We can do it, we can really do it!

Saturday 12th November 2005

WEYMOUTH Football Club is gearing up for one of the biggest games in its 115-year history with the visit of mighty Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup first round replay on Monday night.

The Terras have gone through plenty of ups and down in recent years - from glorious cup runs to being minutes away from extinction. Now the club, bankrolled by resort hotelier Martyn Harrison, appears to be on the way back.

Following a spectacular draw at the City Ground earlier this month, a victory over Forest in the replay would be one of Weymouth's finest moments.

As the mouthwatering clash approaches, reporter DAN GOATER spoke with six Terras stalwarts about their experiences with the club and their hopes for the forthcoming match.

RETIRED doctor John Stewart has avidly supported Weymouth FC for 75 years.

After qualifying in medicine he spent 25 years as the club's medical officer.

He now takes his grandsons Jonathan and Timothy Newman, 21 and 16, to watch them play.

Dr Stewart, of Bowleaze Coveway, Weymouth, said: "I've been a supporter of Weymouth since I was eight. I'm now 83.

"My father took me to watch matches as a boy.

"From the age of eight to 18 I hardly missed a match."

Dr Stewart moved from Glasgow to Weymouth in 1922, aged two. He attended Weymouth Grammar School and Guy's Hospital to train in medicine before joining the Army. Returning in 1953, he set up his first practice and was Weymouth FC's doctor from 1955 to 1980.

He retired in 1987, aged 65.

He said: "My other interest in the club was Desmond Lawes. "He was very prominent from 1949 to 1955 and was married to my sister.

"What was notable about him was that he represented Weymouth at hockey, cricket and football.

"The only man, I think, to represent the town at three different sports.

"He was in the team that went to Manchester United in 1950.

"They were drawn away to Manchester United; they lost 4-0 which still wasn't bad."

Dr Stewart's grandsons live in Warminster and come down to see Weymouth play. He said: "I couldn't see the last match against Nottingham Forest but we've bought tickets for the rematch down here.

"They come down quite a lot to see Weymouth play.

"It's very interesting to take my grandsons. They got Weymouth shirts which I had to buy for them. "I took them to the qualifying Cambridge match and they bought me a Weymouth club scarf."

• FORMER Weymouth striker Anni Iannone, 49, has swapped boots for a bucket since leaving the club.

The club's second-highest goal scorer, who joined the team in 1976, now cleans windows for a living.

He made 710 appearances for the club and scored 182 goals between 1976 and 1993.

He said: "I started off in midfield and after a couple of years they pushed me up front and I stayed
there for about eight years.

Mr Iannone, of North Square, Chickerell, is still a fan of the Terras and is routing for them on Monday, despite missing the first match.

He said: "I still go and watch them.

"I get a ticket from them once a year as a nice gesture. "I didn't see the match against Forest but it was a great result. "I mean, Forest have won European Cups and league championships and for a team like Weymouth to get through is amazing.

"It's probably a better achievement than when we beat Cardiff away."

He thinks Weymouth have a genuine shot at winning.

He said: "I'm really hoping they match them like they did on Saturday and show the same commitment.

"Eighty per cent of the time a team like that will lose the replay so they've got to show the same commitment they did on Saturday. "The great thing was that their
fitness was still there at full-time. "They should be as fit as Nottingham Forest.

"Notts are under pressure too, they're the team that should have won and if Weymouth can play their game they can get a result."

• Nigel `Biddie' Biddlecombe, 49, is the foremost living expert on Weymouth FC.

He still finds time to go to matches, despite getting up at 4.30am to commute to his job in London
from Bournemouth.

He's such a big fan that he's written books on the club and is compiling another.

Mr Biddlecombe went to his first match at the tender age of two and a half with his father and grandfather to watch Weymouth play Coventry City and has supported the team ever since.

He said: "I had an uncle who, straight after the war, played for Weymouth so it seemed pointless watching anybody else."

Mr Biddlecombe is rooting for the club in their rematch against Nottingham Forest on Monday. He said: "I was a bit disappointed when they drew in the first match because I think we could have won it.

"At the same time I was really, really happy and it was a great result.

"As one of the smaller group of fans who has been going to away matches, week in, week out, it was great to see a large group there on Saturday.

"Everybody in the crowd from about 80 right down to five-year-olds were smiling.

"I think before I make any predictions about Monday we should see how things go against Basingstoke.

"I think Nottingham Forest will be more worried about coming to us than we were about going to them.

"It would be great for Weymouth to win."

• Brian Copp has been going to Weymouth matches for over 40 years, as a fan and later as a reporter for the Dorset Echo. His fondest memory is of the club's success against Cardiff City in 1982.

He also remembers the disappointment of playing league club Peterborough four times and losing the final match.

Mr Copp, of Clarence Road, Littlesea, said: "I remember going to watch Weymouth very early in their Western League days as a fan but I can't remember the first match I went to cover for
the paper.

"My best recollection is when Weymouth went to Cardiff City. "We were 2-0 down at half-time and we were being pushed around and we came back to win 3-2.

"That was a great giant-killing and a wonderful match."

He also recalls Weymouth playing against league club Peterborough in 1974.

The Terras had played them away and drawn 0-0 and, in the rematch at home, again drew 3-3.
He said: "We almost won the next match - we were 3-2 up in extra time with a few minutes to go.

"The Weymouth goalkeeper made a mistake and they equalised.

"In the replay Weymouth lost 3-0. That was awful."

Mr Copp, who retired from the Echo in 1995, thinks that Weymouth can win the rematch against Nottingham Forest.

He said: "We've got a very good side this year.

"Weymouth are so fit and experienced and well trained, I think we will match them all the way. "I think we can win by a two-goal margin."

• DEDICATION to Weymouth FC does not come much stronger than that of sponsor Dave Higson.

The 62-year-old owner of Park Engineering in Surrey Close has helped bail the club out financially on three occasions.

He once helped the club to stay afloat after a problem with a planning application.

He said: "There was one occasion where the club was within half-an-hour of going to the wall.

`At four o'clock we went down there to bail them out.

"Park Engineering has helped the club out a couple of times."

Park Engineering was the main sponsor of the club from 1994 to 2003 and recently took up the role again.

Mr Higson is looking forward to the rematch on Monday after missing the first game against Nottingham Forest.

He said: "I was invited as a guest up to the Nottingham match, which was very kind, but I was unable to make it.

"I've got some VIP tickets for the game on Monday and I'll be going along.

"I think they will probably win the match 1-0.

"I didn't follow the team when I first moved here but I do since I became a director.

"I wish the team all the very best and I've got to give a lot of credit to the manager who has done a great job.

"I think we have got the edge over Nottingham Forest.

"I also think it's going to be good for the fans to experience something like this on Monday."

• FOREST draw rekindles remories of Cardiff upset.

STUART Morgan was the youngest-ever manager of Weymouth FC at the age 27.

This didn't stop the former striker leading the club to their legendary 3-2 win against Cardiff City in 1982.

Mr Morgan, 56, thinks the Terras have got what it takes to get another good result on Monday.

He said: "I never made any kind of prediction before the last match and I don't want to jinx anything by doing it now.

"Weymouth have got the opportunity now handed to them, it's just up to them to take it."

Mr Morgan, of Dorchester Road, Weymouth, used to manage Dorchester Town and now scouts for Coca Cola league club Southampton.

He said: "People ask me where my affections lie, are they with Weymouth or are they with Dorchester? I've lived here for about 20 years and I'm always glad to say that I support both clubs."

Mr Morgan recalls the daunting experience moving from player to manager at the Terras in 1979.

He said: "I think I was possibly the youngest manager in the country and it was a bit daunting.

"I had just injured myself and the previous manager had left so I stepped in.

"The match we won 3-2 against Cardiff was great, a great win and a great result for the club. This time
around Weymouth could go so far if they try. When I was there on Saturday to watch them play Nottingham Forest I was reminded of that.

"It brought back a lot of very good memories."