Secretary's Report 2004/05

Fixtures, Southwark Park, Kickoff Times, Cancellations

Despite a number of difficulties, the London Legal League progressed more or less smoothly to a finish, with a total of 270 league fixtures and 51 cup fixtures, of which 36 fixtures were walkovers. League titles were won by KPMG, Stephenson Harwood and Herbert Smith, whilst the Challenge, Weavers and Invitation Cups were won by KPMG, Grays Inn and Baker & McKenzie respectively.

The two biggest issues of the season were Southwark Park and kickoff times, both of which caused serious inconvenience, and neither of which was under our control.

During the season, the surface at Southwark Park, long identified as “needing replacing” deteriorated from “poor” to “dodgy” to “near unplayable”. Had the league had the option of playing somewhere else we would have done so, but unfortunately the choice that faced us was using Southwark, or not completing the league season. Putting pressure on Southwark was pretty much impossible, as their attitude was “if you don’t want it, someone else will”, and sadly they are right – we even tried to enlist the support of Millwall FC, without much success. Thanks should go to the clubs for their patience and understanding with this.

Kickoff times are a perennial gripe, and something that clubs simply have to accept as part of the league. Many clubs seem to have a bogey kickoff/location, but these are variable. Some object to a 7pm KO anywhere, some only 7pm at Walthamstow. Some object to 8.30pm at Walthamstow, one complaining email even quibbled about 7pm and 8.30pm KO’s at the same time. The simple facts are that we don’t have an ideal world – London, as with the rest of the UK, has a chronic shortage of grass roots facilities, and we have to take what we can get. Generally we try and get a 7pm to 10pm slot, as this enables us to have two games within that time-frame, which is more cost-effective, and makes finding referees easier. But it does mean that two teams will have to be there for a 7pm kickoff, and two teams won’t be leaving until 10pm. The bottom line is that if this is unacceptable to clubs, then they shouldn’t enter.

Within those constraints, Iain Wagstaff did a superb job of arranging and balancing the fixtures, particularly given he started the season as a rookie. Some of the councils are not the easiest to deal with, and with the Southwark issue throwing a spanner in the works as well, his job was far from easy, but he navigated the waters superbly.

Clubs do need to make a decision about what level of cancellations are acceptable. Clearly this is a “works league”, so work does need to take precedence, but it should be remembered that of the 36 fixtures cancelled, only ten clubs were perpetrators, with twenty clubs never cancelling a single game. Perhaps some clubs need to carry bigger squads (Linklaters tell me they often have 16-18 players on the morning of the game, and they cut things down only in the afternoon) or perhaps be prepared to turn up with less than eleven players. Probably one of the best games of the season (KPMG 1 Watsons 1) was played as ten-a-side, and KPMG played the first twenty minutes with only eight. Whilst I understand that clubs have selection and availability issues, I suspect that all too often “we’ve only got nine, it’s not worth bothering” kicks into place – is that fair on the other clubs?

Regretfully both Eversheds and Hammonds have confirmed that they will not be continuing in the London Legal League for the 2005-06 season, both having struggled to field sides during the season. We hope to see them both return in the future.

Referees

Most of the fixture issues are mirrored for referees – when games are regularly called off it’s harder to retain referees, particularly if they only get last minute notice. Derrick Coe did a good job in supplying officials, but often found himself a victim of fixtures shifting around, as well as referees getting caught out with work commitments (remember they have just the same job issues). Next season John Harkin will take over as Referees Secretary, and he may well have to focus on the last minute adjustments which seem to be more and more of an occupational hazard nowadays.

Clubs should remember how well served we are by our referees – in most AFA football you’ll never see a linesman, and most Saturday clubs have to provide half of their referees themselves – the London Legal League is incredibly lucky and well served by its officials, and thanks should go to “the old bloke”, the “young bloke”, the “one with the glasses”, “the bloke with a beard”, “the French guy”, “the un-named Welshman”, “the Rodney Marsh lookalike” and the “Scottish blokes”, as well as the guests – Richard Blakey (Yorkshire CCC and England), Alan McNish (McLaren test driver), John McGovern (who captained Nottingham Forest to the European Cup) all were reported as officiating in the London Legal League this season, as indeed did a M. Poirot.

League Officials

One of the most positive aspects of the season was that we started to be able to get active club officers involved in the running of the league. This was led by Iain Wagstaff, who still runs Linklaters as well as serving on the league as Fixture Secretary, but it was also useful to be able to at least lean on the likes of Greg Smith (KPMG), Alex Heaton (Richards Butler) and Paul Frost (Slaughters) for advice (usually about Southwark Park!).

It should be remembered, both by clubs and officers that this is your league, and the bottom line is that it’s there for you, to be run by you. Thanks should go to the likes of Ian Ramsay, Mark Brailsford and Steve Reilly for their efforts in recent seasons, but none of them were active in the league, and for any league to function successfully the clubs have to provide officers, and it’s much more successful if officers are active in the league. If we get it right, then it should be possible for the league to run without too much of a time requirement on any individual officer, but it does require input from clubs.

In my opinion, this issue was illustrated perfectly by the episode of “Pegasus and the sponsor”. I got the distinct impression that a number of clubs (albeit, a minority) felt isolated from the league committee and this is not healthy for the league – clubs ought to have confidence and trust in the league committee, who are elected simply to make decisions on behalf of the clubs. Equally, clubs need to be aware of the correct processes and procedures, without which chaos ensues.

Whilst encouraging clubs to provide new officers I’m not saying that experience isn’t valuable, because it is, but there needs to be a balance, and the league is so much healthier if some of the decision makers are people who are out there running around on a Monday night.

For 2005-06 I hope we’ll be able to reintroduce a Registration Secretary for each division – the object is not to create a huge amount of extra work for people, but it is hoped it’ll help ensure the league is run the way clubs want it to be as well as getting a few more people at the coal-face involved. Steve Wallace and Chris Brayford have both indicated they are prepared to stand (and haven’t withdrawn their offers yet!!) and a third volunteer would be welcome.

For 2004-05 the league also took the radical step of paying Honorariums to the key officials – an acknowledgement of the difficulty in the modern world to find people to do these jobs. On the one hand it can be seen as a pity that “complete volunteers” can no longer be found, on the other it’s simply moving with the times and ensuring the continuation of the league.

R epresentative Team

The Representative Side played two games during the season, losing both. It is probably the most thankless task in the league, with Neil Gillard having all of the same problems any team manager has (getting people out for evening kickoffs) with a relatively small pool of players. One of the things we hope to do in future seasons is get more players from more clubs involved, but this does require that clubs put them forward (which isn’t always common) and then also that players get “scouted” (which isn’t easy). It’s not an exact science by any means.

Neil steps down at this AGM after a number of years sterling service, and Luke Mines (Linklaters) will take over the reins. Our thanks to Neil for all of his efforts, and hopefully for a few more as a player.

New Grounds

We are always on the lookout for new grounds, but clubs need to be aware these are not easy to come by. London has such a scarcity of Astroturf facilities that many are booked well in advance, and have standing bookings that go back decades (literally). Equally we are at a disadvantage because we do not wish to book pitches 52 weeks of the year.

Wapping, Leyton, Battersea (a bit of a trek, and 6.30pm is a real pain) and Mile End (whose changing rooms are almost rebuilt) are likely to remain staples of the League circuit, as will Walthamstow (again a bit of trek). We are hoping to get more permits at HSBC Beckenham, which whilst being a distance to go, is close to a station and easily accessible from London Bridge.

Southwark Park remains TBC – the only gripe about it is the pitch, otherwise it’s easily accessible. If it’s relaid, it’ll probably jump back to the top of our popularity list, if it isn’t then we won’t use it. At the moment the latter looks more likely.

Pitches such as Market Road, Islington and Paddington Rec., Maida Vale, remain on our wish list, but these are incredibly hard to book – London Councils don’t jump just because the London Legal League comes calling (sadly). We are also looking at a facility being planned at North Greenwich, and possibly one at White City as well, but until these are completed, we can’t be sure what’s on offer.

I keep trotting it off, but until someone persuades the Corporation of London to build a double Astroturf in Finsbury Square, so we can have 7pm and 8.30pm kickoffs in the middle of the City of London, we’re always going to have to make the best of what we can get!

Finances

At the end of the 2004-05 season the League’s finances are in a rude state of health, with over £10,000 in the bank. At the AGM clubs will need to decide whether a reduction in subscriptions (£1500 for season 2004-05) are in order, though we should still retain the financial muscle to be able to “block book up front” any new facilities that might become available.

Our thanks should go to John Wilson, who took over as Treasurer this year, and aided by some rigorous application of fines by yours truly has helped to ensure the finances are in such a healthy position.

Danny McConnell (May 2005)