VictorandJack

Nothing ventured nothing gained but I think Celtic may argue that one? I think what most people were surprised at was not necessarily the result but the players who "could play" if they fully backed YFC. We are told of some who would start before those who did but "chose not to be there". One or two decent players can totally change a game of football. If this is definatley not the case then the boys who played against Unst will have to STRUGGLE on. Not much fun!! I apalogise for my crap english...

Did anyone see the Burra v Ness game? Sounds like a close match but were both sides missing players?

I understand your frustration Spencey7 but Yell have exactly the same problem as other teams. University, injuries and work commitments. Celtic had Paul Regan playing as a sub against Delting due to lack of students. We all understand the problem of work commitments but some players are working around it when possible. Injuries are the biggest problem as that cannot be solved readily. Steven Coutts (abroad on holiday) Lee Jamieson (at university) Michael Nisbet (at university) Arnold Brown (work commitments) Wayne Odie (at university) Alan Keith (work commitments) Jason Jamieson (badminton commitments) What I was getting at was the above players need to make as much effort to support YFC or bad results are inevitable. With these players and the best Juniors who did not play against Unst surely Yell CAN do OK. The students will be coming home I assume but in the meantime Yell need to get all the best available players to put in a shift and not hide.

I think Yell did well to keep the score against Whitedale down to 6-0. Many sides, including Unst, will concede heavily to Whitedale. I have however heard Whitedale didn't have a full team out which would have helped. As for zero players missing for Unst thats not true and Unst did try to limit the score by taking of the best players etc. Ian Johnston, Ben Johnston and Jamie MacAuley were missing who all may well have started not to mention any possible additions to the squad. What I meant Spencey7 was that we had a decent starting eleven. But Yell definately need to get as many of their better players (as listed by spencey7) to play otherwise I can see a terrible season for them topped by not fulfilling all the fixtures. According to Spencey7 this may well happen which can only be beneficial to everyone as NOBODY wants to travel to a game which isn't a fair fight.

Whalsay losing to Spurs is a big shock. Maybe results this season will vary a lot due to players being missing at various times. The only team that we hear no negatives about are Delting. Buisness as usual it appears.

Well, the long awaited opening to the season has provided a shock result but unfortunatley for Yell it was buisness as usual. What is going on with the young Yell players? Why did they not turn up for the first match? What does this mean for Yell this season? I saw the the Unst v Yell match. All credit to the Yell players who turned up....but....it was terrible. They would struggle to beat any U16 side in Shetland never mind seniors. The conditions were not great and Unst substituted Paul Henderson and Erik Thompson to keep the score down. It really could have been twenty had Unst not taken it easy in the second half and given the subs a run out. Unst did not play brilliantly but considering it was the first competitive match of the season and the standard of the opposition unst can be satisfied. However, this type of scoreline may be a regular occurence for both sides this season if they are not at full strength. As for Northern Rovers, the Yell players won't turn out for YELL never mind a combined team. Seriously....forget it...until Yell have a squad of players who want to play and an organised Football club. SHAMBLES!!!!!!

"It's got nothing to do with being "good enough". It's about keeping two sustainable sides, and making football accessible to as many people as possible in Unst and Yell." Very good point Spencey7 BUT you fail to recognise the organisational problems and logistics involved especially in running the Unst team. Two Northern Rovers teams may be possible in the future but NOT as long as the Unst players (of all standards) want to continue the recent successes they have managed. Unst have used over 30 players to win the B-League before. The point here is not the winning but the inclusion of so many of differing standards. Yell and Unst sides in the B-League using all the players available to them includes more people in football. Unfortunatley our hands have been forced and if many in the SFA get their way we will not be permitted to play just B's again. Unst may well want to stay in the A-league next year but that should be a decision for all the players etc to make at the UFA AGM. Equally, if Yell want to drop down again, they should be allowed. As for training for N.Rovers, logistical nightmare and highly unlikley to happen. People do have other things to do except play football!! Oh and well done to Baxter and all that, Baxterisation is Best!!!!

Spencey7, this forum has been a great source of humour and wind ups for the last few months. Lets not get grumpy prior to kick off. Us Neds can't write any better, sorry. Firstly, I think Unst v Yell is likely to be a hard fought match with very little good football, Unst are always poor in their first couple of games. Yell will battle hard but I doubt if they will score unless for a howler by Unst defencively......which unfortunatley is very possible. I expect Unst to win but by how much?????? Looking at the bigger picture I expect Delting and Whalsay to lead the way closely followed by a strong whitedale. Unst, Yell, Burra and Ness will take a few hidings when players are missing but with a full squad could come up with a few shocks. Lets not kid ourselves wheesht etc, everyone in the A league is not the long term solution but credit to those clubs who have stepped up for the season and lets hope the SFA and A league clubs LISTEN to the concerns of Unst, Yell, Burra, Ness and show some appreciation as THEY are the ONLY clubs to make an effort in the new set-up. Unfortunatley, I won't hold my breathe.....

I heard Unst played Burra in a freindly tonight in Brae. Unst won 11-5 eventually after some "show boating" by both sides. Burra only managed to get 9 players for the game but hopefully they will have a few players back soon. Both teams will be similar standard this year but Burra can get a boost from players like Stuart Clubb and Ian Irvine. Unfortunately for Unst it appears the distances involved etc etc have prevented some decent signings and even those who were willing to sign have been prevented by their current clubs. The season hasn't kicked off but it is already apparent that some clubs may struggle for numbers due to the "all in top division" set up. A significant number of players have joined the works league (some very good players) and mutterings of discontent from have been heard from several sides. Lets see what happens and hear suggestions AT THE SFA MEETINGS towards the end of this season which include the best interests of all clubs (NOT MERGED CLUBS) and players of ALL standards. Oh and Baxter, can I join your fan club? Baxter Baxter Baxter!!!!!

I beleive Unst were not bothering with the Highland Fuels as the season is probably long enough already for a small squad like Unst. Injuries before the season kicks off is the last thing they need. If the players who were hoped to sign for Unst had done so they may have been able to but it looks as though the so called bigger clubs have not supplied Unst or Yell with additional players as hoped at the AGM. This does not surprise me in the slightest as many things said at the meetings by some reps were "questionable". Could be a long season for Unst and Yell. By the way, N.Rovers would not have cured the problem either!!!

Take it easy Catanmoose, stick the dummy in again. Getting upset in public isna nice. You are obviously getting worried that the "whipping boyz" MAY not be so bad afterall. Do you play for a "middle of the road" side who assumed Unst would be a guaranteed 6 points? They may well get stuffed several times this season but I am sure someone will be emabarrassed. It could be you? Baxter, you seem to have wound them up again..

Its true......THE TROALIE IS BACK WITH AVENGANCE!!!! I have it on good authority that he is getting the boots on again. I'm sure he'll draw in the crowds as he's done in past years. Unst appear to have put together a decent team which might cause a few upsets through the season. If they have their best team out they could be a match for anyone. Looking at pre-season freindlies and expectations of clubs it looks as if it might be very close between the "also rans". They will all be capable of taking points of each other. With so many matches for U18's injuries may play a big part.

Baxter, sharpen up your inflatable axe to avoid "bluntness". I am not surprised to hear of a successful UnstFC fundraiser. They are well organised and are supported magnificently by the general public who understand what it is to have a community football team. If those who want Northern Rovers were to attend these fundraisers they may realise why Rovers is not the way forward for now. Perhaps they are scared someone pins a tail on them! As for pitches, I heard that the Unst pitch is expected to be playable for the first game of the season.

Lottery funding for a new Astropitch looks less likely with this weeks national news where they will be redirecting funding for sports in Scotland to the Olympic Bid. Where it may have been a gimme I doubt it now. And the Lottery would not fund this project in its entirety anyway so where would the rest come from? The cost cutting SIC who have a Cinema to pay for? Maybe the Southern League teams could get the cash together. £250,000 each, teas in the halls and an auction might do the trick? It would certainly amount to more than the Lerwick Clubs would contribute? But, Lerwick is obviously entitled to SIC backing??????

I hope your right Commodore. But I know that out of last years Refs two A-League Refs may not being doing any matches this year as one is Yell manager and one is recovering from a badly broken ankle. Robbie Summers also has retired. I know not all the new Refs are comftable with taking charge of A-League games with some preferring to do juniors, B-League and Works League only. It has been the case that not all Refs have done A-league matches in the past and Refs have failed to turn up to matches without getting a replacement. Their is no point getting "heavy handed" with Refs who we all NEED. If anyone has attended a Refs association meeting they will know????

Commodore, read the news headlines on this site. I think they should up the council tax for those who live in Lerwick to pay for it???

I assume your paying Commodore?

The all weather pitch may happen but who is going to pay for it? The Council is cutting costs and is struggling to afford the Cinema/Music Venue (in Lerwick), the SFA struggles to raise enough money to run annually and the Lottery Fund is being redirected into the Olympic Bid as they are 5 Billion in the red. An all weather pitch would be an asset as this season may prove but there is one in Brae, one in Whalsay and one in Unst although closed at the moment. It does you Lerwick "Hermits" good to get out now and again. I'm sure the nose bleeds you get when going out the North or South Roads will stop if you want them to?

I think your right Boris! Has the referees association met lately? How do the Refs feel about the new policy of rearranging the matches they do themselves, rather than through the fixtures secretary? What will happen if a qualified referee cannot/will not attend a match in Unst. Will the game be abandoned? Can ANother fill-in in an emergency? I believe not as it caused a lot of contraversy last year with Scalloway who agreed to play with a non qualified ref who turned out to be the Unst Manager. Unfortunatley Unst ended up winning causing obvious discontent which should not be repeated. If matches, especially involving Unst, are postponed their is little slack for rearranged games. I can see this being a major problem but maybe the Refs out there may disagree?

I did not mean to imply that Unst could pull out of the Parish Cup, afterall, it is the most prestigious Cup comp in Shetland. Unst's number one will have to come up with a solution for the younger players having to play too many matches while the U18's season is ongoing. Maybe give the second string players a guarantee of a run out in the cups? (might be cricket scores) I beleive the points Boris mentions were discussed at the EGM, too many teams in A-League, not enough A league players and the biggest problem of fixture scheduling an 11 team league and 4 Cups in Shetland. The attendees were made aware of the problem but I don't think anyone but the Fixtures Secretary at the time really appreciated the concequences. Postponements due to poor pitches, poor weather or bereavements etc could seriously jeopordise the season. As for referees, who knows?

It is approx one month till the season should kick-off, most pitches in Shetland are VERY wet and it is snowing outside. I fear Unst v Yell ( and other matches) will be postponed and the fixture congestion saga will begin. The fixture schedule leaves little to no room for Parish Cup Senior and U21's ties and considering many teams are playing a number of U18's, who will be playing weekly, one team clubs are going to find it difficult. All Cup matches are sheduled midweek which will cause difficulties especially if Unst are drawn at home. The association will need to be clear on how this scenario will pan out bearing in mind the promises made. Unst dropping out of a Cup comp may be a solution??

Ok, back to the topic again. Do all A league teams have managers? Does anyone have any issues with this seasons fixtures now they have been issued?

Spencey7, You are right the Hilltop renovations have made all the difference. The decor, the cool guiness and the Who Wants to be a Millionaire machine are excellent. Just a shame "Brewster" kept telling us the wrong answers.

Everyone is an Aberdeen fan really, some are just too stupid to realise it! I'm away to join the Baxter self appreciation society..........Baxter.....Baxter.....VictorandJack....VictorandJack....

You sound very down hearted Spence7. I "fear" Baxter may have worn you down to submission. I don't want anyone, including Yell, to fail to fulfill their fixtures. My heart is warm enough thanks very much. I was merely making an observation which has also been made by other clubs. Unst and Ness may take a few beatings this season but I have hope that they may complete the season to a reasonable standard. I think Parish Cup sides may find it difficult to play both Senior and U21's as their are too many fixtures. If we actually win a Cup game it will be worse. The U18's will have to play 3 games a week early season if the smaller clubs are going to compete. Or play poorer sides and leave them out. Its a dilema for managers but talented youngsters are no use injured.