In posting this, I should first declare an interest – I was a highly dedicated supporter of Aylesbury United from early childhood until the birth of my children. I invested more time and effort than was healthy, following the team home and away over nearly 30 years.
I was present at a lot of key events – some of the last games at Turnfurlong, the first game at Buckingham Road, winning the Southern League, FA Cup occasions and so on. When Sir Cliff of Hercules did the Duck Walk, Kingstonian 1994, I was there.
I contributed to life around the club – first informally, and later in a more “official” capacity.
I stopped being actively involved about 10 years ago – mainly because of the time pressures created by building a young family and trying to progress my career – but also because it seemed to me that the regime in charge of the club at the time were wilfully running it down.
Put simply, I used to go to football for a bit of fun, a good-natured sing-song and a bit of escapism. It wasn’t fun any more – it had become an emotional drain. I didn’t have the time and energy for that… and I still don’t.
Back in the mists of time, there was never any question which team I would support – Aylesbury United was my home town club.
I don’t live in Aylesbury any more, but I live close enough that I could come to games on occasion – particularly since my children are now older, and at least one of them might want to come along.
Except – Aylesbury United no longer plays in what was my home town. Thankfully, it still plays, and from what I can see, seems to have turned a corner both in terms of results, and of having people in charge of the club with its best interest at heart.
But there is now another home town club, called Aylesbury FC. I don’t know much about Aylesbury FC - it seems pretty impressive that they are at the level they have reached – but with an average attendance of less than 150 this season, they hardly seem to be capturing the town’s imagination.
So – there are two Aylesbury clubs.
Both at the same level of the pyramid – about four levels below where the town’s club once played.
And both getting attendances, even when they are playing each other, of less than a quarter of what the town’s club used to get on a regular basis.
I had a look at some recent postings on the forum of both clubs – many have a depressing air about them, I’m afraid – a lot of pretty childish “us and them” stuff from both sides – for every petty reference to “Bedfordshire Nomads” there’s something equally petty about “Haywoods” or “Stocklake”.
Now I realise I am being wilfully naïve here. And I realise that there will be 10 years of back story with which I have made little effort to keep up. But…
- One Aylesbury club has a proud history and, attendance figures would suggest, greater latent support
- The other Aylesbury club has a base in the town.
So one club has what the other one could never have, and the other club has what the other one desperately needs.
So, why are there two clubs? Could there ever be just one? Or are there too many egos involved?
As well as providing me with some education about what I’ve missed, I hope this post triggers some reasoned debate.
Looking forward to enlightenment…
I was present at a lot of key events – some of the last games at Turnfurlong, the first game at Buckingham Road, winning the Southern League, FA Cup occasions and so on. When Sir Cliff of Hercules did the Duck Walk, Kingstonian 1994, I was there.
I contributed to life around the club – first informally, and later in a more “official” capacity.
I stopped being actively involved about 10 years ago – mainly because of the time pressures created by building a young family and trying to progress my career – but also because it seemed to me that the regime in charge of the club at the time were wilfully running it down.
Put simply, I used to go to football for a bit of fun, a good-natured sing-song and a bit of escapism. It wasn’t fun any more – it had become an emotional drain. I didn’t have the time and energy for that… and I still don’t.
Back in the mists of time, there was never any question which team I would support – Aylesbury United was my home town club.
I don’t live in Aylesbury any more, but I live close enough that I could come to games on occasion – particularly since my children are now older, and at least one of them might want to come along.
Except – Aylesbury United no longer plays in what was my home town. Thankfully, it still plays, and from what I can see, seems to have turned a corner both in terms of results, and of having people in charge of the club with its best interest at heart.
But there is now another home town club, called Aylesbury FC. I don’t know much about Aylesbury FC - it seems pretty impressive that they are at the level they have reached – but with an average attendance of less than 150 this season, they hardly seem to be capturing the town’s imagination.
So – there are two Aylesbury clubs.
Both at the same level of the pyramid – about four levels below where the town’s club once played.
And both getting attendances, even when they are playing each other, of less than a quarter of what the town’s club used to get on a regular basis.
I had a look at some recent postings on the forum of both clubs – many have a depressing air about them, I’m afraid – a lot of pretty childish “us and them” stuff from both sides – for every petty reference to “Bedfordshire Nomads” there’s something equally petty about “Haywoods” or “Stocklake”.
Now I realise I am being wilfully naïve here. And I realise that there will be 10 years of back story with which I have made little effort to keep up. But…
- One Aylesbury club has a proud history and, attendance figures would suggest, greater latent support
- The other Aylesbury club has a base in the town.
So one club has what the other one could never have, and the other club has what the other one desperately needs.
So, why are there two clubs? Could there ever be just one? Or are there too many egos involved?
As well as providing me with some education about what I’ve missed, I hope this post triggers some reasoned debate.
Looking forward to enlightenment…
