fixtures????

alot of teams are being very patient with regards to fixtures being announced other sunday leagues are 4 weeks in advance think maybe need to get it sorted stop people complaining ..i dont understand why i here from stuart and gordon regarding fixtures ..but JAMES SHEPPARD the fixtures secretary is know where to be found

The reason you will hear from Stewart/Gordon and not James is for the simply reason this is the second stage in the process. James will arrange the fixtures & send to Stewart for referee appointments before they are released. If we didn't assign referees first, then it would be Stewart recieving the phone calls.

We are very fortunate as a league to have Gordon involved, as aside from his ref duties he is retired and can dedicate a huge potion of his time to answering people. Most of the time, this falls outside of his oficier duties.

Whilst I appreciate you thinking a lot of teams are being paitent, it is not always the case. James does simply not have the time to be speaking with 50 odd clubs who are trying to contact him and explain everything on an individual basis. Quite often it would be prudent for people to remember, you are chasing for your own clubs interests, James is balancing over 80.

To compare the job he does, compared with other leagues is not a fair comparison based on the pure volume of clubs in the Alliance.

As is quite often the case, and said in a regular basis when queries are raised at this time of year. Things like cup priorities make it almost impossible to release weeks of fixtures in one go. I can see the issues from both sides having been a secretary for many years, James will always do his best to get all the games played he can.

There is a new set of fixtures which I am yet to publish to the web, but these will be up later today.

Web_Manager wrote:

The reason you will hear from Stewart/Gordon and not James is for the simply reason this is the second stage in the process. James will arrange the fixtures & send to Stewart for referee appointments before they are released. If we didn't assign referees first, then it would be Stewart recieving the phone calls.

We are very fortunate as a league to have Gordon involved, as aside from his ref duties he is retired and can dedicate a huge potion of his time to answering people. Most of the time, this falls outside of his oficier duties.

Whilst I appreciate you thinking a lot of teams are being paitent, it is not always the case. James does simply not have the time to be speaking with 50 odd clubs who are trying to contact him and explain everything on an individual basis. Quite often it would be prudent for people to remember, you are chasing for your own clubs interests, James is balancing over 80.

To compare the job he does, compared with other leagues is not a fair comparison based on the pure volume of clubs in the Alliance.

As is quite often the case, and said in a regular basis when queries are raised at this time of year. Things like cup priorities make it almost impossible to release weeks of fixtures in one go. I can see the issues from both sides having been a secretary for many years, James will always do his best to get all the games played he can.

There is a new set of fixtures which I am yet to publish to the web, but these will be up later today.  

Maybe its about time for The Alliance to appoint 2 fixture secretaries to cope with the number of teams then?

I'm not saying it's not a consideration, but when you consider all the variables and issues with having two, it actually becomes a lot more complex.

Having two wouldn't solve some of the issues that exist due to external factors outside the leagues control that hinder the publishing of fixtures.

I'm sure if the league continues expanding, then it maybe discussed again.

Or update your fixture composition processes by using software that is available on the market to do this for you automatically using database references.  

Still wouldn't solve all issues, say for example pitch shares with other leagues that we have no control over.

There are many reasoned arguments of how people view things could be improved, but it's easy looking in from the outside. Actually dedicating time and volunteering is an entirely different thing. I cant advocate our officers highly enough. I think the proof is for all to see, compare the Alliance to the closet rivals. There is simply no contest to who provides the best platform to play football.

The way things are currently done, they have been done for many years. Games are always played, and fixtures fulfilled. You can point to one or two examples per year which show disgruntled, apparently wronged teams. But that, ignores all the things right with the season. The league will always endeavour to adapt to new technologies and processes, but it has to fit and be the correct thing to do.

I think it's Mark Whait who always says, if you play Sunday league football unless you have requested a free week, always expect you have a game on a Sunday and plan accordingly with regards to raising a team.

Second week without a fixture and a waste of another days holiday as i have to book these in
advance as i do continentals.
Poor from where im looking from four days notice is not long enough for me to cancel.
If any side cancels with 4 days notice 40 pound fine and points deduction.
This short notice needs to be sorted getting worse week by week.

For the people moaning and complaining, there are other leagues you can join if you want. If you want to remain in the best one this county has ever enjoyed, then take on board the sensible comments made already and appreciate the efforts the league, and it's officials, make for FREE. They aren't doing things slowly to annoy people, they are doing there best. So support them. As without their support for you and your teams, there would be no Alliance League to enjoy.

Very well put Mr Partridge. There should always be a sensible amount of logic and common sense at this time of year - games can get postponed at the drop of a hat, and the fixtures secretary works tirelessly to provide games at short notice. there is simply no way of putting them out any quicker at this time of year due to weather, councils pulling games and cup commitments. James works full time and has a family, and I don't notice anyone not being able to play when the weekend comes. with social media being what it is, and having run a sunday side for many years, I for one don't believe it is impossible to arrange fixtures at short notice, especially as players should reasonably assume they have a game anyway unless they hear otherwise. let's be a bit more patient and if clubs want to discuss any issues, get yourselves down to the cup draws tomorrow night at grosvenor casino and I'm sure league officers will be happy to discuss

As someone who has been heavily involved in the running of a club, I can assure you it is a thankless task. Being on the league committee I imagine is even more so.

For those moaning and especially those critisising, presumably you'll be volunteering to help out next season?
Suspected not. Im not saying no moaning, but it's hard enough getting volunteers in this day and age, so don't go pudding off those we are lucky enough to have. If James left due to getting annoyed at undue critisism, and no one stepped up, then we'd all be in a right mess.

If he have suggestions or time to help, offer them to the committee.

My team as been with the alliance league now for 4 years and I have nothing but praise for the committee members, they do a fantastic job and are always happy to help with any problems. Players do not need to no who they are playing till later in the week, as they presume they have a match every Sunday anyway. Stop moaning and be lucky people are willing to run a very well set up league and long may it continue.

Organising the fixtures after so many postponements is obviously a difficult task. It would be nice though if something was released saying something like 'Billy Walton quarter finals are to be played on xx/xx/xxxx, subject to other cup commitments'

At the minute we're in a difficult situation because of the BBC deciding to show the Villa v City FA Cup tie next Sunday and a crappy 12:30 kick off. Half of our 16/17 man squad follow City home and away and therefor aren't available that Sunday.

There's no way I'd get a team together for a league game but for a Billy Walton quarter final I'd possibly be able to convince a few players (including myself) to play for Fosse rather than head to Villa Park. Now, because with only a week to go and having had no useful replies to any correspondence about Sunday 15th we have no idea what's going on.

The lads have had to go ahead and buy their City tickets to make sure they don't miss out on the game because they're waiting for confirmation of Fosse fixtures. Now quarter final or not, we won't manage to get a team together for that weekend. Just hope it's a league match we have to forfeit, although we've played a fair few more league games than the rest of the league so a week off surely shouldn't be an issue!

Jimmyb wrote:

Organising the fixtures after so many postponements is obviously a difficult task. It would be nice though if something was released saying something like 'Billy Walton quarter finals are to be played on xx/xx/xxxx, subject to other cup commitments'

At the minute we're in a difficult situation because of the BBC deciding to show the Villa v City FA Cup tie next Sunday and a crappy 12:30 kick off. Half of our 16/17 man squad follow City home and away and therefor aren't available that Sunday.

There's no way I'd get a team together for a league game but for a Billy Walton quarter final I'd possibly be able to convince a few players (including myself) to play for Fosse rather than head to Villa Park. Now, because with only a week to go and having had no useful replies to any correspondence about Sunday 15th we have no idea what's going on.

The lads have had to go ahead and buy their City tickets to make sure they don't miss out on the game because they're waiting for confirmation of Fosse fixtures. Now quarter final or not, we won't manage to get a team together for that weekend. Just hope it's a league match we have to forfeit, although we've played a fair few more league games than the rest of the league so a week off surely shouldn't be an issue!

We can always take your place in the Billy Walton mate.

That's a very generous offer! Let me get back to you!

I don't ever recall waiting like this for fixtures in the past ...not a fan of this week by week regime

Could do with the fixtures ASAP . My teams like I'm guessing numourous have players goin to villa. Plus if we have a game hope to kick off a bit earlier to get down local to watch it myself.

Understand everyone's jibes and frustrations. Have put a plan here;

https://allianceleague.forumotion.com/t6008-fixtures-going-forward#93313

Hope that helps a little....

As for this weeks fixtures;

Alliance Premiership
GT v Oadby Owls Mens
Magna Town 2012 v Frolesworth United
Thurmaston WMP 2009 v FC Azzurri

Division 1
AC Wigston v Seaton
Sparta Moshdock v Mowmacre
Webbys Wanderers v Phoenix United
Wigston United v AFC Royal Oak

Division 2
Club v New Parks Estate
Clarendon Park Rangers v CSKA Carnabys
FC Pochin v Athletic Blaby
Leicester Foxes v Thurmaston WMP 2009 Reserves
Niffy Rangers v Desford Athletic

Division 3
AFC Bees Knees v FC Tumar
Countesthorpe Athletic 2012 v Leicester Bharat Talbot
Leicester Klub Sportowy v Huncote Sunday
Swinford Chequers v Humberstone 2000
Wigston Rangers v Horse

Division 4
Aylestone Lounge v Queniborough Park Rangers
CFA v Niffy Rangers Reserves
Desford Rangers v Bulls Head Whetstone
Sporting Birstall v Leicestershire Constabulary
United Revolution v North Kilworth Sunday

Division 5
Global Athletic v Inter Mivan
Suecastle v Pukka Pies
Trinderbox v Friar Lane
Wigston Fields 2012 v Royalist
Wigston Plough Rovers v Vale

Divison 6
Birstall Rangers v White Horse Wanderers
Cossington Royal Oak v Meridian Athletic
Fairfield Athletic v Medz
Harborough Hotshots v Blaby & Whetstone Old Boys
Knighton Park v MJR

Division 7
Blaby United Sunday 2012 v Newdawn Athletic
CSKA Carnabys Reserves v Little Bowden
FC City of Leicester v The Alliance
Groby Town v Tophouse
Lutterworth Club v The Plough Wigston
Thurnby Rangers Regninor v Wigston Rangers Reserves

Thanks James. Your work is appreciated

Was not knocking you James , with two teams it's easier the longer we have to get 22 players out.