Game 16, 2018-19
Sometimes you know it's going to be a quiet day simply from the coaches' pre-game attitudes. For this boys' U17 match-up, both teams are coached by personable young men who respond with a smile and conversation when I walk up and introduce myself. Much better than the greying, gruff old-timer who won't look you in the eye, and who honestly looks as though he'd rather not be there. These are two strong amateur clubs giving off an air of professionalism.
 |
| The only picture I could find of player passes. |
Since the winter break, the control of player passes in youth games has been re-introduced. It was abolished about two years ago, and was obviously open to abuse. It probably still is in the men's leagues. I confronted one team at half-time after becoming suspicious that a player being passed off as 24 looked to be almost twice that age. "Give us five minutes," they said through a crack in the door of the changing room. When I knocked again they told me he'd had to leave suddenly due to a family emergency - via the back entrance.
Want to read more? Click here to order Reffing Hell: Stuck In The Middle Of A Game Gone Wrong by Ian Plenderleith (Halcyon Publishing), published on August 8, 2022.
No comments:
Post a Comment