Its Not Just All About The Players

So pre season friendlies are in full swing the anticipation of  new season mounts and the prime concern for many in the non league game is
Who have we signed ?,
Who have we let go?
 and have we improved the team to build on last seasons successes or improve on last seasons failures.

Questions that are less often asked are
Do we have the same match secretary?
Has the weather hindered the groundsmans work ?
Do we have enough people to man the gate on matchday?

We all know that it is the players and mangers that are of vital importance to any club and its the guys who cross the white lines that the fans pay to see but in an era when even players at Step 6 can command 3 figure match fees we need to remember those behind the scenes who give up their own time for free and without whom the club just wouldn't be able to function.
Maybe the word club needs to be emphasised more ,it is a Football Club a combination of Players,management and behind the scenes organisers and it is only when all three come together that you get a really successful club

So although the match secretary wont get a standing ovation for handing the team to the ref on time and nobody will applaud the gateman for giving them the right change remember their part in the overall picture when your captain lifts the League Trophy or your recently signed centre forward gets the goal that saves you from relegation,it is a team game and that the team is more than just the guys with numbers on their backs

Football Travels Start Again

What you I hear some of you shout not that bloody football season already, well for those who don't appreciate the beautiful game I realise it may be a shock but pre season friendlies are up and running, as with last season when staying away on business I am trying to get to see a local Non League team and in this case  it was a visit to Champion Hill to see Dulwich Hamlet,last seasons Isthmian League Champions take on League 2 opposition in Dagenham and Redbridge

Now pre season friendlies take many forms and this was one of those games of 2 halves with multiple substitutions and giving trialists and new signings a chance to start attaining match fitness along with the seasoned regulars

The Daggers had the best of the first half as befitted their loftier league status and deservedly lead 1-0 at half time,the second half changes however benefitted the hosts more and 2 goals lead to Dulwich ending the match as 2-1 winners,the result is never really important in these games as its a way of bedding in new signings and regaining match fitness for the travails of the next 9 months

More importantly from a personal point of view was the chance to meet for the first time some members of the facebook Non League Of Extraordinary Photographers group namely Mishi Morath, Laraine Bateman and David Purdey who were all there in varying capacities,as with others of the group I have met they were really nice people who like me shared a love of photography and non league football.

Champion Hill itself is a modern ground built in 1993 adjacent to the local Sainsbury's but very pleasant with a loyal and very vociferous following , the club itself is much older celebrating it's 120th anniversary this year,catering is well catered for with 3 refreshment stall around the ground and I must  say that the burgers were as good as I have had at any football ground.

So a very pleasant start to this years football travels and I hopefully will return to Champion Hill one day to see a competitive match