Shaymen Down Under - First Article

Shaymen Down Under

I have been supporting the Shaymen my entire life, but having been born and also still living in Australia, I didn't see my first Halifax Town Game until the 31st of march last year when I saw the Shaymen away at Hartlepool. While I was a keen supporter of the Shaymen in my early years, my support turned to obsession when I became connected to the internet and joined the SDS in June 1997. From having to live with only results and tables previously, the internet and SDS, represented a chance for me to absorb all things Shaymen. While I maybe a young supporter in terms of age, Internet wise I feel I am one of the elder-statesmen, having lived through all the Halifax Town Sites ranging from the Durham Uni and David Stephenson Town sites, to the latest incarnations of Shaymen Online, HTST, the very impressive official Site, and of course Shaymen.Org, which is fast becoming my most visited website on the net.

Still on myself (egotistical aren't I :-) ), the question I am always asked both here in Australia and in England, is why the hell does an Aussie support Halifax Town?? There is the plain & simple reason, my dads side of the family has its origins in Calderdale (Highroadwell, Sowerby Bridge) and the other reason.... To me Halifax Town represent the way football should be (minus numerous Financial catastrophe's), I feel I am part of the club, I feel if I go to a game, if I buy a programme, if I buy a replica strip, Then I am doing my bit to help the club survive, I like the fact that Paul Stoneman would sit in the away end at Darlington with the fans. I can't imagine Man Utd fans being able to sit with or next to David Beckham anytime soon. I know this may sound weird, but I like the fact, that on the whole Halifax Town is crap, I would hate to win every week like Arsenal and Man Utd do. To me an away victory at Torquay would be more rewarding then a champions league tie between Liverpool and some crap German side.

Well, anyway onto this season, its been diabolical, and that's to say the least. I was lucky enough to travel all the way from oz too see three games this season, including the now Historical Darlo away game, which confirmed our relegation to the conference for the second time. In my three games this season, I saw the best and the worst of Halifax Town, and I mean the very worst. The Carlisle game showed to me, that we were not the worst footballing side around in the league, I thought we played very well in patches, and the heartbreak of a final minute goal, was undeserving on the players. However the Luton & Darlington games were completely different, players like Jules and Fitzy who looked very good against carlisle, looked way out of their depth against these two sides.

If we are to keep the majority of this seasons squad for next season, and if Redders can find good cheap players to add to the squad, then I am prepared to say that we will finish in the top half next season.

C'mon The Shaymen