Welcome to this weeks fan interview. We're halfway through our pre-season schedule, and the excitement is building for the first game at Lewes. If you would like the chance to take part in an interview, information on how to apply is at the bottom of the page. This week Chris Geddes takes part..

Profile

Name: Chris Geddes
Place of Birth: Poole
Occupation: Chartered Town Planner
Years following the Terras: 30
Favourite Terras player of all time: Ben Smith

In Depth

RB: Hi Chris, thanks for taking part. Let's start by learning how you became an avid supporter of the Terras?

CG: As a child I supported numerous different teams including Leeds United, WBA, Bolton Wanderers, Bristol City, Bayern Munich etc. Having been born and brought up in Poole my dad took me to see AFC Bournemouth on numerous occasions in the late 1970's, but for some reason I didn't become a Cherries fan. I also used to go and watch Poole Town quite a bit too.

In the summer of 1978 we were on a family holiday in Cornwall, and one Sunday morning I was looking at the sports pages of the Sunday Express. On the back page was a very small 'report' on the Mark Frowde Cup Final between Poole Town and Weymouth, with the Terras running out 7-2 winners (9-3 on aggregate I think). For some strange reason I asked my dad if we could go to see Weymouth play; any team that could score 7 goals against Poole must be pretty special! Two months later I attended my first game at the Rec when we hosted Atherstone Town in the Southern Premier League.

RB: Is there much you can remember from that Atherstone Town fixture?

CG: I know it was a 1-1 draw, but I couldn't even tell you who scored the first goal. I do however recall thinking the PA Box perched on the top of the stand was a little bit odd. I also remember my first ever encounter with the gravel-voiced Burt.

RB: As you said earlier you watched Poole Town as a lad. Did you take a keen interest in their fantastic season that has just passed, and what did you make of the decision to stop them from being promoted?
CG: No I can't say I did, otherwise I'd have made the effort to watch a couple of games at Tatnam Farm when the Terras weren't at home; there's no excuse as I do live in Poole after all. To be honest the decision not to allow them to move up to the next level was perfectly reasonable. Hopefully they, like ourselves, will soon have a new stadium befitting of their illustrious history. If and when they do I will definitely get down to Branksome Rec as it's within walking distance of my home.

RB: Ben Smith is your favourite players of all-time. What impressed you so much about him during his time with the club?

CG: He was such a composed player, who somehow managed to find himself a bit of extra time and space in order to evaluate the situation and make the right pass. This is much harder to achieve at Conference level where players tend to close down much quicker than they do in the Premiership. I'm surprised that he didn't make a greater impression at Hereford and would happily have seen him play for Brighton (my other team).

Hopefully he will play for us again some day. Perhaps he could even cut his managerial teeth with us.

RB: Can you recall any funny or unfortunate moments from over the years whilst you've been watching the Terras?

CG: It was pretty weird watching Weymouth v Bury in the FA Cup whilst sitting in a bar in rural Cambodia.

It was also very funny witnessing Wealdstone score an own goal for us at Town Mead back in the 1980's almost straight from kick off. The funniest thing being that a Weymouth player hadn't even touched the ball and many of the travelling fans missed it as they were still in the process of changing ends.

Another weird occasion was looking out of the windows of the football special train, on its way to our 3rd round FA Cup tie at Cambridge in 1983(?), as it was inexplicably delayed next to some fishing lakes in North London. We eventually turned up 30 minutes after kick off having received a police escort on our double-decker bus from the train station.

RB: One of the key events for the club in its recent history was our defeat to the hands of Rushden & Diamonds in February. Can you remember your initial emotions?

CG: My emotions were very mixed. Like many others I had a real lump in my throat after the game and I'm not ashamed to say that I did shed a tear or two. Those players really did us proud and it's a bit of a shame they didn't receive a little more recognition from the club. Afterwards I remember saying to my partner that it felt a little like meeting an old friend who had suddenly changed unrecognisably. Yes this was still my team in name, but like most other people there I didn't know any of them from Adam and yet I'd cheered then on for 90 minutes. Never have so many people been so proud to watch their team concede 9 (nine) goals.

RB: Which Weymouth game would you say is the best you've had the pleasure to watch?

CG: There were a couple of standout games in the early 80s. Both were in the Bob Lord Trophy (I think). The first was against Leytonstone and Ilford, when we ran out 4-3 winners in a real see-saw cup tie. It may well have been an FA Cup tie come to think of it! Or was that the 4-3 victory against Maidstone United? Where's Biddie's book when you need it? The second was the second leg of a Bob Lord Semi Final against our old foes Enfield. I forget what the score-line was but we won and it was a cracking game. Of course the draw at the City Ground was pretty special too!

RB: Next season will see the battle between Weymouth and Dorchester recommence. Do you look forward to the derby matches, or find them unbearably tense?

CG: I don't think I've ever looked forward to any derby match; whether it be Brighton v Palace or Weymouth v Dorchester. I don't think the tenseness subsided until we'd scored our 4th goal in the 8-0 demolition. Somehow I don't think we'll ever see the likes of that again. I'd happily settle for a really boring game with the only goal being scored in the last minute; preferably an own goal by Dorchester's Matt Groves!

RB: Who would be in your greatest Weymouth Eleven?

CG: Ask me another, I hate that question. It's just so difficult to compare players over a period of 30 years. It would however include Ben Smith, Anni, Beaver, David Laws, Poison, Matty Bound and Hutch. I guess that goes to show that I generally go for players that give their all.

RB: Ha-ha, okay so you want a different question. Has there even been a Terras game that you've regretted going to?

CG: I don't think I've ever regretted going to a game but the closest would probably be the GMAC Cup Final against Horwich RMI. The day started with such high expectation and a 5 hour train journey. As I recall their keeper got injured in the opening few minutes after clashing with one of his defenders. We didn't take advantage against a supposedly lesser side and put in a very disappointing overall display; followed by the 5 hour train journey home.

RB: The Rec or the Wessex?

CG: They both provide a much better football experience than getting soaked to the skin at the Withdean Stadium, Brighton. The Rec was a 'proper' traditional Non-League ground with piece-meal stands having been erected over a period of decades. The atmosphere in the Gasworks End has very rarely been equalled at the Wessex; the most notable examples being the opening league fixture against Lincoln City and the Forest game.

When we first moved into the Wessex I thought it was brilliant, but it soon became tired and out-dated. With the benefit of hindsight it is evident that it was designed by someone who knew little about how a football stadium needs to operate. Perhaps before too long we will have a 'shiny new sustainable community stadium'.

RB: What do you make of Cameron Mawer's interest in returning to the club for this weeks friendlies?

CG: It's the best news I have heard in the last few months. Cam was without doubt one of our best players from last season; and when I say that I'm referring to the squad both before and after the Rushden and Diamonds match.

Extra Time

RB: What song would you use to pump the team up before a game?

CG: The team shouldn't really need a song to pump them up. That said I do quite like the intro to Insomnia by Faithless.

RB: What player would you love to see in a Weymouth shirt?

CG: Ben Smith. He was a great player during his time with us. I wouldn't be at all surprised to see him back at the Wessex in a couple of seasons. I recall sitting with him in the bar at Hungerford after our FA Cup victory. He was stuffing his face with sandwiches and eagerly awaiting the draw for the 1st round proper. He came across as such a nice bloke.

RB: What is your worst nightmare as a Terras fan?

CG: The club going to the wall. Hopefully the new regime will manage to maintain a firm grip on the purse strings and we will never return to the times of spending beyond our means. Real progress can only be achieved by sustainable growth.

My second worst nightmare would be drawing Brighton in the FA Cup! I have no doubt where my allegiances would lie, after all I only really became a Brighton fan because I lived there for 20 years and it was too far to travel to Weymouth on a regular basis. I remember we played them in a friendly a couple of years ago and I was quite relieved to have been out of the country at the time.

RB: Finally, what are your hopes for the club next season, on and off the pitch?

CG: Realistically I think next season is all about consolidating; both on and off the pitch. My heart says that we could be in contention for a play-off place, but my head says mid-table obscurity should be viewed as a success. It would be great if we could get the season off to a flying start in order to get a few bums on seats. How ever we perform there should be a hardcore of 700-800 fans, which I understand is what the club has sensibly budgeted for. An FA Cup run would be a bonus, with a First Round tie at St Mary's as the reward!