Todays Final Score:

Wivenhoe Town 0 - 5 Tiptree United
Lee Underwood 7, 62
Ben Cross 71
Jamie Ricks 73, 90

kenbee - I think it's far to assume that the move to the new ground won't happen in time for next season, however, I understand from the Chairman that the early New Year should see work starting up again.
Clearly there are improvements needed to Chapel Road to bring it up to standard but a lot of this would need to be done whether we are promoted or not. Things like eight man dug-outs can be portable and extra accommodation for female officials, first aid treatment room and toilets can again be put in place with temporary solutions.
I think it's true to say that any work that is needed will be done so as to ensure the Club continued existance and to make sure it can realise it's ambitions.
The thing that is important is that we can galvanise the support both in numbers and financial terms.

I welcome the news that the club have given notice for promotion to Step 4 should we be in a position to, but wonder were we are in respect of the ground grading which of course would be essential to promotion. I understand that these regs. have been upgraded for 2009/10 season?
I presume of course that the new ground would mett these regs. but this seems to be dead in the water at present.

Just to echo Bronco's thoughts. Here's to a very successful second half of the season and best wishes to all at the club for 2009. Ant, you really should be seeking new medication mate!!

A Very Happy New Year to all regular contributors and readers of the Message Board, and all the very best to Colin, Brad, Mel and Gary, together with all other players and supporters. Here's to a successful and injury-free 2009!

Steve Gerrard Gerrard, In a nightclub fracas, giving the DJ a scar, Steve Gerrard Gerrard!!!!!!!

Thanks for that VAS. First time I have read the Green Un. I'm afraid that our match official from last Saturday is rather typical of current officials. No problems with his knowledge of the laws, good positioning, kept up with the game, but no empathy with the players at all and so had to use the yellow card to show his authority. Having said that three of the cards were well deserved. I doubt that he has ever played the game at a decent level and there lies the problem these days. Rugby seems to encourage ex players to become officials, but the FA seems to drag their feet on this. Why can't recently retired pro's be fast tracked into non-league and then the League? The other problem of course is that because of players attitudes you would have to be a masochist to be become a referee. The base level that officials come in at is now very low and we are getting officials in non-league that a few years ago would not have got off the local park.

Kenbee
Sorry for the mistakes in the previous log all refences to Green should read Green Un I have worked for them at least 45 years and still it looks as I can not remember the name

Kenbee, glad you enjoyed the game with Stanway The Referee was not that good did you note how many times he issued a yellow card in fact seven were issued not all justified. I have passed comment in my Green notes which you can read if you log into the Green 24 website, using the Club notes page. I am sure that if ask anyone connected with the Jam Makers what happened to this Referee at Harwich youwill not be surprised by the reply
Best wishes Kenbee for the New Year

Enjoyed the game on Saturday, full blooded local derby with very little flowing football, but enjoyable none the less, unless of course if you were a Stanway supporter who can justifyingly be a bit miffed at not getting a draw.
What I could not understand was their hostility to the match official, who has probably had better games, but was not helped at all by the players the attitude of both sets of players to the match officials in general. Sometines you get the referee you deserve. He wasn't that bad, at least not when compared to the one we had against Haverhill, he just seemed to over rely on the yellow card to give himself authority.
Another thing that disappointed me was the the assistant referee on the stand side of the pitch who allowed himself to get into an argument with Stanway fans over that last booking to a Stanway player. That should not happen at any level.

I note from Colin's blog that he is a bit depressed about our gates of late. It is frustrating I know, but some Ryman Leauge clubs are doing worse, notably Maldon, Witham and Redbridge who managed lass than 20 last Saturday. What is that people find to do this time of year? It can't be just shopping surely?
On another note (one that is also a bit depressing) I was chatting to a young lad who uses my gym and plays for a well established and until recetnly svery succesful Border League club. He informed that he has quit the club. When I asked why he said "no money". He was being paid to play Border League??
I suggested that he ask for a trial at Wivenhoe as I know he could make Step 5 grade. He said the same, " no money".
When asked where he was playing now he said, " in the Colchester League. I asked why and the reply was, " it's easy, it's only £2.00 per game subs and I can get rat-arsed on a Friday night and still play".
This is a from a very pleasant lad who keeps himself fit, but is symptomatic of todays's want it all society I'm afraid. Or am I being old fashioned?

Best wishes to all at Tiptree (Even the Gooners among you!) for a happy and Peaceful Christmas and three points on Saturday!
Hope you get a bumper crowd to witness the win and to give plenty of support to Colin, Mel, Brad and 'Kit Man Dave'.
From the 'Long Mellie Two'!

My Xmas present list to the Jam makers:

For Colin:
two fit and commited Tommies
For John W.:
50 extra regular spectators (there must be some around as they are not going to Col. Utd).
For the new Asst Manager:
A wig to replace the hair he will be tearing out.
For the Physio:
An extra large treatment room
For Jamie Ricks:
Alan Schearer's physique to go with his lightning pace.
For the squad:
A summer holiday catalogue with a note that says part-time professional footballers do not go on holiday in mid-winter.
For the Vice Presidents:
A dedicated stand with an un obstructed view, heating, leather reclining (for the bad games) prawn sandwiches at half time served by scantily clad young ladies.

All the very best of the festive season to you all, see you on saturday where current form probably predicts a 10 all draw.

Goalscorers for the Reserves at Halstead yesterday were:

Ashley Collins and Ashley Cole

Saturday, 20th December '08

Todays Results:

1st Team - TUFC 3 - 2 Haverhill Rovers
(Ricks 2, Watson1)

Reserves - Halstead 0 - 2 TUFC
(this results takes the Reserves to the top of their league)

Not too sure of all the facts but I understand the Youth game at home last night was abandoned after only 7 minutes play due to one of the visiting players suffering a badly broken leg.
I'm sure everyone would join with me in wishing the lad a speedy and full recovery.
It's also refreshing to report that due to the circumstances, the Match Officials opted NOT to claim their fees for the evening.
A great gesture and a good example to their more senior colleague who visited us last Saturday.

No disagreement for your crusade here kenbee - take yesterdays postponement as an example:
Two teams who clearly wanted to play but a set of officials who just weren't up for it for some reason.
Visitors who embarked on a wasted journey of 140 mile round trip and the costs involved ( 6 or 7 cars @ £25/£30 each) plus several hours of wasted time.
Host Clubs costs of preparing the pitch/changing rooms, heating, hospitality food and drinks, wasted programmes, everyones wasted journeys and time - it does all add up when you think about it doesn't it and no gate receipts to help offset the costs - all in the name of non-league football in the winter at Christmas time.
Unfortualely, there's one group of contributors who found it difficult to enter into the spirit of things.
Three Match Officials who claim their 50% fees plus travelling expenses (£80 + ) for a game that didn't go ahead.
(thank goodness they all travelled together to keep the costs down) but it still didn't stop one of them claiming a mere £3.40 for the trip from his house to the other Officials pick-up point. - not quite entering into the spirit of things I'd suggest.
My message of goodwill to the Match Official brigade - there's only so much juice in a Christmas Orange

If anyone has checked the attendances for the few games that were played due to the awful weather they will have noticed that the gates were very poor. No surprise? BUT even games that you thought would have enticed people out like Sudbury vs Oxford Utd struggled to get 400.

More ammunition for my crusade to change non-league to a summer game.
Let the full- time professional clubs who can afford decent spectator facilities and spend resources on their playing surfaces play in the winter.

Saturday, 13th December '08

Todays Reserves fixture away at Walsham-le-Willows has been postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.

The 1st team game at home to Ely City in currently going ahead as planned however the forecast weather for the rest of the day is a concern.

Why was Gary Burrell got rid of - he seemed to have been settling into the team well??

Great performance at W-le-W on Saturday. Lee Townrow outstanding at the centre of the defence (masterful tactical switch, Colin), Jack Wignall equally impressive. Luke Webster made the world of difference on the left. George Lay and Lee Underwood looked different class. Shame about the referee! Well done lads. Keep it up against Ely on Saturday and lets try to put an unbeaten run together.

Don't know how we're going to find room for Liam Coleman, Emmo ,Mark Gaisford et all when they're fit!

A peice of disturbing news picked up at Stanway. ex Stanway player Marlon North a centre forward recently transferred to Brantham broke his leg in four places during an ECL game. Infection set in and he is very poorly in hospital. Apparently he could lose his leg.

A good win at Walsham and even better a clean sheet! The goals against column in the ECL does not make good reading unless you are a Leiston fan. You can score as many goals as you like, but in general the teams that keep the most clean sheets win trophies.
Managed to get to Stanway for the Vase tie. A very good game on a surprisingly good playing surface. The game got better as it went on with both teams really going for it in the last quarter, but Stanway deserved the win. Shoreham were a good advert for the Sussex League, hardworking, neat and tidy playing to feet, but no player with any real pace or physical presence.
There are similarities between the Rovers and the Jam makers. Both are capable of some superb football, but suffer from sloppy finishing and poor quality of ball from the defence. The big difference is that the Rovers have a stronger team ethos, although man for man the Jam makers have better players - Callender, Newson and Harrop part that is. When things go wrong there is no sulking, shouting or other histrionics, they just get on with it.
Best player on the pitch - Callender playing at centre forward in RobThorne's absence with Harrop coming very close. A big loss to Tiptree those two. Rovers may have unearthed a gem in their new signing Jamie Wright. A young leggy wide midfielder with a superb touch. Once he gets to grip with the physical side of the game he will need very close watching.

Todays Results: (Saturday 6th December '08)

Ridgeons Premier:
Walsham-le-Willows 0 - 2 Tiptree United

Essex Saturday Cup
Sungate 4 - 3 Tiptree United Res

Ant, Refer to your post of the 14th Nov, how did the Goonies youth team get on at Burnley? Still, I suppose it saved them from another whacking at WHL mate!!
Best wishes to all the Jammies, hope to be over there before the xmas break so I can settle up with Mr Buckby Snr!!

Good luck at the weekend boys.

Update: Tonights game has been called off due to frozen pitch.

Pitch Inspection Update: The Referee has had a look at the pitch and is having another look at 5:45 before making a final decision.

Further update on the pitch inspection:

5.00pm - The Match Officials has declared the pitch playable
A further inspection is taking place at 6.00pm

4.00pm Wednesday, 3rd December '08

Because of the freezing conditions a pitch inspection has been arranged for 5.00pm tonight to determine whether the Premier League game against Felixstowe & Walton Utd can go ahead as planned.
The pitch hasn't recoverd fully from last nights frost and has now started to freeze again and therefore the match must be considered as doubtful.

Further news once the Match Official has made his inspection

Wednesday, 3rd December '08

Tonights U18's match at Wivenhoe Town has been postponed due to the pitch being unfit and frozen