Sad news

We have been informed of the passing of Brian Goymer, Wealdstone goalkeeper in the Amateur Cup Final success in 1966.

Brian was also a Barnet legend and played in their Amateur Cup Final team in 1959 when they lost to Crook Town.

I hope there will be more about Brian and his career with the Stones in the next home programme, but we send our condolences and wishes to the family.

All credit to the manager

A day on and still the satisfied glow of a day when almost everything seemed to go right.

It’s only right after such a result to pay tribute to the manager and the players.  Gordon said to me before the game that he was going to be “controversial”, playing James Gray up front and starting Ashey rather than David Hicks, despite the latter’s recent good form.  With four goals between them you’d have to say Gordon got it spot on.

It is rare to watch a game and feel confident all the way through that you are going to win comfortably, even more so on a big local ‘derby’ like yesterday.  We have enjoyed some excellent wins in recent games against the likes of Staines, Maidstone and  Tonbridge (all three clubs currently in the play-off zone) yet in every one of those games the players have made us sweat somewhat before securing the three points.  No disrespect to Harrow, and maybe the loss of Robin Shroot affected them, but I think we would all be far happier (and age less quickly) to win in yesterday’s fashion more often.

It wasn’t just the game that went well.  The crowd was excellent pushing up towards 800 and I hope that many who came yesterday return on 10 January when we play Billericay.  With the forthcoming entrance promotions we will be doing it’ll be great to see attendances regularly starting with a 4 and maybe even pushing 500.

I think the quality of the football as well as everything we have achieved so far at Ruislip deserves the support we are getting and we will work hard to keep improving our crowds.

The mayoral visit was also successful, and it was nice to be able to present Graeme Montgomery with a keepsake for his time with the Club as he moves on to the pro game, as well as being able to say thank you to West One for their support this season.

So onwards and upwards, 2009 and first up Boreham Wood on Saturday.  More about that in due course, but for now let’s enjoy a happy Christmas – and thank the Ryman League for the decision not to play on Boxing Day so we could focus on a day we will all remember for a long time.