Roy Blower, NCISA This is my first article as president of NCISA, and I hope not my last one! Committee man Robert O'Neill, writing last week's column, said: "What to say that has not been said?" I have the same problem this week, knowing that - like the majority of supporters - I am gravely concerned about the position of our football club.

Roy Blower, NCISA

This is my first article as president of NCISA, and I hope not my last one!

Committee man Robert O'Neill, writing last week's column, said: "What to say that has not been said?"

I have the same problem this week, knowing that - like the majority of supporters - I am gravely concerned about the position of our football club. But without a massive injection of cash to help the situation, or a change in fortune on the pitch, there is little the normal supporter can do!

I was pleased to read Chris Lakey's comments in the EDP just over a week ago about Stephen Kitchen of Preston. Kitchen, at the Preston game, admitted shouting racial insults and expletives.

Chris pointed out that the district judge, Philip Browning, fined him £150 for the crime but opted not to impose a banning order which could have kept him away from football games for up to three years. Chris's article appeared under the heading of "Racist behaviour best tackled with severe punishment." Like Chris, I believe those racist comments are unacceptable in a civilised society, and a banning order should have been issued.

Therefore, I was pleased to see this week that Deepdale bosses have forced Kitchen to surrender his season ticket, and banned him from home games for the rest of the season and part of next season.

Every game we play is a major one, but this month with the first one being played against Ipswich and a further five games in December, it is a make or break month. Earning the bragging rights over Ipswich would be a wonderful start.

The first game of 2009 will be the FA Cup match against Charlton. It will be the 50th anniversary of our great cup run of 1959, which caught the national and international media's attention. It seems only a short time ago we held the 40th anniversary dinner, but this could be the last anniversary dinner bearing in mind the age of the squad, so book your tickets for what should be a brilliant evening.

In the meantime, well done to the Under-18s in the FA Youth Cup this week. Their win over Wigan was just about as convincing a 1-0 win as there can be, and their success means there is at least something to keep us smiling at the moment.

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