Hinckley United ... a lesson we could learn from !

[Lineker's Left Foot]

Watched United beat Tamworth 2-0 last night and they were a credit to their team. Like City, Hinckley have been in relegation

trouble for most of the season, but are now putting a 'little run' together which basically culminated in them being basically safe after last night's result.

The point is, these guys had fight, a willingness to win, competitiveness and desire - something lacking from City at the moment and if only our guys had been watching them last night - they would have learnt a lot.

So well done Hinckley United and it's a sorry state of affairs when our 'over-paid' team are struggling so badly

[Legend_in_blue]

Watched United beat Tamworth 2-0 last night and they were a credit to their team. Like City, Hinckley have been in relegation

trouble for most of the season, but are now putting a 'little run' together which basically culminated in them being basically safe after last night's result.

The point is, these guys had fight, a willingness to win, competitiveness and desire - something lacking from City at the moment and if only our guys had been watching them last night - they would have learnt a lot.

So well done Hinckley United and it's a sorry state of affairs when our 'over-paid' team are struggling so badly

I agree. Well done to them.

[SamL]

Watched United beat Tamworth 2-0 last night and they were a credit to their team. Like City, Hinckley have been in relegation

trouble for most of the season, but are now putting a 'little run' together which basically culminated in them being basically safe after last night's result.

The point is, these guys had fight, a willingness to win, competitiveness and desire - something lacking from City at the moment and if only our guys had been watching them last night - they would have learnt a lot.

So well done Hinckley United and it's a sorry state of affairs when our 'over-paid' team are struggling so badly

Well done Hinkley United, I'm glad they've staved off relegation.

Just goes to show there are players out there who are willing to play for pittance but still put out a good performance

[Moreton]

Well done Hinkley United, I'm glad they've staved off relegation.

Just goes to show there are players out there who are willing to play for pittance but still put out a good performance

Yeah, too bad there not our players

[FleckneyFox]

Sounds like that new lad Adam Webster is bangin them in left right and centre, where did they get him from? Also how did Cisak play?

[Geo V]

Well Done to them but not Im not that bothered if Im honest as I have lost touch with lower league football since moving out of the area years ago. Anyway, at this rate we may well be non-league ourselves

[jumbo mills]

Watched United beat Tamworth 2-0 last night and they were a credit to their team. Like City, Hinckley have been in relegation

trouble for most of the season, but are now putting a 'little run' together which basically culminated in them being basically safe after last night's result.

The point is, these guys had fight, a willingness to win, competitiveness and desire - something lacking from City at the moment and if only our guys had been watching them last night - they would have learnt a lot.

So well done Hinckley United and it's a sorry state of affairs when our 'over-paid' team are struggling so badly

Amen son

[Thracian]

Well done Hinkley United, I'm glad they've staved off relegation.

Just goes to show there are players out there who are willing to play for pittance but still put out a good performance

Not sure it's so much of a pittance for a part-time job. Nor would they refuse full-time wages.

Anyway, as a former player with the old Hinckley Athletic, I'm naturally delighted, and particularly for Dean Thomas who has worked so hard to get the club where they are.

It was their determination and willingness to work which saw them beat City Reserves earlier this season - and quite comfortably in the end.

Which shows how much we need to get some pride and some attitude back.

[Ibbyfox]

Watched United beat Tamworth 2-0 last night and they were a credit to their team. Like City, Hinckley have been in relegation

trouble for most of the season, but are now putting a 'little run' together which basically culminated in them being basically safe after last night's result.

The point is, these guys had fight, a willingness to win, competitiveness and desire - something lacking from City at the moment and if only our guys had been watching them last night - they would have learnt a lot.

So well done Hinckley United and it's a sorry state of affairs when our 'over-paid' team are struggling so badly

Went myself last night, been to about 6 games at Hinckley this season and they've turned it around amazingly as I had them down for definite relegation a couple of months ago.

Good crowd of 944 there aswell which is good to see, although a fair few of them were Tamworth supporters.

[LeeCovFox]

Absolutely cannot abide Hinckley United. An unnecessary merger of two well run clubs who were never in danger of going out of business, run by a family of small town business men who have made money and are looking to make a name for themselves off the back of a club supported by fans who never supported the merger in the first place. I was hoping that they went down to be honest.

[Tevez]

Finally, Hinckley have recovered from their hangover.

[Thracian]

Finally, Hinckley have recovered from their hangover.

And, presumably, their injury problems.

[DJhinckley]

An unnecessary merger of two well run clubs who were never in danger of going out of business, run by a family of small town business men who have made money and are looking to make a name for themselves off the back of a club supported by fans who never supported the merger in the first place. I was hoping that they went down to be honest.

really? just looking for a bite or not bothered to research any facts?

call this a bite if you want, but some people may read your bile and believe it to be true, so this is for them, not you.

Athletic had the history and following, but Town had bypassed them on the pitch. Town's crowds were minimal and were racking up debt trying to compete in the Southern Midland. Athletic couldn't escape the Midland Alliance doing well season after season, but never having the financial clout to make the break out. Sponsorship money was divided between the two and the area didn't really have enough resources to support both clubs.

The only real solution was a merger. I supported the merger in 1997, and had supported Athletic since 1982, some 15 years previous. Many fans felt the same from both Town and Atho. True, there were some who were opposed to it, but they were in the minority as the first league game of United proved when a crowd higher than Town's or Athletics averages watched it, and continued to watch since.

The club is a LTD and has a board of directors, not run (or bankrolled for that matter) by one man (Downes as you infer).

4 years after the merger promotion to the Southern League Premier was achieved and 2 years after that Hinckley qualified for the new Conference North division. 9 years after the merger, a play off final appearance (albeit in defeat) with a place in the top flight of non league football for the prize.

This season is the first season since 1997 that the club have gone backwards. You have to take the thin with the thick.

(this is the bit for you LCF) so in summary of your points:

An unnecessary merger of two well run clubs who were never in danger of going out of business - nope, Town were financially not viable and had to do something pretty soon.

run by a family of small town business men who have made money and are looking to make a name for themselves - nope, a LTD company with an equal share of directors from the Town and the Atho.

a club supported by fans who never supported the merger in the first place - nope, 300 new fans appeared from nowhere on day 1, and have more than doubled since, have they?

I was hoping that they went down to be honest. - probably the only thing you posted that was correct

thanks to the other well wishers on the board following our progress.

[LeeCovFox]

really? just looking for a bite or not bothered to research any facts?

call this a bite if you want, but some people may read your bile and believe it to be true, so this is for them, not you.

Athletic had the history and following, but Town had bypassed them on the pitch. Town's crowds were minimal and were racking up debt trying to compete in the Southern Midland. Athletic couldn't escape the Midland Alliance doing well season after season, but never having the financial clout to make the break out. Sponsorship money was divided between the two and the area didn't really have enough resources to support both clubs.

The only real solution was a merger. I supported the merger in 1997, and had supported Athletic since 1982, some 15 years previous. Many fans felt the same from both Town and Atho. True, there were some who were opposed to it, but they were in the minority as the first league game of United proved when a crowd higher than Town's or Athletics averages watched it, and continued to watch since.

The club is a LTD and has a board of directors, not run (or bankrolled for that matter) by one man (Downes as you infer).

4 years after the merger promotion to the Southern League Premier was achieved and 2 years after that Hinckley qualified for the new Conference North division. 9 years after the merger, a play off final appearance (albeit in defeat) with a place in the top flight of non league football for the prize.

This season is the first season since 1997 that the club have gone backwards. You have to take the thin with the thick.

(this is the bit for you LCF) so in summary of your points:

An unnecessary merger of two well run clubs who were never in danger of going out of business - nope, Town were financially not viable and had to do something pretty soon.

run by a family of small town business men who have made money and are looking to make a name for themselves - nope, a LTD company with an equal share of directors from the Town and the Atho.

a club supported by fans who never supported the merger in the first place - nope, 300 new fans appeared from nowhere on day 1, and have more than doubled since, have they?

I was hoping that they went down to be honest. - probably the only thing you posted that was correct

thanks to the other well wishers on the board following our progress.

Always willing to be by corrected by those who have more knowledge of a situation than myself. I wasn't just looking for a bite as you suggested though, I have spoken to Athletic (mainly) and Town fans who were opposed to the merger, and the same people now have expressed deep concern about the current ownership, and the negative (in their view) effect it is having on the club's ability to progrewss right now, particularly relating to what they deem to be an overly cosy relationship between board and manager. Like I said, I am more than willing to be corrected, but I just wanted to make clear that my views are not simply made up and posted in order to get a reaction. I'm more intelligent than that. A good response by the way. Just the kind of debate that many would like to see on here more often.

[DJhinckley]

and the same people now have expressed deep concern about the current ownership, and the negative (in their view) effect it is having on the club's ability to progrewss right now, particularly relating to what they deem to be an overly cosy relationship between board and manager.

that view by them though is biased by the really, really sh*t season we are having. Only 11 months ago, what were these same people saying while waiting for the play off final to kick off? Like I said thin with the thick. Dean Thomas knows the club and the league inside and out. He was only 7 minutes from taking them into the Conf National. He has never hid from his style of play, it has always been 'play in the last third of the pitch' football. With DT, what you see is what you get, some people like it some don't. It's worked for Hinckley for 10 years, but there have been some people who have had to wait 10 years sharpening their axes, just waiting for the first slip. This year they have had their chance.

Yes Downes has supported his manager, even at our lowest point just after christmas, there was a board vote and they voted to keep him till the end of the season and then review situation. This vote was made public so everybody knew - the team the fans etc. The rights or wrongs of the decision would only ever be decided by the fact if we were relegated or not come the end of the season. At the moment it looks not. 17 points out of the last 21 and unbeaten in 7 games. If DT was to blame for the sh*t form then he must be given credit for turning it around.

Take Adam Webster for example. He has played 9 games and scored 8 goals since coming to us, and looks like his goals will keep us up. This is a player DT has been after for 2 years! It's not Thomas fault that Webster decided to stay at Worcester for the past 2 years, but Downes has supported his manager financially too and stretched the budget further than he should to get Webster, and the gamble looks like paying off. This shows 'cosy relationships' work in our favour also.

[LeeCovFox]

that view by them though is biased by the really, really sh*t season we are having. Only 11 months ago, what were these same people saying while waiting for the play off final to kick off? Like I said thin with the thick. Dean Thomas knows the club and the league inside and out. He was only 7 minutes from taking them into the Conf National. He has never hid from his style of play, it has always been 'play in the last third of the pitch' football. With DT, what you see is what you get, some people like it some don't. It's worked for Hinckley for 10 years, but there have been some people who have had to wait 10 years sharpening their axes, just waiting for the first slip. This year they have had their chance.

Yes Downes has supported his manager, even at our lowest point just after christmas, there was a board vote and they voted to keep him till the end of the season and then review situation. This vote was made public so everybody knew - the team the fans etc. The rights or wrongs of the decision would only ever be decided by the fact if we were relegated or not come the end of the season. At the moment it looks not. 17 points out of the last 21 and unbeaten in 7 games. If DT was to blame for the sh*t form then he must be given credit for turning it around.

Take Adam Webster for example. He has played 9 games and scored 8 goals since coming to us, and looks like his goals will keep us up. This is a player DT has been after for 2 years! It's not Thomas fault that Webster decided to stay at Worcester for the past 2 years, but Downes has supported his manager financially too and stretched the budget further than he should to get Webster, and the gamble looks like paying off. This shows 'cosy relationships' work in our favour also.

To be fair to these friends of mine, they have been critical of both the management oand the ownership for the 3 or 4 years I have known them. Please correct me if I'm wrong, but hasn't Thomas only achieved one promotion in 10 years, taking into account that one was achieved after a mid table finish and the restructuring of the league, at a fairly well resourced club for its level? Also, they are very critical of his transfer policy, although I concede that this an issue which has only reared his head this season. One thing you are correct in assuming is that they are not fans of his footballing style at all.

[DJhinckley]

but hasn't Thomas only achieved one promotion in 10 years, taking into account that one was achieved after a mid table finish and the restructuring of the league,

only 1 promotion? Yes, 'only' the one , but out of the top 130 or so clubs in this country, how many of them with the same manager have also achieved more than one. Not bothering to do the research, but I'd estimate that you could count them on one hand.

The restructuring of the league happened in 2004/2005 when the top 13 clubs were picked to help form the Conference North/South. Hinckley finished in 6th place that season, at the time the highest finish for any Hinckley team, ever.

[Ultra]

Like City, Hinckley won 1-0 away at the weekend.

Their survival is now assured.

[Thracian]

Like City, Hinckley won 1-0 away at the weekend.

Their survival is now assured.

Delighted, for the club, the town and Dean Thomas.

[BigGibbo]