Droylsden 2 GNE 0

Following the abandonment of this match, due to a waterlogged pitch, a couple of weeks ago, there were cries from many of the GNE travelling army that “it was a rip off”. What was suggested to justify the comment was that the match should never have started in the first place, it should have been called off at half-time, the only reason that the second half started was so that refunds of entrance money did not need to be made. In summary, “it was not fair”. Well, it is not the role of your ageing scribe to justify or not what occurred that very wet Monday night but it is perhaps worth spending a couple of minutes thinking about the idea of “fairness”.
There is a political connection here as the Labour Party has recently unveiled its slogan for the next election which is “A Future Fair for All” but we will gloss over the subject of re-hashing old election slogans. However, the concept is an interesting one.
If we go back to that night in Droylsden, we can look at events from a number of separate positions and then consider “fairness” as it may be applied to these positions.
Both clubs and, presumably, the Manchester FA wanted the game to go ahead. It had been raining most of the day in Droylsden onto a pitch which was already a bit wet – aren’t they all at this time of the year. Recognising what could be a problem, Droylsden got together a team of people to work on the pitch. Supporters started to arrive and paid the entrance money at the turnstiles. The bar was open, the refreshments were all in place, the stewards were around the ground. In short, it was “game on”. The referee, who is in sole charge of the fitness of the pitch for play, decided to inspect again at 7.30 pm to give the ground workers the maximum opportunity to do their job. The match kicked off on time. From the beginning, it was clear that there were problems with the pitch as the ball would not run across the surface. The players adapted their playing style to the conditions and the rain continued to fall. After a curtailed half-time interval. The players came back onto a pitch which was, by now, well and truly flooded. After 5 minutes, and after consultation with both captains, the referee abandoned the match. No refunds. Should we be given tokens for free entry for the re-arranged match?
So, what is “fair”?
To Droylsden FC, they have put in all of the costs associated with staging the match. The crowd was very much on the low side for them and it is doubtful that they made any money on the match. The same costs will be incurred when staging the re-arranged match. Is it fair that they should get no revenue, in terms of entrance money, from this re-arranged match?
To the referee, he has tried his best to get the match on. Maybe the conditions were “marginal” at the beginning but if the rain had stopped at 7.45 pm the match would have been completed. We may accuse referees of all sorts of things but being in control of the weather is not one of them. Is it fair that the referee be accused in some circles of “colluding with the Droylsden management” to engineer a position whereby refunds of gate money would not be given?
To the players, it has been a difficult winter and fixture congestion looms, they would have wanted to play if possible. Great credit to the players of both sides here in recognising to potential dangers associated with the difficult conditions and adapting the way they played the match accordingly. Would it have been fair on the players to ask them to continue in what were unfit conditions?
To the supporters, these are difficult economic times and supporting your team, particularly both home and away, can be a struggle financially for many. Is it fair that the supporters of both Droylsden and GNE will have to pay twice for the same match?

The conclusion from all of this is that there is no one solution which could be considered as being “fair for all” and, indeed, is there ever such a situation? Probably not really, so we enter into the world of negotiation and compromise and, folks, this is the real world. Discussions were held and decisions reached, the upshot of which was that admission prices for this re-arranged match were reduced to half price for adults.

Is this now “fair for all”? As ever, your ageing scribe makes no judgements on such matters but leaves it to you, dear readers, to reach your own conclusions.

So off we go again to Droylsden. A much better night weather-wise and no danger of this one being abandoned or whatever. The evening starts in the “well appointed clubhouse – available to hire for all functions for reasonable rates” with the presentation to our “proud to be” Chairman of the Supporters Club of a Droylsden scarf by a representative of the Droylsden Supporters Club in recognition of the pennant presented to them at the first match. Nice touch that and thank you to Garry. All of this helps to build good relations with clubs who host the GNE travelling army. The army is probably a few down in numbers tonight compared with the first match but still an excellent turn out on a Monday Night. We assemble in the same place as last time, christened by our diligent researcher as “the deep end” – a three flag night. This reminds your ageing scribe of the definition associated with the term “three dog night” – remember the 1970s band of that name? – but perhaps we should leave that for another time!

The game kicks off and we note the presence of a fourth official. Most unusual for our matches but there you are. One often wondered what the role of the fourth official is – apart from holding up the board to indicate substitutions and how much “Fergie Time” is to be added. At Premiership level it seems that the fourth official is there to be argued with by assorted managers who feel that their team has been wronged in some way by the referee. The value of this has always escaped me in that arguing with a referee has never got a decision changed so why spend energy arguing with someone who is not even on the pitch? Maybe helps to lower the manager’s blood pressure but even this is unlikely.

The singing starts and soon, most unexpectedly, a section of the home support starts singing in opposition. It is rare indeed that our support is challenged in this way but all is amicable and, probably, honours even.

After 45 minutes, it’s half time and 1-0 to Droylsden.

The second half progresses and, around the hour mark, the now normal substitutions start and the fourth official springs into serious action. The third GNE substitution is announced by the stadium announcer – “For Glossop North End, replacing number 9, Andy Hurst is number 15, Stuart Williams”. This causes consternation amongst our supporters and all goes a little quiet. Just what on earth is our indomitable Manager doing? Taking off our main striker and replacing him with the reserve goalkeeper. Well, we know that all goalkeepers are frustrated strikers but could this really be true? Not surprisingly it turns out not to be the case as someone identifies the recently arrived player as James Acton from our reserve side. Pity in one way as it would have been quite interesting to watch Stuart plough a lonely furrow up front but, never mind.

At the end of the match it’s 2-0 to Droylsden and they progress to the final of the Manchester Premier Cup – good luck to them.

We return, very briefly, to the subject of fairness. Do we think that the result tonight was fair? Well, dear reader, your ageing scribe does not normally venture opinions on questions raised in these short narratives but in this case I think I will.

Damn right it was fair – best side won…