For many reasons, fans will always pick and choose the games they attend (cost, work/family commitments, etc) and it is therefore always a little unfair to criticise attendance at any one game, even though we've all done it from time to time. Comparing a league game against a team that in recent years has become a regular local rival, with bigger clubs we play more infrequently, is similarly unfair. Yes, those cup games may be against depleted/weakened teams, but it still doesn't affect the "glamour" for those less regular fans. Personally speaking, in the last couple of years I've been picking off away grounds I've not visited, and the cup games (and playoffs). I did Elland Road twice two seasons ago, so it wasn't on my list for this season. Does this make me less of a fan? I would say not, but in the eyes of some it may.
Opposition fans will always latch onto easy/lazy jibes with which to initiate "banter". With us, it will always be sheep, Scotland, "small town", etc. It would be nice for them to be original, and we always comment about it, but the mature fans have grown to accept it. Try not to become a person of success, but rather to become a person of value, for reputation is what other people know about you but honour is what you know about yourself. Many people fail in life not for lack of ability or brains or even courage, but simply because they have never organised their energies around a goal.
So, what do I want us to achieve? This is one that comes up from time to time. In Knighton's early days, the possibility of cheap (and self sustained) elevation to, and continuation in, Tier 1 was still possible. In the current funding fueled madness that is the PremierSh:t, we could never achieve and sustain that position without massive and ongoing funding. Yes, a lot of plastics would come out of the shadows to attend BP, both to support Carlisle and the teams visiting. However, we would need continual injections of funding from outside of the club turnover. The likelihood of attracting such a sugardaddy/mommy is remote, and would also leave us vulnerable to future implosions such as some of the clubs we currently see in Tier 3 and even Tier 4.
Well, continual presence in Tier 1 and all cup finals, of course! What do I realistically expect us to be able to achieve? I don't see why good ownership, stewardship, management, coaching and development could not bring us sustained Tier 2, along with some occasional good cup runs.
However, whilst being Cumbrian is following the Way of the Winja, many of our winjas must set aside their weapons and regularly attend BP to make it achievable. Why should owners pump their cash in when some fans will only do so "in the good times"?
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