Chairman’s Message

Well somehow despite all that was thrown at us last season we managed to complete the fixtures in time for the end of season presentation night’s to start on the 11th May 2009. At times I thought everything was conspiring against us, from the weather which for the first time as long as I can recall actually managed to call all matches off on one Sunday. Usually we manage to play games in at least one part of the County but not this season.

Now as Mike was outlining at the New managers meeting last week it is a very tight schedule to ensure all games are played in the season especially if you are going to be an U13 or |U16 team next season as you have the Tesco Cup and County Cup respectively in which you must compete and these take priority over our games. So what we ask is that you consider when making a request to postpone a game in holiday periods that the postponement is justified and that it is not just because your top goal scorer happens to be on holiday. We have looked at how we can cut down on the postponements but have at present decided to leave it as it is and rely on your honesty and integrity.

As you will find out when you receive your fixtures we have not scheduled any games for the 6th September. This is due to the large amount of request we receive to cancel games on the first Sunday. However we would expect that you look to bring forward a game from the back end of the season and remember this can be done by notification to your registrar only. It might also be helpful at U13 and U16 to bring a game or two forward and play them midweek in September, which if you are successful in the Cup Competitions will certainly help. We think you are capable of doing this without us having to make rules or to put fixtures down in midweek. Please help yourselves to avoid problems at the end of the season.

Every year I talk about discipline and set the challenge for a team to win their division and also win the Fairplay Award and I must therefore congratulate Oxpring United U9’s for achieving this and hope that in 2009/10 I can announce that more teams have achieved this rare double.

Looking at the accounts it would seem the discipline panel has been working overtime and the fines have increased dramatically. Whilst this helps keep your League fees at a low level and I believe they are the lowest in the area, remember that most of these fines can be avoided as Mike again pointed out last week. However this money does come back to you as we use it to provide level one training and at long last we have managed to get a referee’s course on the calendar. My thanks to Mike for his hard work in making these a reality.

This brings me on to the FA’s respect campaign and I remind you all that we are a Respect League. It is difficult to say whether this is working or not as it was introduced part way through a season and next season will see the full impact as referees are encouraged to go online and fill their forms in. I understand that the FA will use these to crack down on potential clubs and as this could cost a lot of money I hope our clubs are not invited to the county FA too often. With regard to the campaign may I remind you that you must now have a barrier some 3 - 5 yards away from the touchline and I know a number of clubs invested in the respect barriers. These are to be set up on the touchline and ALL spectators are to stand behind them, which in turn means there should be nobody stood behind the goals. Remember this is all done to make the atmosphere better for both match officials and more importantly the players. Let us hope it works!!

You may think that all the above is negative as we only seem to here about the bad things, but unfortunately that is the way of society and the bad things get the publicity, often over hyped and all the good work goes unnoticed. I asked last year if anyone had good PR skills as we desperately need someone who can promote the good work to counteract the bad publicity and I’m not trying to step on Peter’s toes but he has enough to do with the match reports and photos which he does very well, but we need someone who can promote the good side of our league and if anyone thinks they have the skills then please come and talk to me.

The League does need new people and we are underrepresented in the Worksop, Barnsley and Chesterfield areas. We also require a new Child Welfare Officer and a Cup and Trophy Secretary following the decisions of Mike and John to stand down from these roles. Gentlemen I thank you for your hard work over the years in these roles and whoever follows will have a tough job maintaining your high standards. Thank you.

We are also looking for a new secretary following Bill’s resignation and I would like to place on record a vote of thanks for his extremely professional work over the past years. He will be missed. We have 7 candidates to succeed Bill and we hope to have a new secretary as soon as is possible. Whoever gets the job I hope you will give your 100% backing to as it really is a tough job.

My thanks go to the rest of the committee who without we as a League would not function, the registrars work endlessly and probably tale more flak then anyone else on the committee and they do this despite having jobs and a life outside of the League. I must however thank Lesley and Lynne for their sterling efforts in arranging the presentation nights and to Pete who arrived early every time to set up all the trophies. These presentation evenings ladies and gentlemen are a culmination to a hard season and are really worth attending and for those of you that remember the Dial House then you can multiply our current venue by 1000% it really is much better. So if you get the opportunity to come then please attend the boys and girls have earned the right to be there and it is most exasperating when teams can’t be bothered to come for their awards, which we believe are first class. So please if you do win something next season then make sure you attend as they are excellent nights and after all it’s what the players work so dammed hard for.

The League is growing with teams wanting to join every year and as I listen to comments it appears that we are better run thean other Leagues in the area, however we are not complacent and rest assured your committee will strive tio attain the best possible standards and make the Sheffield & District Junior Sunday League a League where everyone feels valued, where they all enjoy playing, win or lose and that every player has fun and goes home having done their best but having enjoyed their game.

This is the responsibility of us all be it the league, the club every individual manager or parent and together we must strive to achieve this goal.

Thanks to all my committee for their sterling work and to you out there for making it all possible.

Finally if you wish to join us then we will be pleased to have extra support.

Thank you

matt.hardman@junleague.com