Friday Freebie: The Games Come Thick And Fast

Budgeting times for all, rest time for all, not much space for either

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We’re at the end of the first month of the season and it seems a mixture of busy times but some meandering as well. Casting your mind back the season actually kicked off in July for those at the very bottom of the pyramid in the National Game System and for others it’s only just coming up to a third completed week of action.

The transfer window up above the non-league game also closes today, no doubt there will be a flurry of activity going about, bids being knocked back and others accepted with players desperate to move and ply their trade higher up.

The football calendar as we know is almost at breaking point not just for players but for spectators as well. There is a common thought that the players we watch underneath National League level get the raw deal.

Whilst the elite players complete less league games there is much further travel for cup and international games. The argument comes back that they are paid handsomely for their job, and indeed they are, but money doesn’t fix an injury any better or any quicker.

It is why the PFA in some countries including ours are now saying enough is enough. No player at any level is a robot. Some may heal quicker than others and return to action whilst team mates are kicking their heels on the sidelines, that’s just natural.

The problem is money, and everyone wants more than just a slice of the pie, greed at the expense of players who I feel are now viewed as commodities rather than human beings, evident in clubs selling youth players just to meet PSR(Profit and Sustainability Rules) instead of them moving on for the greater good.

Non-league players have seen the amount of league games to play creep up slowly over the last few years. A player at Step 3 and 4 now plays 42 league games and factoring in a round of each cup competition that figure is nearer 50 without any progress.

We all know players prefer playing to training, but the added cost of 90 minutes intense football at today’s pace versus two hours of set pieces, recovery or patterns of play to develop is of course much different.

And these players head off to a day job which in a lot of cases is manual rather than behind a desk, granted it keeps the fitness levels up mind you!

But it’s not just players here, we have volunteers having to put even more time into a club and when you think about it, there is no consultation period for them, players, supporters or clubs, the people it actually affects?

Mind you the same happens higher up because they know the answer in 99% of the cases would be a big fat NO! Maybe this involvement of the PFA will work and bring ramifications into the game of more communication and consulting with all stakeholders?

Last weekend there was a lot of talk on social media on smaller than expected crowds over the Bank Holiday weekend. August is always a time when the school holidays and going away are number one for most, family days, hitting the beach etc.

And with the weather being so hit and miss this year it wouldn’t surprise me if people took a few more days to make the most of it.

However, the biggest issue I’ve felt this month is the amount of games being crammed in and the lack of money in people’s budget. It’s easily forgotten that the squeeze on people’s finances comes at a price for things deemed a luxury.

Football can be that for some and while others will prioritise it comes first not all can make that same decision. By the time the last day of the month rocks up on Saturday I will have watched 13 games. Granted I do write for a living and have sponsorship to cover my expenses it’s still a fair amount of matches to see and cost out for those without that luxury.

People do have to pick and choose in the current climate, it’s not ideal I bet for many but that is the state of play. It’s a fine balancing act to set sensible admission fees to encourage people to attend as often as possible because they see it as affordable. At the same time clubs can’t afford to undercook it as there are bills to pay left, right and centre and in a huge amount of cases clubs within a few miles radius.

Of course a winning team always adds a few more onto the gate but not every club can be in that situation.

Having had a peek at September fixtures there is no rest there, especially if sides pick up some cup progress, with back to school in full force it might bring more stability to attendance figures, for me there is always plenty to choose from and watch.

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