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When Hayes & Yeading turned up at EP on Bonfire Night 2011 County’s first season in non-league was 18 games old. Didi Hamann had been appointed as manager at the start of the campaign and had gathered together, Assembled being far too strong a word), a collection of true journeymen. It had been a salutary introduction to life outside the Football League. Those 18 games had produced just 3 wins, and plethora of draws meant that we had ‘amassed’ the grand total of 18 points. It was grim fare, and the mood had hardly improved with an FA Cup exit at the first time of asking at Haig Avenue a week previously. It would be the first time in 105 years, (excluding wartime), that we had not featured in the competition proper. Crowds had fallen by 20% since the start of the season. The growing swell of dissent against the regime was evident. The game against Hayes was to produce the change that was demanded.

Hayes had been in the Conference National for a couple of years without pulling any trees up. They were homeless at the time, having to play their games at Kingfield, Woking. Surely this would be a game where we could get our season back on track. Not so. Despite going into a two goal lead within half an hour, with Tom Elliott and Carl Piergianni on target, H&Y were allowed back into the game five minutes later. It remained 2-1 at the break, but another goal from Piergianni doubled the lead 10 minutes or so into the second period. It remained that way until a quarter of an hour from time. In line with the seeming lack of stability, (or to be brutally honest pride in the performance), we collapsed and gifted the visitors two goals, leaving yet another draw, the 10th of the season. It simply wasn’t good enough and dissatisfaction was vented from the terraces.

It provided the perfect backdrop for a meeting held after the game in one of the hospitality suites in the Cheadle End. Putting things into context….

Tony Evans had disappeared after the Telford game in mid September with him and his un-named consortium being unable to agree a deal. (He did show up at the FA Cup game at Southport where, in a bizarre display, and surrounded by a fawning entourage, he held court in the stand). Hamann had effectively lost the support of his main protagonist, and with results poor the terrace criticism had grown by the game. But it wasn’t only performances on the field, but a growing knowledge that financial matters off it and a seeming lack of direction, that caused the dissatisfaction.

A group of the more vociferous fans, and indeed critics, had gathered under the banner “Your Town Your Team”. The strapline had been resurrected after previously being seen on the Leonard Curtis march. This led to the meeting where fans had their say about how things stood, and were joined by Jim Gannon. His presence (and more than likely in the knowledge that the Administrators decision to make him redundant 30 months previously), left what was by now the remnants of a Board with little alternative. It led to a strength of feeling and Hamann, knowing that there was no Boardroom support, and more than likely realising that his vast football experience didn’t really sit well in the 5th Tier, walked a couple of days later. Gannon came back as Director of Football 10 days later.

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Memories of trips to Kingfield

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THE GAMES

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Where the date is in bold click for highlights of the game

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	Date	Venue	Ground	Competition		F	A	Att:
Sat	05/11/11	h	Edgeley Park	Blue Square Bet Premier (Tier 5)	D	3	3	2,804
Sat	28/04/12	a	Kingfield	Blue Square Bet Premier (Tier 5)	W	2	1	654

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