I think in some ways it's a look on the bright side of life attitude. My greatest wish is that the club continues to progress and raises it's profile and strengthens its links with the community. in this way we'll gradually get better more consistent crowds and be in a position to compete in the conference (in time). Now, for me and a few others to be fair, I know that in reality this is in the conference national. Our profile is raised imeasurably, even if it's just from our scorers coming up on Gillette Soccer Saturday, playing York City or Exeter City is like being in the league as far as the floating voter is concerned. Our crowds are the highest they've been for 20 years, realistically they will drop by about 40% next year, I know some casual fans who won't be at as many games next year. On paper, it's dropping down one level, in reality you're dropping off the football map.
Also, and most dissapointingly the chance to progress as a team by attracting good quality players has been lost. Danny Adams had a choice a while back of Alty, Southport and Morecambe. Now his choice would be Morecambe only. Likewise, if it goes tits up at Northwich, where are some of their better players like Kieran Charnock going to go - not to us in the Blue Square North.
However, people are also right to try and put a positive slant on it. We can still progress, if we get a really good start and show good home form then maybe the younger eleement who seem to be more prominent at games nowadays will be enthused, a winning team will draw in the crowds. Of course, we all know how hard the BSN is, in my view we could easily finish 9th. On the other hand maybe it's a chance to rebuild the team slightly and even I must admit that the thought of turning up to some home games expecting to win will be a nice change. The team will need new impetus in the way the Potts, Hussin, Owen and little signings did. I don't think we're that far away from being a conference club.
So you're right Cult, not being in the Conf is a huge blow and will hinder progress. As someone put on confguide north, losing to Exter is better than losing to Alfreton in about a million different ways that would take up to much time to fully explain. However, you can't say that people who try to accept it a bit are being brainwashed. What are we supposed to do? Wail and scream about it all woe is me? I've done that in my head, don't think people aren't hurting but we've just got to look forward. We didn't do that much wrong this year, yes Bowler and thomson were mistakes, we lacked width a lot of the time as well as solid full backs, injury wise we missed Colin Little for quite a bit altho on the whole we were relatively unsctahed and we gave away a sloppy goal away at stafford but it's margins. We just have to pick ourselves up and make the best of it, try and enjoy it as much as we can.
then you'll be shifted up into the 1st team squad in next to no time. 
Well done on staying up by the way, Alty and Droylsden switching places is bad enough but you and Histon would've been taking the piss. Have to say I didn't think you'd finish 4 points clear off us after we'd beat you 5-0 and you'd repeated the dose at home to York. 
Likewise, I've a feeling Wrexham will come down now that we're in the BSN, another payday bites the dust 
we score that is an impetus to spur the lads on further with the atmosphere, not this immediate lull when people start txting someone the score or details etc to absent friends it does my head in.