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THE SECRET DIARY OF AN ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR
Martyn Best , our inside man at Tranmere Rovers has shared with us his diary .
Dear Diary , where to start ?
August 2014 Today , my dear old friend , Mark Palios , called and said he ’ d bought Tranmere Rovers , with his wife Nicky .
I ’ d known Mark for many years , and I knew his sense of humour , but I also know this was no joke at all . I knew his deep love of Tranmere , of his years of playing as a solid midfielder , scoring and tackling and taking no prisoners and I knew that his business career and experience would be just what Tranmere in 2014 , after a disappointing relegation , would need .
Did I hear him say , “ Would you like to get involved ?”
Would I ? Diary diary , you ’ re darned right I would . OK , diary , I know you know that I ’ ve been a lifelong Evertonian ( let ’ s keep that between ourselves ), and I had helped that club , and even ran their basketball team the Everton Tigers for a while , but really never been in a big position to get deep inside , nor to make much more than a smallest difference . But , I ’ d always been really fond of Tranmere ; I ’ d watched them often ; seen them win at Wembley ( Bristol Rovers 20th May 1990 , when my old school friend Geoff Twentyman at least made his Wembley dream a ( losing ) reality ); and I ’ d seen us ( ah , see what I ’ m doing here , dear diary ) at that game against Exeter in 1987 ; and I ’ d very loyally missed THAT Everton game .
So , my answer was “ Yes ”. Just a very simple answer , followed , “ So , what do you want me to do ?”
Today Dear Diary - well , what a pickle . Loads of good things going on at Tranmere - except the main thing that the fans want to see - let ’ s win some matches . That ’ ll come though - it always does - just be patient .
I ’ m not the only Associate Director here , and Mark has very wisely gathered in some good experience to help with marketing , educational aspects , property matters , finance and banking , international aspects , fan engagement , esports , and even professional wrestling . The formula is a good one , and that ’ s why the annoying disappointment of a few losing games will soon go , and why Mark ’ s desire to make the club a totally sustainable one will work .
Tomorrow Well , at last the day is finally here . The opening of the new fan park - TRANMERE GARDEN .
Was it only a few months ago in February that all the planning consents had been agreed , and the orders for the materials were placed . Was it a month later that the first signs of the preparations started , and just before Easter that the structure started to take place ?
The end of the season seems like yesterday , and what excitement we had there ; and what better way to start the new season than with the most incredible and stunning fan park in the country .
It ’ s been three years from my first contact with our Tranmere Garden partners , and it ’ s been a great journey with the club and with the Tranmere Rovers Trust and the immense support of the fans , and working well with Ben Harrison .
Just like winning games , you always need faith , and it ’ s been good to see the dream and vision of this fan park turn into a reality .
That first taste of German Kraft Beer is going to be so good , and whether we win , lose or draw tomorrow , we ’ ll all be able to write in our diary that we were there on a very special day , and win , lose or draw , we know that next week , we will be back . If only for another beer .
In the meantime , let ’ s crack on and make sure there will always be a football club here , when those wins start to happen .
14 wirrallife . com