Whitby Town's coach and captain are urging fans to fill the Towbar Express Stadium this Saturday for a crucial, do-or-die fixture against Cleethorpes as the club battles to avoid relegation from the NPL Premier.
Whitby Town face a monumental do-or-die clash this Saturday as they battle against relegation from the NPL Premier. The crucial fixture will see the club take on Cleethorpes at the Towbar Express Stadium, in a match that will ultimately define their entire season.
In the build-up to the highly anticipated game, both the coach and the club captain have issued a passionate plea to the supporters. They are asking the Whitby faithful to pack the stadium to the rafters and provide the vocal backing the team desperately needs to secure their status in the division.
The stakes could not be higher for the Yorkshire Coast side. Following a disappointing recent second-half performance, the management team has made it clear that the players must step up and take accountability on the pitch if they are to avoid the drop.
Whitby Town coach Denny Ingram delivered a scathing assessment of the squad's recent efforts, pointing out a severe lack of leadership and heart amongst the more experienced members of the team. He noted that the squad has just one final opportunity to redeem themselves and salvage a difficult campaign.
After the 3-2 defeat at Leek, last week, Ingram said:
"They're lucky enough they've got one more. One more to get themselves out of jail and sort of salvage a season. But Whitby Town deserve better than what they saw second half. Right. And there's players in that dressing room that deserve better. But just not good enough. It's alright me and Bully shouting from the sideline and Jace having his input. But players have got to take responsibility for themselves. We're not talking about young naive kids throughout the team. It's these experienced players and I don't see any leadership, I don't see any drive, I don't see any heart to dig in when things are getting tough. Ultimately you live and die by your players, simple as that."
Despite the harsh words directed from the touchline, the focus has quickly shifted to Saturday's ultimate survival mission against Cleethorpes. The club is well aware that the atmosphere generated at the Towbar Express Stadium could be the deciding factor in getting the players over the line and securing their NPL Premier survival.
The Blues would save themselves with a draw or win, a defeat would mean relegation if Prescot Cables win at Bamber Bridge, or less likely, if Morpeth overturn a six-goal difference and beat Warrington Town.
The team's captain, Lewis Hawkins, also stepped forward to address the supporters directly, acknowledging the unwavering dedication of the fans who have followed the club across the country during a highly challenging season. He hopes that a massive home crowd will give the team the necessary push to achieve the vital result they require.
Hawkins said:
"Yeah we could do with every bit of support on Saturday of all the fans get get down and um come and support us and make some noise and um like I say they've they've travelled us up and down throughout the full season and um hopefully with them all there we can get that result that that we need."
With survival in the NPL Premier hanging delicately in the balance, all eyes will be on the Towbar Express Stadium this weekend. The management and the squad know that nothing less than total commitment will be required to beat Cleethorpes and avoid relegation, and they are relying heavily on the Whitby community to be their twelfth man on Saturday.
There's more from Hawkins and Ingram, plus the thoughts of goalkeeper and record appearance-maker, Shane Bland, on this week's Codcast:
Kick-off is 3pm, if you really can't make it, there's full commentary on This Is The Coast Extra from around 2.45pm.
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