The Bootiful Game Issue 2 The Bootiful Game Issue 2 | Page 33

AFC Emley manager Darren
Hepworth believes clubs,
including his own, who are
affected by cricket should be
forced to play at home on a
Friday or Sunday in the first
month of the season.
Emley have yet to play a
Saturday league game and they
are without a weekend fixture for
the third week running tomorrow.
Their first Saturday home game
is on October 8th.
Because the volume of clubs who
share their facilities with cricket is
more than normal, the Division
One schedule was difficult to
produce. But Hepworth believes
a solution needs to be found.
Hepworth told Non League Yorkshire: “It
feels like we are in a midweek league and it
is so difficult not having a game on a
Saturday.
“It is something we are going to have to fix,
certainly for next season. I know it is not
helped here because of the cricket which
takes priority, but surely we can play either
away or on a Friday or Sunday.”
It has been like the night of the long knives,
without any sackings, as Karl Rose (Frickley
Athletic), Brian Johnston (Armthorpe
Welfare), Lee Ashforth (Harrogate Railway)
and Graham Nicholas (Nostell Miners
Welfare) have all quit their posts.
“There is so much that comes down from
the top of the game to grassroots like the
boots players wear, the behaviour that you
see and I think the high expectation levels
come down too,” Hepworth said.
“We have got to work around it. Granted we
were due to play Brigg until they got through
“The expectation at grassroots level to win
in the FA Cup on one of the three
things is in some cases unrealistic.
Saturdays, but it is making it hard for the
Managers at this level literally do work
team and the club.”
seven days a week, when it is meant to be a
hobby.”
“We have been training on a Saturday, but
everyone wants to play. We’ve all been at
work all week and we want to play.
“I do have a lot of sympathy for the league
because of the volume of clubs affected by
cricket. But I think the league and
secretaries need to sit down and if Saturday
afternoons aren’t an option then they should
insist that clubs play on a Friday night or
Sunday afternoon.”
Hepworth also admitted that he has been
shocked by the number of manager
departures in the past two weeks.
“There is so much pressure put on
managers and coaches and it doesn’t
surprise me that we have seen managers
walking away. The level of stress that goes
with the job is probably more than it is for a
day-job.
“I have a lot of friends in the game and it is
tough to see some of them not getting
recognition for it or seeing them forced to
walk away.”
Issue 02 @TheBootifulGame 33