February 2008 Archives

I take my hat off to Redditch United this season.
They're lovely people who have turned the club around both on and off the field.
When they first broke through into Conference North, as it was named then - I thought they would struggle to stay there.
But since rising to that status, Reds have surpassed themselves and have rapidly established themselves at that level.
They haven't got huge crowds to help cushion them - instead their progress has been engineered by sheer hard work, led from the front by chairman Steve Rossiter.
There - that should be good for a free sausage or two next time I'm down at the Valley!

I hate to keep carping on about the Southern League - but I hope somebody takes notice.
I don't think the Southern League have won many friends over the way they've compiled their fixture list this season.
Too many clubs have suffered blank Saturday's and lost valuable income as a result.
It's an issue that seriously needs to be addressed at the end of season AGM.
However the Southern League can redeem themselves with the end of season play-offs.
Play the matches on Saturday - even if it means extending the season by a week. I'm sure the clubs concerned won't mind.
Supposing Aylesbury United get drawn away, to say Stourbridge on a Tuesday night. How many supporters from Aylesbury would be able to make the trip?
Saturday offers much more opportunity.
Don't rush through the play-offs as before. They should be a showpiece and the more people who can attend, the better!

IT just shows how times have changed.
Last Saturday, Halesowen Town recorded their biggest league crowd since 1999.
The total was 617 to watch Halesowen take on Bashley.
Hard to believe - but true.
Long gone are the days when Halesowen used to fret if the crowd dipped below 1,000.
Most Non League sides seem to be suffering dwindling crowds - but there are exceptions.
Both AFC Telford and Leamington have seen fantastic support since rebranding.
Chasetown don't do so badly either ever since their FA Cup exploits.
But success doesn't always gaurentee big gates.
Evesham are sitting pretty on top of the BGB Southern Midland Division - but they've witnessed some dire attendances this season. One game only mustered 34 paying customers.
Does anything have any thoughts on the situation.

Get your money on Tamworth to cause an upset in Saturday's FA Trophy quarter-finals.
Opponents Aldershot are top of the Blue Square Premier and poised for a return to Football League status.
Clearly promotion is the priority for all 'Shots' concerned.
Tamworth - the bookies favourites to run away with Blue Square North - well they've been nearer to the relegation zone than promotion this season.
To Tamworth - the Trophy is everything.
Considering the way this crazy season has been going, like Chasetown putting Port Vale out oif the FA Cup, while Havant disposed of runaway League One leaders Swansea City.
Yes, there's no logic to it. I just fancy Tamworth will be up for it, as they say.

There's a new song doing the rounds at BGB Southern Midland grounds at the moment.
It's called 1-0 to the Eve ver sham!
Uncanny isn't it !

The Southern League won't be picking up any prizes following the fiasco with their fixtures this season.
Their AGM this summer promises to be a fiery affair and rightly so.
Why did the Southern League kick off a week later than everyone else this season and why were there so many blank midweek programmes.
The golden rule is always get as many fixtures as you can in early when the pitches are in good nick and everyone's got a reasonably full squad to select from.
Also - doesn't it make sense to have local derbies on bank holidays - not on a miserable Tuesday night in November!
Doesn't the Southern League realise club's rely on the revenue from these games as their life-blood

SMALL world isn't it.
A trip back to native Leicestershire at the weekend meant visiting a favourite haunt, the village pub at Foxton Locks.
Sadly 'mine host' Tommy isn't there anymore - they sold out to a Chinese family.
"Whatever happened to Tommy, I asked one of the regulars. "He's moved to Boston" - was the reply.
"Why on earth has he gone there, " I continued "To manage the local football side".
The plot thickened. "What was his surname? I asked. "Taylor" came the response.
The penny dropped. I'd just spent the past few years chatting to Tommy Taylor, the former England and West Ham central defender without realising it.
It's good to know you're on the ball!

No wonder AFC Telford were looking a little travel-weary this week. Last Saturday they visited Workington Town and then made the trip to Leigh RMI on Tuesday.

Just for good measure, they face the prospect of a journey to Boston United on Saturday.

Spectacular fixture planning don't you think.

THE lovely thing about Non League is that players, managers and supporters always find time to chat and offer their opinions.

To my way of thinking, that's what the game is all about.

Clearly that doesn't extend to the Premiership as I discovered while covering the Blues against Derby County.

I wanted a quick word with one of the players afterwards so went over, introduced myself and asked politely if I could speak to him.

The response was 'bye bye mate' as he proceded to brush past me. Step forward Robbie Savage!