With the season just having passed the halfway point (25 played out of 46),  I thought it would interest supporters to see how things are looking – merely in a factual way, with no comments or predictions. Of course, supporters’ comments can be made following this posting to generate discussion.

At the start of this season, it was Carl’s – and Townites’ – hope that this season would show improving progression on last season (an acceptable 14^th position). No-one dared think, predict or expect Town to get promotion ! Suffice to say that we expected next season to be part of the newly proposed Midland Premier League (or whatever it will be called). In any event, promotion from SLP to National League North or South would not be viable from financial and probably ground perspectives. A step too far for tiny Stratford Town.

Currently, we are riding high in the “form” league (20 points from last 10 games, leaders Hereford on 23) – and are sitting 10^th in the actual SLP. We are averaging 1.48 points per game, against 1.24 throughout last season.  So perhaps everyone’s aspirations for “Town” may come true !

The games already played – or upcoming in the next four months – are shown on the following list, based on Boxing Day’s league positions :-

………………………..H             A

Kings Lynn                                          L

Kettering                                             L

Weymouth                                         D

Hereford                                             L

Tiverton                                               L

Slough                                                  D

Hitchin                                                 L

St Neots                               D

Frome                                                   L

TOWN                                    –              –

Banbury

Chesham                             L              W

Biggleswade                      W

Royston                               D             W

Redditch                              D             W

Basingstoke

Bishops Stortford            W

Merthyr                               D             L

Farnborough                      D

Dorchester                                         W

Kings Langley                    W

St Ives                                   W

Dunstable                           W

Gosport                                W

 

A tough New Year’s Day home match against slipping Banbury, followed by a testing trip to improving St Neots, then the “BIG ONE” with Hereford on 9 January will – over the next fortnight – show us just how our season could pan out. Injuries and suspensions are always a drawback, although we have managed to cope with them reasonably well, except that our disciplinary record is nothing to be exactly proud of !

The away support at Redditch was really good but home and away backing is essential for the players for morale, and management for financial reasons.

So a successful New Year to everybody ,,,,,,,,,,,, and “Up the Town” !