NNOP
Well-known member
Apologies, a longish post. I regularly follow this board but rarely contribute, but I just feel compelled to contribute the thoughts of an middle aged, excited and proud Blackpool fan.
After being a long standing season ticket holder I, like many others, fell out of love with the football club, to the point I didn't even know we were playing some of the time, I didn't look at fixtures, I didn't watch the Exeter Play Off final... I didn't expect to ever come back!
The fact that the NAPM fight is recognized by so many people outside of the football club, must be a source of pride for all those concerned - SKY referred to it frequently during our Play Off games, and many other clubs are citing it as an example of how to use fan power to try to enforce change, e.g. the recent excellent Oldham podcast.
We are about to embark on not just a new season in the Championship, but to me it also feels like the start of a new era. Not ignoring the last couple of years of course
Simon Sadler and the board have been and are continuing to build stronger foundations, better community links, submission of plans for new community facilities look great, and we have the prospect of new training facilities. Not that long ago this would have been a far off dream.
Neil Critchley has now had a fantastic first full season under his belt, and he has built a team to be proud of, and we are attracting and signing players in a way I have never experienced before.
Who knows what next season will bring? Heaven forbid we could be relegated and PNE get promoted ... do I believe this will happen, of course not, but no-one can say at this time. I'm just loving the ride today, and am optimistic for the future.
What I do know however, is that in my 50 years or so supporting this great club of ours, I have never been so excited or so proud of what we have become. I never thought I would get the buzz back, but it is stronger now than it was before.
I think also the recent struggles have made us a better, stronger, and more engaged club, with a fan base that appreciates what we have now, more than we have ever done before.
Long may it continue.
After being a long standing season ticket holder I, like many others, fell out of love with the football club, to the point I didn't even know we were playing some of the time, I didn't look at fixtures, I didn't watch the Exeter Play Off final... I didn't expect to ever come back!
The fact that the NAPM fight is recognized by so many people outside of the football club, must be a source of pride for all those concerned - SKY referred to it frequently during our Play Off games, and many other clubs are citing it as an example of how to use fan power to try to enforce change, e.g. the recent excellent Oldham podcast.
We are about to embark on not just a new season in the Championship, but to me it also feels like the start of a new era. Not ignoring the last couple of years of course
Simon Sadler and the board have been and are continuing to build stronger foundations, better community links, submission of plans for new community facilities look great, and we have the prospect of new training facilities. Not that long ago this would have been a far off dream.
Neil Critchley has now had a fantastic first full season under his belt, and he has built a team to be proud of, and we are attracting and signing players in a way I have never experienced before.
Who knows what next season will bring? Heaven forbid we could be relegated and PNE get promoted ... do I believe this will happen, of course not, but no-one can say at this time. I'm just loving the ride today, and am optimistic for the future.
What I do know however, is that in my 50 years or so supporting this great club of ours, I have never been so excited or so proud of what we have become. I never thought I would get the buzz back, but it is stronger now than it was before.
I think also the recent struggles have made us a better, stronger, and more engaged club, with a fan base that appreciates what we have now, more than we have ever done before.
Long may it continue.
