Liberty Way saved the Boro from going under

'Clicker'

16 April 2008

IN REPLY to Peter Lee, quoting ex Boro' deleted fan, I have to ask where he got a figure of 1,000 fans at Manor Park.

My mate and I went to every game at the Park and apart from the high profile games the gate never got near 800, the last game at the Park vs Vauxhall Motors drew around 2,200.

His (I told you so comment) smacks of sour grapes to me, for was he not the Liberal Democratic who led the major objection to the club moving to Liberty way, even though unlike fans that travel from Stamford, Preston, Milton Keynes, etc., has probably never been to a Boro game.

The move to Liberty Way was motivated by the need to save the club from dying. The need to generate money to keep the club alive is just as great as any other business in the town and no way could Manor Park be updated to do that.

So we have had some difficult times during the move, but so does anyone who moves house. At Liberty Way we now have good sport in the community projects going, and when the north stand is up and running he club will really forge along.

He talks about the fans on the west side of the town as if the club belongs to them. What about the other fans from Weddington, Hill Top, Caldwell, and believe it or not Beduth. In the 50s and 60s when we had gates of 5,000-8,000 I can remember hordes of us walking from the Wharfe Inn and the Boot along the towpath, regardless of the weather.

Buses were laid on for the fans in the outlying areas of the town, but were discontinued due to the lack of use. An average gate now of around 700 clearly shows that those true blues who want to get there will do so, and those who only want to come to the high profile games will be made most welcome the next time we have a good cup run.

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