Cats vs Suns OFF
Using both fields to spread the damage was a great idea until both of them turned into massive water slides
Cats vs Suns OFF
Using both fields to spread the damage was a great idea until both of them turned into massive water slides
This is actually incorrect. Several weeks ago we sent an email to the Newcastle Football outlining our plan to get all our games played before 28/08, which included two double header weekends, Westlakes on 21/08 and Swansea on 28/08. We f***ing begged NF to support our proposal in the email even though it would have seen us play matches on 16/08, 20/08, 21/08, 24/08, 27/08, and 28/08. We were happy to take on this hectic schedule in order to ensure that games were played and the finals series would be unaffected. We stated that we didn’t want to be at the mercy of more inclement weather. However NF didn’t support us in this.
Westlakes refused to play on 21/08 despite them having no game that weekend and despite being given plenty of notice, due to “not being able to field teams on a Sunday” and they were backed by NF and Macquarie. We proposed another date to which Westlakes refused and then NF plus Macquarie made us chose a date proposed by Westlakes.
If NF had supported our initial proposal we would have had all our games completed by last Sunday, however they didn’t, and here we are. But please don’t blame us for everything when you have absolutely zero clue regarding what has been going on behind the scenes.
Last edited by HAFC_ZL; 03-09-2022 at 11:29 AM.
So Azzurri V Westlakes off today
What happens now?
Is it all going to be draws ?
I take back my comment and appologize. Newcastle Football should of said to Westlakes. Play on the 21st or you forfeit. It’s not a Sat only comp so if you can’t field a team then stiff s$&t. So in fact the team coming ninth is the reason that the semis are 1 leg now. That makes that desicion even worse.
Not wanting to turn this into a mud slinging match but just want to provide some context from Westlakes side of things.
- we advised early on that the 21/8 wasn’t suitable for us and tried to work with Azzurri on alternate dates so that at-least 2 games could get on at a minimum. I believe (not 100% sure) we offered dates prior to the 21/8 as a solution as well
- we offered our venue as a solution to assist with field options to get the games played
To say we simply refused to play and suggest we didn’t attempt to assist in getting the games played isn’t quite right. I empathise with Azzurri and the position they’re in and its good that they have been so pro active to try and sort their games out but you can’t suggest that we are solely at fault for the circumstances at play now.
#Make3rdsGreatAgain
So how does this work?
We have azzuri awaiting a result between Cardiff 3rds and mayfield? If this cannot be played will they dispute the draw as it rules them out of finals. Same can be said about first grade, Cardiff do suns a favor by beating mayfield? If this is a draw azzuri are out.
If these games aren’t played before Saturday you have to feel for those that don’t get a final crack at finals..
Anyone like to elaborate ?
Well considering half of the facility was paid for using various government funding not to mention about $140 of each zone players registration fee goes towards NNSW Football I’d say we aren’t ‘too good’ for that place at all and have a pretty strong case to make use of it.
Mate the negotiations regarding the 21/08 were dragged out for days. No prior date was offered cause as is seen by our schedule, we had no prior dates available. The 21/08 was our only available date, and you got the luxury of a weekend off, period.
Field was only offered after the fact and I can prove that mate. The field was offered for a fixture previously, however hours after that was negotiated and agreed upon, Westlakes pres then messaged us to sort out hire fee of the faculty, not previously mentioned in any negotiation.
Every other club that we have dealt with this season with regards to washouts (Suns, Cardiff especially, Swansea, Cooks Hill) have been so flexible and easy to deal with, however Westlakes unfortunately have been extremely reluctant and difficult.
I will say this though, the association allow this to happen. So much negotiating power rests with the away team. To be honest as frustrated as I am how everything has panned out, I don’t even blame Westlakes for trying to get the best solution for their club. The association just don’t want to make tough decisions with regards to reschedules.
Last edited by HAFC_ZL; 04-09-2022 at 05:02 PM.
This seems like a good solution in theory but isn’t possible. There is only room for 4 games to be played there per night (6pm and 8pm kick off on both fields), realistically the games can’t be played on Friday with finals starting Saturday so that leaves 16 spots for games to be played.
I’m guessing all Northern League 1 semi finals (18s, Ressies and 1st) were called off this weekend and will be played there this week so that takes up 6 of the spots.
I’m sure there would be NPL games that were called off this weekend that have a bearing on finals so they would likely be prioritised.
Long story short the synthetic pitches are only able to host a fraction of the games that are needed to be played in the next week across all competitions.