Steve Jupp, BA11's Club Historian, provides all the numbers ahead of a pivotal scrap.
Saturday’s Badgers Hill clash with Marlow is both a vital and poignant fixture for the Robins in their Premier Division survival bid.
It was in the reverse encounter back in late November at the Alfred Davis Memorial Ground that their season reached an absolute nadir, going down 2-1 to the Buckinghamshire Blues in a dire and disjointed display, extending a winless run to SIXTEEN games.
FOUR points adrift at the foot of the table and TEN points from safety, all looked lost but what a transformation since then. TWENTY points from the next DOZEN games is a return which would see any side competing for a play-off spot.
Throw EIGHT clean sheets from THIRTEEN into the mix and it all looks quite rosy, but Danny Greaves will be the first to admit that the job is barely half done and there is a whole heap of hard work ahead.
Things have not gone quite so well for Marlow since that November meeting as they prop up the table many points adrift, but, with a ‘nothing-to-lose’ mindset, they will be dangerous opponents.
Indeed, in their last four fixtures, they thumped Chertsey 5-2 away and lost by the odd goal to Merthyr and Gosport, on both occasions to late winners so take them lightly at your peril.
Formed as long ago as 1870, they have a long and distinguished history and were one of only fifteen clubs to play in the very first FA Cup (losing 2-0 at neighbours Maidenhead in the First Round) while their very own Cuthbert Ottaway captained England in world football’s first international versus Scotland in 1872.
For the purpose of a bit of balance, Frome Town’s Luke Ballinger was England futsal captain some 140 years later!
Tuesday’s turnout of 379 was a thoroughly decent figure for a chilly February evening and hopefully a few more will be present for what will be Marlow’s first-ever visit to The Hill.
Many fans will be expecting three points against a side anchored at the foot of the table, but football has a regular habit of puncturing high hopes and despite their winter revival, The Scarlet Runners must improve upon a recent run of netting just TWICE in their last SIX outings.
The memory of that dismal afternoon in Bucks nearly three months ago will be incentive enough for a squad, virtually unchanged since then, to improve upon a disappointing home record but it will be far from easy, and every member will need to be on top of their game.
It may be 21st vs. 22nd but this is a big one.
The latest information on ticketing which can be bought on the Fanbase app or website is as follows:
Adult - £12.00
Concession (65+, NHS and Military) - £9.00
Student - £4.00
U16s - £2.00
Listen to the latest episode of the Dodge The Question podcast!
Recorded at Badgers Hill either side of the Frome Town FC v Gosport Borough FC game on Tuesday night. Guests include Callum Gould and Geoff & Gerry Urch.
You can also listen on Frome.FM radio every Friday at 5pm (repeated on Saturday 3pm)
Secure your entry and make the most of hospitality packages for all of our games at Badgers Hill on the Fanbase app and website!
That's a mighty fine 'intro' The Jupster .
There's quite a lot of rain around between now and kick off so I do hope we'll be OK pitch wise.
With that 'easterly wind on Tuesday evening it felt as low as 'freezing' and so many people around me said just how cold they were - its a wonder that one or two of the old codgers didn't become one of the Governments winter stats! it truly shivered my timbers matey and took a lot of putting up with even with several layers on.. What one does or goes through to support their local team... and we pay for the privilege too! All 379 of us deserved a medal…