their right to do so. Any team that doesn’t look like scoring, imo, are crap. You can do all you want with the ball in two thirds and teams will allow you, knowing you can’t do anything in the one that matters

Crap championship sides at that… Birmingham, Preston, Millwall (H). Got to score against them!

I would argue the opposite and say throw ins are extremely important. The most common set piece you are likely to get in a match. If you can’t retain possession from a throw then the majority of the time you’ll be under pressure from the opposition. The long throw down the line is handy in certain scenarios, but again, most of the time it’s not utilising it in the best way. Even if you’re a physical side, you are throwing into a 50/50, win that 50/50, the second ball is also a 50/50. The good thing about throws (more so at grassroots) it drags opposition players over to that side of the pitch. If you can play to feet, there’s a real opportunity to counter on the opposite side. I’ve mentioned it before, Vyner and Tanner aren’t the only ones in our squads of the last 8 years who seem to struggle to pass/receive a ball. The amount of times we’ve murdered a wing back, zinging it at them knee high when a player is pressing them. Or over hitting a simple 10 yard pass straight of play. Or as you put, passing for the sake of passing, when a player is isolated with no options.

Also, they lost their heads when Conway took his eyes off the ball and Mavropanos took a tumble in the first game. Haven’t heard a peep about Ings doing the exact same to MOL last night…

I didn’t want to bite to any of the comments from West Ham fans, saying that we kicked them off the park over 2 legs, but…. 13 fouls a piece over the 2 games. Williams tackle, isn’t a leg breaker as he’s got the ball, made contact with Ings’ leg and his leg didn’t break… in fact he went on to play 75 more mins… if the ball wasn’t there, then yes by all means a red card. But that small fact and to be fair to the Hammers, it can be tricky to spot in a game of Football, but the ball was there and it was won, looks worse in slow mo, in real time he barely touches Ings. Hence how he continued with no Injury, for a leg breaking tackle…. Annnnd, TGH, a little lucky on this one as his hand is high, however, the whole scenario is bought on by Cresswell. He pulls TGH shirt, puts his forearm to TGH chest and as TGH is trying to get away, he swings an arm, could be rose tinted glasses, but I actually think he goes to swing it over Cresswells head to swing his body around and force Cresswell to let go. Because he caught him, lucky not to get a red but at the same time would have been harsh imo. The afters off the ball on our next attack were also instigated by Cresswell as he stares at TGH, goes to body check him and in turn gets sent on his arse.

I actually help out at Thornbury, so probably why I’m a little bitter about the money Our ‘problem’ is that we haven’t been able to grow sustainably, getting out the county and then into the Hellenic Prem fairly quickly, any money coming in was spent on ground improvements to let us play at the next level. Plans are in place to make the Mundys a better facility to host football as we are well aware the offering is sub par compared to those in the league below and some in the county. Relied heavily on a good influx of youth players around 10 years ago and managed to keep the majority of them despite interest from Southern League clubs. But the club are well aware that at some point we need to match the status quo so to speak. I appreciate Lashenko puts a lot of money in, as do other benefactors at the local clubs. My point was merely what are they getting back for it? Or is it just purely for the love of the club? which almost answers my point on there being a breaking point soon for a lot of clubs at those levels where players want more money and then the clubs go bust.

With Football league you get TV money to help with the shortfall and, especially nowadays, it seems that owners are only getting involved to effectively sponsor their other business. Which can make it profitable for them in that regard. But down at step 6-2 you’re ploughing money into something that is very unlikely going to yield a return. As the next level requires even more input with no other form of income other than Bar/Clubhouse, FA Cup/Vase/Trophy and Sponsorship and minimal gate receipts (compared to the money being spent on players wages) The fact that in Bristol, a team at Step 8, we’re paying is ludicrous and in my opinion the more teams that start the quicker there will be a collapse in the grassroots game.

Again, I could be wrong as it’s hearsay. The Cribbs ground is still owned by AXA/Sunlife so the function room profits don’t go to the football club and recently there has been a ‘fallout’ over this happening. Money from the bar going to the Football Club. I assume they wouldn’t mind a bit going back, but not the amounts that were going back. Manor Farm I appreciate is well ran off the pitch, however they still attract some well known players, who wouldn’t be turning up because they want to play on the river. Wouldn’t surprise me if Clubs at that level had a weekly budget of £5k. Most players on £100-£200 a game with 2 games a week most weeks. That’s a lot of money when, as proven by Taunton a few leagues up, Sponsorship is hard to come by, gate receipts don’t bring that in and you get next to nowt back for league/cup performances (unless you make it deep into a competition)

The cost of football is ludicrous and only going up each year. Which baffles me as to why clubs like Yate, Cribbs, Manor Farm etc. pay players a hefty wedge when they don’t get anywhere near that back in revenue. Go up a few leagues where the attendances are higher and prize money is more lucrative than Step 3/4/5 and then you’re paying more for players to just survive whilst the likes of Yeovil, Scunthorpe etc. who’ve fallen out the football league but have the reputation and fan base behind them to cope with the outgoings smash it. At what point to the owners of these clubs start getting a return? The chap at Dorking Wanderers must be extremely out of pocket. I appreciate the people do it for a good cause etc. but surely there’s a way to stop/reduce money being spent that far down the pyramid? Hanham were paying a player in the Combination Prem last year…. Baffling

If this is true, then it’s remarkable. From my understanding, any walkways at the front of a stand are not be used for spectators, it’s not voluntary, I believe it’s FA Rules around ground safety that prevent it

Just bumped into Danny Dyer, he said he’s binning off West Ham and supporting the mighty reds. Travelling in those numbers is unheard of in the premier league. Said he was surprised we weren’t touted to join the super league with support like that. Dani Dyer then chirped up, but what she said isn’t suitable for an online forum

That was a Conway performance of last season. Led the line impeccably, put himself about and a quality touch and finish after an equally quality pass from Williams. Also thought Bell had a good game and I’ve been a critique of theirs over the last 2 performances

If the £1.3m is correct. Surely it’s a no brainer. Even if he doesn’t get better, he’s worth more than £1.3m so there is a profit to be had there. He’s clearly got enough quality to be playing for a side in or around the play offs.