As you all know we have had a struggle each Saturday to put together six adult teams this season. This is a situation that has been brewing over the last few seasons but now has come to a head. Both the women’s and men’s third teams have already failed to fulfil a number of fixtures due to a shortage of numbers across the club. On other occasions we have only played games by getting players to charge from one match to another or getting them to play when they are not fit, through injury or illness.
It is for this reason that the Management Committee have decided that we will withdraw both third teams from the leagues. We have discussed this at length, several times, and sought views across the club. This decision was not taken lightly but it was done in the face of the situation we have – not enough players and too few available to play each week.
When the situation improves, we can reform both or either team and re-enter them into the bottom leagues, which is where they are at the moment. It should be noted that the decision may already be out of our hands in the case of the Women’s 3s: league rules state a team is removed after cancelling 3 games in a season.
There will have to be changes made, because of this decision, to keep giving everyone a chance to play. I cannot go into them all in this short message but they will include forming larger ‘squads’ based on ability for all four teams, pitch side support to manage the use of substitutes and arranging 3rd team friendlies (when other matches allow). As each team should have ample people to draw on as subs, less confident or new players will have the opportunity to be gradually introduced to different level teams – rather than, too often, being expected to play a full game whatever as at the moment.
I appreciate there will be a variety of views about this decision. It has been taken for the club and I hope everyone will work together for the best interests of all.
Alistair Nichols