Pre Season matches

[paokman]

What about a game against AFC Portsmouth?

[YELLOW]

Pre-season - as to when it starts - has always been a mess of pottage this side of the English/Sweaty border.

I remember an incident a few years ago when Blyth Spartans? tried to arrange a charity match in June. However, the good old suits in the Northumberland FA ivory tower, decided to invoke an old rule (which still exists I presume on the statute books) that organised eleven aside football is banned during the month of June.

This stemmed, I believe from back in the late 1880s, when WG Grace was struggling to get his Test average up to 32.29 (funny how history can make people appear better than they really were) and the ECB were scared sh!tless that the advent of Association Football, would affect cricket.

So, a compromise was reached and no football was allowed in the month of June and early July. As stated previously stated, this still remains law today (as does the law allowing Taxi drivers to piss up against the side of their cabs and the male population of Shrewsbury is allowed to shag any Welsh boiler of his choice).

However I digress. This was put the test about ten/15 years ago when Stevenage hosted Arsenal in a pre-season on July 1. I seem to recall that both sides received a fine of some sort, but it did open the doors for clubs to begin their friendlies much earlier than before - the cynic in me suggests that had it not been a Premier League club involved then nothing may have changed.

 

Does that include the Intertoto Cup when it used to be played? I remember some teams competing in it, starting their games in late June!!!

[Baron of Black Fen]

Although I think this is a good idear, we all know that the pre-season is more for the manager than the fans, so he can have a look at new players and systems. As you will remember at the beginning of this season, with all that went on, we got off to a slow start and I think alot of that was down to not being able to get in new players, and arrange the friendlies that we have in the past. Once we were able to bring in new players our season started to take off. So I say leave well alone....................If it aint broke why fix it...............

 

Why not have an Essex Charity Cup during pre-season. Jimmy Mac hates preseason friendlies any way. A nice sunny Saturday afternoon at home in a cup competion. Crowds must go up. It has got to be better than going to Concord for a friendly surrounded by caravans and mrs Jones knickers hanging on a washing line.

 

"If its not broke" - non league football is virtually on its knees. Extra finance from any new angle must be an advantage.

[coupwotcoup]

Although I think this is a good idear, we all know that the pre-season is more for the manager than the fans, so he can have a look at new players and systems. As you will remember at the beginning of this season, with all that went on, we got off to a slow start and I think alot of that was down to not being able to get in new players, and arrange the friendlies that we have in the past. Once we were able to bring in new players our season started to take off. So I say leave well alone....................If it aint broke why fix it...............

 

Why not have an Essex Charity Cup during pre-season. Jimmy Mac hates preseason friendlies any way. A nice sunny Saturday afternoon at home in a cup competion. Crowds must go up. It has got to be better than going to Concord for a friendly surrounded by caravans and mrs Jones knickers hanging on a washing line.

 

"If its not broke" - non league football is virtually on its knees. Extra finance from any new angle must be an advantage.

 

I did broach the subject a few years back about having a Havering/Thurrock (before anyone spots the error ) Cup during pre-season, but that's as far as it got.

[coupwotcoup]

Pre-season - as to when it starts - has always been a mess of pottage this side of the English/Sweaty border.

I remember an incident a few years ago when Blyth Spartans? tried to arrange a charity match in June. However, the good old suits in the Northumberland FA ivory tower, decided to invoke an old rule (which still exists I presume on the statute books) that organised eleven aside football is banned during the month of June.

This stemmed, I believe from back in the late 1880s, when WG Grace was struggling to get his Test average up to 32.29 (funny how history can make people appear better than they really were) and the ECB were scared sh!tless that the advent of Association Football, would affect cricket.

So, a compromise was reached and no football was allowed in the month of June and early July. As stated previously stated, this still remains law today (as does the law allowing Taxi drivers to piss up against the side of their cabs and the male population of Shrewsbury is allowed to shag any Welsh boiler of his choice).

However I digress. This was put the test about ten/15 years ago when Stevenage hosted Arsenal in a pre-season on July 1. I seem to recall that both sides received a fine of some sort, but it did open the doors for clubs to begin their friendlies much earlier than before - the cynic in me suggests that had it not been a Premier League club involved then nothing may have changed.

 

Does that include the Intertoto Cup when it used to be played? I remember some teams competing in it, starting their games in late June!!!

 

Just checked my records young Yellow and I attended Wimbledon v Bursaspor at the old Goldstone, Brighton in the Intertoto back in 1995. I presume special dispensation was allowed with it being a 'European' tournament and UEFA Cup (as was) qualifying competition..

[YELLOW]

That was the year tottenham was in it i think and UEFA forced the British clubs to play in it, even though they didn't want to. I think most of the english clubs played their youth teams in it.

[coupwotcoup]

The InterToto has been going for donkey's years, but only recently have the winners received a trophy for winning it. A bit like the play-off winners in the first few years of them being at Wembley.

I think the winners only walked up to the Royal Box and think all they got was a medal, or maybe nada. Since 1993 a trophy is awarded to the winners and medals. Still not sure if the losers get anything though. Not been to a play-off at Wembley since 2000.

[Eastside Urchin]

I think dave is right that pre season friendlies are for managers but why do so many smaller clubs have bigger sides visit,it is for one reason and one reason only,revenue

Even teams like concord and east thurrock probably like it when we visit pre season as we take 50-70 fans and spend dollar over the bar,something they rarely get in ryman one north

[Miss.A.F.C.Hornchurch]

Leyton Orient, home or away

Norwich

Basingstoke

Westham X11 (think we've had them before)

 

Dagenham and Redbridge, Home or away

 

 

Just thought of another one........ Ebbsfleet

 

Would be nice to have a bit of a change from the same pre-season teams we play every season. Would like some where new to go as well.

[Eastside Urchin]

can't stand ebbsfleet so yes,i would like the chance to beat them