Arundel muscle into title race County 1 Round Up

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Arundel and Redhill both won to improve their prospects of winning the closest title race in years.
Pagham missed the chance to go back to the top after they lost 4-0 at home to Selsey to leave the top six separated by just four points.

No 27 RFC WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

The easiest thing in football terms is to pass comment or write a newsletter on the back of a win. Unfortunately that’s not a luxury I’ve had for the last four successive games - getting no points from 12.

I think Whitehawk will have a big say in who wins the County league and the win against us yesterday proves their intention to climb the table and aim for Ryman football. Someone said to me yesterday that their weekly budget on players is guessed at around the 800 quid mark with the fella Gatting (the 9 yesterday) on an alleged 300 quid a week. Before I take in 2 dozen e mails from Whitehawk, let me say I’m not stating this as fact but merely conjecture. If its true, they are serious in their desire to win the County league. I would guess that would match the weekly wage bill Ringmer had in their centenary year when thousands upon thousands of pounds was spent on players wages by the directors’ in their efforts to gain promotion to the prestigious Isthmian League. Despite that cost to the club, Ringmer, as well might Whitehawk, failed.

On the game front we lost Aaron Last to a tackle from Whitehawks number 8 from which Lasty was fortunate not to have his leg broken. Now I never go on about ref’s but this fella got it wrong when he let this vicious tackle go unpunished. At our game yesterday there must have been 6 refs all watching and I wouldn’t mind hearing their view on it. But I’m not saying we lost the game through it - Jayson Sowter came on and did a great job as centre back - we lost the game through a few reasons. Our strikers are going through a lean spell currently and we have to be a bit patient. We have 4 or 5 great strikers at the club and we’ll be trying different formations to ensure we start scoring. Our midfield wasn’t great either to be fair and against Eastbourne United we intend to field an aggressive formation to take on the side who have lost only three times this term. One of those times was to us of course.

Looking back over the 28 points we’ve won this season lets recognise some things together. We have a playing budget that’s about 250 quid a week. We don’t get any help from Ringmer FC Limited (in administration). They didn’t do the kit for the first team or reserves. No support was given or offered from directors’ or the limited company when we bought the new tracksuits. We don’t pay wages, we pay expenses only. We don’t have any big time Charlies or prima donnas either - we have kids playing county football - most of which for the first time and most of which are new names to you. These kids got us 28 points in the first few months and they didn’t become a bad bunch overnight. Lets all have a bit of faith in me, Steve and the players and get a win under our belts and our attitude right and we’ll be just fine. Remember, form is temporary, class is permanent and we have a lot of class in our squad that’s just a bit short of self-confidence. Lets encourage these fellas and when they come off at half time or at full time lets give them plenty of encouragement.

So Eastbourne United for the front side next Saturday and Arundel away for the reserves. Both games 3pm ko. At the time of writing, I’m not sure whether we have the Falmer facility on Tuesday night for the reserves so training may or may not be on. Deb will text you to let you know if its on. The front side have a friendly against Mile Oak at the club on Tuesday night weather and frost permitting. Deb will text details.

Finally, Happy New Year to you all from the football management, players and support staff who help make football happen every week at Ringmer Football Club.

County League: Ringmer boss is generous in defeat

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By Bruce Talbot - The Argus Newspaper

EVEN beaten Ringmer boss Bob Munnery helped fund the celebrations after Pagham went back to the top of the first division.
Munney contributed £20 to the Pagham players’ Christmas party after his side had lost 2-0 at Nyetimber Lane.

No 26 RFC WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

First of all I’d like to wish everyone who hasn’t got their own little secret agenda or a blind ambition to kill Ringmer Football Club, a very Happy Christmas. I’d like to think that means the majority of you reading this.

There are bigger things going on at Ringmer than the results of either our reserves or first team but I’ve no intention of hiding our results or performances behind these sickening issues when I refer to the away defeat at Pagham. I’ve already said I like Pagham - Gary Block’s programme notes indicate that their club is close to being insolvent and I really feel for them, after all, they have no pitch to argue over. But they weren’t better than us on the day. However, we didn’t do enough to win on the day. In the first half - playing 4-3-3 for the first time in a league game, our fluency was absent (as it has been for several games) and we looked stale and impotent. Despite playing three aggressive strikers we managed one shot on goal. At 0-0 half time came and went and two mistakes later and the game was lost. No excuses, especially from me and Steve, I don’t care what anyone says, on paper we have the most exciting and positive squad in the Sussex County League but currently it aint happening on the pitch. Lets hope the problems are managerial and not the players as it’ll be easy to fix the management issues as its two people - me and Steve - and if it’s a player thing its 17 players and potentially 17 problems. At 28 points won and having beaten Shoreham, East Preston, Sidley, Worthing United, Wick, Hassocks, East Grinstead, Pagham, Oakwood twice and drawing to Lingfield we’ve done ok so far bearing in mind most had us relegated by Christmas.

Lets be clear. With all thats going on - the rows, the secret meetings, changing locks, the putting up of separate post boxes and then taking them down, the taking down of the Ringmer flag (twice) and god only knows what else - I’m amazed we even get onto the pitch. But get on it we do and there’s no other reason for our run of poor results other than we’re playing pretty crap. No excuses, a first team squad meeting on Tuesday will go a long way to re-installing confidence - something we’re certainly short of at the moment. A win against Whitehawk will put a positive slant (on the football at least) for the New Year.

But confidence is something we are not short of with our illustrious reserves. A rollercoaster ride for 90 minutes against the much fancied Eastbourne United Res ran us out winners 3-2. Fantastic result which pulls us 3 points closer to survival in the Res Premier division. Just on that point do the teams being promoted from either the Reserve east or Reserve west need to have floodlights to get into the top county flight? If they do, its worth keeping an eye on that issue too.
If you receive a text from Deb and it refers to a first team squad meeting, its at the Caburn on Tuesday night, 7pm. Dress is optional but you being there aint. 7pm sharp in the changing rooms.
Its gotta be confirmed but the reserves should train on Tuesday night at Falmer, 8-9pm. Geoff to run this one but Deb will text to confirm.

No game over Christmas for the reserves and although there are a few County one games on Boxing Day, we play our holiday fixture on Saturday 27 December, 3pm ko against Whitehawk at home. I really hope to see a lot of you there for the last game of 2008.

What I want at Christmas? 3 points against Whitehawk and whoever took the flag down twice to put it back up please.

No 25 RFC WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

I’m not aware of any County league games played over the weekend so our focus is re-directed to next Saturday’s encounter against Pagham at their place. I like this lot - they’re honest and you have to take them as you find them. The Chairman is Gary Block who, evidently, with his wife, runs the entire set up. He’s the manager, barman and groundsman. So lets reflect upon that when we consider (even in these times) that we have a few people involved and that its not down to one person. Pagham, who have been vying for a top place (on a very limited budget I hear) will meet our side in 5 days.

Last Thursday night we played an Eastbourne Borough 11 that consisted of 4 or 5 of their first team and the rest were under 18s/reserves. The centre back who came on for them was Simon Johnson who is now in the final U18s England squad so we were up against some quality. In the game Joe Mactiffin went off with a suspected busted ankle but fortunately after a scan it turned out to be ligament damage. He’ll be out for a few weeks. Win lose or draw, I never report friendly game scores. It was a good workout and thanks to Paul and Shaun for coming over.

In Saturdays scheduled game against Chichester, we were no less than 6 players out. Med had a family do, Sam Sowter was, well, you’d better ask him about his trip and night out, Simon and Will were doing their level 2, Percy got dragged off to Venice and Pricey had to work. Dave Altendorf went on the missing but re-emerged Saturday morning. Next Saturday we have them all back and available and we have an ex-Ringmer player re-signing for us again this week having played for us last term. Who is he? E mail me at bobmunnery@tiscali.co.uk with your guess or go on the RFC forum and see if you can work it out. Give me the name of the player who scored our first goal in the County League this term and the name of the player signing and win £10 prize. First one in gets it.
Our pitch resembled a picturesque lake at 10am on Saturday when I checked it out for the reserves. I didn’t have to walk it - it was quite apparent that there’d be no activity on that day or on Sunday when Ringmer Rovers U14 side were due to use it. Sorry everyone. Not a chance.

Training is on Tuesday for all. Its an intensive hour 8-9 and is becoming relevant to team selection for the first eleven. Neil has a long standing arrangement on Tuesday which I knew about prior to him taking on the job but I’m hoping that Geoff Mactiffin will be available to be involved to view reserve players training too.

I have received an e mail in from the acting Chairman of Ringmer Football Club Limited regarding Herve King. I have said that Ringmer should be sorting this remembrance game out themselves. I’m pleased to report that Richard Soan has been speaking with Herve’s partner Sarah and a game has started to take shape to be held at the club next February. If this game is organised I can state that irrespective of whether the Limited Company is in Administration or if things have turned even worse for the directors’, the game, once organised, will take place.

I watched Lewes U18s fail in their attempt to get to the next round of the FA Youth Cup against Hull City and I know they’ll be disappointed with the result. I thought they could’ve changed the game and won it had they played their second year substitutes. To be fair, both sides were not particularly great but apart from the most outrageous piece of nepotism I’ve ever seen in youth football when it came to making changes, it was an interesting game. Bad luck Steve and your players.
I read somewhere that Lewes can now be bought for a reported £150,000 which sounds cheap but what exactly do you get for that? If they go into Administration and as they don’t own their pitch, I wonder if anyone will be wanting to sort that out?

We may be having a training game on a third generation pitch on Thursday but you’ll hear about that on Tuesday night. See you there.

No 24 RFC WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

I think our Ringmer Veterans play about once a month or so and on Sunday, knowing they were playing at the Caburn, I went along to watch some of the game. I was amazed at how many players playing I knew - too many too list - but there were a lot. Watching too must have been 30 or 40 spectators come to see the old man run out one more time I guess. To be honest, the football wasn’t great but you could see that some of those players had played at a higher level and the camaraderie between the fellas - from both sides - was great to see. You had all sorts playing in this game - and all enjoyed themselves which is vital when you get over 37 years old which is a pre-requisite of veteran football. I was surprised to see the ex-Lewes manager, Steve King, come out to play right wing in the second half too for Plumpton Vets.

Since we’ve been put into administrative receivership by the directors’ of Ringmer Football Club Ltd, I have been asked by two local papers and one national paper to give a statement regarding my view and as to why I didn’t take a directorship when it was offered to me. Having given it great thought so far I have declined to comment. To be honest, if the FA come back with a 10 point deduction due to this unprecedented action, apart from exploding, expect a statement at that time.
Having spoken to someone at the vets game who is very interested and very much up to speed with how this will end up, I’ve concluded that the future of Ringmer Football Club is safe and secure, irrespective of the damage a 10 point deduction may cause. With this in mind, you’ll soon be seeing the first team squad players wearing new tracksuits. They arrive today and after we have organised the sizes relative to each player, they go back and the initials will be put on each jacket. There are no pre-conditions to the issuing of the Nike tracksuits other than continued involvement with the first team squad. In short, if we see you as a first team squad member, you’ll be issued the tracksuit. If you don’t get one, its easy, get into the squad. By the way, there is no cost involved to neither players or administrators now in control of Ringmer Football Club Limited.

Disappointment is not a word to describe how we feel having thrown away a lead to lose to East Preston on Saturday. Gutted would fit better. The wrong formation perhaps - players not fit enough - thinking we’d won it at 85 minutes - not having Joe Adams, Alex Mikolay, Jo Tubon, Aaron Macmillan or Matt Percival available - be assured of a whiplash next week against Chichester. Sorry to the travelling fans - you made the effort and we didn’t come through - sorry.
I do have to laugh sometimes. At the start of the season they write us off. Then we win a few games and they reckon we’re gonna win the league then lose a few and we’re written off again. Honestly? I prefer it when we’re written off. With all the rowing and politics, lets keep our status in the County league. That’ll be enough to disappoint them trust me.

On Friday night our reserves looked good up till half time against third in the reserve premier league, Arundel. Don’t compare the loss at the end of the game to the run our ressies had last season. Not once did we play a side as high as Arundel and I thought for 45 minutes we were unlucky not to be in front. Bad luck Neil, Geoff and the players. Lets get it on and climb the reserve premier league now.

Steve Ibbotson at Lewes U18s has done a fantastic job getting his players through to the 3rd round of the FA Youth Cup. The next game is against the Premiership 18s side, Hull City and the game is tonight, ko 7-45pm at the Dripping Pan - get down there and get behind these fellas. Best of luck Ibbo and your boys.

Training for ALL squad players is at Falmer on Tuesday night. Then on Thursday night at the club, weather permitting on the Thursday night one.

No 23 RFC WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

With no football on for Ringmer lovers and no loss or draw for the Ringmer haters, we turned our attention to Christmas shopping on Saturday afternoon. Or at least you did if you told yer missus it was off. Not me - Off to Crowborough me mate lol.

Only Pagham were gaining points above us in the rain and we dropped to fourth place as a consequence of not playing (and getting three points) against Wick. I must admit both Steve and I would really have wanted to play this one and, trust me, I was over there forking it at 9 am. To be honest, I had it right at one point and when we came to the decision time just around 10-30 we called it on. Then I went home and during the journey it resembled a scene from a disaster movie with rain hail and all sorts coming down. When I got home I called Ringmer to check if they’d had been affected by the torrential rain and of course they had. Then a re-visit to meet a ref and bing bang bong the game was off. Within five minutes I’d received a call in from Arundel to say they had called theirs off - I bet they didn’t go through the trauma I did….

Training this week for everyone at Falmer 7.30 till 9 pm. On Thursday night for the first team squad we planning a friendly against a Crowborough X1 at Ringmer which is going to be more of a training game for the benefit of players and management. 7.15 on this one.

The next night - Friday - we play our reserve game against Arundel Reserves in the Sussex Intermediate Cup, which was postponed twice - lately last week. As they’ve had two pops at it and it being postponed on both occasions we get a chance to get it on. This is the cup our illustrious reserves got through to the semi-final last term and I’m sure both Ian and Geoff will want to replicate that run. No pressure there then Neil huh? No reason why we cant go one step further and get to the final. 7.15 pm ko on this exciting encounter.

On Saturday our front side make the long journey into East Preston to meet the West Sussex side who have vastly improved since our 6-0 win early in the season. They’ve already taken the scalps of teams that have underestimated their ability to upset teams. So we go there with a full and fit squad with 5 subs who will be busting to get on and do damage.

Writing this on Sunday evening I have just returned - with a lot of other people - from the planned Herve and Oliver King Memorial Game which to be honest took weeks of planning and yeah, cost too. We got there at 1-45 to see a copper on the gate who announced that the game was off. Off. Off?? “Are you mad?” I said to the copper. “They’ve been trying to reach you and its been on the local news…” I’m aware that kids read this Newsletter so I’m not gonna say what I said to Dixon of Dock Green but rest assured it wasn’t “Really mate?”. Detecting my annoyance I was directed to the clubhouse. Within a few seconds I found it was true. They called it off at 1pm but felt that they’d let us come up and have a drink etc.

Lets be clear. Andy Brogan - who sorted all this out with me - was not to blame for the game getting called off - this has to be with Croydon Athletic I’m afraid. Around 3000 people were due to be coming and two hours notice a game is off is not on Croydon. The ref said he’d have played it and from where we were it certainly looked playable.

Ok, we’re not going back to play a game there. We're going to get re-organised and sort out a game at the Caburn very soon. A lot of people have said that Ringmer Football Club should have already sorted a game in memory of Herve and as this has not happened perhaps we can all pull together on this one and actually do this without the animosity and ill feeling that surrounds our club.

In short, lets forget about who owns the pitch. Herve King died on it. Sort it out Ringmer.