New Book

[Canvey06]

any chance it will be in Book shops across the country

[Matt H]

I doubt it, but there is a mail order option for those that don't live locally.

[ronin]

Tonights sports headline in the Echo reads

 

GULLS IN MATCH FIX BRIBE CLAIM

 

By Dick Marshall

 

Allegations that an attempt was made to bribe Canvey Island to lose a Nationwide Conference match last season are set to rock the non-league soccer world.

 

The claim is made in a new book, "Flying Gulls_ the remarkable story of Canvey Island Football Club" which is due to be published next weekend.

 

The 192page book is written by former chairman and cheif executive Keith Johnson.

 

He writes "The Conference is a highly competitive League with many of the teams former Football League clubs.

 

Promotion or avoiding relegation is vital to many of the clubs as defeat can have severe finacial implications.

 

So much so that we were actually offered a bribe from the opposition to lose a match last season.

 

Unfortunately, this was done in such a way as to be very hard to prove

 

As i watched the game unfold i realised that, through no fault of our own, there was a great weight on us not to lose the match.

 

None of the players or staff were aware of this at the time, but for me it certainly made watching a very uncomfortable 90 minutes.

 

Luckily we did not lose the match and i was very grateful to hear the final whistle".

 

Johnson himself admitted that he was "expecting a phone call" when news of the allegation in his book reached soccer`s hierarchy.

 

Should get a few more people interested in the book, shame he can`t prove what club it was and name them.

[A Non E Mouse]

Wow! now that is controversial. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

 

Just going to have a glance at last seasons home results against ex league clubs that we didn't lose against.........

[Matt H]

That's quite a list, especially towards the end of the season! <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

 

Kidderminster, Hereford (x2), Halifax (x2), Cambridge, York, Exeter (x2) .....

 

 

(Great bit of promotional material this story is as well! Should certainly have a few extra books coming off the shelves! <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />)

[ronin]

Why just home results? Do you know something <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

[eggy]

i doubt it was a league club, i reckon it was a club that needed to stay up no matter what..

 

Maybe a club that couldn't afford to drop a league?

 

Any ideas?

[ronin]

What like one that has been relegated and is in serious financial trouble at the moment?

[Matt H]

Quote:

eggy said:
Any ideas?

All the teams we finished above? <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

[eggy]

Maybe Ronin..

 

Or even clubs that have decided to go Full Time from next season, even clubs that might be moving to a new ground..

[Linneycifc]

there was this allegation going round towards the end of last season around the time of the FGR game

[eggy]

i must admit i heard the same Linny

[Linneycifc]

im not saying it was FGR but they seem to survive every season anyone else think this is co-incidental

[Matt H]

They'd love that post on ConfGuide, especially after the Altrincham scenario!! <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/laughuncontrollable.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/laughuncontrollable.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/laughuncontrollable.gif" alt="" />

[CanveyLad0]

with FGR moving into there new ground in the new season as well

[thomarocky]

Dick Marshall with a bit of sensationalism tonight, but no doubt Keith will get hauled in to be grilled by the FA, could do a bit for book sales though, whilst they ask him why he didnt report it to FA before !

[Staying-up]

My money would be on the FGR game, that game seemed a bit strange to me.

If this accusation has been made lets see it being backed up by some facts. If it is true then whoever this team is then they can expect automatic relegation from the conference(won't be many teams left at this rate.)

[ronin]

Quote:

Staying-up said:
My money would be on the FGR game, that game seemed a bit strange to me.
If this accusation has been made lets see it being backed up by some facts. If it is true then whoever this team is then they can expect automatic relegation from the conference(won't be many teams left at this rate.)

What do you mean the game "seemed a bit strange" Keith Johnson said that the players and staff were unaware of any attempted bribe while the game in question was being played.

He also said he cannot prove his allegation so i don`t think he will be able to help any investigation if the Conference see fit to have one.

It may help him (and in turn the club) sell a few more copies of his book but i think that`s as far as this story will go without any proof.

[Ribbit]

I don't think we should be speculating as to which club it may be. Don't want to get ourselves or the club in any trouble. Shocking though, isn't it?

[Guest]

I would have thought it would be someone with money that was looking for promotion!