Monday, August 04, 2008

NEW SEASON 2008-2009

A new season...  that's 5 years now I've been running this league... will be my 6th season... longer than James, who created it... funny how things go..

Anyway, all teams are as last season, no changes there, except for some new personnel, in the shape of players, managers and possibly referees..  Got a new contact (again) for pitch hiring.. another relationship to build, trust to grow.  Let's see how this season pans out..

There is also one big difference in the cup format - there is no longer a second round in the group preliminaries, so as to liberate weekends for the obligatory rains and cancellations that cause stress and aggro near end of season in order to catch these up!  Good news for all I believe + gives us 3  weeks off for Xmas !  Maybe its more a positive for me!..

My wishes...  the usual, but, I imagine there will still be the obligatory players who don't understand the premise of playing football for the joy of it, and are intent of ruining a football for game for all others; and the usual complaints about referees, who are, with no shadow of a doubt, superhuman specimens, who can only but see everything around them, every single motion of a ball, of a kick, of off-ball incidents, their "x-ray vision see-through players radar capturing imaging of all that is between the lines that form a boundary of a football pitch"!  

On a serious note, let's look to reduce the amount of abuse referees get.  Yes, they will make mistakes, there is no 2 ways about it, that has always been the case, and, will always be - we need to accept that is also part of the game.   I would urge the captains and managers, and all players in fact, to curb and kill off any descent hurled towards referees - they are human beings. No, really, they are !   

BUT, as per usual, and thank goodness, there will be many positives, such as good camaraderie, clubhouse banter, fun filled rivalries, healthy competition, and positive feedback on the ethos of the league, and its uniqueness.   And many players themselves taking on the helm and disciplining those who get out of line.  

I should stop waffling on.. let the games begin.  Oh, and, I should finish off with 

Live It - Love It - Play It