Glf 76: Christopher looks back at the decade just gone.
Noughties But Nice!
As we forged bravely into the 21st century (whatever happend to the Millenium Bug??) things were oh so different in Claret & Amber land. We enjoyed a winter break (giving us 5 dormant weeks to stew over a 1-5 home roasting from Rangers) and dreaming of a foray back into Euro football 5 years after the misery of Mypa. The '3rd Force of Scottish Football' was in its first full season and money seemed no object. How did the first 3 years of the decade compare with our cash-strapped final 2 of The Noughties then ???
Money Can't Buy Happiness
2000 - Scottish Cup - 'Well 3 - 4 Ayr...unbeaten run of 4 at end of season concluding in Don Goodman celebrating a Tannadice goal by surfboarding on advertising hoarding... Twaddle & Spencer humbling Rangers at Fir Park, yet still failing to qualify for Europe...sharing 6 goals at home to Celtic courtesy of a Ged Brannan pen....sititing 8th at end of year.
2001 - run of only 4 goals in 10 games Feb-Apr (2 of them from Greg Strong and Derek Townsley)...01/02 starts with Dunfermline 5-2 Motherwell....Bye Bye Billy Davies, Hello Eric Black...knocked out of League Cup at first hurdle at Airdrie...2nd from bottom at Christmas
2002 - Gubbed again at East End Park - this time 0-3 in Scottish Cup... David Ferrere briefly lifts the gloom - then darkness descends with Administration...Well Worth Saving...Kilmarnock 1-4 'Well...Faddy and his red stripe hit the headlines 'Well 2-1 Celtic...no win in 11 ended by 'Well 6-1 Jambo's...Faddy strikes again on Boxing Day to humble Rangers.
2008 - First game back since loss of Phil, brave 2-2 draw at Tynecastle in Cup... Lappin hits winner at Parkhead...Porter secures win and UEFA spot v Aberdeen...Great trip to Nancy but out with a whimper...McGhee oversees winless run of 7 only ended with Porter hattrick v ICT.
2009 - Start the year 8 undefeated including 4-0 at Tannadice...miss out on Top 6 finish but news breaks of back-door avenue into Europe via Fair Play...McGhee works his ticket, Jim who??...6 Europa games including 8-1 Flamurtari...unbeaten first 6 domestically, only lose 1 of first 10...wheels come off, Gannon goner, Jack & Victor in??
2010 - Brown & Knox begin their new jobs in earnest...unbeaten in first 12 SPL games...sharing 12 v Hibs & 6 at Ibrox see us finish 5th but get another European tour...another six Euro matches, so near v Odense...win first 4 domestic away matches...progress to semi of League Cup...comfortably in Top 6 and in hunt for 4th consecutive crack at Europe.
Proud To Be A 'Well Fan ...
So, where would we rather be??? Paying thru the nose for the experienced Spencer/Brannan/Goodman/Goram et al and spiralling into debt or enjoying the burgeoning young talents of Porter/Jutkiewicz/Ruddy/Blackman whilst we can and balancing the books along the way. Long may the ride continue....
Thanks for supporting GLF thru its 2nd full decade of existence, see you in 2011
Love 'n' stuff
Christopher Hutton
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