Welcome to the new ‘Monday Moment’ column. Each week I’ll be taking a look back at the last seven days in non-league football and picking out what you might have missed or something that makes a great thought provoking choice.
The only way to view this new column and at least seven more blogs per month is via a paid subscription, either monthly or annually. However coming soon I am aiming to move platforms in order to give you the opportunity to read individual articles if that’s more to your liking.
But, if you can’t wait for that to happen why not take advantage of some great non-league writing whilst not breaking the bank at the same time and look out for the Black Friday offering later in the week:
The content below was originally paywalled.
Where do you stand on refunding fans who’ve travelled and watched their side get absolutely hammered? National League South Eastbourne Borough have been in the relegation zone for much of this season. Not surprisingly, it cost Matt Gray his job a few weeks ago and his replacement was Tommy Widdrington dropping down from National League outfit Aldershot Town.
On Saturday afternoon Borough went down 7-0 away at promotion chasing Torquay Utd. Not surprisingly, fans of the club let their feelings be known and the club issued a statement on Sunday which said the players would be refunding supporters who travelled to the West Country which I believe numbered 45 in total.
Now we follow our clubs north, south, east, and west of the country for nine months of a year. There is no god given right to win any match, we know that we’re going to see at least a few defeats and in some cases into double figures, that’s the contract we signed.
Going down this route opens up a huge can of worms, when supporters moan performances aren’t good enough are we going to see refunds requested going off the scale? And this isn’t the club offering to give money back, the players will be. I’m not sure that shows a positive light either, pressure is already on to get out of that bottom four, now more scrutiny on each individual performance, not the best thought out policy for me.
——-
Last week’s 3UP campaign might have had mixed reviews on what effect it really had, but the clubs on the pitch are certainly doing their bit as well. Just two points separates the top five clubs and should Scunthorpe Utd win their game in hand, make that three points between six clubs.
Competitive yes, any clue on who wins the title, the jury is out. Rochdale lead the way by a single point, granted they have two games in hand but they need to be won to extend the gap and some breathing space.
Two of those six sides were playing a division lower last season, one is challenging after relegation into non-league’s top division last season, that desire to get into the EFL is being spread across the many and bar Boreham Wood the rest have already been there.
Hopefully that current table will add more fuel to the fire that these sides need more space to work with, we already know that there are going to be some very disappointed sides in May as we had last year, that can’t keep happening.
———-
A couple of weekend’s ago a Step 4 game between Coventry Sphinx and AFC Rushden & Diamonds was abandoned after the female referee was subjected a comment of a sexual nature from one particular supporter, leading to her decision to call the game off.
The culprit was believed to have been ejected from the ground but unclear if the person in question was connected to either side and it’s now in the hands of the relevant authorities.
It’s a difficult one to tackle this. Abuse of different kinds has been in the game for too long. As fans there is a right to criticise performances, be that of an official, players and managers.
But there is a right and wrong way to act and behave, once you cross that line and it becomes personal that’s when it gets out of hand. The elite levels have much to answer for as does society, social media hasn’t helped either where those platforms are too slow to identify individuals and have proper punishments dished out.
Abandoning the game however sets a precedent. Without people being dealt with properly they are free to do as they please almost unless shouted down. Will other match officials now be looking towards this fixture and feeling that option is there and come into play more often? Hopefully not, make an example of these people in a big way, show the punishment as a deterrent, I won’t sadly be holding my breath though.
———
Enjoy the next week of football, I’m off on holiday midweek but the Monday Moment should be here next week as normal.
