W L TRFC
“ UBI FIDES IBI LUX ET ROBUR ",
" WHERE THERE IS FAITH THERE IS LIGHT AND STRENGTH "
Martyn Best, our inside man and Associate Director at Tranmere Rovers Football Club, reflects on the hope at the Club.
If you’ re not overly familiar with the recent history of Tranmere Rovers, you might wish to sing the above historic motto of our beloved local football club to the tune of Yazz’ s iconic number one hit: The Only Way is Up.
Wirral’ s leading professional football club escaped relegation to the National League on the final day of last season and whilst it was a source of great joy for the management, staff, players and fans, it also highlighted the difficult journey the Club has had since the entirely rough justice of being demoted from League One following the impact of Covid.
Despite the challenges on the pitch, Tranmere Rovers has remained a hugely important part of the Wirral community. The Club’ s contribution extends far beyond football— from its outstanding work supporting disadvantaged groups across the region, to the continued growth of its girls’ and women’ s teams, and the wide range of activities connecting the Super White Army with communities across Wirral.
The football results may not always have delivered the success supporters have craved, but the Club’ s role as a community institution has never been stronger.
There has been highly significant work done by the Club’ s owners to identify a suitable and secure structure for the future of the club with new investment, and it seems that this may be announced very soon; and there has been the continuing amazing support of the loyal fan base who played such a big part in the final few games of last season in getting behind the team.
The last few seasons have undoubtedly tested everyone connected with the Club but the spirit and the hopes of everyone is as high as any other club as the new league is about to start.
A new and vastly experienced manager in Darrell Clarke, with his own newly forming squad, Clarke made his footballing debut under Everton legend Andy King at Mansfield in 1995. He’ s been involved in a number of promotions since, and was the Salisbury City manager for their historic giant-killing act in the FA Cup in 2011 beating Grimsby Town to reach the 3rd round of the FA Cup for their first and only time.
So, the new 2026 / 27 season of hope for Tranmere Rovers begins at Prenton Park on Saturday 15th August, a mere four weeks after an exciting World Cup. I’ m fairly sure we won’ t have unwanted Presidential interventions, or too many ten-goal thrillers, but I find there is a genuine belief that the words of Yazz will come true – the only way is indeed up!
25 wirrallife. com