W L
HOPE ALWAYS SPRINGS ETERNAL
Our inside man at Tranmere Rovers , Martyn Best reports on the hopes for the new football season ahead .
Pandora ’ s box contained many secrets , desires , evils and virtues . It was Pandora , the Greek mythological figure and one of the earliest known football fans who opened those jars and released everything on the world - whilst , intentionally or not , leaving hope as the only remaining quality .
Ask any football fan what inspires them at the start of each season , and it will be Pandora ’ s gift to the world .
As a new football season dawns upon us , Martyn has tracked down the Chairman of Tranmere Rovers , Mark Palios , for his thoughts , ambitions and of course , hopes for the new season .
Mark : Under-pinning each new season is always the hope of promotion in nine months time . Well before the end of last season the football staff had been identifying targets and starting negotiations with clubs and players agents in putting together a new squad to help us achieve that aim .
We have been implementing a change of strategy as regards developing players over a number of years . Whilst we have retained many good players from last season , we have also brought in a number of younger players whom we have identified as having the potential to develop and suit our style of play .
I ’ d say that this is one of our most exciting squads in my time here ( now Mark ’ s 9th season as co-owner at Prenton Park ), and I ’ d certainly agree with your sentiment that hope does spring eternal .
However , they do also say that it is hope that kills you , but with patience let ' s see if we can be in the top three position next May .
Martyn : Football results on the pitch are generally the barometer of success , but at Tranmere , it always seems to me to be much more than that .
Mark : You ’ re right , and I ’ d say that Nicky ( Mark ’ s wife , coowner and vice-Chairman ) and I have always recognised that Tranmere is so much more than just a football club .
We are right at the heart of the Wirral community , and very few other institutions can have such a positive impact on people across our Peninsula . The Club is an anchor institution on the Wirral .
As such , we focus on supporting a range of initiatives that recognise this . Over the past few years , working with our supporters , the Tranmere Rovers Trust , our corporate sponsors and various agencies we have seen the delivery of thousands of food parcels across the Wirral , helping those in greater need than us .
We also have our educational offering whereby we deliver both BTEC ’ S to 16-18 year olds , and one of the highest performing Alternative Provision curriculum in the country . ] We have a huge focus on health and fitness projects in our Recreation Centre and around the Wirral and a range of age , gender and very diverse activities , including working with the local Deanery , as well as the development of our now wellestablished 3G playing pitch , for which we worked very closely with Wirral Borough Council in delivering .
Martyn : You mention education , and what about the international connections you had been developing before Covid hit us all ?
12 wirrallife . com