If you go onto Ken's classic match, the MOTD against Sheff utd, you will hear Tony Gubba say we built this fantastic stadium WITHOUT incurring a debt.
This was down to an army of ticket sellers pushing the Lottery.
I remember the tickets were like gold dust, and sold out very quick in the first few draws.
The Town council then brought out one in opposition, this was not successful but did dent the sales of the Pilgrim lottery.
I remember Craven and Nicholas getting the steel erection contract.
So the fans raised the money, so in effect built the stadium.
On another note, just before the lottery started we played Goole I think in the FA cup. It was a replay and a night match. I was on a late shift so could not make the start of the match. In them days you could get in at half time for half price. I decided to have a drink in the social club ( then a shed ). I was only one of two people in the club, the other being Pat Malkinson.
He was stood up the bar talking to the bar man. I was shocked to see him not in the ground, so I asked him why? This was his reply and I quote " The sooner the old man drops this club the better, I have better things to do with my time than to watch this rubbish."
I hoped then that he would not inherit the club. A few weeks later the lottery was launched and the man who launched it was Pat.
I leave you to make your own mind up.
