Fixture Headaches

Not every club is affected but it is clear that we are facing our worst season for some time in terms of postponements and there has been no choice but to start using Thursdays for re-arranged fixtures with some clubs having now run out of spare midweek dates. The situation has been so bad that a number of clubs have effectively shut their grounds for the winter, with some not having played at home since December

The question is what can we do about it? I have been compiling fixtures since 1985 (sad I know) but, on the basis that one is never too old to learn, I’ve always been willing to listen to suggestions as to how to do the job better and that remains the case, which is just as well, as there are always plenty. Sadly, they are often made as a kneejerk reaction and have not always been thought out properly. Usually they revolve around the theme of playing more matches in midweek at the start of the season when the weather is more likely to behave.

So, to explain, at present our fixtures are compiled in the same way as most senior leagues, in that efforts are first made to ensure as full a fixture list on Saturdays through the season as possible. Various bank holidays are then filled and those fixtures remaining are then scheduled for midweek in the first part of the season. That is exactly what happened this season.

We could possibly squeeze in a few more during that early part of the season but in the past that has led to complaints about too many matches and then, there is always the possibility of clubs finishing too early. As an example, in all competitions and as an example, Ashford Town played on 12 of the 16 available midweeks between August and the end of November, which is probably similar to most other Premier Division clubs. Should we have looked for even more fixtures in that period? I am open to views but it can become relentless if clubs play every Tuesday and Saturday and it increases the likelihood of injuries. It also means that in a “good” year (admittedly they seem to be a thing of the past) clubs will run out of fixtures too early. If a majority of clubs think we should do this though maybe we'll trial it next season.

We could look to reduce the number of clubs in the Premier Division so as to reduce the number of fixtures and I am aware that some would welcome that, but my own view and, I believe, that of the majority of the Management Committee, remains that a reduction in the number of clubs invariably weakens our league, especially when our Division One remains short of clubs and may be further decimated next season if the FA stick to their guns of enforced relegation. Also it could mean up to 5 clubs being relegated from the Premier Division in one season.

Some of our clubs could help themselves by not entering supplementary competitions. The League doesn’t really want to prevent clubs going in for whatever they wish but if your pitch cannot cope with the rigours of winter, it is surely unwise to be playing in the likes of the Aldershot Senior Cup, the Southern Combination Cup, the Middlesex Charity Cup and others. Frankly, one or two might consider pulling out of such competitions for this season now, given their present circumstances

Another possibility is that we could alter more fixtures at short notice. For example, Bedfont Sports were extremely unlucky this season, in that they lost a number of early season Saturday fixtures because their scheduled opponents were playing in either the FA Cup or the FA Vase. Clubs are, of course, always free to look for possible alternative fixtures if they know they have lost their scheduled match (although not many do) but next season it may be that the League should step in and change fixtures at short notice (i.e. pair up free clubs) so as to ensure as full a programme as possible on any particular Saturday. It may mean, of course, that at short notice you are suddenly away to the club at the top of the league rather than at home to the bottom club. Do clubs want that - it is certainly done in lower leagues.

We could also revert to starting on the first Saturday in August rather than the second. That would give us an additional Saturday and midweek slot but it wasn’t that popular when we did start on the first Saturday.

Other leagues are actually in a worse position than us and doubtless there will be pressure on the FA to extend the season to at least the first Saturday in May so please be prepared for that possibility. If that happens it may be that some of the Thursday fixtures, (only one so far but there will be plenty more it seems, can be re-arranged. That remains to be seen though and at the moment we are required to finish on Saturday 30 April.

We could scrap the Premier Challenge Cup for the season but in this League, the League Cup has always been taken seriously and I don’t think this would be a popular move.

Should we play on every Bank Holiday date possible, especially over the Christmas period? That was the suggestion from Badshot Lea but it has not received great support.

Should we have a midwinter break? That would be fine if we knew when the poor weather would strike (it’s not always January!) and certainly not help those clubs who have pitches that do manage to withstand adverse conditions most of the time.

If you have any constructive comments and/or suggestions that you think would improve the situation for future seasons by all means get in touch.

Alan Constable, League Sec.
31 January 2016