On behalf of the WFC Supporter’s Club I would like to welcome the supporters of Maidenhead United to Grosvenor Vale this afternoon. Please come and visit the Megastore before the match, at half-time or after the game….you don’t have that much of a long journey home! I’m sure that you will find a book, programme or piece of merchandise to buy for a good price and a souvenir of your visit.
Now despite being a WFC fan for 28 years now, this is the first time I have written a general article for the programme. (Ok I was the featured ‘Fan in the Stand’ a few seasons back). I started supporting the Stones when they played at Lower Mead and was enrolled as a ‘Junior Stone’ under one ‘Head Stone’ by the name of Dave Albert, wonder what happened to him? An attraction of watching the Stones was the quality of their matchday programme, particularly ‘Sidelines’ by Neil Harvey and ‘Club Shop Chat’ by Toby Jackson. Fast forward into the 21st Century and it is good to see that Stones are still producing a quality programme and have an excellent club shop too!
Sadly Army Reserve duties have prevented me from attending many matches this season, but a compulsory Saturday-Monday night look at the Club’s website has shown that results have not always gone as we have expected or wanted. However, there is still much to be so positive about. Stones have not played in this League (note league rather than level), for 26 years, and it is a great achievement to be where we are. I took a ten break year from watching the Stones between 1995 and 2005, but religiously followed them from the back pages of the Harrow Observer every Thursday. We owe a great debt to those that kept the Club going during the dark days at Watford and Yeading. It would have been so easy to have walked away and gone the same way as Scarborough and Maidstone et al, but as the song states ‘I’ll be Wealdstone ‘til I die!’
I joined the Supporter’s Club Committee last season and what immediately struck me was the dedication this small group of people have. There is so much talent and hours freely given to benefit this Club, it is just amazing. So although we still await a home win, and we hope it comes today, let’s pull together, just as this country did 75 years ago when the WW2 broke out and a threat of invasion was a real prospect. Together we can look forward to an exciting future.
Terry Hissey
