Dutchy's Diary

Well guys, It’s gone down to the wire this season. No i don’t mean the Premiership (tho that has too), but our relegation battle. We’ve played our last game as Trilbs are still suspended by Surrey (and will probably continue to be for some time). Our fate is in the hands of Kingston Town and Merton Rangers. If Merton beat K Town next weekend, we’re safe. If K Town win, we’re goners. Back to where we started in Division 3.

Im sure you will all agree that what started out as a promising season after some good pre season results, turned a bit sour. I imagine we’re all disappointed with ourselves and all know that we could have done a lot better than we have done.

That said, looking at the positives for the moment, we reached the Semi Final of the league’s top cup, sending opposition from the 1st and Premier divisions packing along the way, no mean feat. We were undone in the semi’s by better opposition and the eventual winners of the cup which is absolutely nothing to be ashamed of.

In the Surrey Cup we destroyed teams from other leagues but were undone by a Team at the top of Div 1, only because we played with bare 11 and 4 injured men. We still grafted and took a deserved 3-1 lead, only to run out of steam in the last 30 minutes. Again, a sterling performance that wasn’t reflected in the 6-3 loss of a scoreline.

That brings me onto the negatives of the past season really. Firstly, bare 11 for the last few games. What turned out to be the most important games of our season. It seemed that all 18 of our squad wanted to turn up when we were playing the cup semi final, but after that people didn’t seem to show the same interest.

Im sure you all had your reasons, how legitimate they were we’ll never know. But that’s still not fair on the rest of the guys who turn up and put in the effort. This cant happen next season. I preach that football is more about enjoyment than it is the winning and i always want you guys to enjoy yourselves. But there comes a time when we need to consider pushing for success over making everyone happy. The ultimate goal of everyone in the team is without a doubt to win a trophy. And without 14 + committed players, that isn’t going to happen.

Things will change next season, they have to. The club will be more vigilant about money, subs have been paid reasonably well this year, but fines and sign on fee’s outstanding at the end of the season is not on, and a big hindrance to the club.

We rely on the subs and sign on fee’s to keep the club going, pay pitches etc. Anything extra at the end of the season is put into the End of Season Do, paying the fee’s for next season and anything else the club may need (match balls in particular, many seem to go walkies??).

If im honest, the money side of things hasn’t overly bothered me this season, its been pretty good as i said before. From what i understand, one person owes half a sign on, another owes a full sign on, a red card fine and some subs, one more owes a fine (you know who you are). That does add up but thats to be expected given the players in arrears.

Whats bothered me more has been on the pitch. The commitment levels since the beginning of the season have drastically dropped. Not just appearances but on pitch performances have been sporadic (I don’t exclude myself from this). Players turning up off there face isn’t much help either, and has happened a lot this season. No shows is the worst. That was my main gripe last season, its not gone yet. The amount of times we’ve thrown games away or not put them to bed has also been annoying, and im sure we all feel the same when i say we shouldn’t have finished up where we have this season!

In short lads we all know that things need to improve for next season. If we stay the way we are then none of us will enjoy it. Mid table obscurity is not a good or bad place to be, but we don’t want to be considered as average do we. Fighting for honours, position and pride is what we should be doing week in, week out. And thats our minimum target for 08/09.

Summer Training is our chance to regroup and plan ahead for next season. Weather it be in Div 2 or Div 3, we need to up the ante for next season and mount a real challenge for something made of silver.

The club is looking for new blood. Committed players need only apply. Some of us in this current squad need to ask ourselves if we are that. Committed. Because if your not, you cant expect to play football for this club. There’s players in the team who want to go places and make a name for the club. There’s also players who just turn up. We need more of the former. Or those who fall in to the latter bracket, need to buck their idea’s up.

This little ‘speech’ isn’t aimed at any one person or persons, but at all of us to show that we need to mean business next year. We’ve already made a big step in acquiring a reserve outlet. From what i hear, they are a well organised bunch of top lads who all want to play football. All are excited about next season as Epsom Downs Reserves. Thats the minimum i want from the 1st’s for next season. A bit of Sunday League pride when you put on the Emerald and Green. We’re only Sunday League, but thats all we’ll ever be so lets make the most of it.

I look forward to seeing you all at the end of season do, some before, details will follow soon on this very site so keep your beady’s open for info.

Thanks guys and have an excellent summer. Apologies for the nag.