I recall when the lounge was re furbed late sixties I guess.A bloke came in and asked the new bar maid for scotch on the rock’s,she replied would you like ice.He came back with what do you think the f#####g rocks are.
1 Like
I think they need to be careful with sponsors names.
Whilst we don’t mind and in fact love a bit of tinpottedness, some of the corporates who have events there definitely would have an issue.
These events tend to be aspirational and an attempt to project the business beyond its current status.
If I’m in charge of booking an event I’d definitely think twice about going to my boss and suggesting the “easy fit windows and conservatories room” at the “Poundland stadium”. Nothing wrong with either of those companies by the way, it’s just an open door for the cynics and mirth makers that work every business to have a bit a field day if that’s the venue for the annual conference.
Also some businesses will steadfastly refuse to hold an event somewhere that propagates the competition.
Which is why for me, it should either be a club legend or something that celebrates the town. “The Graydon Suite” feels good to me.
12 Likes
Oh I agree completely.
Ray Graydon would be perfect in my eyes. Would be a lovely touch for Ray himself to I would have thought. Just a little something to remember those days he gave us.
Don’t see it happening, unfortunately.
12 Likes
What defines success?
£400,000 a year into your pension fund, apparently. Great return on initial investment.
4 Likes
Luton, Rotherham and Bournemouth.
3 Likes
Higher league and better players. It’s hard to argue when he never allowed us to be this bad during his time. The bloke held us back but compared to the last 5 years it’s night and day
The Dan Mole appreciation suite
2 Likes
An example to us all. The way he organised a first team game then a ladies game an hour later is something to celebrate
2 Likes
Courtesy of Redacted Minutesgate…
The “Dan Mole Works Very Hard” Suite.
2 Likes
It’s an oft quoted assertion by Bonser apologists.
I think Bonser deserves credit for his first five or six football appointments. Taylor, Nicholl, Sorensen, Graydon, Lee were very astute. The post Hibbitt model and the Bescot set up was a model others aspired to. In fact I’d argue most professional teams in the U.K. aspired to.
The sad truth though is that around 1994 he effectively anchored us to a point in the fourth division and tied a bungee rope around our waist. Which meant that however hard and far we ran we were destined to end up back where we started or even worse, the momentum of the pull back would see us below where we started. The moment at which the rope was most taught was dictated by JB. A moment just after Christmas 2004. We were top half Championship and Colin Lee wanted us to invest to really go for it. He also wanted in. At that moment, we’d gone as far as Bonser’s bungee rope would allow us and the inescapable pull back began. Only two more good appointments in Dosh and Smith prevented our pull back being quicker than it was.
Of course, all those delays did was elongate his time at the helm. He’d not only anchored the bungee rope he was renting it to us at a very healthy rate and for as long as we were ahead of that anchor point he would milk it for every single penny. The Keates relegation to the fourth division, unlike the Merson one, was the moment he and we had run out of rope and hope.
The relegation to the third tier in 2005 was the moment for him to go with integrity. He had taken us as far as any of us could have dreamed of. He’d also made a healthy return by that point. Unfortunately he clung and clung on like dag on a sheep’s arse. And for as long as he clung so the richer and richer he got. Around another 15 years of index linked riches.
Leaving at least a generation of fans with only stories from previous generations to let them know that Walsall FC were OK once.
Shame, shame, shame.
44 Likes
100% agree. I think we really had a chance at that time in 2004 to really establish ourselves but we didn’t take it
Better players. Higher league positions, numerous promotions, excitement. One season falling back into this league after that spell in the 90s. Walking away from west brom, wolves, with smiles on our faces. Fa cup 5th round. Twice!!!. Spells in the championship. Really silly question if i’m being honest with you
Every one defines success differently hence the reason for the question, and given some of the nonsense you post, asking you to define success allows the rest of us to understand which planet you were residing on today. 
See the excellent post from @P.T for the best summing up of Boner’s tenure 
3 Likes
Can’t think of anyone who can logically define the post Bonser period as being a success. I’d go as far as to say it’s been an absolute disaster.
Having steered a car at a wall and left a brick on the accelerator, the fact he bailed before impact doesn’t make him less accountable for the ensuing wreckage.
25 Likes
Not sure anyone is declaring it has been, but just because something is shite, doesn’t mean what preceded it is was any better. Boner saw us enter this league before bailing, you can’t rewrite history, and given our trajectory under him we wouldn’t have performed any differently.
3 Likes
In fairness to JB he did advise fans to go and support Bournemouth or Rotherham or Luton, all of whom have provided cracking entertainment for those of us who took his advice.
11 Likes
I don’t think we would have been finishing 17th and 18th every year in division 4 because he actually knew how to run a football club. Pomlett and these guys don’t seem to have a clue.
Anyway like you say we can’t rewrite history and I don’t want to erase it either as had some of the happiest times of my Walsall fc life under Bonsers tenure and my dad first took me in the 70s