Post by RobTheShirt on Sept 5, 2023 8:54:44 GMT
When I first discovered Poole Town I was completely disillusioned with the pro game. Too many overpaid, underachieving Prima Donnas in a dog eat dog atmosphere where celebrity seemed more important than ability and money was more important than anything else.
From day one I was smitten by the totally different attitudes at the club where good honest working guys played for the pleasure of it and not the adulation. There was this palpable family atmosphere throughout the whole club and at the very top was Tommy Killick who was quite obviously adored by players and fans alike. We were in the Wessex League and Kings of the Castle. I went back the following week and one of the players, Skelts came up to me after the game in the bar and said it was good to see me back. WOW
We kept winning and winning and although we did lose a few, it didn’t worry me in the slightest because I enjoyed watching MY team, win or lose and we didn’t lose that many anyway.
Finally we got promotion and found out that we could just as easily win in the division above so promotion came again fairly soon but I didn’t care because I was still watching MY team and didn’t care what level we were playing at. It was still that happy family club that I was involved with.
Up to NLS and after a first day drubbing at Ebbsfleet, we settled in, found our form and started winning on a regular basis against well funded clubs that we had no right to beat. The reason we could do this was Tommy Killick who the players just loved playing for. We were finally stopped in our tracks by bureaucracy not lack of ability when we were refused permission to take part in the play-offs whatever position we finished in. In fairness, we probably should have used that 1st season to consolidate but it was very difficult to do that when we could keep winning.
The following season showed what a lack of consolidation meant when we started losing to teams that we had dominated the previous season but knowing that we could not progress was a big barrier to motivation and inevitably, we were relegated.
The next season we were back down again. Did I care? No. I was still watching MY team and enjoying myself just as much as I had in the Wessex League and it was still a family club with family attitudes.
A couple of missed playoff seasons hasn’t altered my opinion one little bit, we could do it all again the next season. It’s not as if losing meant we couldn’t play again. The only regret I had was the disappointment of the players and manager.
So how have we suddenly stopped believing in those family values in favour of winning at all costs and god forbid anyone who gets in our way? I understand that a lot of money has been pumped into the club in the expectation of the prize of promotion and also that it hasn’t been the best start to the season that we could have hoped for but it is early days and we’re in the next round of the cup.
To me the decision to remove Tommy was premature but also very badly handled. Surely we could have given him a target date by which to turn things around or accept his resignation. That way he could have departed with the dignity that he had a right to expect after his exceptional service to the club rather than the ignominy of a sacking.
My other concern is in the choice of his replacement. An untested coach with no CV other than as a player. Sounds to me like a change for changes sake with no reason other than to get someone in with a ‘name’.
I have pondered long and hard about this situation and my response to it. I sincerely believe that you have totally misjudged the feelings of the supporters. You don’t speak for me and judging by the comments on social media, for many others either.
Would I watch Poole Town back in the Wessex league again? Of course I would because they’re MY team and MY family club. Will I watch Poole Town again this season? More than likely yes but it’ll never be the same again without those family values.
