Landmarks

One game against Exeter was a landmark in the clubs rise from the doldrums. It was the one where we had to win to stay up, because it was the first season there had been automatic relegation from the Football League. Ever since, for fans of a certain. Again, matches against the Grecians have had a symbolic importance.

It’s too early in the season for Saturday’s encounter to mean much. Nothing is decided in September, but points still matter. Exeter are selling cheap beer to celebrate their 125th birthday. I’d be more than happy with 3 points from our long trip to the South West. After defeat at Gillingham last week we need a fillip. A win would give us that. 

St James’ park is one of the few grounds I know that has tress growing inside it. A huge contrast to the modern, synthetic stadia that many clubs now have. City are also a fan owned club. This hasn’t been going to well recently but their fortunes have been boosted by Olly Watkins moving from Villa for a hefty fee. Investment in younger players has paid off for them just at the point when it mattered most. Fan ownership is precarious, but the alternatives aren’t as secure as we would hope. For me Tranmere being fan owned, by something other than a hospitality enterprise, still remains an honourable objective.

After the Exeter game we have a tough looking home fixture against Walsall then a trip across the Peaks to Chesterfield, followed by Rochdale at home. That lost game will be an interesting benchmark. Dale dumped us out of the EFL trophy on penalties. They currently sit bottom of the League. When we played them at the start of August we looked a long way short of the team we have now become. Walsall and Chesterfield will be tougher challenges, but having another 8 points on our tally by mid October would be a really positive step, particularly after recent seasons.

I’m getting ahead of ourselves. We have lots of work ahead of us, and another long trip on Saturday.  For me another defeat will be disappointing but not a crises. Hopefully we’ll come away with more than a light head, with 3 points in the bag and a spring in our step.