St Neots v Diamonds - a shambles?

[icm]

This was advertised as an old diamonds youth team against St Neots
Obviously quite a few players pulled out and it was left to the under 18s, who played yesterday, to fill in the gaps!
Is this making money at any cost, NO SUBSTITUTES, DIAMONDS NO 6 STRUGGLING WITH A GROIN PROBLEM.
The game should have been called off if a full side was not available!

PS - added on the 16th

I apologise if I have offended anyone by the content and tone of my above message, I should have chosen my words more carefully.
My concern was for the welfare of the players, especially the under 18s
I now appreciate why the game could not be called off

[Three of Diamonds]

I remember a story about the old Irthlingborough Diamonds team, that played two consecutive games on the same day. Not because it was a way of making money, it's because we're a football club and we love to do it. The lads did the club proud today, we salute them.

[DiamondEejit]

it's because we're a football club and we love to do it. The lads did the club proud today, we salute them.

Well said!

[AFCRDKris]

This was advertised as an old diamonds youth team against St Neots
Obviously quite a few players pulled out and it was left to the under 18s, who played yesterday, to fill in the gaps!
Is this making money at any cost, NO SUBSTITUTES, DIAMONDS NO 6 STRUGGLING WITH A GROIN PROBLEM.
The game should have been called off if a full side was not available!

I see on ploppynet sone1 has posted this quote with the words 'oh dear'

First reaction is - Its nice to have people going the extra mile to put on a game, remind me what happened to their game yesterday? Hmm.

POT...KETTLE...BLACK

[AndyKirkup]

This was advertised as an old diamonds youth team against St Neots
Obviously quite a few players pulled out and it was left to the under 18s, who played yesterday, to fill in the gaps!
Is this making money at any cost, NO SUBSTITUTES, DIAMONDS NO 6 STRUGGLING WITH A GROIN PROBLEM.
The game should have been called off if a full side was not available!

I often think that people post on internet forums without engaging their brains first and I would like to congratulate you upon putting my theory beyond all reasonable doubt.

How can you possibly make that comment without knowing the first thing about how the situation came about?

There were 14 or 15 players confirmed for the game, of which three got injured playing yesterday, one had a minor car accident (am told he's fine) and a few were no-shows for whatever reason.

If it was 12:45 and you were standing in a half-empty dressing room, faced with the issue of not being able to field a team knowing that there were already ~30 fans in the stadium what would you do? Make up some rubbish excuse and call the game off or ring round and get a team sorted to run out there and give the fans who'd travelled all the way down something to watch? Personally I think it was admirable of those youth team lads after playing yesterday to haul themselves out of bed, get a lift sorted and come and fill in.

And as for money making at any cost - at £2 per ticket then do me a favour!

There are several people who at the moment have basically given up all other aspects of their lives to run this club and who are at times working like dogs to make everything happen. The matches, the programme, the hospitality, the membership scheme, the business partners, the sponsors, the website, the media coverage, the merchandise, the players' minibus. It doesn't just all happen - it's all there because someone worked bl**dy hard to sort it out.

Comments like yours make me wonder why we all bother!

In fact do you know how soul-destroying it is for people involved in running the club to come on here and read words like 'shambles'? It was very easy for you to type but it will certainly stick in my mind for a couple of days.

The club is run by volunteers and is brand new - from time to time things won't be perfect for which I'm sure those volunteers would only apologise but as time passes things get more and more professional and we learn from our mistakes.

In summary I apologise if you were disappointed in any way, but I think you are being more than a little harsh!

[Formic]

Perhaps ICM is the same person as IC who linked this thread on poppynet - and has an impressive post count on there (as opposed to a few posts on prediction threads on here)?

Someone tried a thread before on Poppynet criticising AFC attendances, and the sensible posters on there pointed out how impressive what had been achieved was - but rather than stopping digging, IC / ICM has had a second go.

[Rankine's Nose]

I remember a story about the old Irthlingborough Diamonds team, that played two consecutive games on the same day. Not because it was a way of making money, it's because we're a football club and we love to do it. The lads did the club proud today, we salute them.

Exactly!

[bozzer]

In fact the match was billed as a mark Starmer ex diamond XI,
On a footballing side it was very useful with some of our under 18 players filling in when some of the players were unable to attend, and actually they all played extremely well.
A massive thanks to all the players who played today, whilst it wasn't perfect it was a very useful exercise on and off the pitch and in no way a shambles at all.
I don't understand why you would suggest it should have been called off it was a very entertaining match.
If you don't feel you have had value for your £2 please find me on Tuesday and I will be happy to give you your £2 back from my pocket

[BartonRaz]

I think it goes without saying guys that the views of the first initial poster are his and his only.

[Diamond_ Wolf]

AK I went along today and throughly enjoyed it, ICM's post wasn't even worth a reply to be honest! He/She is clearly on a winding up mission or has just had a shitty weekend and wanted to cause a bit of a stir! The game was decent with a few quality strikes as well, its a shame that a few had to drop out but that happens! All the lads gave up their Sunday afternoons when they could have been nursing hangovers ;) We also raised a few quid for the coffers as well!

AK Keep up the excellent work, you and many others are doing a cracking job