It’s a game of opinions – and a full range are being aired in Eastbourne Borough’s season of struggle

We all live, of co urse, in the new age of instant opinion and instant communication. The measured wisdom once shared at the touchline railings – usually with a grin – has been supplanted by the views now shared via keyboards and Facebook groups – occasionally with a scowl.

Facebook is everywhere, everyone, every topic. And sporting wisdom is freely offered – including on the progress, plight and prospects of our town’s largest football club.

On the Eastbourne Borough Supporters’ Forum, never a day passes without fresh opinions on the plight and progress of the Borough. It’s generally courteous, sometimes amusing, occasionally angry – but more often hallmarked by a sort of weary wisdom.

Let’s take some of the opinions from the past fortnight, as the Sports fight against relegation like a canoeist against a running tide.

Everyone, of course, is an expert – even those who only ever kicked a football in the back garden. Or whose only management experience has been on Football Manager. Nothing wrong with that: our national game embraces absolutely everyone. But, frankly, a few voices carry more weight and authority than others. Read on, and we’ll come to one of those – but first, a selection of recent posts from Borough followers:

- “20 years at steps 5 and 6 after a long journey and all made possible by locals, fans, volunteers and just pure hard work. All undone in three years.”

- “There seems to be a lot of nostalgia floating around about the National League South, but the reality is this league is far stronger and far deeper than in recent years. The standard has risen massively. Budgets are bigger, squads are deeper, and the physical and tactical demands are relentless. There are no “easy” games any more.”

- “Two of the club founders were on that coach (to Dagenham and Redbridge last week). As a fan base we need to unite and support the team regardless - to replicate the away travelling support and sing and cheer the players even in defeat!”

- “To go from having such a dynamic team who played excellent football to being one of the worst in the division means something catastrophic must’ve happened.”

And a more reflective supporter’s view: “Look at the National League system, with more and more clubs going full time, getting more and more competitive and with more players with vast experience joining teams at this level every season, is it fair to place so much blame on the hierarchy of the club? I understand that when results don't go your way, you blame players, management and club hierarchy but I believe that this downfall would have happened much sooner without Simon Leslie's stewardship.”

Among the flood of recent comments came a wise and authoritative post from former club captain, Ben Austin, who played over 500 games in a Borough shirt. It is a long, wise reflection on where we have come from. You may read Ben’s thoughts on the Facebook page, but here is a tiny but telling extract:

“I don’t believe anyone is trying to fail the club. It would be illogical to suggest that Simon wants anything other than success, the same for Alan … Managers never want to lose, believe me.

"Having been on that side of it, the time, effort and stress is too high to accept losing games every week, it is all consuming. And then there are the players. I find it hard to accept that any player in this squad or any previous squad steps over that white line intending to lose. Players hate losing. Above all else they have personal pride and a sense of commitment and loyalty to the rest of the dressing room …

"And then there are the supporters. Following the club and the cost of doing so is made much easier by success on the field and a genuine feeling of community off of it. So, if every arm of the club wants success, what’s the problem?”

Austin’s possible answers? Seek them out on the Facebook page – or catch the former skipper at a home match – which he frequently attends! But they include the thorny question of part-time versus full-time. And every voice from the 60-year history of Langney Sports is a voice that carries weight and authority.

Another emerging forum for opinions is the podcast – and Borough’s lurching fortunes are the subject of a regular “Down the Lane” YouTube discussion. It’s hosted by three very keen EBFC fans, Miles, Bobbie and Barry. The webcam trio typically get together about twice a week to chew the fat, rue the latest Borough defeat or (less often!) cheer the victory and review events at the Lane.

It’s an admirable project and those behind it have attracted celebrity guests. Both owner Simon Leslie and CEO Alan Williams have made recent appearances – and unsurprisingly the online “hits” more than doubled from the usual 200 or 300. Just this week they enticed former Borough chairman David Blackmore to share his thoughts:

“I think we have some good quality players out there, but we may not be getting the best out of them… We all think we can do better than the manager! But the club has backed Tommy, and whichever player Tommy has wanted to bring in, has been signed,” David said.

“The playing budget that is currently being spent is about six times the budget from before Simon came in. It is significantly higher than last season, and nobody can correctly say that the concentration on the social media, or on developments like the padel courts, has negatively influenced the playing side.”

Interesting input from David – and worth a few minutes of your time to listen.

And one final little codicil: we reporters do not know it all, either. Your Herald reporter may have completed six decades of hobby-journalism, but his view from the press bench is no more valid than the old boys on the popular side or the lovely ladies from St John’s Ambulance who (admirably) attend every match, and watch intently.

But catch me at half-time and I’ll tell you exactly why Arthur Grout should not be playing at left back.

Yep, it’s a game of opinions!