by Paddy Farrell



FOOTBALL club officials mark their advancing years not by marvelling at the frightening youth of the constabulary but rather by wondering what happened to the close-seasons we used to enjoy down Trent Bridge.

Since completing the league and county cup double and failing - spectacularly but honourably - in the promotion play-off competition, administration details have kept me fully occupied at Coronation Park and it was a shock to realise that out players have now returned to full-scale pre-season training.

Our back room team will be largely unchanged although I understand that Fred Kirk, who was set up as ‘physiotherapist in house’ by ex-chairman Keith Smith, has decided that a move to Hucknall Town is in his best interest. I wish him well - he should not lack familiar faces.

As widely trailed our reserve side has been resurrected and will compete next season in the Premier Division of the long-established Midlands Regional Alliance.

Paul Cox has given Sam Ralph the job of managing the new venture and details of his supporting staff will soon be announced.

The debit side of running a reserve team is the, hopefully, temporary loss of our youth team which stuttered through an abysmal season last term.

Stalwarts Bob Jones and John Smith put in hours of really hard work but were badly let down by a collection of local youngsters whose commitment is adequately reflected by the fact that they picked up over ten times more disciplinary cards than match points.

To Bob and John, my sincere gratitude and my assurance that everyone at Eastwood Town appreciates your efforts.

As I indicated last week, Worksop Town found themselves locked out of their Sandy Lane ground by former chairman Howard Raymond whose financial and bizarre family problems have been comprehensively covered by lurid media disclosures.

Chairman John Hepworth has apparently persuaded Hucknall Town to allow them use next season of their Watnall Road ground, and provided the UniBond approves the ground-share arrangement, manager Peter Rinkcavage has been assured ‘that his playing budget will not be compromised.’

Pardon me if I’m sceptical that a club, having to pay a substantial ground rental and play every game away, can possibly give such a guarantee.

The ‘Conference’ AGM last week decided to expel Halifax Town, Boston United, Nuneaton Borough (all for financial default) and Cambridge City (ground grading).

Subject to inevitable appeals to the Football Association, the net results will be Altrincham remain in the Blue Square National - a third successive reprieve for the Manchester-based side - and Hucknall, Vauxhall Motors, Weston-super-Mare and Dorchester Town stay in the first divisions.

The latest ‘fans’ club, AFC Liverpool, have asked the FA leagues committee to relax the rule that new clubs must start at ‘step seven’ and allow them into the North West Counties League.