clubs who dont meet ground criteria

[ian]

Here we go again ,risca and pontyclun what a mess you have started,
and now we have more clubs yes 8 appealing.
Pentwyn dynamo what a laugh , change in a leisure centre ,
cwmbran town ,stand condemmed , just 2 examples of clubs who havent the criteria to be in the welsh league and there appealing ,joke
Please can the welsh fa stand up to these clubs and kick them out and let us get on with playing some football

[Counting Crows]

Shall we put a list together of clubs who don't meet the 1988 criteria and why? Or would we risk being lynched when we next visit?

[Albion]

CWMBRAN TOWN PLAY NEWPORT COUNTY IN THE GWENT SENIOR CUP AT CWMBRAN STADIUM TONIGHT.

7.30PM KICK OFF

[The Equalizer]

Well Mr Counting Crows - since you suggested it......

2.3 DUGOUTS
Clubs must provide two covered dugouts adjacent to the playing area, located near the halfway line.
They must be capable of accommodating a minimum of 6 seated persons, and the floor must have a solid foundation of concrete, tarmac or paved slabs. (No other material is acceptable).
A technical area, (as defined in "Laws of the Game") must be marked out in front of each dug out.

For much of last season Cwmbran Town did not comply with this criteria. In fact, the Home dugout had to be switched because there was no roof on one of them! Don't claim otherwise - I saw it with my own eyes on a number of occasions!

3.0 MATCH PROGRAMMES
Each club must produce a match day programme complying with rule 16 of the Leagues Constitution and Rules.

On most of my visits last season you had no such thing on offer - I did get a raffle ticket though!!

2.6 MEDICAL
All clubs must have first aid equipment, which must include a stretcher. The location of first aid equipment must be clearly marked in all dressing rooms. It is desirable that clubs provide a designated area for first aid.

Certainly not in the "Away" room!!!!!


I would also point out that you poo poo Pentwyn changing in a leisure centre, but you only have the following as a result of your own ground being at a public Leisure Centre which you hire out and do not need to run & maintain......

Players Changing
Separate dressing rooms must be provided for each team, capable of accommodating a minimum of 16 people. Each team dressing room must have a separate shower area with a minimum of four shower heads.
There shall be a minimum of 1 W/C and 1 urinal, with hot and cold running water for the use of the teams within the vicinity of each dressing room complex.
Match Officials Dressing Room
A separate room must be provided for the exclusive use of the match officials. The area must be capable of accommodating a minimum of 3 persons, and must contain a shower, WC and a wash basin with hot and cold running water. This room must not be used for storage or similar purposes.

2.7 HOSPITALITY
All clubs must provide a room for the use of visiting club officials and guests, situated as close to the playing area as possible.
Tea, or some form of liquid must be provided for players and match officials at half time and full time, and at half time for visiting club officials and guests.
Refreshment facilities shall also be made available to all spectators.
After match hospitality shall be on or close to the ground.
2.8 TELEPHONE
A telephone, the number of which must be in the club particulars in the League handbook, must be available on all match days to make and receive calls.
2.9 TOILET FACILITIES FOR SPECTATORS
Adequate toilet facilities must be provided for both male and female spectators within the complex of the ground at all times, with wash basins and hot and cold running water.

So, in closing, I think the point I am trying to make here is A) you don't fullfil the entire ground criteria yourselves and B) you are contradicting yourself by poo pooing Pentwyn for changing in a Leisure Centre - which is essentially exactly what you do! It is also the only reason you pass the "Hospitality" part of the criteria!!

Now get off your high horses, take your relegation like people and get on with the important stuff - FOOTBALL!

[Crowthrice]

I am surprised you keep visiting such a third world stadia Equalizer.

I think you should report it to Amnesty International, Greenpeace, Health and safety executive. No human should have to put up with such conditions.

Oh and by the way before you ask -my Dad's bigger than yours

[The Equalizer]

That isn't the point is it numb nuts!

My point is (as much as I quite like your stadium) your people come on here holyer than thou about ground criteria and I am merely trying to point out to you all that you may want to leave it there because you yourselves do not pass the whole criteria.

It is really beginning to grate on me all of these Cwmbran Town people on here talking down other clubs who have to run and maintain their own grounds with a real self important attitude as though the fact you have a pleasant stadium is some sort of overriding factor for you to be able to not be relegated over teams who have won and lost their statuses on the pitch.

I am lucky enough to follow a club who have absolutely no worries at all regarding ground criteria. Do I wish all grounds were magnificent? Yes. However, that isn't the level of football we play at and with zero funding from an incompetent FA that is unlikely to change.

Now leave it there. If clubs were coming on here saying "Let's make a list of rubbish teams in each division" you would all be up in arms so insulting other clubs in the way that you do simply because your hired public facility is nicer than many grounds around it totally disrespectful to a lot of hard working dedicated clubs and committees who work tirelessly to do the best they can!

I personally hope you get this plot of land you keep harping on about and I hope that you have to develop and run it yourselves. Then you will see what some of these clubs have to contend with - you don't even have to put your own bloody nets up for Christ sake. You have absolutely no idea what other clubs have to do and organise each and every match day because much of it is done for you as part of your facility fee!

[Counting Crows]

I'm off to the match now, but i will reply properly later / tomorrow. And by the way, we actually want our own ground, so we can make improvements as and when. The stadium is an aweful place and we have to fight to get anything done. Anyway, i'll reply prperly later - if i can be bothered.

[Crowthrice]

Equalizer I agree with some of the things you say but don't like the aggressive nature of it.

Like you I though the dugout at Cwmbran was a disgrace for any club.

Also like you I don't mind where teams change as long as it is properly equipped.

I did manage to get to Pentwyn Dynamos twice last season and i was more concerned about the state of the pitch. For me the most important is that the players have a safe playing surface to play on. I saw both games interrupted for holes in the pitch to be filled in . In fact one of the games was abandoned as the referee twisted his ankle in one of these holes. The players and officials have jobs and families and should not be put at risk by anything that is avoidable. All players know they could have injuries and accept this but I don't think it should be as a result of pitches.

No one should be holier than thou and I have said it before I think the criteria should be looked at again with a view to what is realistic in "amateur football". I would imagine there are pros and cons for owning and hiring pitches but I am sure both put strains on finances of clubs in either situation.

[Counting Crows]

2.3 - the dugouts are mobile. They can also be replaced. Why bother tho if ground criteria is going to ignored?

2.6 - off day? Can easily be remedied. I wonder how many other clubs fail here?

3.0 - hilarious! We had the audacity to sell-out of our match day prog. Get there earlier. I always get one.

I've not been to Pentwyn so I have no idea where they change. I think someone else talked about this? But if it's true it does go against the criteria...do u not agree? There are clubs our there that don't have toilets near the ground - surely this is a big issue that needs to be addressed? When I take someone new to a game and there are no toilets It doesn't bode well for a return.

Yes we are "lucky" to have the stadium, but over time it would be cheaper to have our own ground that meets the criteria than to 'rent' as we do now. I.e. It's better to buy a house than rent one, yes?

[The Equalizer]

I struggle to see how you can have sold out of a match day programme 1 hour before kick off when there are only three people in the stadium and the paying desk for entry isn't even set up yet!!!!

[Counting Crows]

The obvious answer to that is that they hadn't been put out for sell yet. It's not rocket science is it?

Many a time i've travelled with the team and had to wait closer to KO before locating a prog.

"Clutching at Straws" rings a bell.

[The Equalizer]

No it wasn't I was told there was no programme that day - I don't even care about the shoddy thing anyway my point is you don't fulfil ALL criteria yourselves so get off the high horse!

[Counting Crows]

Well if you were told that then i have no reason to doubt you - you sound trustworthy enough to me.

It just strikes me as odd as I attended every home game last season and use the programme to make notes on for the match report. And we actually have a programme editor. Plus i write an Half Time Quiz for each one...

If you tell me which game it was it might jog my memory...?

But mentioning one instance of a missing programme when some places lack on-site toilets, well.......

[The Equalizer]

Newport YMCA Home!

Who has no on site toilets?

[Counting Crows]

Okay, well, if you say you were told that (by a club official), then i guess i have to believe you, but as we're quite proud of our little programme i can't fathom why we'd decide not to do one for a local derby

Do you really want me to list the clubs? Bearing in mind that this is how the rule reads:

2.9 TOILET FACILITIES FOR SPECTATORS
Adequate toilet facilities must be provided for both male and female spectators within the complex of the ground at all times, with wash basins and hot and cold running water.

Personally i don't mind having to leave the ground (despite the bit in bold above) to get to a toilet (e.g. Bryntirion, Caldicot, Caerau Ely, Ammanford, Caerleon, Llangeinor, NCS etc.) if the clubhouse is adjacent, but i can think of three places straight away where you risk missing the second half if you need a wee, and you can often spot a player taking a leak in a hedge!