AT LAST!! Some real news [No. 152]

[AFF]

While queuing to collect my copy of Organic Gardening Weekly in the newsagents this morning, I scanned the back page of the St Albans Observer where Steve Castle is quoted at some length under the headline "Three new faces and more to come.

 

Firstly there is confirmation that Hathew 'Hatty' Mann, Darren 'Sarlly' and 'Craigy' Rydeheard have joined The Mighty Saints. Then it confirms that skipper Derek Brown has joined Kettering "with Steve Castle's good wishes". [something about the pressures of captaincy and his job taking him overseas for 36 of the 37 weeks in the season but I lost the thread of that.]

 

George Clark 'appears to have severed his ties' with the Club, by which I assume they mean he hasn't turned up for pre-season training. Steve Castle is 'looking at' James Robinson from Hitchin and 30 year old Mel Capleton from Grays [now Mel is a player with a serious pedigree - ex Southend United].

 

No reference to Neil Gough, worryingly, but we are looking to add to the fire-power up front, but the Manager is not prepared to panic-buy and will wait until the season starts if necessary [and finishes, presumably] until the right man becomes available. We have been 'looking at' Drew Roberts but he appears to have joined Kettering. [No reference to Steve castle's good wishes in that particular paragraph.] We are 'looking at' Gary Crawshaw.

 

Greg Deacon is travelling in Thailand and will return at the end of August when Steve Castle hopes to conclude contract negotiations.

 

Worms on Saturday, The Mighty Hatters next Wednesday.

 

Err... That's it.

 

 

[Laz]

What's the player count now for Saturday then?

 

I assumed George 'Clarky' Clarke was one of the 10 or is it 11!

[AFF]

Hi Laz.

 

I heard a couple of weeks ago that James Robinson has the ticket for Worms.

 

I was re-assured by Rob the Saint's comment a month ago that there's plenty of time before the start of the season. If I was the worrying kind, I would be worried, however. By my reckoning we have Steve Castleo, Migsy De Souza, Richard Thommo, Hatty Mann, Darren Sarlly, Craigy Rydeheard and Robbo Smith who have signed and committed their futures to the Saints.

 

No Brownie at all and no Greggy until the end of August [subject to trials with Phoukhett United, perhaps.]

 

There must be more news than that, surely?

 

 

[Laz]

As preseason starts Saturday I would expect a little more news than what you have reported above.

[AFF]

I heard that Oakes, Campbell and Sargant were not at training last week.

 

Someone said that the ten for Worms is/was James Robinson, Castleo, Thommo, Zoricichichy, Migsy, Seebs, Craigy Rydeheard, Darren Sarlly, Graeme Butlery, Adam Parker and Neily Gough less one of those but I can't recall which had cried off.

 

Wraighty had dropped out. Perhaps Hatty Mann is going?

 

I am re-assured that the Official web-site said that 45 players were at training last Thursday but it would be good to hear some more news, I agree.

[Laz]

That site also suggested a group of 24 were travelling to Worms. As there were only 12 players originally booked on the flight and just three officals are going, simple maths suggest only 15 will be making the trip in total.

[Rob_the_Saint]

I've heard Zorro (Zoricichio?) has also pulled out of the Worms trip and has been replaced by Ben Cogger.

 

If I happen to bump into Steve Castle during my evening constitutional around Verulamium Park this evening I'll ask him.

 

 

[Rob_the_Saint]

P.S. Having just consulted my newly-acquired Gladwish Land Sales ULTIMATE Book of Non-Leage Players I can reveal the following:

 

Name MELVIN CAPLETON

DOB 24.10.1973

Birthplace London

Current Team Grays Athletic

Height 5' 11"

Weight 12.00

Position Goalkeeper

 

Pen Pic

Recent re-aquisition from Southend United, he previously played for Grays Athletic then was transfered to U's, he returned this season firstly on loan, then as a permanent team member.

 

Previous Clubs

Southend Utd - 12.01, Leyton Orient, Billericay T, Grays Ath., Blackpool, Southend Utd

 

 

 

[AFF]

I think that he was with The Mighty Shrimpers for a season and a half or so. Possibly two. No disrespect to anyone who has ever pulled on the blue shirt of Southend United, but Mel's record will put Declan Perkins' 6 appearances [5 off the bench] and 1 goal in the shade.

 

Popular with the fans, too.

 

"Cool-hand" Castle has the goalkeeping position covered, clearly.

 

 

[AFF]

There's a report on the Hitchin Town Official web-site to the effect that Kerry Dixon has 'lost' goalkeeper James Robinson, but it doesn't say where he's gone.

 

Perhaps Cool-Hand will sign both keepers as he has heard that Capleton can play up front if required.

[Rob_the_Saint]

Looks like you might get your 'Robbo' at last.

[JKiF]

 

as i said every team needs a "robbo" and a gazza too wouldnt go amiss

[AFF]

Gazza Wraighty?

[GHA EFM]

So the website said 25 players would be going to Worms. 12 are.

 

The website said almost 45 players were at last Thursday's training. Does this mean that in truth, almost 23 players were actually there?

 

The lack of news would worry the pessimist, but me? I can't wait. This season's going to be an unparalleled success. Well, maybe paralleled with last season, but not much else.

[AFF]

Look GHA. Rob the Saint and his assistant Webbo aren't 'investigative journalists' you know. They just do as they are told and put whatever stuff on the site that they are told to put on it.

 

"Richard Goddard signs and commits his future to the Saints".

 

The funny thing is, Webbo still believes that to be true, because Buzz Lightyear told him it was. Webbo still can't understand why the club didn't sue Godds for breach of contract. You just can't get through to him. World of his own. Computer people. The real world is completely foreign to them.

[Rob_the_Saint]

GHA, I was told by someone in authority that between 40 and 45 players were at the first training session. The fact that many of them were probably yoof, reserves, or triallists from London Colney is neither here nor there.

 

Also, the website says a party of 24 is going to Worms, not that there would be 25 players. About 12 is my guess, but does it really matter? As long as a quality squad of 21 or so is available for the first league game, pre-season trips and friendlies are fairly unimportant in my view.

[AFF]

Apart from Neil Gough, were there any strikers amongst them, Rob?

[Rob_the_Saint]

Er.... Gary Crawshaw? Oh, and that chap that's gone to Kettering. Brew or Stew or something. That's all I know.

[YB941 5thD EFM ~soul~]

Quote:

As long as a quality squad of 21 or so is available for the first league game,

And the chances of that are??...

[GHA EFM]

Quote:

Computer people. The real world is completely foreign to them.

D'ya reckon the Luton webmaster's in the same boat?

''Ere, Lutonwebbo, the match against those non-league terriers from down the road, St. Albans, it's a first team match, OK?'

'But the first team are playing away at South Woodham Ferrers Athletic that day.'

'Don't worry about that...'

Quote:

Also, the website says a party of 24 is going to Worms

From what one can make out, the true figure is around 15 (maximum).

Quote:

As long as a quality squad of 21 or so is available for the first league game, pre-season trips and friendlies are fairly unimportant in my view.

A quality squad of 21?? Where's that gonna come from then?

Finally Rob, are you a STH?