Tranmere Rovers were relegated from the Football League to the Football Conference this weekend when the mighty Greens beat them 3-2. That ended a 94 year stay in the League. It would have been more appropriate if it was a one hundred year stay which was ending, as it would tie in nicely with their total disregard of the celebrations commemorating the start of the First World War.
Tranmere used a field as their training ground, which adjoined Prenton Park, their home stadium. The field was a memorial to the men who lost their lives during the First World War, and who had been educated at the Birkenhead Institute. Those people included the well known war poet, Wilfred Owen.
The Club sold the field for a housing development, a decision which was furiously challenged by local people. The government of the time saw little reason to reject the planning application and the sale has now been completed.
How apt then that this relegation may be the first step on the path to oblivion for the club. The field may be no more, but, as Tranmere are now discovering, you mess with history at your peril.
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