PERTHSHIRE AMATEUR FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION

How heavy fell the rain that day

From burdened clouds of mournful grey.

The torrent forced them stay their height -

Composure swayed by onerous might.

My skin wrung wet with icy chill

As mud embraced that sodden hill.

But mind of mine had elsewhere gone -

'Twas clouds abandoned I was on.

The driving drops advanced their gears

To camouflage my sneaking tears -

Whence now did swell such floods of pain

To see me melt into this rain…

Rain rain rain rain rain rain rain rain

Rain rain rain rain rain rain rain rain

Rain rain rain rain rain rain rain rain

Rain rain rain rain rain rain rain rain

Copyright Mark R Slaughter 2009

The worries of a fixture pile up is once again knocking upon the door and while some clubs are worried about going 3–4 weeks without a fixture, others are not, happily filling their spare time on a weekend, watching their coupon get knackered by a Hereford 93rd minute leveler.

To my point of bad weather, postponed games and fixture pile ups. I feel there are 3 types of people –

1. The ones who work like a bear to get the park playable and are sometimes defeated:

2. The ones who look at the park and consider it unplayable:

3. Those who want to get a game played regardless, as its 11 v 11 on the day and it’s that simple for them (This is the Hutchison philosophy – let’s get on with it – me likey this!!)

The first bunch should be applauded as that is the work people don’t see. The third bunch I love as they make my job easier and the second bunch are the ones that come on the blower near the end of the season asking why they have got 3 games in one week – Guess who gets a deaf ear?

Taking aside the clubs who are sometimes at the capers, because they have had call offs, or are struggling for a team, or have suspensions with easier opponents the following week so a postponed game could be handy – Don’t anyone say it does not go on, co I know it does and I can list about a dozen times in my short time when I know it has happened and players have told me so also.

Taking them aside, I think a lot of clubs would still like the option of a game on a Saturday if their scheduled tie is called off. A case in point would be Balmoral Utd, who’s pitch has been perfect for the last two weeks, they have been scheduled to play Letham utd away in the cup, Letham rightly want to retain home advantage and would not move the tie, but as their park is scunnered it’s been called off.

As their pitch is perfect, an opportunity has been missed over the past 2 weeks for them to play maybe St Johns or Roselea the first week, two clubs who they have not faced and two clubs with Scottish Cup ties called off early on Friday/Saturday. As it stands I have had two calls about call offs already.

(no slight on any clubs mentioned, there just examples)

Here is the problem, there are clubs that want to play and clubs that don’t, in most cases it will turn into a carry on where teams will grump and moan they have players working late, or they cannot get them organized in time blah, blah, blah, blah, blah – utter pish! If they need an extra 30 minutes to travel to another club that can easily be arranged and so can a relevant referee. However, because they don’t want to play the Match Secretary is generally the last to know.

Breadalbane90 has gone on record stating “On your point in your match report regarding the postponement of fixtures surely if the Club doesnt know the game is going to be off until the morning of the match it would be too late to arrange an alternative fixture?”

I strongly disagree, I’ve put it out there as an option as I was asked to do so by a couple of clubs who want to get games played. I will not force any club to play an alternative game, I’m just making myself available as a central point for clubs to contact with an alternative on a match day should there be an alternative. I acknowledge my wording was not the greatest.

Don’t get me wrong, you could call up and be met with a response that all parks are off, in turn you could if you know early enough have an alternative and I feel strong enough to say that if you are aware of an alternative before 11am and you have a flexible 20 mins to play with then Breadalbane 90’s statement of “too late to arrange an alternative fixture” is poppycock!

Please appreciate, these normally only relate to clubs competing in cup competitions and not so relevant to league fixtures. Case in point, (Methven v Star of Atholl), both pitches are unplayable and it pointless trying to organise a separate league tie.

However, if Villareal v Auchter is off, Letham v Balmoral is off and neither what to give up their home ground, then i’m happy to facilitate Auchter and Balmoral getting together for a cuddle!!

It’s a postitive I would like to offer Moriarity, to all clubs. Already the waves are negative and this is to be expected, I maybe never worded the paragraph well as it comes across all big brother and its ma ball and you will play. It was never ment that way, it was supposed to be – let me ken if you still fancy a game, let’s see what I can do!

In closing, there could be viable alternative options on match days if clubs are prepared to be flexible, but for the eijit who asks why am suddenly doing this now and not in previous seasons, I would answer I am prepared to do this know with my FREE TIME, for clubs as I no longer have a club commitment on a Saturday.

Whoever came up with the idea of 'Seasonal Affective Disorder' or 'SAD' must of been one of two things, either he had some kind of mental disorder or he was a Registrations Secretary for a specific football League. I suspect it was maybe a bit of both, certainly depending on who you speak to I do not qualify for the first but I do for the second.

The more I deal with the registrations, the more depressed I get at the lack of organisation of a good percentage of clubs, in that they cannot complete one of the new player registration forms that clearly details what is needed to be done.

What worries me is later on down the line, I would expect when the scheme is in full swing it will no longer be actioned by each association and it will be administered nationally @ Hampden. At that point a good few clubs will seriously struggle unless they make a concerted effort to be better organised.

Despite the regular reminders and warnings there are regular occurrences of names being not being legible, address scrawled across the sheet with no town or postcode, not witnessed & no date of birth? This is basic information requested and to be printed and it can?t be provided.

Futhermore, the amount of registrations received without a self addressed stamped envelope, resulting in no confirmation being sent back is alarming. At the moment I have 30+ forms sitting, all players registered, but in some cases 3 or 4 forms for clubs and they have no concern to check if the players have been registered?

Now, clubs may look on the website to get clarification and this is kept fairly well up to date, but if this is being done, they will also know the basic requirements for the form.

Thanks for your support, it is very much appreciated and to be honest while I was a bit surprised with the amount I have had, I know there is a lot of appreciation for the job I do.

I say that without being full of myself in anyway, I like to think I?m approachable to most & when you have a conversation with players, referees or managers & discuss football, you appreciate the passion they have for the game whatever level they take part & this is the main reason people like myself & Steve do the jobs we do. I know he decided to give up refereeing for receiving the same type of abuse, which I think is very sad as he was very consistent and someone I felt you could have a bit of banter with during a game.

I know I?m up there to be criticised, especially when my colourful match reports for want of a better word, do rile a few players and clubs, but it?s never personal, never offensive and I would hope they would seek to see the funny side and use what I say as motivation if they are out of form. Certainly, if they asked me to refrain, I would.

Unfortunately, the message left on Sunday, obviously by an individual surrounded by a group of friends who had been drinking, had crossed a line of what I would consider friendly banter to personal abuse and I can see nothing in what I have done this season in my Match Secretary?s role that would deserve such abuse.

I think it further highlights not only the extent of a lack of respect in the game, but the increasing level of abuse being received by match officials, certainly in Perthshire.

I will be honest, my reference to considering my position was a snap statement added to the end of my message and I have NO intention of leaving a job I have a great passion for doing and thoroughly enjoy and I apologise for even hinting to the fact I would, not at least until I become an honorary member of the SAFA, at 70ish.

Thankfully, this matter will not be taken any further. I received a call on Monday with a full and unreserved apology and the caller showed definite remorse for what had been said and promised it would not happen again.

They had intimated an intention to send a letter also, which while I appreciate, I don?t feel is necessary, the personal apology is enough as everyone has done something they later regret. What I will say is if anyone has any issues, regardless of topic, I am more than happy to discuss at any time, even if question something I have done.

I shall await hopefully an apology from their club, who I know are aware!

It is with great sadness that I post this message and e-mail all club contacts today.This evening at 6.56pm, I was subjected to a vile and personal attack via a voicemail left on the registered mobile phone number for the Match Secretary of the Perthshire Amateur FA.

The message used foul and abusive language throughout, with sickening personal references to myself and also attacked and questioned both my character and integrity. During this tirade of abuse the caller identified himself as Jim Lindsay of Kettins AFC, although I would like to state, I know by the voice it was definitely not Jim Lindsay.

I have contacted Mr Lindsay tonight to make him aware he had been mentioned during the message and it is my intention tomorrow to take the phone and message to the divisional headquarters of Tayside Police, so they can listen to the message and note its full content and undertake a further investigation, where I will be happy to provide them with my full permission to contact the mobile phone operator to obtain the necessary contact details from where this call was made.

This one personal attack on the league’s registered contact number has now made me seriously consider my position as match secretary and it will be my intention to remove all personal contact numbers from circulation with immediate effect and prompt the Executive committee to make alternative arrangements should players or clubs require to make contact with a league officials regarding registrations or fixtures.

Unfortunately, this has made me consider my current position as match Secretary also. As I have stated, it is my intention to further this via the Tayside Police and I will make contact tomorrow afternoon.

However, as I have stated to Mr Lindsay, I will give one solitary opportunity to whoever left the message to contact me tomorrow before I take matters further, to arrange to visit me to apologise in person.

At the end of 2 weeks, 7 dates and 70 plus games into the season, excluding the ties rescheduled for Tuesday next week and all is looking good.

Scottish cup and North of Tay draws on the webby and there are a good few mouth watering ties, including

Fair City v Fairfield / Auchterarder Primrose v Wellbeat or TFB / Bank Street Athletic v Letham & Ballinluig v Perth Villareal

I am confident we shall hopefully see a good few teams have an extended run in both competitions this season.

Discipline is as it was before with about 2 cautions a game and 1 sending off every 6, which is not too bad. But, there is a small element of referee abuse creeping in which I hope will be hastily dealt with and stamped out as it is never necessary to get to that stage.

I still have frustrations with the organisation of some clubs as I cannot see why 1 minute by a Thursday and 1 minute after a game cannot be taken to contact the referee and the result. I have very high standards of course as I had always compare to Bruce at St Johns who operated like clockwork, it was just automatic and part of his job as Secretary.

Criticism is quick to come the other way with regards to fixtures, suspensions, registrations and referee's throughout a season while all planning and consideration given, seems always to ignored. 

However, a harder line has been taken this season and I think its a necessity to ensure club secretarys are doing what they should be doing cos in the end it will affect their club.

Checkout the news page for regular postings of snippets of the constitution, your PAFA bible and please make sure all abides by it writings.

The big Kick Off is here and as expected, everthing does not go smoothly from the get go.

Before a ball has been kicked, the negatives have jumped into an early Two goal lead.

Firstly a late and again uniformed referee call off put extra strain on the card for the weekend. Nevermind, my hard line kicks in. B4, the postivies can jump into action there is a concern with 4 games on the South Inch, while only 3 teams have booked pitches?

2-0 down, seasons started badly!

Match day is hear and the Positves fight back with 4 good waves without reply.....

My Saviour Stevenson declares himself ready for the big KO and takes charge of the free game, within minutes all clubs who failed to attend the monthly meeting collect their team lines and contacts sheets. Spirits are high.

Villareal admit their error, hold up their hands - we never booked a pitch arrrrrgggg - South Inch Bob to the rescue.

With the South Inch fully booked and a dog show on the north Inch (Dog Show?  must be all my ex girlfreinds meeting up!)  Bob hurriedly gets their game played at Tulloch. I can see a bottle heading his way from the Villareal gaffer.

However, United are not happy as the travel from Bells to Tulloch was not in their preparations! I'm sure there is a rule in the Scottish that says the home club has to provide transport if the pitch is a certain distance away from the changing. Anybody heard of that?

The man who could be my twin, born 4 days apart, Jimmy Gormley solves a registration query and things are looking good and I can sup the first pint knowing were off and running.

Deep into Injury time, deeper than the winner for Chelsea, a late equalizer for the negatives as not 1, not 2, not 3, not 4 but 5 clubs dinnae phone in their results. Cany get my match report and fixtures in sharpish for the papers and enjoy the rest of my weekend. Time will have to be spent tomorrow when they finally filter through.  Ahh Errol must be on the Webby  as result received @ 7.40pm.

Extra training required!!

Its getting close, it must be right around the corner.

If I had no concept of dates I would still be conscious that the season's start is imminent. Why? I hear you ask.

Cos everyone is in a mad daft panic, advertising for players, hurredly arranging friendless, trying to get more training in as their squad hasnae shaped up well in games!! Yada, Yada, Yada.

That's the club, squad and playing side of it. However, there is the admin side, the calls received, requests made and desperation of the fact the start is just over a week away and what can I do.

How do I know?  

When I get a call, at home, at the weekend, from a player who has signed a form for a club and now wants to sign for another. The Manager of his potential new club had said it would be ok to phone me and it could be agreed to score his name from the previous clubs sheet.

'Have you spoken with them' I say - 'Yeh', came the quick reply.  'Well, they would just score it out themselves as they've not handed in their sheet' I say, setting the trap. 'Oh, ok then I will get in contact with them'

The SAFA registrations received so far are fully up to date and only 4 players who had signed a form and wanted away and only 2 that had signed for 2 clubs, but only 1/4 in so far!

One poor sod tonight had his refused as the SAFA database would not let him be registered as both his name and DOB confirm he is not male!   I wonder if there's anything in the rules for pre or post op. hmm

My seasons start has been soured already by what I feel is the selfishness of a couple of clubs. This is why I am always wary of posting fixtures in advance.

Doing the fixtures can sometimes take 20 minutes and sometimes take 2 hours, it all depends on what needs factored in - clubs home and away, pitch availability, especially at this time of the season as the cricket clubs are still on the go, travel distance for midweek games...yada, yada, yada.

The fixtures will never be to everyone's liking, I know that. Suspensions play a big part cos everyone wants to be at full strength and not lose ground early in the season. However, I never have considered discipline, league position or who versus who or any such like when allocating ties, its just this game on this day.....

Anyway, I have chosen the first game of the season I'm going to watch next Saturday with a draw the best bet on the coupon!

Cheerie

With some time on my hands today I took the opportunity to throw myself into the fabidoo new registration database the hard working guys over at the SAFA have recently e-mailed over.

Seems fairly basic and the expected large task, might not be as harsh as first though as those SAFA worker bees are on the ball with many registrations, including addresses already on the database.

First sheet of Seven in total - 16 registrations in total and all looks good. Everything completed in black ink, signed and witnessed. On update only 1 rejected which is a good first start, No full address and therefore unable to register. A Second had only half a postcode, but luckily it was already on the database.

Still gonna be a large task however, 20 minutes for the one sheet = 17 hours work roughly. Good excuse to stay oot of the boozer.

Sheet two, perfect! Nice and neat and even though one player had already chosen to go elsewhere, I had already been notified.

Sheet Three, exactly the same, the future looks bright the future looks……Black Ink. Damn, completed in Blue Ink throughout, such a shame!! Least they included a stamp addressed envelope for sending back.

Sheets Four and Five again filled in as required, shame they never signed it or had it witnessed.

It’s spiraling downwards as sheets Six and Seven have a total of 23 registrations noted with only the 5 players registration on the whole form in black pen, poor example. The second page has the authorization slip torn off already and not included and is therefore obsolete.

Frustrating time all in all, I remember a point was made at the last meeting to ensure these forms were completed in black ink and were accompanied with a prepaid envelope, it just goes to show some just do listen.

Since we are in the middle of the Ashes series, I though I would post my score so far of texts and messages I have managed to fend off till now.

Don't panic! I know a lot of you guys are worried about the new signing forms, the Sportsguard Insurance and your home park not being available as you have cricket teams to contend with. I am feeling quite chatty today, so all will be contacted back, but you will have to wait till after the Tour. Big stage in the mountains today, a must see.

With regards to the fixtures, not a problem I will accomodate us much as possible.

The team lines, I have noticed at the bottom has a numer of registrations accepted and a number rejected. If a player has already signed and has changed his mind, I'm sure if you drop me a note when you hand in your form, I can Reject his registration.

However, its important to note you were clearly warned of this by our commander and chief at the last meeting to ensure this does not happen.

Please make sure more care is taken when these are being completed as the 2 forms you were supplied with, were specific to your club. It would not be a simple as you will get another form.

Have a look on the News page about the insurance. I did say at the time during the last meeting that I felt they would issue the forms direct, request payment from the clubs direct and it may be wise to hold off, otherwise it would of been included with the SAFA stuff.

I believe about 20 or so teams paid on the night or since so it will be a process of handing in the form and we will send it off en bloq.

I will be in touch