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Whitby Town - Season 2003/04 Review
Season 2003/04 was to be one of the most important in the recent history of Whitby Town, with the ultimate prize a place in the new Conference North set up.
Off the field the long awaited new stand development was the main priority which mean't that Harry Dunn had even less money than usual to attract quality players to the Turnbull Ground.
The loss of several key players from the previous season didn't help. Aron Wilford left for York City, Richard Dunning for Harrogate, Tom Reid for the NCEL, Michael Laws for Blyth Spartans and crowd favourite Lee Ure eventually left for Billingham Town after gettin frustrated a lack of first team starts.
Whitby got off to a winning start, beating newly promoted Radcliffe Borough with a last minute penalty. Nobody would have guessed that the season would go full circle!
After the promsing opening win Whitby settled down to a season of mediocrity where they never really looked likely to grab the top 13 place needed for an automatic promotion spot. As usual it was the home form that was their downfall. Time and again they would concede an early goal, the crowd would get restless and the game would be lost.
Our only bright spell cam around October when FA cup games were won against Winsford and Warrington Town. A final qualifying round tie saw us drawn away to Bromsgrove Rovers. After going behind to yet another early goal, the Seasiders turned the game around with goals from former Boro premier league star Anthony Ormerod and Man City reserve player Gary Browne. Bromsgrove equalised late on to set up a replay, but the big prize was drawn on National TV when the winners were rewarded with an away trip to Hartlepool United.
Once again, Townwent behind in the replay but goals from Brian Linighan and Ormerod again secured a mouth watering tie for the Blues.
Despite being outplayed by an excellent Pools outfit, Whitby were far from disgraced and the Cup money went a long way to getting the fianl total up for the new stand complex.
Back in the league, things were looking grim again as the new year saw a succession of dropped points against struggling sides.
A serious lack of firepower had seen Dunn resort to youngsters on loan from Hartlepool and Darlington. It seemed to do the trick with Andrew Appleby from Pools being a hit. Appleby and his fellow youth teamer Darren Craddock were not always available and the inconsitency in the team selection showed as Whitby struggled to string any sort of decent run together. In fact it was only because the other teams around us were losing to each other that we managed to stay in touch.
As the season drew to a close, own had managed to get themselves into a position where they could snatch the last automatic promotion spot. But three consecutive defeats saw that disappear with a play off spot the consolation prize.
Finishing in 15th spot saw Whitby drawn with Radcliffe Borough, the team we had beaten on the first day and also beat 5-0 and 6-2 in two other meetings in the season.
The game was 1-1 after 90 minutes, and 2-2 after extra time. In a crazy penalty shoot out it was Radcliffe who squeezed through with Whitby skipper Graham Robinson missing the final spot kick.
So in the end, there was nothing to show for another miserable season. An FA Cup, and planning permission for the new stand the only real positives.
When the new stand is built it remains to be seen as to whether or not there are nay fans to fill it as once again crowds were down, ultimately the people of Whitby can't stand to watch their team lose game after game at home.
If Town are to progress again, that is where the improvement must happen. Then we'll be a force again in the UniBond League
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