The New Season - Good Luck To You All
It seems appropriate to say a few words to welcome the start of the new season for all our Teams, Managers, Coaches, Physios, Players, Parents, Friends and Match Officials and to wish you all a great season ahead.
The officers of the League have genuinely worked tirelessly over the close season to ensure that we are ready to go on Sunday and as always 95% of you have been great in communicating with us in the manner that we have laid down.
To the 5% who find that difficult to do, please don't forget we are here to help you, not just to tell you off when you do it wrong! In the modern world of emails, and websites, we often forget that a simple phone call can resolve a number of issues. If you assume something and get it wrong, far better to have asked before. So please talk to us if you have anything that you are not sure of.
The Rules of the League are on this website. The League will ensure that those rules are applied fairly to you all. Best you have a read if you haven't done so to ensure that you don't start the season with a fine!
Couple of quick tips.........kick off with your new Molten Footballs...........Rope off one side of your pitch for spectators...............Complete and send in your match cards when the game is finished..........look after the match officials and treat them well...........phone in the result to Bill....
Peter and Daniel have worked really hard over the Summer to ensure that the League has retained the services of most of our Referees. They have added some new ones, and with your help we can keep them for the season and do our utmost to give you an independent Referee every week. Work on the basis that the "Referee is always right even when he's wrong" and you will do fine. He only has one pair of eyes.............if you have never done it before have a go in training..........it will be a real eye opener.
The League has adopted fully the Respect Campaign for the season ahead, and all teams and Match officials will carry out the Respect handshake in the centre circle before the game starts. Remember the home team goes first, followed by the away team.
At the end of the game win or lose will all players please take 20 seconds to shake the Match Officials hand...........very easy to do when you win, but takes a bit more effort if you lose. No Referee has ever lost a football match......the team does!
Many of our Committee will be out and about watching matches. If you are a parent come and talk to us.........tell us what you like and what you don't like..............we are there to support the 3 teams on the pitch.
Will all clubs please remember to ensure that as the home team it is your responsibility to phone Bill with the result after the game. Again easy to do when you win, not quite so easy when you lose! But remember it's a marathon not a sprint!!
There is no doubt in my mind that football in Kent is going through a really strong time at the moment and the League is proud to be offering football to so many young talented players, many of whom are finding their way to the Academies and Centres of Excellence. The quality of football seems to be getting better and I am sure that will continue into the season.
I hope not to see any of you on the disciplinary committees that I sit on through the season, but if you do transgress expect us to apply the rules in the strongest way possible.
Please try to enjoy, and play with confidence and a smile on your face, and to all those players out there, remember you never know who is watching! Club Scouts are out in force in the League on a Sunday, because they know that is so much good talent in this County.
Please keep reading the website............
GOOD LUCK TO YOU ALL
Ken - On behalf of the League Management Committee
