Dear Fellow Supporters,
It’s been a long time since our last programme and it was touch and go as to whether we had a programme this week or not! I am an unhappy Chairman at the moment. The reason being that our attendances have dropped dramatically over the last few weeks. I must commend the top sixteen Premier league members as they have been outstanding in their dedication to the club but we have had two weeks recently where our attendance has dropped to 22, an all time low. I appreciate that pressure of work has a lot to do with our numbers but Latics supporters must realise their priorities. There have been occasions when I have been chaperoned by only one or two members and it is embarrassing for me to feel that people are having to feel obliged to keep me company when they have other things to do. I too have a life, and am considering restructuring the attendance procedure to fit in with my feelings (you didn’t know I had those did you?). As a result I am issuing a survey form to all club members. You know I am a very democratic dictator and will listen to all your suggestions before I decide what action to take. Please treat the survey seriously and take the time to return it as it could affect all our futures.
The programme could also be a casualty of my feelings. I love the Latics but it takes a tremendous amount of time to put together and I seldom get feedback or help with submissions. We are now publishing about every month. Last season it was bi-weekly but my enthusiasm has diminished and I have been really busy with work related items. As a consequence my homelife suffers and to be honest I have better things to do with my time. I will review the situation after I have (hopefully) received some feedback from the survey form.
On the positive side the team had a morale boosting win over Kevin Keegan’s expensive Fulham side last week. The 1-0 victory was hard fought and keeps the lads in fourth place, handily placed for a play-off position. Last week also saw another first for the club. Roger Williams was actually in time for the food! You didn’t know what you were missing, did you Roger?
The Chairman
Ernie has been sick! Two weeks ago he was not even in a position to execute the weekly draw due to chronic fatigue. He did not even receive one ‘get well card’. You will be pleased to know that he has now fully recovered after a two week session at the Betty Frost Centre. He has undergone a complete rehabilitation programme and has been totally rejuvinated. He was so pleased that he had been born again that he made a special request to be Christened. The request was granted and the service went off well with Tom Wright and Bob Macgregor volunteering to act as Godparents. One hitch with the ceremony was that Pastor Frost did not have any holy water and had to use acetone as a substitute. The result was that Ernie got dirty and smudged and will henceforth be known as Dirty Ernie (make my day and pick my number!). Take the time to inspect him. I am sure you will be pleased with the results and his new nametag.
Ed’s comment - Many thanks to Kevin Frost for making the supreme sacrifice and giving up a prior appointment just to make time to work with Ernie and offer his counselling services for the said invalid.
Dear Fellow Supporters,
Latics supporters in Middleton, you now have a supporters club. Cheap away travel, regular meetings, correspondence with club etc. Anybody interested, there will be a meeting on March 4th in the Lancashire Fold pub in Alkrington. Either get down to the meeting, or contact me, the chairman, either by email on jreade@hotmail.com or by telephone on 643-2985. No crank calls please!
Jimmy Reade.
There is only ONE Chairman. - Dan