Last updated 11:54, Saturday, 25 October 2008

KICK RACISM OUT OF FOOTBALL: Supporters hold up their red cards at Holker Street PICS BY WILL TAYLOR

WE are lying in 15th position with 21 points from 16 games, five points off the relegation zone but only seven off the play-offs.

Now that’s something to be proud of, we’ve had some great wins already this season, we’ve had disappointing defeats and then we’ve had the battling draws.

Every game has had its own story but put the picture together and we are doing fantastic, a third of the way through the season.

It’s something the club, players and fans alike should take something from and be proud of. In a league like this it could be so different, teams are very strong and well organised.

We’ve seen that and we’ve had to battle for every point and for me the attitude of the managers that expect and only accept 100 per cent shows in the team.

This week we have brought in Richard Brodie from York City, this kid pulled us apart when we played them at their place a couple of months ago but since then he has been playing out of position and has been unhappy there.

Dave (Bayliss) spoke to me about this but we thought it would be something that would be done after Christmas, but its come sooner than expected and it’s great to see that we are now in the market to get England C internationals wanting to come and play for us.

Richard is on loan for a month and we wish him all the best at the club. I’m sure he will be a crowd favourite, he is very much a Grant Holt-type of player who the Holker Street faithful enjoy watching.

The other good news this week is that both Richard and Alan Martin are clear to play in today’s FA Cup game away against Tamworth.

Last week saw what was billed a six-pointer at Holker Street with the visit of newly-promoted Eastbourne.

There was a gala type atmosphere at the club with the Kick Racism events going full swing which again was a great success.

Well done to all involved and thanks to Craig Rutherford, our Community Enterprise Officer, for coordinating the event on our behalf.

The game itself got off to a great start with David Brown scoring his first goal for the club after just four minutes but better was to come when Carlos Logan’s 25-yard strike hit the back of the net for a comfortable 2-0 half time lead.

Second half, we seemed to back off a little which put us back under pressure and they scored in the closing minute which could have seen a very nervous ending until Matt Henney broke clear and rounded the keeper.

Three points was everything in this game and that’s how you’ve got to look at things, sometimes we will not play great football, game in game out. Yes, we played well first half, lost our way second but we got the three points and that means everything.

Today see’s a massive game with Tamworth away in the FA Cup. Unlike the past few years, a win today puts us straight into the first round proper and the potential of pulling one of the big teams from League One or Two.

We’ve had Tamworth watched a couple of times over the past few weeks since the draw and they are a very, very good side, it’s not going to be easy and we will have to be at our best.

They are a very young, quick side who hit teams fast on the break, so we’ve got to be up and at them from the off.

I was talking to Darren Edmondson (Workington manager) in the week and they got beat 4-1 at the weekend by them. He was very impressed, they are on big money with big expectations.

He quoted their wage bill to me and it’s frightening, sustaining what they are doing if what they say is true. Evidently their manager is earning £60k a year!

Well, we as always will take the attitude that’s got us to where we are today, don’t worry about them, let them worry about us.

Winning is down to our performance on the day and it’s a big one both financially – £12,500 to the winners – and for that ‘big day at a big club dream’ that we go through year on year.

I know there are a few travelling today so please be noisy as you always are. If we can’t win it today, let’s make sure we do enough to get them back to Holker Street Tuesday night and we can do it there.

Next Saturday sees another big league game at Holker Street, another game that will be billed as a six pointer against fourth from bottom side Forest Green.

I don’t think this one is about six points, I think Forest Green will be up the top of the league come May. They are a better side than their position suggests, I know they’ve had a lot of injuries and those injuries are now clearing, so it’s going to be another hard game to get those points.

Please put next Saturday in your diary and let’s get behind the team, let’s keep everything crossed for today and hope we are looking for a big club in the next round.

See you next week.