Portland Bill

On 26/10/2022 at 13:03, BTRFTG said:

That the innocents who died, those who had tickets and were in the ground early, were killed by those piling in late. Fans who weren't being forced into the ground under duress, rather fans who selfishly forced themselves forward at others expense. Some without tickets, some under the influence. Fans who appear in multiple videos yet strangely who never came forward to identify themselves. These days its tantamount to heresy to suggest it was those fans pushing forward who killed their fellow supporters.

You clearly don’t understand what actually happened. You clearly don’t understand that the outside “pens” were nowhere near full. But the supporters were directed to the central pen that was 100% full. 
The ground didn’t even have a safety certificate ffs.

I thought cup finals were played at Wembley

11 hours ago, RedRock said:

I just wish, as part of training to be a footballer, every player had an opportunity to referee a match. I think that would change some attitudes.

I’ve referee’d twice. One a College match, the other on the Downs. Horrible experiences primarily because of whinging, cheating players. Total lack of respect to  officials/authority. 

Why football hasn’t adopted the rugby code for player relationship with referees is beyond me.

For me, part societal, part football’s inability to get its own house in order. 

Spot on. Not just refereeing a game, I think all players ( and spectators!!!) should be forced to learn the laws of the game!.

I find it incredible that thousand/millions who watch football don’t actually know the laws of the game they pay to watch.

I can remember a City game 5-6 years ago where an opposition player kneed/thighed the ball back to his keeper and the Ashton Gate crowd screamed for a back pass free kick.

It was hilarious watching thousands of blokes losing their shit…. none of them knew the back pass law!!.

On 24/10/2022 at 19:44, Cowshed said:

The Avon youth league has cancelled all U16 games across all divisions this Sunday due to poor behaviour including parents threatening players on the pitch. 

This seems to have become a common occurrence around the country.

Referee associations are pulling their referees out in some youth leagues on some weekends, due to the ever increasing violence against them.

Sad times.

2 hours ago, Barrs Court Red said:

Sounds like Bitton have learned the hard way, and not really taken warning from Mangotsfields lesson. 
 

I assume the youth sides are unaffected? 

Just the first team mate.

58 minutes ago, Lanterne Rouge said:

I`ve just been looking at the leagues. How is it sustainable for Falmouth, Helston or Mousehole to travel to the Bristol area for most of their away games? The one I feel sorry for mostly though is Sherborne Town. Every away game is a pig for them - shouldn`t they be in with the Wiltshire/Dorset/Hampshire clubs? Bridgwater looks to be the closest and even that is over an hour on crappy roads.

Clubs like Sherborne, Bridport, and Portland are out on a limb. Bridport we’re always in the Western League, ( the Premier last season) now playing in the south west peninsula league. Portland in the Wessex league, and obviously Sherborne in the Western league. All three clubs lose out on geography position. There just aren’t enough clubs close to them at the level they want to play.

I guess Sherborne could go into the Wessex league, but their travelling distance would be far worse than now.

There is a very good Western League weekly podcast, and they actually talked about Sherborne’s trip to Mousehole, saying that Sherborne treated it as a ‘special’ trip, and enjoyed everything about the day.

Next season will be interesting, and journey times will be massively cut.

1 hour ago, RoystonFoote'snephew said:

Interesting. How does that work from Step 5 to Step 4 and entry into the Southern. 

I’m not sure tbh, I imagine the winners of both Premier leagues would get promoted. Potential play offs I guess as well. 

2 hours ago, RoystonFoote'snephew said:

The Western League is now dominated by Devon and Cornwall clubs and with a few Dorset clubs thrown in the mileage has certainly racked up in recent years. I begin to feel the SW Peninsula League needs to be raised a level. I'm not sure that the restructuring of the leagues by the FA that saw nearly all Wiltshire clubs moved to the Hellenic has helped. 

There is a total restructure of the Western League starting next season.

There will be two Premier divisions, north and south, and then three divisions feeding into the Premier division. Think these will be north ( Bristol etc ) middle ( Somerset, parts of Dorset and Devon) and south ( rest of Devon and Cornwall) 
This will cut down all the travelling distances for the clubs.

Potentially up to 8 clubs from the various county leagues ( facilities dependent ) could get promoted to the feeder leagues. 

I imagine some of the Bristol/Wiltshire clubs will return to these leagues from the Hellenic league, to play in the northern divisions.
 

On 18/10/2022 at 09:52, Chicken George said:

Can’t get a scarf. Can’t get an away kit. Only one bobble hat available (not red). Virtually nothing for kids except one teddy bear. 
But don’t worry, you can buy a black history month t shirt 

The bobble hat situation is ridiculous, they haven’t had any for about 3 years.

A message to whoever runs the shop, football is played during the winter, hats keep you warm, supporters like them in club colours!

It beggars belief.

8 hours ago, dilligaf said:

Chippenham town went through to the 1st Round of the FA cup earlier this week. Good to see the Hendon players taking their defeat well by throwing all their toys out of the pram. 

I know one of the officials from that game, he summed it up as “carnage”..

No issues in the game until after the final whistle went!.

On 18/10/2022 at 22:07, PHILINFRANCE said:

Chippenham through, as well - 1-0.

Crazy end to this one, at least 5 sent off after the final whistle. A mass brawl involving players and coaching staff. Hendon players trying to fight with the crowd as well.

The FA are looking into it, and I would imagine more to follow once the videos have been looked at!.

Wells has to shoot earlier then, I doubt we will get a more clean cut chance than that all night.

47 minutes ago, BigAl&Toby said:

I’ve checked with my man. No assessors present any more at PL or Chumpionship. All done remotely by a committee. Perhaps that’s where it’s all gone to pot.

Assessors now only in Leagues 1 & 2. And “up the Downs”.

Anyway I’m just pleased I was able to tell me Milf story!

Crikey, I didn’t realise that, I presumed it was the same for all 92 grounds. Thanks  for that, I’ve learned something today

14 hours ago, BigAl&Toby said:

I’m not sure that’s quite right - that officials have an assessor in the stands.

Used to happen and I well remember sitting in on a debrief by Roger don’t you know who I am Milford.

The Milf - and he wasn’t - would swan in, his lovingly coiffured locks flowing behind him, wearing his designer rain coat - you could tell it was designer as he didn’t unpick the little label that was stitched on the cuff. 

He’d then sit down and when everyone was sitting comfortably he’d begin….

Nowadays I think EFL officials are assessed remotely. Might be wrong but I wanted to tell my Milf story in any case….

.

No, there will be an assessor at the game. They will also use tv footage when concluding their marks etc.

59 minutes ago, steviestevieneville said:

How does he. No one saw it . Just calm them down & get on with the game. He even give them a bloody free kick. It should have been a drop ball wherever the play was when he stopped play 

The referee and linesman have an assessor sitting in the stand scrutinising every decision. If any of the four officials saw it then it has to be dealt with properly.

All four are in constant communication.

The laws of the game are the laws of the game, the officials have to adhere to them, regardless how petty people think they are being.

If they don’t, their marks from the  assessor will reflect that they are incompetent.

Officials aren’t allowed to use common sense, even when they would like too. That’s the modern game for you.

17 hours ago, Robbored said:

It’s a crap Premiership in Scotland with only two clubs that can win it. 

Very much like England, bigger league, but only 3 or 4 can win it.

Yes, you will get the odd Leicester, like you get the odd Aberdeen win, but the are as rare as an exciting bowls match!!.

14 hours ago, Redtucks said:

Not if you enjoyed 4 years of watching City fail to get out the 3rd division under Danny Wilson!

 

Not a lot of difference being 15/16 in the championship tbh.

1 hour ago, Redtucks said:

 

Yes, let's get relegated and get Danny Wilson back!!!

I'm sure we can look good at Horfield!

 

What a strange reply!.

4 hours ago, Engvall’s Splinter said:

Would you rather good attacking football but just missing out on promotion year on year or sub standard continuous championship football against better opposition / quality / stadia ?

I would rather watch good entertaining football. I’ve never been interested in who the opposition are, why should I ?. I’m only interested in watching my team. 
Perhaps the most enjoyable time for me watching City was in division 4, great away trips to small grounds etc.

Me personally, I’ve got zero interest in us getting in the Premier league, I’ve no desire to watch City have a successful season by not being relegated, because that’s the only thing that would possibly happen if we went up.

On 06/10/2022 at 22:33, Kid in the Riot said:

Housing market won't crash until 2025 at the earliest. 

I wish I was as confident as you are!.

I would rather watch the football Danny Wilson got his team to play, than 90% of what we have seen since.

We played some sublime football in his time, and the fact that it still stands out for me, makes me realise just how good and entertaining it was.

Okay, he didn’t get us promoted, but how many City manager have over the last 130 plus years!.

Interesting stat I’ve just read, Man City’s match day squad today cost £909 million, Man Utd’s £934!!

1 minute ago, RedorDead BCFC said:

They are a joy to watch today. It’s like a masterclass in how to play. Man Utd fans already leaving 

I don’t blame them….

it’s a long drive back to Cornwall!.

2 hours ago, BCFCGav said:

I've always really liked watching Haaland play and would watch Dortmund periodically for that reason, so I'm over the moon he's in the Prem now (albeit I'd have preferred him at a slightly more historic club). I've known for a while his goalscoring exploits are pretty special, but reading this really puts into perspective what he's doing. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/62825097

I wonder if we're seeing the formative years of a player who in 15 years time we'll be calling the greatest goalscorer ever. With his pace, power, finishing and game intelligence already this good at 22, maybe even the greatest player ever...

No, Messi and Ronaldo have raised that bar. Messi especially is a one off player that personally I think we will never see the same again.

A genius with a football. I am just going to enjoy his last couple of seasons playing football.

Haaland is clearly a good footballer, but I don’t see him being able to match Messi’s 20 plus years of greatness in goal scoring, assists, and perhaps the best passer of a ball ever.

21 hours ago, man in the middle said:

Totally agree I was hoping to pay my respects by having a minute’s silence and singing the National anthem but instead I’ll probably be doing some DIY? 

Exactly, and all these grass-root teams who are now meeting in the pub, instead of having a minutes silence and respecting the queen, will be going on a massive all day drinking session.
The FA are out of touch, pandering to a few right wing journalists who not content with telling the country lie after lie, would have attempted to say the football authorities haven’t shown respect. 
They should have grown a pair, ignored these hate stirrers, and let football fans show their respect throughout the country.