139 Not out

As a football club, our predecessors Belmont FC, played their first game 139 years ago. It wasn't until 1895 we adopted the name Tramere Rovers but next season looks like being the one that is commemorated as our 140 anniversary. If you wanted to be pedantic you might argue that we should wait until 2035, but by then we will be celebrating our 4th successive Champions League win as Ian Dawes completes 12 years at the club, having turned down offers from Barcelona, Man City and some new club in Saudi Arabia. Next year seems as good a year as any to celebrate our beginnings. The question becomes, what should we do?  

For me there is one obvious and easy starting point. We should embrace the Belmont kit as either our home or away strip. The all white kit was adopted in 1962. Until then we had played in the same colours as Everton. Many of us have no memory of the pre-all white kit, but some do. Adopting the Belmont replica, and playing in it, will allow us to boost sales in the club shop (albeit it will be 2035 before they have them in large), and highlight the importance of our heritage. To me that's an easy win and one that I suspect would be popular with fans.

Then it gets a bit harder. The excellent Refreshment Rooms in Rock Ferry, celebrated their 10th anniversary last year, by reducing their prices to what they were a decade earlier. It would be tempting to reduce match admission to a Penny for all home games, but financially suicidal. However, given that the new fan zone will be open, maybe we could ask the Brimstage Brewery, makers of the excellent Trappers Hat, to brew a special ale that would,only be available in the fan zone? Beer and footie have always been bedmates and a special ale would cement that relationship. 

I'm sure that the club will also come up,with its usual range of propositions, like a special memorial dinner, but I reckon such events don't really appeal to our fan base. It would be great to see us recognise the contributions of the clubs that came to our aid in our darkest hour in the early 80s when we almost went bust. Then Wolves and Man Utd offered testimonial matches at Prenton Park to help keep us afloat. It would be nice if, at the very least, we could organise a pre-season friendly against each club in recognition of the huge roles they played in enabling us to continue. Our noisier neighbours weren't quite as forthcoming. 

It might be that one other option would be available by next year. Our partnership with Wirral council came to an end 11 years ago. The sponsorship deal was highlighted by the Daily Telegraph as an example of the waste in public expenditure by Labour Councils. It's possible that there will be a change in Government before next season starts, it would be great if, just for one season, the Wirral logo could once again appear on our shirts. One of the most positive developments over the clubs history is how we have changed from being a Birkenhead club to a Wirral club. 

Ultimately our achievements should be celebrated on the pitch. It would be fitting if we were to start next season a division higher. We can but hope that the season ahead offers us the chance to do so. In the meantime the club is hopefully in the process of planning a whole series of events that blow our socks off.