The club's status in the modern era

I choose to date the modern era in the club's history from 1957, because that marked the advent of the Watling board and marks the point where not only were the forerunners of Archant paying the wages but we were rock bottom of the league. IT might be appropriate to date it from a later date - say the early 60s with the abolition of the maximum wage, or the mid-60s with the emergence of Ramseyism and negative football.

Look at the club's achievements in just over half a century:

For almost half the time we have been either top flight, or been winning promotion from this division (even more impressive when you consider it took the first 15 of those 52 years to get up for the first time)

We have reached 5 league cup semi-finals, going on to 4 finals, winning the competion twice.

We have reached 3 FA Cup semi finals.

We have qualified for Europe twice, and would have qualified on two further occasions but for the ban.

When in the lower reaches we enhanced the reputation of being giant-killers, first acquired almost exactly 100 years ago.

Consider, however, what has happened under the current board:

We have had just one promotion season, and one season in the top flight.

We have had no league cup runs of note.

Our best effort in the FA Cup has been one losing appearance in the fifth round.

Despite having had lots of opportunities we have never once defeated a club from a higher division ourselves - we have, of course lost on numerous occasions to clubs from lower divisions.

It just ain't good enough.

Posted By: Mr Creosote, Aug 16, 23:09:38