Reserves Division 2013/14

[Beano]

Granted there are a few 'Walts' in the game, Duncs, but there are a lot of quality players out there who aren't getting picked up.

 

Maybe a 'Home Counties North' and 'Home Counties South' league could be built with three/four divisions for teams. I know of a few teams who are looking at leaving the Suburban League, so maybe now is the time to make this new league reality.

 

I don't think there's any real need for new reserve leagues. What clubs need to do is determine why they run a reserve team and whether those reasons stack up against the costs involved.

 

The North Division of the Suburban League does have a lot of travelling for that level of the game, but that's because of the way the League is organised. It's not a League that is blind to the needs of the clubs - before there was a Premier Division, it had North, South and West Divisions and has frequently changed its structure to suit the needs of the clubs.

 

It's not that long since most, if not all CCL clubs competed in the Reserve Section of the League, rather than the Suburban League and I don't imagine there's anything stopping clubs from returning to it if travelling is an issue.

 

We don't need new Leagues - the Suburban League is an excellent competition and the CCL is also well run. Some clubs will want more games, others, especially those who groundshare, don't. Certainly, Ashford left the Suburban League for the Capital League because, at that time, the Suburban had 18 team divisions and the ground wouldn't have coped with that number of games. The divisions are now smaller and the Capital League is, with respect, not as well managed, so Ashford have gone back.

 

Egham played in the CCL Reserve section while still in the Ryman League, so I'm sure those clubs who want more games could move across from the Suburban if they are truly unhappy with the situation.

[Chris Clapham]

I don't think there's any real need for new reserve leagues. What clubs need to do is determine why they run a reserve team and whether those reasons stack up against the costs involved.

 

The North Division of the Suburban League does have a lot of travelling for that level of the game, but that's because of the way the League is organised. It's not a League that is blind to the needs of the clubs - before there was a Premier Division, it had North, South and West Divisions and has frequently changed its structure to suit the needs of the clubs.

 

It's not that long since most, if not all CCL clubs competed in the Reserve Section of the League, rather than the Suburban League and I don't imagine there's anything stopping clubs from returning to it if travelling is an issue.

 

We don't need new Leagues - the Suburban League is an excellent competition and the CCL is also well run. Some clubs will want more games, others, especially those who groundshare, don't. Certainly, Ashford left the Suburban League for the Capital League because, at that time, the Suburban had 18 team divisions and the ground wouldn't have coped with that number of games. The divisions are now smaller and the Capital League is, with respect, not as well managed, so Ashford have gone back.

 

Egham played in the CCL Reserve section while still in the Ryman League, so I'm sure those clubs who want more games could move across from the Suburban if they are truly unhappy with the situation.

 

Good post Beano. Thanks

[duncs]

Fair enough but remember when I first started coaching at Cove Ressies when you were doing the firsts with Koo? There was one match where Koo called up 7 players, and all did well. We had likes of Chris Bone, Baha, Bemal, Harry and Zac, all who would regularly get called into firsts. This is where you shoot me down in flames lol but I'm sure that has got to be classed as a success...

Harry and Zac were on loan to us from Leatherhead because they both lived in Cove,both were only 16/17 at the time and rather than sit on the bench at Leatherhead Sully let us have them it was never in doubt they were both equipped to play Ryman they just needed 1st team football to bring them on.

[Luke]

Exactly Duncs! And they spent a good 8 to 10 weeks (maybe more) in the reserves before you had them in the first team as they wernt ready straight away. So the reserves served its purpose. I remember you had an injury crisis vs Sandhurst so you called up seven players of which they were 2 of them. You drew 0-0 so they obvs all did quite well. After the Sandhurst game, those two and bemal stayed in the first team, Baha and Chris Bone bounced between the 2 sides and the other 3 players wernt quite ready and went back to the reserves. You also ended up with Gary Aulsssbury as the first team goalie, after he had spent the first half of the season in the reserves.

A few years earlier Jack Naegar was in the ressies (at Camberley then Cove) and pushed through to the firsts, Alex Jeffers had played a season in Camberley reserves, Johno was with you with Ash reserves, so effectiley a minimum of 3/4s of the Cove first team of that season had at some point spent a fair amount of time in a local reserve team on their way through.

I could then go even further and add Fozzie as previous first team goalie had been at Camberley reserves for two years. And in that Camberley ressie team you also had Jamie Hoppitt (now Badshot Lea firsts), Adam Cornell (Badshot Lea firsts) Mitch While (Cove & Camberley firsts till he become a copper).

Going further afield, from my time at Horley Town in the ressies there, they had Liam Cox (now in firsts), Jack Poplett (now in Horley Town firsts) +a large number of players that were capable of playing first team anyway but at the time were overlooked but now make up the backbone of Horley's first team.

From last season when I did Mole Valley's ressies you now have last seasons regular reserve players playing regular first team - Ben Drewett (Mole Valley firsts), Marvin Roberts (Mole Valley firsts), Vigan Rexhepi (Colliers Wood firsts) , Theo Campbell (Mole Valley firsts). (looks for pat on back) You've then got Hayden Flynn, Todd Sullivan, Dave Ball who have all played a few first team games this season but are not regular (i think Hayden discovered drink)

ALl these players literally off the top of my head! God knows how many iv missed out. I know you are right, its not always great, but I think thats a reflection of managers and what they are trying to achieve. If you have a reserve team management that care about the development of players and a first team willing them to give them a chance, you'll thrive : )

Edited November 21, 2012 by Luke