Away day to GUERNSEY????

[TRS]

Big spread on page 2 of today's NLP regarding this. Quotes from whitelaw saying the Management Committee voted unanimously in favour of pursuing it and it's now with the clubs to put their views. It confirms Guernsey would pay for flights and an overnight stay for the away team and crowds of 500 are anticipated.

 

Worry for me is that they obviously have backers now who could fund the travel costs (both for them and the away team), but what happens if in a couple of years time they fall on hard times and suddenly annouce they can no longer afford to pay the away team costs? You can't just chuck them out of the League mid season, but how would the likes of Chobham and Frimley afford it?

 

Whitelaw compares it to admitting AFC Wimbledon (i.e risky), but the only real concern there would have been if it had been a flash in the pan and the club collapsed mid season (which was always unlikely to happen).

 

Be interesting to see what the clubs decide....

[Big J R]

Good points, TRS.

 

...... though people 'burying' money in Guernsey don't tend to fall on hard times, unless the IR in this country manage to catch up with 'em !!

 

Edited January 30, 2011 by Big J R

[Redrup No2]

all expenses paid for, playing infront of 500 fans, id be right up for that!

[newby marvel]

Id be up for playing abroad as tucks puts it lol

[Krooner]

Sorry newby your passport is still with the authorities after the last time you had to hand it in.

[Redrup No2]

Sorry newby your passport is still with the authorities after the last time you had to hand it in.

 

ha he defo not getting through customs with his record!

[ellers]

Newby would probably get sent off the plane! Lol!

[newby marvel]

I dont even have one they refused my application luckily guernsey aint abroad

[Tucks1]

I dont even have one they refused my application luckily guernsey aint abroad

 

Your worry Newby is not playing "abroad" its how you would get back from there when they let you out!!

[Lee Farmie]

This is a recipe for disaster. We had a player drop out of an away fixture at Newport IoW because he'd lent his cousin his passport to get into a nightclub and hadn't got it back.

[Terrence Collina]

and you need a passport to go to IoW because???

[Lee Farmie]

He wasn't the brightest player!

[Big J R]

 

 

 

http://www.thisissurreytoday.co.uk/sport/Guernsey-great/article-3174315-detail/article.html

 

 

[Smudge]

http://www.thisissur...il/article.html

 

 

 

 

Interesting snippets,reading between the lines:-Sth Park's Gilbert states:-It probably would not affect us in the 1st year,As if Promotion was nailed on.Alan constable states:-We will be looking to have MOST games on Saturday,but if we have a backlog of fixtures,we may have to rethink.Not ALL GAMES?

[Medic]

Big spread on page 2 of today's NLP regarding this. Quotes from whitelaw saying the Management Committee voted unanimously in favour of pursuing it and it's now with the clubs to put their views. It confirms Guernsey would pay for flights and an overnight stay for the away team and crowds of 500 are anticipated.

 

Worry for me is that they obviously have backers now who could fund the travel costs (both for them and the away team), but what happens if in a couple of years time they fall on hard times and suddenly annouce they can no longer afford to pay the away team costs? You can't just chuck them out of the League mid season, but how would the likes of Chobham and Frimley afford it?

 

Whitelaw compares it to admitting AFC Wimbledon (i.e risky), but the only real concern there would have been if it had been a flash in the pan and the club collapsed mid season (which was always unlikely to happen).

 

Be interesting to see what the clubs decide....

 

Sounds very interesting TRS, however it won't just be for league games, as surely they would be allowed to play in all league cup games as well as FA Vase and FA Cup.

 

I would however imagine that the backers will be there for many years, as most of the people in the Channel Islands have a few bob!!

Edited February 4, 2011 by Medic

[sparky100]

http://www.thisissur...il/article.html

 

 

 

 

Interesting snippets,reading between the lines:-Sth Park's Gilbert states:-It probably would not affect us in the 1st year,As if Promotion was nailed on.Alan constable states:-We will be looking to have MOST games on Saturday,but if we have a backlog of fixtures,we may have to rethink.Not ALL GAMES?

 

 

Gilbert is the Horley Town manager which is why he is quoted as saying it probably would not affect us in the 1st year. Joe McElligott is the South Park Manager.

[Smudge]

http://www.thisissur...il/article.html

 

 

 

 

Interesting snippets,reading between the lines:-Sth Park's Gilbert states:-It probably would not affect us in the 1st year,As if Promotion was nailed on.Alan constable states:-We will be looking to have MOST games on Saturday,but if we have a backlog of fixtures,we may have to rethink.Not ALL GAMES?

 

 

Gilbert is the Horley Town manager which is why he is quoted as saying it probably would not affect us in the 1st year. Joe McElligott is the South Park Manager.

Apologies to all at South Park,I could delete it but I will not,must learn to read better

.

[manager50]

My daughters boyfriend plays rugby for Twickenham - I think this link was mentioned earlier by someone - and they have Guernsey in their league. It appears that the travel is funded and the stadium is quite decent, and there is football played there, so it is possibly where the games will be played. The players all seem to enjoy the experience and Ttwickenham have in the past stayed 2 nights, one night paid for by the players out of choice. They go on the Friday evening and then have plenty of time Saturday, then have a night out Saturday, pretty much the same as a normal weekend. The fact that they stay the extra night has little impact on the travel costs, as Guernsey pay this anyway. The only addition is the extra night accomodation. It does seem that Guernsey win most of their home matches, although a lot of that is because they are a good side. I am not sure how long this has been going on with regard to the rugby league they have been in. It seems that the Twickenham lads have embraced the idea, as have all the other sides in the league. As a manager I would be concerned about my lads treating the whole thing as a one-off and perhaps putting the fun side ahead of the three points, or players being unable to make it and thus taking a weakened side. We actually discussed this last night after training and it was the view that it would be the managers jopb to get their heads right and ensure the squad was strong. I imagine the CCL can see this as a chance to give the league some increased stature, which cannot be a bad thing, as any strength we can add to the arguments about how good the leagues at this level are can only be a positive thing. I agree that the big problem will come when games are called off for any reason and we have to fit these in at a later stage. It is possible that their facilities and pitch may be top notch and cancellations do not happen, but there is always the problem of their opponent or themselves being in cups and thus otherwise engaged. Re-arranging games will then be a potential nightmare for clubs if they have to go midweek. It is certainly an interesting subject and not one that I reckon should be dismissed without looking into it further. I know a suggestion of a CCL representative side going there was made, but this would not completely answer the main questions. I am sure that if a guarantee was given that games would always be on a Saturday, come what may, clubs would be happier. Unfortunately, that is not possible and this is maybe why all of us are unsure. Our view is to look more deeply into it and have an open mind at the initial stages. Perhaps look for reasons how it can work, rather than reasons it cant work. Think of the games that, at the start of the season, we look at and in all honestly do not look forward to, then the ones that we cant wait to come around. These are only pretty local in most cases - i.e M25 catchment. The same would apply here, as the trip to Isle of Wight was always eagerly anticipated when they were in the same league as Molesey, and I would imagine much the same with a Guernsey trip. I dont think the IOW one was funded either and yes, maybe it is a lot of money for them to spend funding it, but if thats what they want to do with their own money so be it. Cup half empty and all that! Just a view anyway, but certainly an interesting topic to keep us all on our toes.

[Hartley Hare]

Great post m50, put's my one line responses to shame!

[spy]

ok. lets look at the nuts and bolts (and by the way I'm quite up for the idea) but..................start from the begining and see the pitfalls.

Firstly, weakened sides. A LOT of clubs have people who work on saturday mornings, you would be forcing players to use annual leave, then there is the self-employed, no probs taking off the time, but if the game is postponed for any reason will they be compensated for loss of earnings, becasue they will have to do the same for the rearranged match too. Players who don't fly..seriously there are plenty of people afraid of flying (Not that anyones signed Bergkamp as far as I'm aware !!!) Players who work long distances and may not be able to get home in time for the meet. Theres probably lots more reasons that sides may be forced to take sub strength sides but these are a few.

Travel hiccups............M25 / M23 totally screwed, miss the flight.......what happens then? Just recently we've seen airports shut for snow/ice, icelandic volcano's and of course fog has been a problem lots ot times at gatwick down the years. Airports, security alerts, strikes (baggage loaders, cabin crew, booking staff).

All that is a potential for a postponement and a lot of heartaches for players and fans with travel and taking time off etc.

As mentioned on an earlier post, the area is prone to severe mists and fog, particularly in the autumn. What happens if you've played the game and then for whatever reason flights are cancelled, do clubs (including supporters) get accomodation for another night? The hotels could be fully booked !!! What if its another problem and you're stranded for 2/3 or more nights. accomodation AND loss of earnings ? These are just basic fears off the top of my head, I'm sure some of you have others not mentioned.

As i opened with i find the concept appealing, but you have to be realistic and look at the possible pitfalls, I personally can't see how this can possibly be a starter, over to you guys