On the Terraces
A football match is an event celebrated across the land on a weekly basis by over 13 million in the Premier League alone last season. A wide range of emotions are displayed by these fanatical individuals as they laugh, cry & celebrate along with their heroes on the pitch. Away from the money, fame and television cameras of the Premier League stands non-league football where true lovers of the beautiful game congregate together in simple and often run down grounds to support of their local side no matter what the weather, form or personal matters in the knowledge the pyramid could one day see them as Champions of England. Gloucester City AFC battle out in the mid table of Conference North, level 6 of the football playing in from of an average gate of 400 fans. Mid week matches are a particular struggle to attract supporters through the turnstiles on a cold Tuesday night when Champions League football can be watched on the television. Numbers significantly increase however in cup matches as local derbies tend take place with the likes of Bath, Worcester & Forest Green playing & singing for bragging rights and the so-called 'Magic of the FA Cup'. The Tigers' fan base endure a tiresome task to support a team that doesn't even play within their city for the time being, commuting to Whaddon Road home of fierce rivals Cheltenham Town while they loyally wait for the development of Meadow Park in Gloucester.
Lewis Mitchell