Over the last two months we’ve seen plenty offered for opinions over what to do when it comes to the type of relentless weather we’ve seen over that period of time.
There are certainly a few things that can be tweaked in order to alleviate some of the problems that have cropped up but there are few others that I believe simply don’t or won’t work.
I was asked my opinion on a letter published in the Non League Paper (22nd Feb) and I actually had read it earlier that morning, some I agreed with and other parts are unlikely to happen, but here it is, grab your choice of subscription and drop me a comment at the end with your thoughts and ideas.
The first part of playing matches in July is a point I like and don’t like. Taking the likes first, it makes a lot of sense for county cup or league cup matches to schedule two rounds into the last two weeks of pre-season clearing the way for up to six midweek’s free to December time.
National League group stages I don’t believe wouldn’t work then because of the involvement of the Premier League sides, not mention non-league’s top sides would need to be back in training earlier when for potentially two sides they would only have finished in mid-May with the FA Trophy final.
Given that those sides also have internationals that will be playing in June across the globe, when do they get a break from the game? Potentially it could increase burnout for some players before the new campaign is three months old, that thought needs to be in the forefront.
What I don’t like is trialists playing in these games, they are then cup-tied before the season has even begun and if they shoot off having only completed a cup game, then play in a different competition and become cup-tied in that by the time they end up settling down, are they going to remember where they played and in what competition?
It’s highly unlikely and more likely to become an administration nightmare rather than being of help in this situation.
Starting the season in July for me causes more problems than it solves for a few reasons. Firstly, pre-season fixtures begin generally at the beginning of that month, the play-off’s are concluded in the first week of May so essentially bar both in the National League and the FA Trophy finalists who play after that date it’s currently eight weeks between one season finishing and then pre-season begins.
So, if the season was to start 1st July then pre-season would shift to 1st June so that gives players and staff exactly four weeks off at best. People sometimes forget that as well as footballers they are human beings with a life away from the pitch when they fit in holidays etc and some down time?
More importantly, when do the pitches get time to recover? Because I can tell you without needing to consult a grounds person, a month is not long enough and what for those clubs who hire out their pitch for cup finals because they need the money, it simply won’t happen.
Now to the other part on that, the supporters. July should be a hot month, and if it is, are they getting value for money with constant water breaks on both Saturday’s and in midweek if the humidity doesn’t drop? Is there enough cover at grounds at all levels to stop the inevitable sunstroke? Aren’t July Saturday’s all about the pub beer garden as well?
Pre-season is a choice for most, it’s for the players and staff to get in tune, less so about results and the same for supporters, making it a competitive time at the end works out better, people won’t be as worried about missing a National League cup game or a league cup match than a full on league fixture.
The next two points I can get on board with. No FA Cup replays in the qualifying rounds would mean uniform over the whole competition and considering clubs have to turn round a fixture in three days it’s plausible. However, there are enough midweek dates outside of those replay dates, leagues this season and last I saw chose not to use alternative dates around them, pretty crazy when the weather is better and some are paying for it now.
League games to take priority over county cup and league cup games. Shouldn’t even need to be discussed but they should. Considering each separate FA seems to work that one however they want needs an overhaul, this is something I can get on board with.
No ground sharing on grass pitches, but up to three sharing a 3G surface. I like the first part, causes too much wear and tear when you factor in Under 23’s and Under 18’s for the landlord club and many have moved just to get promoted rather than for good reason. I don’t like the latter part, that third club whoever they may be are going to end up stuck on a Friday night or Sunday afternoon, and when the cup competitions are in full swing, that will move fixtures for them all, two is plenty.
The penultimate point, no Step 7 side to be promoted without their own ground. Spot on this, how do you plan a long term future playing at someone else’s ground with no income, no bar or food takings and in some cases no desire to be playing in your home town or village?
Plenty have shown it can be done; there should be the ambition to do so but with your own facilities. I see clubs all around areas and wonder what the long term future actually is, it’s a concern within the game I think many would rather not talk about.
And to the final point, leagues with geographically big areas splitting the league playing each other four times instead of two. It’s not for me and I’d hazard a guess it’s not for a lot of supporters either.
They look forward to visiting 20-23 different grounds in a season, how many would do one trip and not bother with the other one because they’ve already done that ground? I know it’s different for all supporters but it’s not something I see working, it might do for Scotland but not here. I’d rather see clubs trying out a Friday night, a Sunday afternoon or a different midweek night, that I feel is more likely to get the buy-in than four games against the same team and someone will always lose out on that geographical split line.
Well, what do you think? Could it all work? Do some things appeal more than others or are there some more ideas not discussed above? Pop your views in the comments and let’s see what else is a potential or not.
