Lee Carter's rallying call to AFC Telford fans
AFC Telford United managing director Lee Carter is taking inspiration from the reformed club's first ever season ahead of tomorrow's big basement battle.
The Bucks are rock bottom of the Conference Premier, 10 points from safety with only 12 games left.
Victory at home to Alfreton Town tomorrow, who are fourth-from-bottom, would still leave a major battle to avoid relegation.
But Telford have defied the odds before – they went unbeaten in the league for more than four months in the second half of the 2004-05 campaign, prior to beating Kendal Town 2-1 in the Northern Premier Division One play-off final.
Carter said: "They are all big games now. We have got 36 points still to play for and yes, we are still adrift, but we still feel we are in it.
"And the message to the fans is 'get behind us. Put away your disappointment in how we have done this season, and let's just give it a really good go.'
"In those last 12 games, let's do as we did in the second half of our very first season. Then we were in mid-table (at the halfway stage) and we didn't think we had a chance of going up.
"But we did, and we have got to take the same approach now."
Carter added: "I know that is within our fans. I know it has been disappointing this season, I acknowledge it and we are all bitterly disappointed.
"But I think we have got to put all of that to one side and just give it a real good shot. I say that to the fans.
"Of course, the players have got to step up to the plate as well, but I think anyone watching the last few performances will have seen that.
"Although we have lost games, the effort and commitment and passion has been there, especially against Forest Green and Grimsby, and we have got to play our part."
