[cityfan]

Trawler Rum & Weetabix, on Sep 10 2006, 18:13, said:

I wonder if the Elgin fans privately wish their club had remained in the Highland League.

On a slightly related topic people keep floating the idea of this pyramid system involving the juniors and other minor grade clubs. A junior player who works with me says if say a Pollok fan was offered the choice of £4 entry to a derby with Arthurlie (or even a routine game with Shotts) or £9/10 entry to a home league game with East Fife then (in his opinion) 100% would choose the former.

League status is not necessarily all it's cracked up to be, as Elgin fans are no doubt considering, and 'those in the know' should appreciate that sometimes the instinct is to remain a big fish in a wee pool, pyramid sytem or not.

Its not as easy as just returning to the highland league, i doubt we'd be very welcome.

[ShakehandsTom - DFC]

I think you're probably right Cityfan, as after you've been away you're unlikely to be welcomed with open arms after, what other Highland League teams maybe consider 'going after the money' or just 'leaving the HL for self-interest.'

[Kylesons]

Fantastic day out. The bus was excellent and i also got to know some people which was great B)
I just hope we have a bus going to away games more often now as this was top class. i would also like to say thanks to the people who organised the day.

[Howlin' Wilf]

Trawler Rum & Weetabix, on Sep 10 2006, 18:13, said:

I wonder if the Elgin fans privately wish their club had remained in the Highland League.

On a slightly related topic people keep floating the idea of this pyramid system involving the juniors and other minor grade clubs. A junior player who works with me says if say a Pollok fan was offered the choice of £4 entry to a derby with Arthurlie (or even a routine game with Shotts) or £9/10 entry to a home league game with East Fife then (in his opinion) 100% would choose the former.

League status is not necessarily all it's cracked up to be, as Elgin fans are no doubt considering, and 'those in the know' should appreciate that sometimes the instinct is to remain a big fish in a wee pool, pyramid sytem or not.

Elgin really are an enigma. Certainly they were on a par with Peterhead and Ross County when they were in the Highland League. You have a point though TRW. The Elgin fans (and board) must wonder if an average 250 mile (at least) round trip for away games is worth it for bottom of division three and a crowd of 400. That said, I thoroughly enjoyed the trip to Elgin (lovely place) and their rather nice, tidy wee ground. There is potential there and like many clubs (not least ours) if the right investment and direction came along who knows?

This post has been edited by Howlin' Wilf: 10 September 2006 - 19:16

[Reina]

Howlin' Wilf, on Sep 10 2006, 20:03, said:

Elgin really are an enigma. Certainly they were on a par with Peterhead and Ross County when they were in the Highland League. You have a point though TRW. The Elgin fans (and board) must wonder if an average 250 mile (at least) round trip for away games is worth it for bottom of division three and a crowd of 400. That said, I thoroughly enjoyed the trip to Elgin (lovely place) and their rather nice, tidy wee ground. There is potential there and like many clubs (not least ours) if the right investment and direction came along who knows?

Indeed

[ShakehandsTom - DFC]

Brian Irvine, no?

[Fudge]

Do Elgin fans think that Irvne is a good manager, or was the upturn in fortunes after he took over last season soley because if the players trying to impress a new gaffer?

[Neefie Noodle]

The buck stops at the board. No investment No cominication with the fans. IMHO - the owners are quite happy to sit there and wait fo the club to go out of existinance so they can get the land to build property. I've tried to rouse up the supporters to get the Supporter's Trust up and running, but no one wants anything to do with it.

[Ladyfan]

Neefie Noodle, on Sep 10 2006, 21:04, said:

The buck stops at the board. No investment No cominication with the fans. IMHO - the owners are quite happy to sit there and wait fo the club to go out of existinance so they can get the land to build property. I've tried to rouse up the supporters to get the Supporter's Trust up and running, but no one wants anything to do with it.

That indeed is very sad. The way forward for the modern game and supporter is a Trust. Many Trusts in Britain have helped turn their club around and many have saved their club from extinction. When we set up ours, there was no crisis but when things took a downward slide then the supporters rallied. Alot of Trusts' initial formation is due to a club crisis and done out of love from the fans of THEIR club.

If your club is heading toward a crisis and no-one can be take the bull by the horns to get a Trust up and running then that is very very worrying. Best of luck.

[rocksolid]

Neefie Noodle, on Sep 10 2006, 21:04, said:

I've tried to rouse up the supporters to get the Supporter's Trust up and running, but no one wants anything to do with it.

Keep trying. Our trust wasn't exactly heaving with interest when it got off the ground, and look at it now! We've got a director on the board, and Raise the Rock day coming up this Saturday - all done by the trust.

As Ladyfan says, good luck.

[supersons]

Great day out.

Did not travel on Bus but certainly enjoyed my trip, and so did my father.

Thanks to all sons and elgin fans who helped us with the wheelchair on route to the away end.

And also thanks to the bookie who gave us 7/1 on Stephen Dobbie to score first

Also got in for nowt which was doubly nice of the guy on the gate.

Elgin looked very poor which surprises me due to the catchment area they are in.

How many players from the Aberdeen, morayshire area play for Elgin? and how many from Glasgow play for them, must be an expensive business ferrying players about, everygame would be an away game for most players I would imagine.

Anyway Dumbarton totally dominated the game and were never out of first gear, Ref was poor and made some howlers, Dobbie skins keeper and keeper pulls him down, foul given against sons player.

Elgin player floors Dumbarton trialist just after the Elgin red card, only a yellow card pulled out, very poor imo.

Credit to shakey and his singing section best laugh I have had for a while.

[fanny paddery]

Maybe the brilliant day out that evryone had will encourage the Sons trust to run the bus again !!!!

[LOL @ Celtic]

I was still smiling today thinking of some of those chants on saturday

Didn't even hear one chant or song from the Elgin fans

Ironically, we made more noise away than we usually do at home

I wish we could stand at the home games

[Fudge]

IXI THE ONE IXI, on Sep 11 2006, 17:25, said:

I wish we could stand at the home games

They don't let you stand at The Rock?

[Neilly]

If they don't let us stand on Saturday then I fear at least 25 ejections from the ground.

[LOL @ Celtic]

I can't really see the away fans from where I am sat, but usually the stewards are on you pretty quick for standing.

A load of pish I know, but it is the 'rules'

[Reina]

IXI THE ONE IXI, on Sep 11 2006, 17:25, said:

Ironically, we made more noise away than we usually do at home

The same thing can be said about every team in the SFL.

[THE SONS OF THE ROCK]

IXI THE ONE IXI, on Sep 11 2006, 17:25, said:

I was still smiling today thinking of some of those chants on saturday

Didn't even hear one chant or song from the Elgin fans

Ironically, we made more noise away than we usually do at home

I wish we could stand at the home games

ive still got a sore throat for all the singing we did (im sure sqweak still has a smile on his face made his day singing for him) keep it up boys on sat cos i will

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[Bring Back Paddy Flannery]

i canny believe big jimmy (honey monster) actually taught me at school!

[O'Kelly Isley III]

Bring Back Paddy Flannery, on Sep 11 2006, 22:43, said:

i canny believe big jimmy (honey monster) actually taught me at school!

That would explain a great deal...and to think that young folk like yourself are my pension

[Howlin' Wilf]

Neilly, on Sep 11 2006, 17:29, said:

If they don't let us stand on Saturday then I fear at least 25 ejections from the ground.

What is wrong with them that they can't sit down for the duration of a football match? are they hyper-active infants or something?

[Howlin' Wilf]

Bring Back Paddy Flannery, on Sep 11 2006, 22:43, said:

i canny believe big jimmy (honey monster) actually taught me at school!

A fine figure of a man, demonstrated in the above photo. Who would think that his half-century beckons?

[Fudge]

Howlin' Wilf, on Sep 12 2006, 09:32, said:

What is wrong with them that they can't sit down for the duration of a football match? are they hyper-active infants or something?

If you are forced to sit at a football, ground, the atmosphere is always much worse.

Even at our own ground, although there is rarely singing, there is about 15-20 of us that stand in the back two rows. We just prefer it I suppose.