Today was the end of the road for Gretna, the little club that wanted to play with the big boys.

 

Their fans have seen an amazing 6 years, culminating in today's resignation from the league.

They were playing in the Unibond League in England when Airdrie went bust in 2002, they applied and were accepted into Scottish league 3.

 

They won the Scottish Leagues 3,2 and 1 in successive years from 2004/5 to 2006/7: got to the Cup Final in 2006 and played in the UEFA Cup in 2006/7.

 

I doubt that level of success will ever happen again for such a small club.

Did Halifax bite the dust just recently as well, or are they still hanging on?

Today was the end of the road for Gretna, the little club that wanted to play with the big boys.

 

Their fans have seen an amazing 6 years, culminating in today's resignation from the league.

They were playing in the Unibond League in England when Airdrie went bust in 2002, they applied and were accepted into Scottish league 3.

 

They won the Scottish Leagues 3,2 and 1 in successive years from 2004/5 to 2006/7: got to the Cup Final in 2006 and played in the UEFA Cup in 2006/7.

 

I doubt that level of success will ever happen again for such a small club.

 

Aye RIP Gretna. What happened I thought they had a big backer?

Aye RIP Gretna. What happened I thought they had a big backer?

 

 

Brookes Mileson (their backer) took ill and either decided to pull the plug or is unfit to carry on bankrolling the club, he has made no statement.

 

I feel sorry for the true hard core of fans (about 250 or so) and the players but not all the glorygrabbers who jumped onto the bandwagon.

Shame realy as I always looked for their results over the past few years, always a banker on coupon. I also remember Bolton playing them in an FA cup tie !st round I think, Im sure we won 3-0.

 

Beer swiller.

Shame realy as I always looked for their results over the past few years, always a banker on coupon. I also remember Bolton playing them in an FA cup tie !st round I think, Im sure we won 3-0.

 

Beer swiller.

Ended up 4-2, they took the lead as well.

Shame realy as I always looked for their results over the past few years, always a banker on coupon. I also remember Bolton playing them in an FA cup tie !st round I think, Im sure we won 3-0.

 

Beer swiller.

 

 

We only beat them 3-2... they were 2-1 up with about ten left as I recall. I think Reevsey won the match in the last minute

 

Edit to say it was Owen Coyle who scored

Edited June 3, 200818 yr by jazza

We only beat them 3-2... they were 2-1 up with about ten left as I recall. I think Reevsey won the match in the last minute

 

Was later than the Reevesy era fella

 

We'll get to the bottom of this one eventually

Did Halifax bite the dust just recently as well, or are they still hanging on?

 

Not sure, but don't look good

 

http://www.halifaxafc.premiumtv.co.uk/page...1315670,00.html

i understood mileson was so ill as not to be able to comment one way or the other

Was later than the Reevesy era fella

 

We'll get to the bottom of this one eventually

 

 

checked Nigel Sheppards site and it was 13/11/93 & we won 3-2 with McGinlay and Coyle 2 the scorers.

 

I seem to recall they had a player called Andy Walker playing for them too, leading to chants of "there's only two Andy Walkers"

It was also 'their' game, but was switched to planet burnden

 

I think in the next round we got sutton colfield and they fetched a big mob of zulus into town wearing tights on their heads.

 

Nonces.

Edited June 3, 200818 yr by Smiffs

I seem to remember the Gretna cup game for a few reasons

 

I think it was pissing it down

 

We were shite

 

Owen Coyle had been a bit hit and miss for us up until then

was that the cup game we played away but at home (i think i understand that one)

I seem to remember the Gretna cup game for a few reasons

 

I think it was pissing it down

 

We were shite

 

Owen Coyle had been a bit hit and miss for us up until then

 

if my memory's correct, went started our drive to pisa on the sunday for our 1st ever competitive match in europe.now that was a good trip.

was that the cup game we played away but at home (i think i understand that one)

 

yep - we wore blue/red striped shirts that day. quite a favourite kit of mine that one.

 

one of the lads reckoned he'd come downstairs at home to find Alan Thompson asleep on his couch (been banging his sister) - and that he was wrecked....... can't remember how well he played that afternoon.

yep - we wore blue/red striped shirts that day. quite a favourite kit of mine that one.

 

one of the lads reckoned he'd come downstairs at home to find Alan Thompson asleep on his couch (been banging his sister) - and that he was wrecked....... can't remember how well he played that afternoon.

Sounds like he played well that night though

Gretna aren't the first club to go out of business like this - other non-league clubs had big backers whose business went bust or whatever. Can't understand why none of them seem to follow Jack Walker's lead - he made sure Rovers were provided for after his death.

And clubs are in even bigger trouble if they don't own their ground any more. You'd think the Brighton business years ago would have taught everyone a lesson but, no.

Sad to see Edgware Town go out of business this summer - they were one of my local clubs when living in London. Whoever owns their ground decided to build on it instead, and the local council coudn't care a t*ss about sports facilities or keeping yoof off the streets.

Ah well, makes a change from moaning about GM or season tickets.

Oh, and back to Gretna, I think Coyle's equaliser for us came about 6 minutes from time with his winner a couple of minutes later. But my memory could be playing tricks .... Definitely off to Pisa a couple of days later. And then, after nearly losing at home (ok, officially away) to Gretna, we beat Rochdale before beating Everton, Arsenal, Villa .... and then poor Patterson's gift against Oldham. Football's even stranger than we thought.

Gretna aren't the first club to go out of business like this - other non-league clubs had big backers whose business went bust or whatever. Can't understand why none of them seem to follow Jack Walker's lead - he made sure Rovers were provided for after his death.

And clubs are in even bigger trouble if they don't own their ground any more. You'd think the Brighton business years ago would have taught everyone a lesson but, no.

Sad to see Edgware Town go out of business this summer - they were one of my local clubs when living in London. Whoever owns their ground decided to build on it instead, and the local council coudn't care a t*ss about sports facilities or keeping yoof off the streets.

Ah well, makes a change from moaning about GM or season tickets.

Oh, and back to Gretna, I think Coyle's equaliser for us came about 6 minutes from time with his winner a couple of minutes later. But my memory could be playing tricks .... Definitely off to Pisa a couple of days later. And then, after nearly losing at home (ok, officially away) to Gretna, we beat Rochdale before beating Everton, Arsenal, Villa .... and then poor Patterson's gift against Oldham. Football's even stranger than we thought.

 

mcateers debut and a cracking goal to mark it, i think

 

however, in that run, the second round was away against lincoln - not rochdale, rochdale followed sutton - saturday tea time

Edited June 3, 200818 yr by Casino

mcateers debut and a cracking goal to mark it, i think

 

however, in that run, the second round was away against lincoln - not rochdale, rochdale followed sutton - saturday tea time

 

I think his debut for Liverpool was also an FA Cup game against Rochdale in which he scored. Coincidence or what?

jason priestley also played for them... i ventured onto the embankment for the first time, before promptly moving into the paddock... i was abot 13 and expecting three farmers and a dog in their end

I think in the next round we got sutton colfield and they fetched a big mob of zulus into town wearing tights on their heads.

 

I may have dreamt it but I think Barry Cowdrill played against us for Sutton Coldfield in that game.

I may have dreamt it but I think Barry Cowdrill played against us for Sutton Coldfield in that game.

I think you're right there.

Very sad news, always kept an eye on their results since our FA Cup tie.

 

I remember Gretna fans writing to the BEN thanking BWFC and their fans for a great day. (may have been a bit different if they'd beaten us though). Also, the letters of support continued throughout our Cup Run.

 

Aye set off for Pisa in a mini bus the next day. You can only imagine a 2 day drive with Fester's ar5e for company.

I may have dreamt it but I think Barry Cowdrill played against us for Sutton Coldfield in that game.

 

Old crazy legs.. our very own Roberto Carlos bombing down the wing