Thats what good neighbors are for (thank you)

[pabird]

Genuine thanks in order

(see below)

 

 

Soccer: Good neighbours Town solve Gulls' poser

A neighbourly act by Billericay Town has saved Ryman Premier title-chasers Canvey Island from becoming embroiled in a fixture controversy.

 

Gulls play Hendon in the two-legged semi-final of the Bryco Cup on successive Tuesdays, March 18 and 25.

 

But due to the London side's fixture pile-up, this meant that no Tuesday date could be found for the league game between the two sides before the end of the season.

 

Islanders' boss Jeff King was insistent that he would not jeopardise his side's championship push by playing the game on a Thursday.

 

Now Billericay have stepped in to help out by agreeing to postpone their own visit to Hendon on Tuesday, April 1, so that Canvey can play their game that night.

 

So Canvey and Hendon will now meet for three Tuesdays running with the new date for the Hendon v Billericay clash likely to be Thursday April 3.

 

Billericay boss Gary Calder said: "Although we are pushing for a high finishing position ourselves, Canvey are good neighbours who we enjoy good relations with and we were happy to accommodate them with this fixture switch.

 

"If it was us going for the title Jeff King would have acted in exactly the same way."

 

The Ryman League have agreed to the switch, but ironically Canvey's title rivals Aldershot are finding it hard to fit in their own away game with Hendon, themselves on the fringes of the championship battle, and a Thursday date for this match looks a near certainty.

 

Gulls boss King said: "We're grateful to both Hendon, Billericay and the league for agreeing to the switch."

 

For more on Ryman Premier League sides see our Ryman Premier League section

 

 

Published Tuesday, March 11, 2003

 

Brought to you by the Evening Echo

 

 

 

[Guest]

clubs may be good pals at boardroom level but that is not the case bertween fans. I hope aldershot win the title and your island sinks.

[Simon BTFC]

Perhaps in return you could arrange to "accidentally" injure some of the Hendon players to make it easier for us on the 3rd? Perhaps not..... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

[David Holden]

Interesting!

 

Isn't it in Billericay's interest for you to stay down, or do they get a bigger gate against Aldershot?

[Simon BTFC]

It would be in Billericay's interests for both to stay down <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> For what it's worth both Calder and Borg are tipping C*nv*y, although having not played them yet can't express an opinion on whether they're any good. What would be funny (absolutely hilarious indeed) would be if the Conference truned round and said to the league "If you're not going to support our proposals for the new division 1s then we're not going to accept your champions <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

[pabird]

Simon please get on-side the only way the new conference will be delayed is if the ryman can raise an injunction to place it on hold

 

The football league will have little or no say (when did they ever)

 

The FA as ever will go with the big guns and the new conference will happen

 

The Aldershot and Canvey (plus fleet & daggers etc)clubs have been invaluable to the ryman (teams such as basilricay survive only due to the money and support base these teams bring with them)and should be seen as the only reason the ryman has survived as long as it has as a top feeder division

You check out attendances at Dr Martin games as a rule they leave ryman attendances way behind

Fan banter? yes green envy spite no, your side has more potential than the vast majority of sides at this level

But you have failed to develop into that potential and intelligent folk like you should focus on why?

Your club are a reasonable sized business and such consistant failure to grow into the obvious potential would call for major change somewhere in a private or public company

I would not waste my time on some of the pond life that inhabits the fan base in non-league but you did give off intelligent signals previously

 

 

 

 

[Simon BTFC]

Well your the first person I've seen (apart, perhaps for John moules) who reckons the new conference will happen next season. The FA have already said that they won't sanction the competion to start this year.

 

I wouldn't kid yourself about the importance of Billericay playing Aldersh*t or C*nv*y - even if you put 1000 on the gate - takings up ~ £6000 will only represent less than 2% of our running costs.

 

To turn the argument around a touch, what would happen if Jeff King and his money left C*nv*y? Without either i)A rich backer willing to pump in a 6 figure amount to fund the team ii) Huge (1000+) crowds or iii) Other money making possibilities at the club (and I'm not talking about quiz nights etc here) potential goes nowhere.

[pabird]

The Jeff King situation is different to most as he is so much a part of Canvey life (the place and the team) and remember his association now goes back over many years and not simply a short term whim

But if he left or for any reason withdrew his sponsorship then they would eventually have less potential that BTFC

And Simon you are too intelligent to miss the point you are deliberatly avoiding the issue

BTFC are so much better set than clubs who enjoy a higher degree of success

The issue you avoid? Potential has to be managed, BTFC as a fact has had the potential for some considerable time, you finish the paragraph