GAG

Recession? What recession?

GAGREES@aol.com — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 08:01:00 GMT

As the economic climate around the globe seems to worsen, amazingly the recession has failed to take its toll in the diamond filled world of the top football clubs. Whilst the majority of us worry where the next pound will appear, players are moving for fifty million and above for obscene amounts of cash. I can't remember this amount of money being spent in June before especially as I thought clubs would start to tighten their purse strings not openly cut them. But with the large fees comes the knock on effect lower down the food chain. It has been alleged from some quarters that the Ridgeons League clubs offers more cash incentives for players than that of the Ryman Premier. Maybe the lure of local football is greater than progressing up the food chain or perhaps clubs two rungs up the food ladder have seen the light and aren't prepared to offer risky fees that could force them deeper into the mire. IF the rumours are correct, just how long will the lure last and what will happen when the bait starts to dwindle? There could be a massive haul of players available and at a more sensible price too!

Rumour Mill

GAGREES@aol.com — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 07:48:00 GMT

I love this time of year! In between end of season and season start, the rumour mill spins faster than a hamsters. Whose going where and whose not and which club is spending this and which club is not! Rumours always seem greater surrounding the Ridgeons League yet the ink on the registration forms are not even dry from the printers yet. One club who has featured heavily in the 'mill' are Mildenhall who seem to have lost almost an entire team before June has even ended, while Norwich United have done the opposite and 'signed' some experienced personal clearly not wanting to spend next season like the last, flirting with relegation. With the draws for the FA competitions not announced until early July and the fixtures not released 'til mid July, this period could be classed as 'no man's land'. The grass roots followers are starting to get starved of football thankfully, there's only seven weeks until the feast begins.

Marooned in Tractor land

GAGREES@aol.com — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 10:41:00 GMT

Oh dear! The media frenzy has eclipsed all and sundry surrounding the appointment of Roy Keane. I quite like Mr Keane…well, I did up until now! Surely the club could have waited until pre season before using up all the column inches and removing the non league clubs chances of some coverage. Many, many people are moving away from the professional game and following non league and I just don’t mean Ipswich Town fans. So perhaps the local papers might bare this in mind and stop believing that everyone...(read more)

Double dose of heartache

GAGREES@aol.com — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 11:59:00 GMT

There’s a remarkable uncanny likeness at the moment to supporting Leiston and Aston Villa. Admittedly, it has to be said the likelihood of this affecting anyone but me is zero, but recent results have both thrown up alarming similarities. As an age old follower of both clubs, the recent dip in form should have been expected I guess. Both have had super seasons and fingers crossed, a return to form will see an even better finale to the season. Sadly both are suffering from a long and tiring season but now is not the time to stop, there’s still six weeks to go.

Prior to the recent Leiston-Ely City fixture I listened at first hand, Radio Suffolk presenter Bryan Knights pre match build up. During which Bryan quoted Leiston as being twenty two points behind leaders Lowestoft when in fact the gap was twenty. Surely Bryan could not foresee a drab goal less draw at Victory Road and a home win at Crown Meadow, could he? Either way he was right about the gap, just two hours previous! Perhaps I should give him a ring for those elusive six lottery numbers.

Around the Ridgeons in 80 days

GAGREES@aol.com — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 15:52:00 GMT

Phileas Fogg went round the world in 80 days for a bet. But as a betting man, would you have bet on Harwich Reserves getting a result at Braintree last week? Bearing in mind, 84 days earlier the Iron had gone to the Royal Oak and recorded a 10-1 win. Well low and behold and without a near strength first team, Braintree are held to a goal less draw by their Essex neighbours. The Harwich First Team Manager Mark Morsley at the time of the original thrashing condemned Braintree for filling their Reserve side with a near full strength Conference South side. No doubt last Saturday evening Mr Morsley enjoyed a drink with a wry smile.

A television company were in West Suffolk this week preparing a television documentary. Setanta Sports were doing a short piece on Wivenhoe Manager Julian Dicks in preparation for their forthcoming live match, West Ham v West Brom. The viewing (which can be seen on Friday 13/03 at 6.30pm and repeated again at 9.30pm and Saturday 14/03 morning) will certainly be worth watching as there were seven goals, three sending offs and four goals for Mildenhall striker John Sands. Apparently there were also a number of obscenities hurled throughout the ninety minutes so expect Channel Four to appear at Broad Lane soon with Gordon Ramsey in tow!

Flippin' squad rotation

GAGREES@aol.com — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 11:46:00 GMT

Why is it all best plans always go to ruins? As an avid (I use that word rather loosely) Villa fan, I rarely, mainly due to family commitments and Leiston FC, get to visit B6. Usually the lure of non league is far greater than the A14/M6 trek and of course there are financial constraints. But I had a cunning plan that was fool proof well, until a tinkering Martin O’Neill intervened. I am due to attend a week long course just outside Birmingham that would coincide with Villa’s last sixteen home tie in the UEFA Cup. So imagine my horror when defending a draw, King Martin decides to rest nearly the entire first team and Villa limp out of the competition! Gutted. Good job I had a contingency plan so instead of Villa Park on Thursday night it’s off to the Damson Park (B91) and Solihull Moors against Kings Lynn on Tuesday instead. Beggars can’t be choosers eh?

Yesterday's chip paper

GAGREES@aol.com — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 11:40:00 GMT

Sad isn’t it? After a run that started in the summer heat and ended on a cold November night, no one outside of Victory Road can remember the early FA Cup exploits of a step five club. This weekend its FA Cup weekend yet way back in August, little Leiston were embarking on what would be an historic run to the First Round proper, a run only ever done by two other clubs in the history of the world’s greatest cup competition. As their progression grew so did the media circus even a slot on prime time national TV on a cold Saturday in November not forgetting full coverage from Soho Square while the country tucked into its Sunday roast. All and sundry were on the LFC bandwagon until it came aground on the Blackpool Riviera. Three months on and little is remembered except for those connected with the football club and those that write the history books. It truly was a roller coaster ride that needs another sitting but will that chance ever come around again? The royal ‘we’ will remember it well but the media? Leiston who? Like any fairground ride, it had to end and as we trawled away from the park through the litter we became yesterday’s chip paper in an instant.

Better the devil you know.

GAGREES@aol.com — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 11:09:00 GMT

What is it they say when a new Manager takes over? New broom sweeps clean isn’t it? Well over at Dellwood Avenue, the newly (well, October) appointed duo have opted for that classic 90’s favourite from our favourite antipodean songstress, Kylie Minogue instead. Since taking the Seasiders hot seat, Glen Driver has returned to his roots in the hope of staving off relegation with players who have once graced the Victory Road pitch at Leiston. The latest signing of Luke Hammond from AFC Sudbury takes the current total to seven edging towards a whole starting line up. The talent is certainly there and there are one or two sides weaker than the Seasiders so their Premier status will be guaranteed for another season. But as is always the norm with sayings and phrases, lets hope familiarity doesn’t breed contempt down by the Seaside.

Are we there yet? (Part Five)

GAGREES@aol.com — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 14:28:00 GMT

Carshalton, Lewes, Fleetwood and now Hungerford. It’s been a busy old time following Leiston this season. At least the club card points have benefited! Amidst the rain we set off on Saturday and made pretty good time down through the Essex sunshine. The first pit stop took us to South Mimms and it was interesting seeing all the football shirts on show especially as they were all from the lower leagues. Bristol Rovers, Cheltenham and Burton Albion to name a few bustling around the busy complex along with the second of the Leiston supporters coaches. Upon arrival at Hungerford and without the aid of a navigation system, it seemed we had stumbled into Norfolk with the pitch more akin to Swaffham than deepest Berkshire. It certainly contained plenty of grass but we would need oxygen to reach the summit of the top stand! Cheered on by nearly 100 fans Leiston started dreadfully, got better, then had a player sent off before raising hopes with a great equaliser. In the first minute of extra time Hungerford hit what proved to be the winner and we limped out of the Vase for another year. At least the walk to the mini bus was down hill. Some of the locals reminded us we had a long journey to get home (the irony for them is a trip to Lowestoft in the next round) while the home players celebrated like they had won the trophy. I guess they were excited after knocking out the ‘unofficial’ favourites. It was a sombre trip home with no toilet breaks, which surprised me. After all the long hauls this season, we just have Cambridge (twice), Kings Lynn and Wisbech to contend with on our journeys now.

Location, location, location

GAGREES@aol.com — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 09:17:00 GMT

Nothing to do with a terrestrial TV channel programme but the scourge of all Ridgeons League sides aiming to progress up the non league ladder. Poor old Lowestoft, the best supported side at Step Five level and in some cases, much higher, but due to their most easterly location will they ever sustain a challenge at a higher level their support deserves? Whilst former Ridgeons League sides continue to moan (and rightly so) about the Football Associations League structures, why on earth can’t a Ryman Eastern League be introduced catering for East Anglia? From the M25 up to the Wash and around to South Essex see, its easy to introduce! The standard of football, support and facilities put the majority to shame elsewhere so why can’t this be portrayed where it is deserved by giving all clubs a fair chance to climb what is currently a rung less ladder.

If I had a Hammer

GAGREES@aol.com — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 08:52:00 GMT

For many years the Eastern Counties (Ridgeons) League has been blessed with ex professional footballers but of late, the number has dwindled somewhat. But the latest big news has seen the emergence of ex Liverpool, West Ham and Blue nose Julian Dicks at Broad Lane, Wivenhoe. The hard tackling left back has been sunning himself on the golf courses of Spain since hanging up his boots so it has been somewhat of a shock as he swaps the sangria for a mug of tea!

Wivenhoe’s recent problems have been well documented as they have steadily slipped from the top of the Premier Division towards the relegation places. Dicks appointment should ease their relegation problems and if the latest media circus is anything to go by, should put a few more bums on seats but what is in it for Julian? And what are the long term targets? I doubt many of the ‘Hoe supporters will be worrying about that at the moment after all their troubled times this season.

Those two little words

GAGREES@aol.com — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 16:29:00 GMT

Its that time of the season when two little words can ruin your weekend…..pitch inspection! As the hardcore non league followers amongst us can't wait until our weekly fix of non league football, the last thing you want to hear is ‘there is going to be a pitch inspection’. 9 times out of 10 it results in a cancellation. Never before have we spent so much time listening to the weather forecasts. Forward planning some call it but we all know that a possible cancellation will result in being dragged around the shops Christmas Shopping. And what about those poor soles that spend hours trying to prepare the pitch prior to the dreaded inspection, hours wasted. I know we can’t account for the weather but why doesn’t it account for our weekends. There’s plenty of time for the bad weather from 5pm Saturday’s onwards. I think I had better tune into the weather forecast tonight.

This week I heard of two players who have turned out for four different clubs already this season and also a current player who has played for ten Ridgeons League clubs. What records eh, especially as they are all under 30. The latter certainly fits that old adage of more clubs than Tiger Woods!

Big Fish in a little pond

GAGREES@aol.com — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 11:53:00 GMT

Its now three years since IpswichTown decided to return to Suffolk's Premier Cup competition and the question many are asking is, is it working? In their first year back the crowds flocked to Felixstowe, Ipswich Wanderers and Needham Market to get a glimpse of the so called 'stars' of the future sprinkled with a few well known names. In the first year they swept all before them culminating in lifting the trophy in their own back yard. The next season they crashed out at the first hurdle and this year they have just began their quest. On Tuesday at a freezing Victory Road, a lower than expected crowd witnessed a few 'stars' of the future sprinkled with some well known names dispose of Ridgeons League Leiston, so are Ipswich Town not the draw they used to be? Leiston have attracted large crowds on their monumentous FA Cup run but clearly the regions big fish doesn't warrant the same attraction. Maybe had their first team not been playing the same evening one or two would have visitied expecting to see a few more house hold names but there are certainly one or two who would not bother next time around should it happen. Before the match a father of one of the visiting players aimed a tirade of abuse at the gateman because he wasn't alowed in for free. 'Unfortunately we don't do complimentary tickets for players Dad's' said the gateman to which he received an array of Anglo Saxon profanities ending with a 'hope you go bust' quote. Charming! Then at the final whistle as a handful of freezing young fans hung around hoping for autpgraphs, the visitors slipped away straight onto their waiting coach avoiding the freezing youths and the excellent hot food hospitality prepared free of charge inside the clubhouse. You wouldn't expect that in the Ridgeons League so why should you expect it in the County Cup. I'm sure Needham or Walsham will have a bumper pay day in the Semi Finals. I for one hope one of the village teams turn em over!

Life's a Pitch.

GAGREES@aol.com — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 12:52:00 GMT

Saturday provided a first for me, no, not arriving before kick off which I did manage, but a trip to Broad Lane and third placed Wivenhoe. After a long week at work and up North I was, as usual, looking forward to my Saturday fix of non league football and also taking in yet another new ground. On arrival it looked a good old fashioned ground and once inside we weren't disappointed. Good terracing either end while the 'sides' could do with a make over but beggars can't be choosers. No doubt over the years this Essex based club has had some cracking games and clearly the supporters needs have been taken care off. But the pitch? Well, now that's a different story. In this day and age where facilities have to be regularly upgraded why isn't the pitch included in this? I guess on Saturday, playing an under 10 game an hour before kick off didn't help. The need for a roller was clearly apparent. During the game and you could have recorded your own dvd of gaffes as time and again a player went to control the ball only for it to bounce or bobble up over it. Every time someone attempted a back pass we all held our breath expecting a Bryan Gunn moment! Luckily for either sets of fans this didn't happen although I'm sure we would have liked to have seen it (at the opposite end of course!). There are many fine surfaces in the Ridgeons League, for those of you yet to visit Broad Lane, brace yourselves.

Are we there yet? (Part Four)

GAGREES@aol.com — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 09:09:00 GMT

As journeys go, this was a pretty decent one but certainly the furthest. I also had the added bonus of navigating for a change although we did have a very good Tom Tom Sat Nav (other makes are available!). Our first stop was on the M6 after passing the Mecca of football, Villa Park. At the services we bumped into Suffolk FA’s finest dignitaries Mess’s Head and Porter and this after forking out some ridiculous prices to eat. Clearly the credit crunch hasn’t reached the motorway services yet. I had never been to Blackpool before and on arrival I could see why. I’m sure at the height of summer it is a bustling resort but it looked in dire need of an upgrade and certainly a lick of paint wouldn’t go a miss either. Gently strolling down the Golden Mile we were accosted by Mr Bacon and his EADT photographer who pointed us into the direction of a very good watering hole. A quick change and it was off to Fleetwood. The bus driver could have done with our sat nav as he decided to not once, not twice but three times drive past the ground. Not even the glaring light from the floodlights gave him any indication as to where the game was being staged on the original fly past. Inside and Fleetwood is a good ground with covered stands on all but one of the four sides. A noisy partisan crowd throughout with an official attendance of 2000, maybe they only counted those in the covered areas! One strange sight was the seated stand in front of another stand which I later found out was due to the fact the ‘old’ stand housed the changing rooms. Sadly the end result was not what we hoped for but the FA Cup run has been fantastic and we’ve clocked up nearly 2000 miles along the way. We trudged back to Blackpool and enjoyed a drink or three before retiring. It was a biting wind and the Irish Sea that brought the hangover to the fore the next morning not helped by the Nat King Cole Christmas special blasting over the air waves at breakfast as we outnumbered the other residents by 30, in age that is! The journey home was a long and tiresome affair, I’m sure it would have been different had we won.