Sunday league players need to make sure their travel arrangements are up to scratch
July 15, 2010
Many football amateurs who play on a Saturday or a Sunday will be well accustomed to travelling to away matches in a rickety old van. Travelling together can be great for team moral, but not so great if you have a crash and your players are injured.
If you run a Sunday or Saturday league side, it is your responsibility to make sure that the van you use to transport your players is adequately insured. If it is not, you may be liable to damages suffered by any of the players if they cannot perform their daily work duties or if they have to attend rehabilitation clinics because of a problem that was found to be your fault.
You might only use your old van for one day a week, but it still needs to be insured properly so that you fulfil your legal requirements and also show respect to members of the football team.
Some van insurance companies offer special discounts for vans that are used infrequently or vans that only cover an insignificant mileage every year. You can also get discounts if you only have one named driver you just need to phone your van insurance company to find out.
The summer break is not that long!
April 30, 2009
For many football supporters up and down the country, this weekend will be a sad one. Win lose or draw, nobody can escape the fact that the last game of the season always has a tinge of sadness to it.
The traditional Saturday routines all go out of the window and you will find that your are compelled to do the housework or go shopping during your weekends rather than spend it with your mates watching your team.
No matter how your team have done this season, there is no doubt that come five o clock on Saturday, you will be feeling a litle bit of sadness.
Well the good news is that the summer break is getting shorter and shorter. Most teams begin their pre season campaigns in the second week of July and this is just ten weeks away!
Also of course, the Premier League still has three weeks to run with the FA Cup Final being played on the last Saturday in May. Throw in some World Cup Qualifiers at the start of June and the picture starts to look a little brighter.
Use the summer to recharge your batteries and when the 2009/10 season begins, you will be ready to cheer your team on for another nine months!
Football in the sun anyone?
March 31, 2009
Every now and again, somebody comes up with an idea which may change the face of football forever. At the moment, there are plans to introduce video technology as well as a third linesman for example. However, trawling through the masses of literature on the internet, I became interested in another concept which does seem plausible.
This surrounds moving the football season so it encapsulates the summer months rather than the cold hard winter. Now many years ago, when I was a child, I became incredibly frustrated that just as the weather warmed up, and everyone had the chance to go out and play, the goalposts were taken down everywhere you looked – how annoying is that?
In terms of generating attendances, particularly at the lower end of the football spectrum – moving the season to the summer could also have major benefit in terms of attractiving the floating fans. People are more likely to stand outside and watch football when the weather is nice rather than freezing cold aren’t they?
Saying that though – isn’t becoming freezing cold at a football match part of it’s tradition and appeal.
What do you think? Would you be in favour of a summer move ?
Wembley should be for the Final!
March 18, 2009
When I was a young boy, a used to sit down and watch the Cup Final with my Grandad and it used to be one of the best days of the year. One of the first ones which I remember with any clarity is the 1990 Final between Manchester United and Crystal Palace. The game ended in a thriklling three all draw and as a result, people were treated to a mid week replay at Villa Park.
There was something magical about Cup Final day back then which in my opinion has been lost in today’s world of Champions Leagues, Super Cup and Premier Leagues.
This has been exemplified this season due to the fact that the semi finals as well as the final tie itself will be played at Wembley Stadium. Now I know that this has also happend in previous years too, but come on, surely this is taking much of the magical nature away from the hallowed stadium itself?
Get the semi finals played at a neutral venue around the country and safeguard Wembley for the final. Surely this is not too much to ask – yet I guess it is another example of market forces prevailing at the expense of tradition. Bah humbug.
Indoor or Outdoor Football
December 24, 2008
Taking a break from the usual football news, I decided to put forward a question. When you are playing football do you prefer playing indoors or outdoors? Both have their own unique benefits and are perfectly valid choices.
First of all lets take a look at indoor football. The first and most obvious advantage is the controlled climate and surroundings. You don’t have to worry about weather as you have a roof and you can be sure you won’t be getting heat stroke as most centres have air con now. You also get the advantage of not having to run after the ball every time you kick it out of bounds, the walls keep the ball in play for you.
Now for the outdoor side of things. The biggest advantage of this one is it is real. Obviously both types are real, but I mean it is what the sport was originally about and still is now. You can play much bigger games, and a greater sense of satisfaction is gained from playing the sport in a big open pitch. You can abide by the correct rules, and there is (arguably) a lot more skill involved. Playing on grass has the advantage of knowing you won’t break your legs if you fall, trip or get tackled. You also get the natural air con of the open sky.
