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Post by jeffl on May 26, 2009 7:05:22 GMT 1
Good shout - strange how when you write something you don't always consider how people will read it. Although I wasn't have a direct pop at anyome, anybody who doesn't have the basics of hospitality lets the game down. It's just as important to do a good job off the pitch as on it. On the pitch it's a bit of a lottery but off the pitch it's within the control of the committee - whether it two or twenty. For example I've been to Pagnell when there's only been one person from the committee in the club with a few biscuits - but know what? The welcome was warm and the conversation flowed and it felt good. All I'm saying is that hospitality isn't just about food and facilities.
You are spot on about us being well blessed by a supportive management committee (even helpers who aren't on the committee), none of whom have any sons in the club. It's a great bunch of people who bring their own skills and time to the club as and when they can. And as I've said before, Clippo is one of the biggest assets we have - he's like a stick of rock - he's got Yaxley written all the way through him - perfect proof of the "local" player/manager concept :-)
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swansong
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Post by swansong on May 26, 2009 9:26:47 GMT 1
I can assure you lineoh nobody understands better than Newport supporters the damage that the FA heirarchy can do to grassroots football. I'm reminded of that every time I have to see the posters advertising a certain "local" football team. I believe in the pyramid so they are an offence to me, but if MK Dons damaged the integrity of the pyramid so do grassroots clubs who won't bring their facilities up to the standard required for their level. I agree that they are too strict in the sense that clubs demonstrating that they are working towards the goals should be cut some slack. Those that are doing nothing, or dragging their feet should play at a more appropriate level. This is the first season that I have found myself having difficulty in describing the side that finished top as "Champions". They exist in the same category as MK Dons as far as I am concerned!
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swansong
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Post by swansong on May 26, 2009 9:45:25 GMT 1
Without wishing to turn this into a mutual appreciation society we always enjoy the trip to Yaxley too. But you make a good point about club setups, Newport are not wealthy, the club has depended very much on the contribution made by manager and players committed to the club as well as helpers. Yet despite not having money the club has a clean bill of health for Step 5. It is only difficult if you leave it and then have to do it in one go, but it's too late to do it a bit each year because the UCL have run out of patience! (Understandably). They feel certain clubs are just leading them on.
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Post by generaldogsbody on May 26, 2009 17:24:11 GMT 1
Thats the point, if clubs cant afford it, play at the level the club and the community can sustain, dont try to overstretch and then bankrupt the team and ruin the club in the process
And where would the UCL Premier Division be then? Yet another League with 14 or 15 Clubs. Get real for chrissake, I'm sure every Club wants to be better but sometimes it just can't happen and people that have worked their nuts off for years fall foul of the Graders and then walk away. Is this what the FA want? How often do F A people, and I don't mean the UCL Grading Officer, vist UCL and other Step 5 grounds to see the sort of attendances and work that goes on week in, week out. As another question, not personal at all, who Grades the Grading Officer?
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Post by ianh on May 26, 2009 18:29:03 GMT 1
Thats the point, if clubs cant afford it, play at the level the club and the community can sustain, dont try to overstretch and then bankrupt the team and ruin the club in the process And where would the UCL Premier Division be then? Yet another League with 14 or 15 Clubs. Get real for chrissake, I'm sure every Club wants to be better but sometimes it just can't happen and people that have worked their nuts off for years fall foul of the Graders and then walk away. Is this what the FA want? How often do F A people, and I don't mean the UCL Grading Officer, vist UCL and other Step 5 grounds to see the sort of attendances and work that goes on week in, week out. As another question, not personal at all, who Grades the Grading Officer? This isnt personal but I find it amazing how GDB/lincolnroadstalwart whatever, opposes the majority on almost every post or are you just playing Devils advocate, cos thats one job you are good at. In a previous life I did work behind the scenes and know the list of jobs that have to be done, from writing and printing the programme, through taking the gate to chasing the players to pay the fine for last months sending off for dissent. I and the FA, was and still am trying to improve standards not dumbing them down,............ every one of the grading criteria has a reason (not immediately obvious, I grant you) if you think one is over the top, let me know
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swansong
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Post by swansong on May 26, 2009 18:48:34 GMT 1
There is logic to the grading requirements. All round enclosure minimises outside distractions as well as controlling entrance of paying customers. At this level there is likely only to be one entrance so free access to all parts of the ground is important for health and safety reasons as well as customer satisfaction, hence all round hard standing. It's surely also sensible to have a minimum number of seats as well as having allocated seats for visiting committee members etc.
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Post by generaldogsbody on May 27, 2009 17:14:36 GMT 1
cos thats one job you are good at.......posts IanH. You haven't got a clue old chap. Do you think you're the only one that's ever done all the jobs that you've done. EVERY Club has at least one and I can assure you that MOST are fed up with the FA's stance (NOT the UCL I might add). No devil's advocate here, just honest posts. One job you're good at.........talk to people that know, former friend, one job you're good at.........from the Grading Officer as well! Everybody wants to play in the highest League available to them, ask Market Harborough Town ( a pet subject I think). Nothing is personal, as you post, just honest opinion which we will always obviously differ on but.......one job you're good at..........that hurts.
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swansong
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Post by swansong on May 27, 2009 20:45:24 GMT 1
We do all have reasonsc for not trusting the FA, I gave mine above. But I still haven't read a convincing reason argument for why these ground grading requirements are too harsh. Indeed my mistrust of the FA is why I believe S&L will still be playing in the Prem next season and still sticking 2 fingers up to other clubs in the Prem. I would also like to point out that when we played at Bourne this season there were several players dressed in Bourne kit kicking the ball around behind one of the goals. Occasionally the ball came onto the pitch and had to be retrieved. This while the game was being played. Is that really acceptable at Step 5? It serves as an illustration of the sort of distraction that ground grading is designed to cut out. And please lineoh don't take that as a pop at Bourne, we had a good day out there and can understand why you love your club.
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Post by lineoh on May 28, 2009 20:53:39 GMT 1
The several players you mention were members of the U15's team. They usually train behind the far goal on saturdays. Whether it is acceptable at Step 5 is a load of nonsense....but it is unacceptable as members of BTFC. They should know better and should channel their enthusiasm in other ways..ie helping out putting up nets etc. Whether it was a pop or not I dont mind because it is water off a ducks back. The club is all we care about and regardless of what other contributors have written about Bourne FC we WILL be in the Premier League next season......like it or not..
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swansong
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Post by swansong on May 28, 2009 23:00:23 GMT 1
You may be surprsed to hear I don't really care where Bourne and Corby play next season, I've made the points I made cos I do care about wider aspects of the game than just my club. It's up to the UCL to decide whether they will allow individual clubs to dictate to them and thus devalue the competition.
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Post by phoenix on May 29, 2009 17:07:37 GMT 1
You may be surprsed to hear I don't really care where Bourne and Corby play next season, I've made the points I made cos I do care about wider aspects of the game than just my club. It's up to the UCL to decide whether they will allow individual clubs to dictate to them and thus devalue the competition. With you on this one swansong. why can't people see that even if a team is going through a bad patch, if the facilities are up to scratch, supporters will still come along because they feel comfortable in their surroundings. Who wants to watch a good or bad team play when there are no clean seats, leaking roofs, unclean welfare, bad underfoot conditions, etc. Lets get them up to a standard - and that standard should be the same for all no matter who.
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swansong
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Post by swansong on May 29, 2009 19:05:00 GMT 1
Couldn't put it better. There's been some scaremongering about 14 teams, as I understand it's 3 in the prem so the worse case scenario is that next seasons prem would be 19 teams. PNS would probably get there in time for the following season so worse case there, 20 teams. But you can bet your last pound if the UCL show they are serious some of the foot draggers would also magically find they can do it after all! Got to be same rules for all.
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Post by slowcoach on May 29, 2009 21:07:31 GMT 1
Well swansong do you really think these foot draggers will manage to do it. I think not! For too many seasons they have blustered their way promising the earth and delivered nothing. If it went to 14 teams the fixture secretary may get it right for a change.
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Post by generaldogsbody on May 29, 2009 22:10:12 GMT 1
If you understand it's 19 teams, please, please, will someone say who the other three are, although it's pretty obvious that S & L will be one.
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swansong
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Post by swansong on May 29, 2009 23:45:33 GMT 1
That is the problem isn't it? The sense I got from listening to a UCL committee member talking is that they know they must do something otherwise they might as well just put their rule book into a shredder. Problem is by far the worse offenders happened to win the title in the deadline year! Clearly they feel they must do something about S&L but what? Give them more time? They've had plenty and have shown no intention to do anything, indeed before there is even an announcement we hear they intend to appeal! On what grounds? That you can't demote champs? Who the other 2 are is conjecture, but that creates division and bad feeling. It's a mess and needs sorting soon, but as has been stated elsewhere we will probably have to wait until the AGM to here the decision.
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