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A football season wouldn’t be a football season without
the odd player getting injured and 2002/2003 is proving
to be no exception.
Since the last fanzine was issued, several players within
the club have suffered from various ailments some picked
up on Saturday, some during training and some at home or
during their normal working day! It is a footballing fact
of life and although it is frustrating for managers and
players alike, it is something the club has to deal with.
Injuries do mean two things. Firstly, there is the chance
for other players to step in and progress through the club,
maybe to move up a team or to step up from the substitute’s
bench. Secondly, it means that the club can never have enough
players signed on and it should always be looking to strengthen
and improve its pool of players.
It is a fact that unavailability, illness and injuries
can rob the club of 10–15 players every Saturday and
although we may have 60 odd players registered with the
league, we desperately need to keep adding to this overall
squad as we will doubtless need everyone over the next few
demanding months.
The club is in the fortunate position of having two teams
in the MAA Cup quarter finals, all three sides in the last
16 of the Notts FA Cups and a full league programme to boot.
These games, on increasingly heavy and demanding pitches
will surely bring a few more injuries as a result of normal
“wear and tear” and the club must be ready to
handle that situation when it arises.
Prevention of injury is never a certain thing, but there
is little doubt that the fitter you are, the more likely
you are to withstand or to recover from a knock. This is
where attendance at training is important and where we need
to see more players attending. It is obvious that those
who make it regularly are making great strides forward in
terms of fitness and ability.
On the playing side, the Ones and Twos continue to remain
unbeaten in the league. The first XI have only 'lost' once
this season, on penalties and have now kept an amazing SEVEN
clean sheets in a row (thank you ‘Statto Dicko’)
which is probably some kind of club record.
November is going to be another important month for the
Ones with games against Trent University and Cavaliers,
while the Twos are looking forward to their showdown with
FLL on the 21st December. Both teams hold comfortable positions
in the top four of their divisions.
The 3rd XI continue to progress well and have found the
goal touch recently having been boosted by the return to
the club of Stuart Pounder. Division Two seems a reasonably
strong league this time around and there are several clubs
jockeying for position near the top.
All players should look carefully at the fixture lists
in this fanzine. Remember that dates and opposition do change
and a 'free week' may not be free for long as the league
often make re-arrangements.
Also, please be aware that we have games over the Xmas
period and we will need to know who is and isn’t around.
So if you are planning to go away, it would be helpful if
you gave your manager as much notice as possible.
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