SPARTAN SOUTH MIDLANDS FOOTBALL LEAGUE
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2008

Held Saturday 14th June

        Where your votes went … 

At the Spartan South Midlands Football League AGM, our Association Chairman Mike Taylor commented on the high quality of hospitality offered by many clubs to match officials over the past season.

The problem is that not every referee visits every club with the result that many of those who deserve to feature more highly in the list have missed out because they have had fewer visits from our members. This is particularly the case in Division Two and the Reserve Section.

So next season an extra box is being provided on the Referees Report Form so that every club will automatically receive a mark after each home game. We feel this will be a much fairer system.

That said, after a lot of prodding and cajoling via Mick Ewen and this website, we did have a healthy response from our referees when asked to vote for the Association’s prestigious Hospitality award.

Winners for the past two seasons, Leverstock Green, did not figure in the top three this time round.

In third place came Langford

Just pipped into second place – Kingsbury London Tigers

But the club you decided were the most hospitable in 2007-8 - OXHEY JETS

... and where your marks went

Sportsmanship First Teams

This was a close run race and though there were one or two unsavoury moments during the season, behaviour and sportsmanship showed a welcome improvement.

For the first time, five clubs – drawn from all three divisions – averaged a mark of over 80 out of 100 which is to be highly commended.

In fifth place – Harpenden Town

Fourth were Risborough Rangers

In third slot came Royston Town

Runners-up were Holmer Green

But the winner with an average mark of 82.88 was one of the competition’s newest clubs from Division One -

BEDFORD TOWN RESERVES

Sportsmanship Reserve Teams

The three Reserve Divisions went one better with no fewer than six clubs breaking the 80 mark barrier.

They included Risborough Rangers, Kings Langley, The 61 FC (Luton), Harpenden Town and Aylesbury Vale

But the outstanding winner with a remarkable average score of 84.90 –

HODDESDON TOWN

Club Assistant of the Year

All referees officiating in the Reserve Section have come to appreciate those who take on the Club Assistant role week by week. We realize how difficult a job it can be and often attracts more criticism from the assistant’s own players than the opposition.

There were some excellent marks awarded this year and we would especially like to commend the efforts of the two runners-up, Ben Riches of New Bradwell St Peter and Peter Grimsley of Stony Stratford Town.

But the winner this season is ANDY GRAY … not of Sky Television but one who really understands the Laws of the Game … this Andy Gray is from Langford.

The ASSMFLMO offers its congratulations to all those who won an award.

LEAGUE WELCOMES 7 NEW CLUBS

Seven new clubs will be competing in the Spartan South Midlands League in Season 2008-9 so you can look forward to visiting a variety of new grounds next time round.

Winners of the Premier League, Beaconsfield SYCOB, have regained their Southern League status. Coming in the other direction, Berkhamsted Town, who will play in a 22-club Premier League next season. Kentish Town and Haringey Borough have been promoted; London Colney and Ruislip Manor relegated.

Hatfield Town, winners of the Herts County League, have been admitted to Division 1 and will ground share with Welwyn Garden City. This division will accommodate 21 clubs including two promoted from Division Two, Kings Langley and Crawley Green.

Division Two has also been increased in size to 18 clubs including five newcomers: Bletchley Town, Bucks FC (from Chalfont St Giles), Hadley, MK Wanderers and Wodson Park (from Ware).

Bill Hamilton

INCREASE IN TRAVELLING EXPENSES

At the league AGM which was held on 14th June, I asked for and got an increase in travelling expenses. This has now been increased to 30p per mile. 

I expected quite an amount of flack from the clubs, but I am pleased to say that I got none whatsoever and it was passed with no problem at all.

Of course, the downside to this is that if I star officials to travel together, then it is a must that they do so. None of this I was visiting granny so I travelled myself. If an official does not travel with whom he is supposed to then he must forego any expenses for travel.

Because I was more concerned about a mileage increase, I never pursued the question of raising the match fees, as I wanted to ensure that I got the mileage increase before anything else. I was of the opinion that I wouldn't get both, so settled for the travel increase. As you are aware, clubs can be a little fickle when it comes to paying us poor officials!!

Mick Ewen