Bottom of the table clash played on a muddy pitch but at least played. Game was generally scrappy but hard fought. Carshalton’s young side let their heads go down after conceding and never really got back into the game. Despite that many promising things. A solid keeper and decent defence.There was a 10 minute spell when it seemed the rain was so bad that the referee might take the players off, but that never happened.
I have nothing against Peterborough and indeed the people I met today at the football ground were pleasant and normal. However it was a little like arriving in a parallel universe. This is more easily explained using photographic evidence to support my case.
One of the curious benefits of taking photos at 1/1000th of a second at football games is the ability to capture something totally unexpected. This photo comes from Carshalton v Bognor Regis and it shows a line of spit from the players mouth as the players collide accidentally.
Spit. copyright Chris Bushe
Hereford are famous for many things including FA cup wins when non-league. They have been a league club for many years and then fell into the conference a few years ago. They now find themselves in desperate straights. A decent club in an area with a small catchment so crowds rarely were over 3-4,000 even when gaining promotion to league one.
Today by voluntarily asking fans to pay extra and season ticket holders to pay 10£, they have raised £6,711 at the home game today and £3000 in the 24 hours before that from fans. They need to find 35K in the next 14 days to pay a PAYE bill. The good news though is that they beat Cambridge United 1-0 today in that game.
Donations can be made here
http://www.idsports.net/shop/Hereford-United-Club-Donation/
Average crowds have been falling also over the last few years:
Anyone who goes shopping cannot have failed to notice that yellow signs with little writing are appearing, even growing, all over the place in car parks. On close inspection, sometimes with the hubble telescope, it becomes clear that to park for longer than 90-120 minutes seems a crime punishable by death. In fact cameras observe every move of every car but are interested in fact when the cars do not move. In general terms if you park for more than 90-120 minutes you can expect a hefty fine of £100 or more.
This is the case at McDonalds at Brentford, home last week of the excellent Festive burger. Not entirely sure what was festive about the burger, but it was large and had nice sauces and some guilt removing salad inside. While standing outside however I was somewhat astonished to see the bank of cameras covering the small car park. Seemed like I had wandered into Jodrell Bank. I actually have no objection to them doing this, designed to stop football fans parking and cluttering up their car park, but maybe the fines are disproportionately high and the numbers of cameras somewhat excessive. How many might they have in McDonalds North Korea?
Saw this rather nice car parked outside St Pancras Renaissance Hotel today. Numberplate reads BO55 CFC. So is this boss of Chelsea? Charlton? Curious to know.
To give some context, I am a Brentford supporter of almost 50 years who until recently travelled both home and away. Recently this has changed and on a number of saturdays in the season I go to local non-league games and photograph them. As such I have visited Walton , Met Police, Tooting and Carshalton, amongst others. Without any doubt the most friendly welcome has been at Carshalton. Not only has the club been kind enough to allow me in and use my photographs but the general football enjoyment has been very high. We are not watching Pele or Messi but are watching a group of motivated and for many of them talented players. Behind all this has rumbled dissatisfaction with management and owners, not totally unlike what happens at many clubs to be frank. But this has gone in my opinion too far. Last season a group of ” fans” thrust leaflets at fans coming to games and indeed boycotted games and this season the personal abuse that has been visible to any watcher on Twitter has been unacceptable in my view. I do not pretend to know all the facts and in fact why should I. I do not fund nor run this club, but merely turn up 6 times a season and enjoy my saturday. In fact the game versus Billericay was the single football game I have enjoyed the most this season. But now things have turned very dark, unacceptably so. Last week there was managerial change, again for reasons not fully known to me but the club made a decision and that is that. The team then were losing 5-0 at half time away at a good Ryman Premier team, Lowestoft and since then I have followed a string of tweets that lead me to writing these short opinions. It would seem that some fans who travelled were abusive over and beyond what is acceptable. This below comes from the Carshalton AFC website verbatim and I would encourage anyone to follow this story on there.
I will make only one comment. At some stage if fans become so negative that they harm their club, they cease being fans. Personal abuse against anyone in non-league football is not acceptable. This is a game and not a business at this level. It is here to be enjoyed. My own view is that I have always enjoyed watching Carshalton and would regard myself as a supporter now. These events are sad and need to end now.
http://www.carshaltonathletic.co.uk/cafc2011/firstteam.asp
Below is what is written on the website above
On Saturday evening Ian Hazel rang to tell me of the abuse he was subjected to, by a small number of people, claiming to be Carshalton Fans, who stood behind the dugout during the game against Lowestoft.
Ian rang again on Sunday morning and explained how he had discussed the situation with his family and was not prepared to continue. I asked him to think about it over night.
There have been various discussions during the day including with Paul Williams and myself. Clare Dipre and Kelly Anscomb also met with Ian when the effects of of the abuse became clearer. This evening Ian wrote to me by email including a statement:
“Having been a player , coach ,manager & supporter of Carshalton Athletic i have no choice after being asked to manage the 1st team to step down after Saturdays disgraceful scenes .
I will not stand there and listen to the abuse that was aimed at myself as it was on Saturday. There was no need for it and it was vile , obscene & personal and was not very nice for not only myself but staff and the group of young players we have at the club.
I do not believe anyone should be subjected to this and i certainly will not just sit there and take it. I will however stand in temporary for 3 weeks or sooner to enable the club to find the right person to take the club forward .
I feel i have been very loyal to Carshalton Athletic and have worked hard for 7 years where others have just walked away including numerous players last week.. I have had to step in 4 times as Manager as a caretaker before to enable the club to find the right person.
It is a big shame to have made this decision as i feel as an ex professional footballer , ex manager of 6 non league clubs , ex Premier League Academy coach & UEFA “A” Licence coach i am sure my experience and knowledge would have only benefited the club long term.I know all the players from Under 18s to 1st team and given time would have got the right blend of youth & experience .”
The club has no choice but to accept his position and I have apologised to Ian on behalf of the club.
In my opinion, the events of Saturday were unacceptable on every level.
There was absolutely no reason for Ian to be the target of anything. He was committed to making a success of the first team and just wanted to get on with the job.
It appears that the sole purpose of the abuse was to try to make Ian resign in order to damage the first team and the club. To that extent it has succeeded.
Two well known individuals have been named by on-looking Carshalton fans as those responsible for the alleged abuse. The club will be investigating the incident.
Ian is, and will remain to be, an integral part of the club. I do hope for the next three games the fans can show Ian the overwhelming support he deserves and enjoys from every part of the club.
The club wish to stress that the allegations of abuse apply only to a maximum of two people.
Paul Dipre
Football fans are basically and usually inherent kind souls who although ranting away on a saturday with murderous chants, often then reflect, and certainly turn up the following saturday. At Brentford there has been much discussion about what our expectations are this season, what our budget is and hence what should the manager be doing to achieve this. My own humble view ( n=1), is that Uwe Rosler is not the man. I have become disenchanted gradually over the last year. Nothing specific. no one thing. Others do not agree, some vehemently disagree. Anyway I pulled together a few thoughts this afternoon and posted them on Beesotted ( the most excellent and balanced of fanzines/websites). Here I repeat them with a poll. I genuinely want to know am I wrong?
My own views differ. It is not about Stevenage nor 3 defeats. It is about the poor management at the end of last season and the continuing poor management this season. Combined with some abysmal signings. Let us recall we have scored 4 home goals the lowest in the league. We have even scored 3 of them in one game against arguably the worst side in our league. We have conceded 13 away goals almost the worst. This persistent poor form is down to Rosler not down to injuries nor bad luck. It is clear where our deficiencies are . Goalkeeper. Central defence. Defence generally. A roulette wheel approach to team selection. Our best players were on the bench last week.
This is not a panic opinion but a considered one that also notes Roslers refusal to explain to the fans any of his more bizarre selections. We cannot waste any more time nor money . Finally I am not enjoying this brand of football this season.
Have tried to capture old and new grounds over the years on my website
Sian Massey is an English football referee who is 28 years old and has been officiating in the football league and premier league since 2010 when she turned professional. Although the subject of some controversy over alleged sexist remarks from SKY presenters she has been well recieved in the football game. The few times she has officiated at Brentford, including running the line today Brentford v Rotherham, her performances have been in my humble view amongst some of the best. Maybe her original chosen profession as a teacher might have helped her.
Sian Massey
Sian Massey
chris1957
Arcticterntalk.org 
