Unhappy returns!

I CANNOT believe it is 11 years since I last visited Exeter.

Back in the 1996/97 season, we witnessed one of the most memorable matches in our history, beating Exeter 5-1 after going a goal down before half time.

My wax jacket was never the same again after the torrential rain throughout the match, but when you win 5-1 away, who really cares?

So it was with these fond memories I agreed to meet up with other Exiles, travelling Chester City supporters and family for a B&B weekend in the Devon town in the hope that history may repeat itself.

The writing was on the wall, of course, after Exeter received a very uncharacteristic 6-1 drubbing by Chesterfield at home on the previous Tuesday, the same night Chester also caused some raised eyebrows by the 3-0 "thrashing" (quote Setanta Sports News) of high flying Brentford. Something had to give and as past experience tells us that is usually Chester - and it was!

On cue, the rains came again as we huddled together in what seemed like no more than a 10ft wide visitors' terrace behind the goal, hoping that any shot would be on target for fear of being knocked unconscious, if not. Things didn't look good when the teams changed ends after the toss which meant that the Blues were shooting towards us in the first half. You know it is going to be a long match when this happens, and it was. In truth, Chester matched Exeter reasonably well for most of the game except for the all important lapses of concentration which led to Exeter's two goals. They didn't really deserve the three points but I suppose Chester didn't really deserve to win either.

More of concern was that John Danby was obviously carrying an injury and in pain for the whole of the match. While it may not make economic sense to be paying an experienced goal keeper when you don't have a reserve team to play him in, surely it is playing Russian Roulette every match without one?

I know it is hard running a club like Chester on a shoestring and in a football rich area such as the north west but I do wonder if we have things right at Chester? Should we be concentrating and trying to attract investment into building a decent team to get the success that will bring the crowds back (I am seriously worried at the steep decline in our support and the loss of our future generation of fans)?

Still it is easy to judge from a distance and maybe, just maybe, this could be our year in the FA Cup. Exeter City seemed to have done well out of their Cup exploits against Manchester United, judging by their very fine stand at the home end.

So bring on the Lions - perhaps this will be OUR YEAR!