Post by Brian Mackay on Aug 6, 2006 17:34:15 GMT
Pentland take league after Acks fail to raise team - from JOG Journal website - www.johnogroat-journal.co.uk
By Iain Grant
Published: 04 August, 2006
A SHAMBOLIC end to the John O’Groat Journal division one title race raises serious questions about the state of the amateur game in Caithness.
When defending champions are unable to raise a side for a game which hands the succession on a plate to their opponents, there is obviously something amiss.
Pentland United were firm favourites to recapture the flag but took little joy in clinching first spot through Acks’ capitulation.
The Thurso side’s no-show also did no favours to John O’Groats, who before then had an outside chance of overhauling United
JOG were themselves idle on Friday when Dounreay Workshops could not raise a side for their trip to play them. In both cases, the three points have been awarded to the non-defaulting teams. The farcical climax comes after a summer which has seen a handful of fixtures bite the dust in similar circumstances, as well as the mid-season demise of Thurso Thistle.
Acks, who had shipped 16 goals in their three previous matches, pulled out of Friday’s scheduled clash at Sir George’s Park on Wednesday evening. Acks chairman Stewart Gunn said the plug was pulled following a muster call in the wake of their 8-1 defeat by Thistle in Wick.
“We had 11 on Wednesday and five of them couldn’t make it for the Friday and we had only one or two boys coming back.
“We offered to play on the Monday but Pentland United said they wanted it played on the Friday. After we made it clear we could not raise a side for then, they claimed the points, which they are perfectly entitled to do.”
Mr Gunn said the club very much regrets the situation and has written a letter of apology to John O’Groats. “We let them down,” he said.
Mr Gunn is to resign as vice-chairman of Caithness Amateur Football Association.
He said: “This season I’ve criticised clubs for not raising a side for fixtures so I don’t think it would be right for me to sit in judgement in other such cases.”
Mr Gunn said the Acks will fulfil their outstanding two league fixtures versus Wick Groats and Castletown. He said that Acks are by no means the only team currently struggling for players, with many relying on triallists to make up the numbers.
Terry Mackay, chairman of Pentland United, said it was a very unsatisfactory way to clinch the title. He said: “We certainly didn’t want to win it in this way and John O’Groats probably feel more frustrated than anybody.”
Mr Mackay added: “Our guys believe that if Acks were still in the running for the league, there would not have been any danger of them not getting a side to play us. We also questioned who they were short of on the Friday who would have been available on the Monday.”
Mr Mackay believes it is time for CAFA to review how the game is run in the county. That call will doubtless be echoed by many players, officials and spectators. It is evident that there is a serious shortage of quality players in the area committed to play week in, week out. The talent is spread too thinly and that is bound to mean other clubs going the same way as Thurso Thistle.
A number of clubs – even the well-established ones – are over-dependent on a manager whose departure would spark a major crisis.
The serious lack of competition in the second division has also exposed a fault line which is going to be difficult for the sides below to cross.
There are no simple answers but CAFA will have to give serious consideration to some restructuring in order to avoid a repeat of the latest debacle.
By Iain Grant
Published: 04 August, 2006
A SHAMBOLIC end to the John O’Groat Journal division one title race raises serious questions about the state of the amateur game in Caithness.
When defending champions are unable to raise a side for a game which hands the succession on a plate to their opponents, there is obviously something amiss.
Pentland United were firm favourites to recapture the flag but took little joy in clinching first spot through Acks’ capitulation.
The Thurso side’s no-show also did no favours to John O’Groats, who before then had an outside chance of overhauling United
JOG were themselves idle on Friday when Dounreay Workshops could not raise a side for their trip to play them. In both cases, the three points have been awarded to the non-defaulting teams. The farcical climax comes after a summer which has seen a handful of fixtures bite the dust in similar circumstances, as well as the mid-season demise of Thurso Thistle.
Acks, who had shipped 16 goals in their three previous matches, pulled out of Friday’s scheduled clash at Sir George’s Park on Wednesday evening. Acks chairman Stewart Gunn said the plug was pulled following a muster call in the wake of their 8-1 defeat by Thistle in Wick.
“We had 11 on Wednesday and five of them couldn’t make it for the Friday and we had only one or two boys coming back.
“We offered to play on the Monday but Pentland United said they wanted it played on the Friday. After we made it clear we could not raise a side for then, they claimed the points, which they are perfectly entitled to do.”
Mr Gunn said the club very much regrets the situation and has written a letter of apology to John O’Groats. “We let them down,” he said.
Mr Gunn is to resign as vice-chairman of Caithness Amateur Football Association.
He said: “This season I’ve criticised clubs for not raising a side for fixtures so I don’t think it would be right for me to sit in judgement in other such cases.”
Mr Gunn said the Acks will fulfil their outstanding two league fixtures versus Wick Groats and Castletown. He said that Acks are by no means the only team currently struggling for players, with many relying on triallists to make up the numbers.
Terry Mackay, chairman of Pentland United, said it was a very unsatisfactory way to clinch the title. He said: “We certainly didn’t want to win it in this way and John O’Groats probably feel more frustrated than anybody.”
Mr Mackay added: “Our guys believe that if Acks were still in the running for the league, there would not have been any danger of them not getting a side to play us. We also questioned who they were short of on the Friday who would have been available on the Monday.”
Mr Mackay believes it is time for CAFA to review how the game is run in the county. That call will doubtless be echoed by many players, officials and spectators. It is evident that there is a serious shortage of quality players in the area committed to play week in, week out. The talent is spread too thinly and that is bound to mean other clubs going the same way as Thurso Thistle.
A number of clubs – even the well-established ones – are over-dependent on a manager whose departure would spark a major crisis.
The serious lack of competition in the second division has also exposed a fault line which is going to be difficult for the sides below to cross.
There are no simple answers but CAFA will have to give serious consideration to some restructuring in order to avoid a repeat of the latest debacle.