2011/12 SEASON INTRODUCTION

This season brings us our biggest test in coping to manage the League during what I call the enemy occupation of the East Marsh.

I am sure that we will make the league run as well as possible and to the best of our ability given the circumstances that we find ourselves in through no fault of our own, and if we have the support and understanding from our member clubs, then I am positive that we can survive intact during the two years of enemy occupation.

What is certain is that we will face some problems, that is inevitable. For a start I believe there will be a shortage of pitches and therefore the pitches that are available will possibly be overused and not up to the high standards we have become used to. Another factor will be less changing rooms. We are already used to having two teams sharing a changing room when it is only suitable for one team, also some teams will have a time consuming long trek to get to their pitches.

 All these problems will try our patience but we just have to make the best of a bad situation otherwise the enemy will win and our grass roots game will die away.

Your Committee have been doing their bit towards keeping up a healthy and thriving league, and in spite of the many difficulties and also the loss of some teams during the close season, our members can see that we still have five divisions. I can tell you it has been hard work in maintaining our status as one of the biggest and prestigious leagues in North East London. We have had to be very patient with our clubs particularly when it comes to paying their fees, and we as a committee realise all too well that clubs are struggling financially, that is why we have been reasonable and cut our fines to a minimum. I wish the FA would follow suit.

Alec, as League Treasurer has had the added burden of booking pitches for our teams to play friendlies. The reason being that if a pitch was booked without going through our league, the Management of the Marshes had no proof that the team was one of ours, and consequently that team would have had to pay nearly eighty pounds for their pitch. So instead of teams ringing the Marshes to arrange their friendly games, Alec has been getting phone calls every day of the week and having to do all the donkey work in getting our teams their pitches. Obviously this arrangement is not our clubs fault, but we will have to come up with a new system next season.

One thing that must change in the future is that our clubs must communicate with the Management Committee more often, especially if they are facing difficulties of any nature, and particularly if they are having problems with their finances. Each club must face up to their responsibilities, for instance we are not a charity, all clubs must keep up with their payments for their pitch permits, we can’t afford, as a league, to let a club play on a pitch for free, we are not a rich league and it is not fair that most clubs regularly pay their way and some clubs default and get in debt. So please, if your club does find itself in trouble, don’t bury your head in the sand, get in touch with the league because we aren’t always aware there is a problem and that is why communication is so important.
Especially important is that you all attend our monthly fixture meetings that will from now on be held at the new Centre on the South Marsh. Plenty of parking spaces so there is no excuse for not attending.

Still making the point regarding communication, can all of our members, and of course visitors to our superb website, please use the excellent facility to its full potential? Dino, our website designer and manager has made it easier for all to use and so we would like to read your comments on the forum and even criticism of us is OK as long as its not abusive. Your comments could help in many ways and some suggestions could be acted upon, so please let us see a greater use of the website this season.

All that needs to be said now is that we hope everyone enjoys the new season ahead and tries to honour our league by playing in a sporting manner. This league will always try to uphold the true spirit of the game and urge our clubs to be competitive but all to remain friends before and after each game. Also we welcome quite a few new clubs and so we hope that we show them the respect that we already show to our many friends that we have all made over the years we have all been together. GOOD LUCK AND HAVE A GREAT SEASON TO YOU ALL.

Best wishes from Johnnie, Alec, Ted, Macca, Alan and not least of all, the new slim looking Jermaine.