Nostalgia may bring hope for future

Another week, another set of interesting developments in the recurring soap opera that is Walsall Football Club, writes blogger

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After the ridiculous knee-jerk reactions to fans legitimately and peacefully voicing their opinions, the club are predictably beginning to climb down. And so they should be.

However as far as I'm aware, at the time of writing, none of the unjustifiable bans dished out to paying customers have actually been rescinded yet. This is something which should be sorted and corrected as soon as possible.

But there have been reports of meetings between club officials and individual supporters over the last week, so credit where it's due to them for that.

There have also been some encouraging noises that the club are prepared to have regular contact with fans' groups. In my opinion it would be extremely damaging for the club if this doesn't get followed through.

In anticipation of any regular dialogue, Walsall Supporters' Trust are looking to attract new members for 2010/11 and will be recruiting in the Bescot area on Saturday before the Hartlepool game. Membership fees for the year have been set at £2.00.

The Trust ultimately aims to have supporter representation within the club, it owns over 200 shares, which really should be something any enlightened and progressive club owner would embrace.

It's also my pleasure to mention the newly formed Unity group, who intention is to work alongside, with and for the Trust.

Some of their other stated aims include the sale of the freehold back to fans, a long term change of ownership and giving Saddlers fans a voice.

Unity aspires to be pretty much what it says on the tin in terms of bringing together fans. Darren, Percie and the others have done well to get things moving in a short space of time. I wish them every success.

Saturday should see a larger than usual amount of yellow and white in evidence, in the form of t-shirts, badges and possibly other items of clothing which won't contravene the sacred ground regulations, as the Cyprus flag theme has been cleverly developed and extended.

It is hoped the final game of the season will have a 'Back to the Saddlers' theme, the idea being that we can show the club how things used to be.

By way of clarification I can say that I know for a fact that this is an idea that has come from a genuine fan and not from anyone at the club, so it is worth doing.

To tie in, fans are being asked to look in the back of their wardrobes and dig out a replica shirt from the past, the older and rarer the better. (I'm desperately trying to find my limited edition, long-sleeved, white with black flecks, third choice shirt from 1991, worn only once at Blackpool.)

Anyone who knows a disillusioned fan (come on, we all know loads) could use their powers of persuasion to get them back at least for one day. If you're a Season Ticket holder who's still got a 'Friend for a Fiver' voucher, use it before it disappears.

And a by-product of the day is that it gives us a chance to show up our opponents, who have no history or legitimacy.

Walsall fans are mobilising, becoming organised and getting their points across.

I hope that the club don't repeat their antics of the late 90s by trying to marginalise one group and manage to get their collective heads around the fact that it is possible to simultaneously be part of Unity and the Trust (and indeed the Saddlers Club).

In the end we are all fans, we make a significant financial contribution to the club and, judging by the strength of feeling in the recent protests, a hell of a lot of people want to see some changes for the better.

They should be grateful we still care.