From today's Observer

[Guest]

Saints friendly replaced by FA Trophy match

By Alan Feldberg<p>ST ALBANS CITY's friendly with Grays Athletic on Saturday, February 2, is off. Instead, Clarence Park will be the venue for the FA Trophy Round Three fixture between Hendon and Cambridge City. Kick-off is at 3pm.<p>News of the Trophy match came as a shock to Saints manager Gary Roberts on Wednesday, January 30, who spent much of Thursday, January 31, telephoning the City players with the disappointing news.<p>The news will be seen as the final straw for a handful of City players, who have remained loyal to the club despite earning no wages for almost five weeks and playing just once in that time. <p>"The players are reviewing their situation now," said Roberts. "Their patience is as thin as it has been and they see this becoming a complete farce. They were going to stay until February 20th but I would imagine that four or five will move on now."<p>Others will be loaned out, and there must now be question marks surrounding the future of the managment team, who can be expected to stand up for the club only so long while the carpet is being swept from under their feet.<p>It appears that, after Hendon failed a pitch inspection on Wednesday, January 30, they were told by the Ryman League to find an alternative venue within three hours, or the league would do so for them. It is likely the match, which had already been postponed three times, would have then been moved to Cambridge.<p>Secretary at Hendon, Graham Etchell contacted his counterpart at City, Steve Eames, asking about pitch availability. <p>Etchell says Eames telephoned him back half an hour later to confirm Clarence Park's availability, although neither Roberts or Cook were consulted.<p>Hendon will provide all catering for the match, while gate receipts will be shared between themselves and Cambridge.<p>Neither Eames nor Lee Harding was available for comment.

[AFF]

That's not in my paper, G.Q., yours must be a later edition.<p>I hate it when Our Club is made a laughing stock.

[Guest]

Hi AFF<p>I got this from the Observer website!<p>www.stalbansobserver.co.uk

[AFF]

Another Trulock **** -up, obviously. Administrative errors Nos 117-125. What an epitaph to these people.<p>Oh, by the way. I don't like what I read between the lines in that one, G.Q.

[AFF]

That's twice today.

The censored word was c*ck. Sorry.<p>Three strikes and you're out?

[Hendonboy]

Not sure if that's quite the true story - it's not what's been said by Hendon and Cambridge anyway. Both teams have said on their websites that the FA chose the ground on which the game was to be played. We apparently suggested St. Albans on the basis that it's a good surface, close to home and no-one knew of any games on it and several hours later the FA came back and announced that it was to be at Clarence Park.<p>It's beyond me quite why the Ryman league can interfere with the FA Trophy if the Observer's story is right.<p>-----------------------------------<p>Greensnet - The official site from Hendon FC

[LSoK]

Gate receipts to be shared between Cambridge and Hendon?

Err...what about expenses due to SACFC? Not to mention a tidy sum for inconvenience.

Eames, what a muppet! [sue me Kermet!]<p>Why not put on both games?

Buy one get one free? Same prices, double the crowd. Watch the first game then go to the bar or stay and watch the second and then go to the bar.<p>12 or 1pm kick off would be good or an evening kick off or how about sunday afternoon?

It requires someone of higher authority [than me] to make some noise [que AFF] and get it sorted.