Beating
a team that finished 6th and had already defeated us twice in
2014-15, with us scoring 5 goals in the process, was not a bad way to
end the season. Ross Allen's hatrick was offset by a quite stupendous
miss, meaning no match ball for him. One thing about the day shocked
me however and that was the discovery that I agree with FGS (watch
the highlights) on one thing.
Yes,
Chris Tardif is surely player of the season for his contribution over
the course of the season (and that, dear listener, is what it's all
about). Not just for performances that often meant the difference
between going home with something or bugger all either. It's also
about the way he deports himself, a credit to the club and a fine
example to all those that look to GFC for fine examples.
Nice
bloke as well.
Tomorrow
sees the IL1S play-off semi-finals and if you're in Kent it's a
choice between Folkestone v Whyteleafe and Faversham v Merstham.
Elsewhere
East Grinstead finished up in the last relegation spot but will
almost certainly be reprieved. Redhill still have a chance but it's a
longshot. In the Isthmian Premier Peacehaven finished up in the last
relegation spot, which had several Lions fans salivating over a
repeat visit to their infill site next season.
Sadly
it looks like we might miss out on that treat as they may also be
reprieved. This is due to FA Trophy winners North Ferriby Utd
having been put up for sale with, apparently, financing now in place
to ensure the club's survival although an application to drop down
from the Conference South has been made. So Peacehaven's fate could
lie with the Northern Premier League (as to which division to put
North Ferriby in). Then again it could lie with the FA's ground
grading inspectors.
A
couple of rumours doing the 'rounds' relating to GFC. Firstly that
the club might be mover to the Southern League, secondly that the
Isthmian League have had a word about fielding weak teams for midweek
away fixtures. Now these rumours are doing the 'rounds' because,
although they've been mentioned here and there (as in one place
each), in both cases it's the kind of thing that could be applied to
many clubs, yes even in the Isthmian South.
A
move to the Southern League is actually quite plausible. With every
season the Isthmian League contracts in a south easterly direction
whilst the Southern League's footprint expands. So a bit of a
shake-up is probably needed, although with the problems many clubs at
the northern end of the non-league pyramid face, moving a team or two
between the Isthmian and Southern Leagues is a bit like papering over
the Grand Canyon.
If
the dear old FA were to decide to move GFC a move to the Southern
Central wouldn't have much of an impact to the club, given the
location of the clubs in that division. A move to the Southern League
South & West division would be bad for GFC and many of the clubs
currently in that division (as that's where the geographical
challenge lies). What's really required is a thorough review of the
pyramid.
If
you're planning on a trip to the Island Games then you'll no doubt be
looking forward to seeing the new 3G pitch at Springfield. Through
the cage of course, as the JFA didn't seem terribly keen to challenge
the refusal of planning permission for a perimeter fence around the
football ground. The JFA is, of course, against the establishment of
a Jersey FC but it is hard to believe that an organisation that
harboured hopes of following Gibraltar, long after UEFA shut and
bolted the door, would be clever enough to realise that the cage
would render Springfield unsuitable for anything above County level
football.
They
can still use Springfield for the Muratti as, in the eyes of the FA,
it's 'just' between County FA representative sides
So,
unless someone is prepared to speculate a large investment in another
ground in Jersey (and even then a JFC might not be welcomed into the
JFA fold), Jersey Football Club isn't going to happen. So Jersey's
elite players have been well and truly shafted by their own
association which, if they seriously want to play at a higher level,
may just persuade them to commit in the manner that the majority of
GFC fans expect. They'd still have to earn their place in our team
though, Tony Vance was clear on that when he spoke to Manelanders
after the match at Herne Bay.
Tomorrow
(or manana, man) a review of the season.
Keep
it Green
Allez
les Verts!!
