CLUB DIRECTORS APOLOGISE FOR RELEGATION - AT LEEDS UNITED
CAN YOU SPONSOR TORQUAY WOMEN IN THE NATIONAL LEAGUE?
LEWIS COLLINS A REAL PROFESSIONAL JOINS UNITED
“Relegation is painful and we apologise to our fanbase that the performances this season have not seen the club consolidate our status as we had all hoped.”
The above is a statement from the Board of Directors at Leeds United following their return to the Championship after three years in the Premier League.
The statement goes on to say,
“We know things have not been good enough, we know we have to
improve but please be assured that behind the scenes we have worked hard to ensure that the past will not be repeated.”
No football fan enjoys it when their club is relegated but honesty from those in charge goes some way to re-building confidence and loyalty.
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Torquay’s Women’s team, following their success as champions of the South-West Regional Women’s Football League - Premier Division, are preparing for life in Tier 4, the National League, South-West Division.
A spokesperson for the club said, “To achieve back-to-back successes over the past two seasons is not the end, we now want to ensure we are competitive in the National League. We’re not in it to make up the numbers and with the strength, belief and heart that’s been built in this special group we are very much looking forward to the challenge.”
The club are now looking for sponsors for such things as travel, player, match day and match ball.
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In the very week that the abuse of referee Anthony Taylor and his family at Budapest Airport following the Europa Cup Final was captured on phone footage, the FA announced points deductions in grassroots football for unacceptable behaviour. Most of this is abuse of referees by spectators and team officials.
Clubs will be punished if they commit cumulative incidents of misconduct with points deductions ranging from three to twelve points depending on how many breaches have occurred within twelve months of a team’s first offence.
And on the subject of referees, sixteen of them (including assistants) have been promoted from the National League to Leagues 1 & 2.
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Les Sealey, who died of a heart attack aged 43 in 2001, was a well-known ‘cheeky’ goalkeeper who, at one point in his career was on loan at Manchester United.
His son, Joe, has recently unearthed a box of audio cassettes containing his father’s memories which have now been put into a new book, “On Days Like These: The Lost Memoir Of A Goalkeeper.”
One interesting extract gives some insight into the ways of then manager Sir Alex Ferguson. Once Ferguson decided to release a player he never changed his mind. He said, “You can’t go home and worry about the player, what’s happening to them or their wives and families. You’ve made the decision.”
“You’ve made it for two reasons. Firstly, you’ve made it for yourself, because players who aren’t good enough or aren’t motivated enough will get you the sack. But mainly you’ve made it for the sake of the club.”
“It’s a business, football, and if you’re ever a manager Les you remember that.”
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Good on Exeter City for telling its fan base about how their season ticket sales are going. Last year they sold 3,100 and so far this year they’ve passed that with a total of 3,220. At Torquay the Early Discount offer has been extended for a further week and you have until Friday to benefit from the frozen prices.
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The new National League South season starts on August 5 but as yet there is no indication as to when the fixtures will be released. So far the club has only announced one Pre-Season friendly against Exeter City at Plainmoor on Saturday July 22 with a 3pm kick-off.
Latest signing Lewis Collins bodes well as this top professional impressed the Yellow Army when on loan from Newport County last season. There were many who didn’t expect him to sign believing another League 2 club would be interested so his capture shows the club’s intent to back the manager.
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