Page 11 - 364645 LP243221 A Love Supreme 48pp A5 Aug22

Having said all of that, we are in a different, higher, division and therefore there are things to look forward to. Lots of them, but, again, I’ll just fling you the first ten that come to mind and you can add your own.
BIGGER
Playing Sheffield Utd and Burnley. I know they’re not exactly the crème de la crème, but they’re both recent occupiers of a Premier League place and as such we’ve beaten them both on their own turf (Moor, in one case)
as the plucky League One underdogs in the League Cup.
BETTER
Pritchard, Stewart, Roberts, and Clarke (for starters) in something approaching their natural environment and proving what I’ve been saying since Alex Neil arrived, we’re a better Championship side than a League One side.
HIGHLIGHTS
Not having to wait until way past our bedtimes to see us on the highlights programme, whatever it may be and whatever channel it may be on, and the way they’ll naturally pick us as the team to follow because they’ve been waiting for us to come back to life.
FACUP
Still being in the FA Cup at Christmas. There was a popular quiz question that asked what we didn’t do in 1988, and the answer was “play in the FA Cup.”That can be repeated for 2022, as Mansfield ensured we didn’t even make it to December 2021 and we’ll not be back until January 2023 – in the third round for the first time in five years. Sorry.
EFL TROPHY
Putting our U21s in the Football League Trophy, because that’s what it’s there for, and it would be a real treat to see the bairns in proper competitive action.
PRESS COVERAGE
Not having to scour the inside pages of the Sunday papers for a mention of our games, and getting more than a thirty-word afterthought and a tiny, blurred picture. It might even mean we’ll be mentioned on the back page – as our fans “fume” or “buzz”, no doubt.
MEDIA
The football media repeatedly adding to the current feel-good factor around our club by stating that“they’re on their way back.”We all acknowledge (well, most of us do) that it’s unlikely, though far from impossible, that we’ll mirror our (under)achievements of a few years ago with back- to-back promotions, but every little bit of positivity helps. Thanks in advance.
PORTACABINS
Fewer grounds with tents and temporary stands. Look, I’m not the biggest fan of padded seats (or having to use seats anyway) or stuffed crust pizza and marble-walled facilities, but I like my shoes and I’d rather not splash on them in a Portakabins with only one door or open-roofed netties with puddles and a view.
EXPECTATION
Not being expected to win every game by six goals. I know this expectation diminished over those four lost seasons as people realised that we were a) only human, and b) not very good, but it really was tiresome and unrealistic. There will still be those who consider us invincible because of the volume of our support, but most will have learned from experience and that will ease the pressure.
As with point 7 media), every little helps. Thanks in advance. Again.
PREM
Being in sight of the Prem, even if it is the hind end of it. It’s visible, it’s tangible, it’s a realistic target again and it’s in our sights. Just playing a season that follows a successful one means such a lot, with the impetus and the smiles that comes with
a successful campaign. It’s not happened since 2007-8, following Keano’s Mackem Miracle of the previous season, and it’ll be good. Enjoy it.
ALOVESUPREME
ISSUE259
11
BY SOBS