It's bringing a smile back to our loyal fans
By Martyn Harrison

Wednesday 2nd November 2005

IT'S 18 months since I became involved in Weymouth Football Club and how time has flown.

Mind you, after considerable time, money and effort, days like Saturday will make it all worthwhile.

I'm not sure too many people could have predicted in the bad old days that we would be on the verge of travelling to play two-time European Cup winners.

All told, 'reckon we'll probably make about £50,000 from the trip to Forest and obviously a lot more if we draw and have a televised replay back at the Wessex.

That sort of money is fantastic for clubs at our level.

Running a full-time football club is not cheap especially when you're trying to build for promotion, so the cash is a big bonus.

But the money is not everything - our fans have waited,a long time for success and hopefully Saturday will give them a taste of things to come.

When the tickets for the game went on sale last, Saturday, there was a scene which to me sums up our trip to Forest.

Fans in the car park were smiling and just staring at their tickets - with the name Weymouth on them - as if we had reached the cup final.

And in many ways Saturday will be our cup final - a great occasion for the town to enjoy.

When the draw was made, everyone at the club starting jumping up and down in delight, everyone, except me that is.

I wanted a home tie against a smaller team who we could easily have beat.

I'm not sure why, maybe I just want us to win every game.

On the positive side though is that fact that my mum lives in Nottingham so I'll be popping round to see her before the game.

Hopefully she will bring us good luck.

The main hope I have from the trip to Forest though is that Weymouth Football Club emerge with our head held high.

Fingers crossed, all the attention will then inspire people who don't currently watch us to come along and see what we have to offer.

Then we can continue building towards what we want next May: Promotion.