Red Alert Success

By Neil Ravenscroft
May 11 2004

The fanzine, Ninety Minutes From Europe, issued the following report on the success of the Red Alerts. I can add no more to their story.

The decision to sack Lee was always likely to provoke debate and discussion amongst the Saddlers faithful, however whatever the side of the debate you may have been on, the way that every Saddler at those games backed the team throughout the entire 90 minutes was brilliant. Even at 5-0 down at Norwich their fans, probably again the nosiest we have encountered, found time to applaud our support.
Against Sheffield United the noise level was fantastic and Palace fans have visited our boards to comment on the vociferous nature of our support. And it was no mean feat. Outnumbered probably 20:1 against a team at the top of its form and racing towards the playoffs we shouted ourselves hoarse. And we made ourselves heard.
And so to Sunday. You wouldn't have thought before the game that the odds were stacked against us. The team's performances over the last four games had lifted the crowd and it would be lovely to think that we lifted them in return. More Walsall fans packed into Bescot to watch a home game than for any other fixture in the stadium's history. For a match that several neutral observers said was futile it was some achievement. Even after suffering the demoralising awards of two penalties and the misfortune of having a player sent off the noise level was persisitent. And if our ability to telepathically wish a goal for our North Staffordshire neighbours was as sound as our ability to crank up the noise here in Walsall then we'd still be a first division club now.
For those of you who grabbed balloons, passed them around, inflated them with god knows how many thousands of gallons of air, burst them, dressed in red and generally entered into the spirit of the whole thing an enormous and heartfelt thank you. Your efforts were immense.
If we can maintain that in the seasons ahead then others had better beware. Wouldn't it be great for a visit to Bescot to be known for something other than its Balti Pies?

Thanks again.
All at NMFE.

NMFE would also like to place on record its thanks to all those who volunteered their time to help distribute the balloons on matchday and also to the Walsall Supporters Trust and thesaddlersfc.com for their official support, also to Rob at UpTheSaddlers.com for publishing the press releases, to Tim Clark at the Express and Star for paper coverage and in no means least to Steve Rushton of SR Print Management for the sponsorship of the RED ALERT II. Thanks must also go to the club to for their gracious decision to allow us to distribute the balloons on club property.