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Commitment (n). 1 - committing, being committed. 2 - an engagement or
involvement that restricts freedom or action of choice. 3 - an obligation
or pledge. |
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Dictionaries, love them or hate them, they always tell the cold hard truth.
Commitment is a word that has been banded around over the last month from plenty
of angles, why? Is it because Hinckley lost to Shepshed? Is it because Dean
Thomas has yet again been linked to another manager's job at a higher level? Is
it because recent performances have not been on par with Man United? Or is it
because we've been spoilt by the success of the club since the merger between
Athletic and Town, and have become complacent when it comes to football results?
Could be! |
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We are half way through what could be our best season for a long time to
come. Should we gain promotion are we still going to expect our team to win
every game 9-1? Isn't it time to put things into perspective? Will I be able
to finish this column without typing another question mark? Er, no apparently. |
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| Commitment is
a revolving door that swings both ways. When things are going fine there is no
need to question commitment, it's only when it all goes pear shaped that all of
a sudden commitment is a big factor. The clubs commitment to the manager, the
players commitment to the team and the fans commitment to the club. But wait a
minute, things are not going pear shaped. We are not second from bottom, we are
second from top. The DM league is not upside down! If we get promotion, next
season we will be a middle to low table club. We will not win more games than we
will lose. I don't think we would be relegated, but we would struggle. All the
people that have questioned commitment over the last month, will you still be
coming to the ground when we are losing 0-4 at home? For fans of a club it
should not be about commitment. You can change your car, your house, even your
wife, but there is an unwritten law of football that once you've chosen the club
to support then that is it. Through thick and thin, good or bad, whatever the
results you stay with that club. Yes, we would all like Hinckley to win every
game and be in the Premier League in 10 years time, but that is not going to
happen. Football is not like that. Football is 99% frustration, agony, apathy
and survival, but 1% absolute ecstatic bliss. It's that 1% that makes it all
worthwhile. |
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Wait a minute it's the start of the month... |
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...we've got a cup game, we win the cup game. What went wrong? That won't
please the Chairman. Downes Sports 1 Hinckley United 3, and even an appearance
from ageing ex-professional Dean Thomas, whoever he is?. |
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| League action
at the start of the month saw RC Warwick come to the Lane with a 7 man defence.
They very nearly pulled off a spectacular smash and grab with the aid of a very
dodgy penalty. However a Paul Hunter goal to make the result 1-1 ensured that
Fortress Middlefield, well Mott and Bailey Middlefield at least, stayed intact.
(Yes Luff, I know that gag has an echo!) |
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A hastily rearranged game against Redditch saw Hinckley make amends for the
opening day defeat. A deliberate handball after only 8 minutes saw the referee
re-writing the rulebook. Now, it would seem, the punishment for deliberate
handball on the goal line is a yellow card. Either that or the ref' had forgot
to bring his red card. It's a shame really because had the player actually been
the goalkeeper it would have been a brilliant save. An open end to end game
finished with Hinckley winning 4-2, the goals included a stunning bullet header
by Rich Lavery. A determined victory to get Hinckley back on track for
promotion. |
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Off to a ground where Hinckley had never won. OK I know we've only played
there once but still Cirencester are no pushover. They have a youthful side
that in a few years should be very handy. Karl Brennan scored on his loan spell
debut after only 10 minutes. After a dogged fight back by the Cirens, Hinckley
eventually won 2-1. |
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Again, another month passes by unbeaten. |
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In out, shake it all about. |
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Goodbye and good luck to John Allcock. He has decided to join Sh*psh*d
Albion after Dean Thomas forced him out, oh sorry I meant after Dean Thomas
let him go. Hang on though after 1 game for Shepshed it would appear that
Tamworth are interested in him. Faiplay, he could be in the DM Premier before
Dean Thomas is. |
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Another player to have left is Marc Orton. Having moved to Oadby Town he
could be facing his old teammates very soon as Oadby play Hinckley in the
Westerby Cup semi-final. Funny how your old players seem to come back to haunt
you. |
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On the incoming list is Craig Smith, er again, from Belper town on loan. We
all know what Smith is capable off in defence and this move should be made
permanent if Hinckley are serious about promotion. |
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Gary Ricketts is tied to a huge elastic band that has again been in action.
Having agreed a reported fee of �1500 with Hucknall Town, after his loan spell,
Ricketts has decided to stay with Hinckley and promptly scored 4 goals in a
reserve game. |
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World of Football Stuff |
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It's been FA Cup week again, and the Non-league clubs are still biting the
ankles of the big boys. The 2 teams of Dagenham & Redbridge eventually succumbed
to Premiership class having taken Charlton to extra time in their replay, losing
1-0. Kingstonian went 1 round better and were 2 minutes away from beating Bristol
City, conceding the equaliser in injury time. The replay for that game yet to be
played, but it looks ominous for Kingstonian that they are currently 2nd from
bottom in the conference and although they have games in hand the cup run will
probably condemn them to Ryman League Premier football next year. Though should
they actually win the FA Cup and get a UEFA Cup place I'm not sure they'd be
bothered. |
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Talking about the FA Cup, and I am, does anyone else think that saying "will
play" when an away team is drawn in the draw, is some kind of control freak
symptom? It used to be that Graham Kelly would wobble his chin and the words
"will play" emanated from his direction. If anyone else said those immortal
words then it was Death of a Princess all over again. Nowadays anyone can say
it. You count it next time the draw is made any pundit, Tom or Harry wants to
get in on the act. How long before it's a pantomime? Some obscure goalkeeper
from the 69 final pulls out the away team and the token non-league player in
the audience backed up by the obligatory 2 teenagers in Man City scarves and
old man Oldham fan (with cap) all shout out en mass "WILL PLAY". In fact we
could have Des Lynam as the pantomime Dame and Richard Keys could be the Big
Bad Wolf, that would save time in make-up wouldn't it. |
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The Rolleston Charity Cup is a worthwhile trophy, that only the elite are
capable of winning! |
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At last SKY Sports have realised there is life after the 3rd Division. From
Thursday 1st February at 7pm on SKY Sports 1 there will be a half-hour non-league
round up. Though cynical as I am I can't decide whether that is due to Kingstonian
and Dagenham & Redbridge doing so well in the FA Cup or if it's because Torquay
have a good chance of being relegated to the Conference and Sky want to give
Helen Chamberlain her own show! |
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| Foul mouthed
footballer Phil Miles was sent off for telling his spectator MUM to f*** off!
Phil blew his top after his mum criticised him from the touchline. He shouted
back at her "shut up and watch the f*****g game." Unfortunately the referee
heard the outburst and pulled out the red card. The Chatham Town defender said
afterwards "I couldn't believe I just turned on my mum. I'm so embarrassed, it's
the first time she's heard me swear." His mum only piped up in the first place to
stop him getting sent off as he kept on arguing with the ref'. She said "he's
normally a nice boy but when he puts on a football shirt he gets all carried away."
(Sounds like Rich Lavery in disguise?) |
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Chatham were winning 2-0 at the time Phil was sent off, but went on to win
the game 4-0 after his red card! An FA spokesman said "sent off for swearing at
your mum, will play, it could be a worlds first, er will play." |
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Next Month 'Will Play': The local derby at home to Atherstone, away to our bogey side Blakenall, we
defend our worthwhile Rolleston Charity cup against Birstall, the whippets come
to town as we pay back Gresley Rovers for every defeat of the eighties and a
trip to the brand new Castle Vale Stadium for a game against Paget. If committed
this column will be written with a non-toxic crayon, by the ward guards. Enjoy. |
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