Chairman’s Notes

Ahead of tomorrows match where Bowers & Ptisea visit The Riverside Stadium, have a read of the chairman’s notes

#upthehall

Today we welcome BOWERS & PITSEA to the Riverside Stadium. Let’s hope so anyway, as due to the dreadful weather recently we have struggled to get our home games on. Luckily we have still completed 20 matches, leaving 22 to play, so at the moment, that means 5 a month to the end of the season, no big problem there. Bowers have found their feet again after suffering relegation back to the North division last season, and loo to be making a strong bid for the playoffs again, at the very least. They come here of the back of a 1-0 win over TILBURY on Tuesday, and will prove to be tough opposition. We welcome their players, staff, officials and supporters today, and wish them a safe journey home after the match.

Things have become pretty difficult with the spate of postponements and I can only thank the sterling efforts of Joanne Barber and Danny Procter, who have been brilliant in getting the pitch inspections covered, in exceptionally unhelpful circumstances, and without their valuable help, we would have been up the proverbial creek without a paddle. Thank you to Jo and Danny, you know you have gone above and beyond recently, so don’t let the ‘powers that be’, get you down.

One good thing is that Mildenhall currently top the Isthmian League RESPECT TABLE. This is a table of all 78 clubs, tracking cautions/cards for offences that are deemed to breach Respect of the officials. Last season, we got whacked a fair bit of money for coming near the bottom of the League, so lets applaud Phil for instilling this into the players, and lets hope we stay high up in this table. Personally, I could have a lot to say about the whole thing, and al I would say is that in some cases, players get cautioned for showing passion, emotion, which is not disrespectful, just an expression of frustration. I remember last season, we got a very late caution at the Tilbury away fixture, after conceding an injury time penalty, that ultimately decided the points. We had defended valiantly for 90 minutes, and looked to getting a valuable draw, when a penalty was awarded against us. I don’t remember who got the caution, but it was just an outburst born from frustration and disappointment, no malice intended. Football is a game of passions, without that, it will cease to exist as a spectator sport. The supporters are passionate, and they expect their team to also be of that ilk. I know we need referees, I know they should be treated wih respect, but I do think some of them should just be a little more empathetic at times. Still, we are top of the table, so hopefully no fines for us this season.

I haven’t got too much else to add except, I hope this game goes ahead, I hope we win, I hope you enjoy the game, and just respect everybody else who comes here. This is a good, friendly club so let’s keep it that way.

BILL FLYNN

CHAIRMAN