That’s a great post which I totally get.
It’s a dichotomy that I always want Walsall to win every game that we play, but I never want us to be a big club.
I’ve always loved the sense of exclusivity that comes with supporting a lower league club, knowing that the plastic supporters of the big clubs can never get it, or experience what we experience because it’s just different.
I’ve been going since 1971 and I still see guys I used to go with in that era. Others have passed on and some have given up.
I’ve also made new friends in recent years through this site and I’m looking forward to seeing them when I’m back.
I have said before, watching Walsall and going to metal gigs are the two things that I miss most about leaving The UK and both because neither are mainstream and both have always given me an identity.
I’m going to just make a point here, and by make a point I hope nobody thinks pick an argument.
I once went 9 years without missing a Walsall game, am currently 2 years since I missed a domestic Newcastle game home or away in any competition, and I also only missed one of the Champions League aways last season, and that was through choice as I was due a visit to my mam, and she’s more important than football.
Obviously I’m in a slightly advantageous position as my son works for Newcastle, plus I’ve got a minor role in helping out with the away bus, which isn’t something I relish, infact its a pain in the arse.
But the point I’m making is you either go to the game or you don’t.
If you go you’ll always find a way to get there, if you don’t you’ll find a lyrically waxed way of not going.
The folks on our bus, The Everton Bus, The Southampton bus etc etc etc are no different to anyone on the ISSA bus, or the Scunthorpe bus in the National League North.
Its football, and you either go or you don’t, simple as.
This team deserves our support.
Tuesday night under the lights. Proper Walsall fans - no day trippers. Let’s have it.
Just to echo what @Blazing_Saddler said. If you ever fancy a pre match pint/coffee/whiskey then drop me a DM and we can talk shit about Walsall face to face rather than on here.
And I agree with @Belphegor too. The only reason I’d want to ever get into the EPL would be to tick some big grounds off.
Just got my 2 tickets for the Leicester game. Come on me babbies!
If you can’t get excited about a game with a team 3 levels above then I don’t think anything will inspire you.
Just got our three tickets, I was amazed I was caller number seven in the queue! I was told that it’s very busy and I’ve done quite well just to be holding for 11 minutes.
I’ve got my ticket plus another 7 for friends and family. The block where my partner and her dad sits is sold out already
Had a couple of mates contact me asking me to get them tickets. Both regulars so could have got them themselves in due course but obviously thinking that there will be a decent uptake for this and wanted to make sure they secured their seats.
Just had a look at the tickets available and it looks like Leicester will have half of the Family stand as well as behind the goal. Just looked on there site and the have been allocated 2538.
Work blocking the official site - so can somebody please help - when do the tickets go on general sale? As a season ticket holder, do I need to get back home at lunch time to order my ticket.
Season ticket holders can buy an additional 2 tickets per season ticket.
you can phone them up and give name/address and you’ll be able to buy 3 in total as a ST holder. Members can buy 2 tickets from 9am tomorrow (Friday), and general sale from 9am monday 4 tickets per person
Season ticket holders seats will be reserved until 9am on Monday 9th September at which point they will be released for general sale.
I am sure that resonates with many of us @Belphegor. When I was at school, supporting your hometown team felt like being a curiosity to school mates who, in the main, were largely “supporters” of Villa and WBA or the “big teams” of the day: Man U, Liverpool and Leeds. I quite liked it that way. Even though some may have scoffed and teased, I was proud of being a Saddler and at least us Walsall fans were the ones going regularly to watch our team which, apart from some exceptions, wasn’t true of the big club fans.
As life progressed and study and then work took me away from Walsall, aside from family links, my main connection to the town was and has been through WFC and that link is hugely significant to me and will never dissipate.
Any football chat over the years with people I have met, whether through work, socially or on travels, tends to still lead to a reaction of curiosity when I say who I support. The “Why Walsall?” question is easily answered by saying it’s where I am from, my dad took me as a kid to Fellows Park and from then on I was hooked. The reaction then is usually one of respect and admiration for supporting my hometown team and morseo because we are a “smaller club”. They acknowledge that the level of dedication and devotion to following a team that is usually in the lower reaches of the football pyramid is serious as they appreciate we’re unlikely to be in it for the glory and silverware!
I never expect us to play in the top flight but if we ever did, I would still have the same level of connection for the club but appreciate it would attract some fair-weathers who’d be off like a shot when we inevitably returned to (probably) Tier 3, our natural centre of gravity. I wouldn’t have a problem with that, but there is something quite special about supporting our club as it’s mainly due to family connections (older generation taking us) and/or geography (it’s where we’re from) rather than based on current or historical successes and profile. The same will be true to supporters of other “smaller” clubs and we probably respect them more for it.
Thanks @Poloman and @saddla - tickets are selling like hotcakes at the moment - what chance of a sell out I wonder?
I’d be surprised if it sold out, but hope it does, but I think it’ll be a very good crowd for us.
I think clubs who have a waiting list and who have fans who have season tickets but don’t attend regularly are looking to replace those fans with ones who are able to attend regularly and so might spend money with the club in addition to the expenditure on their season tickets.
Spot on SG - exactly the same for me.
Totally agree with your comments SG, I was born in Walsall and spent the first twenty years of my life there.
My father took me along to my first game when I was a kid which I suspect is how most saddlers supporters began their love of the club.
I moved away to follow my chosen career but although I left the town I’ve never left the saddlers.
Been to both games so far but now worried i won’t get tickets.