‘It’s a funny ol game’ was a statement made famous by the legendary Jimmy Greaves, but I often wonder if he realised the impact that comically planned comment would have in the years to come? Managers, supporters, players (most of who have never heard of the Saint and Greavsy show) are often heard using this analogy.

Jimmy Greaves modelling one of my shirts?!?!

For me I cannot think of a better way to describe my years in this game that we all love (most of the time). That was very true when a couple of seasons back while at Needham Market enjoying a cup of team in the boardroom the newly appointed East Anglian Daily Times reporter introduced himself.

Now I am sure you are thinking this was a very young wet behind the ears apprentice to the main reporter at the EADT, namely Carl Marston off course (no Mike Bacon that accolade has to go to my fellow Wedding Present fan!!), but that was certainly not the case.

“Hello Mark, nice to meet you my name is John Campany” this distinguished gentleman said. John and I had a proper chat as he was retired and as a huge non-league fan was enjoying doing some work for the local (and excellent, thanks Carl!) newspaper. He started his introduction by reminding me that he was at my last game prior to taking over the hot seat at Needham Market back in 2004.

It was as Harwich & Parkeston Reserves Manager away at Kelvedon; he remembered the game and even the 2-1 win! His knowledge and commitment to the game is shown in his reports that I believe are always excellent, balanced and honest. If you’ve been crap he reports that but in a far more ‘selective’ way; the paper is the better for his arrival.

In that game all those years ago was a very young full back who forged a really decent career in the game, that being Pip Boyland. I believe he has just passed his UEFA ‘B’ Qualification (congrats Son!) as well as being Assistant Manager at one of my favourite clubs that being Brightlingsea Regent, so well-done Pip, you were clearly listening all those years ago!?!?

If I am going to mention the Regent I have to mention the unbelievable job Manager Tom Rothery and his team have done at North Road. He has established them at Step 3 and a few games back they had the chance to ‘gate crash’ the play offs! There is an old saying; ‘there is no I in TEAM’ and I know using that ethos has worked for many years for Brightlingsea Chairman Terry Doherty and the people around him. Long may it continue!!

Where is the ball? Where is my team? Where are my mates? TR looking 'vacant'!!

So, in our last game away to Dereham Town we were well beaten 3-0. That means that battle for the prestigious award that being ‘The Top Suffolk Dog’ this season is wide open as Felixstowe and Walton have joined the battle. I will make this a key part of my team talk in the next game.

We are all striving for this award!! Top Dog in Suffolk!!

In my last Musings I mentioned the Football Podcast that Mike Bacon runs. In last week’s show he had two of Suffolk finest young players in Stowmarket’s Josh Mayhew and Needham's Kieran Morphew. If you have not listened to it, I can recommend you visit Apple Music and download the podcast (if you do Mike would like you to give it 5 stars). I pay tribute to Mike and Carl for getting such a wide range of guests on the show and these 2 lads were very funny and very good.

For me the best part was when Morphs was asked to give a young player any advice. He said work as hard as you can, train like you play and be like a sponge in that you absorb every bit of information given to you by the experienced people around you. As a manager who has played a small part in his career that was exactly how he was when he came into the team.

Morphs when he had a proper haircut?!?!

At the time Steve Foley was my Assistant and as we were developing an identity for our team. Steve would put together loads of information about team shape, set pieces, style of play. Every training session these sheets where placed in the dressing room and without fail Kieran took them all, every week!! That attitude is why he is one of the best centre backs around and, IMHO, one that ITFC missed.

At least one legend in this photo!!!

Talking of good youngsters, the AFC Academy is having a memorable season. With an appearance this week in the National English Colleges Cup Semi-Final against Torquay United a memorable achievement. I want to pay credit to one of the unsung heroes of our Academy staff that being manager of the AFC Sudbury A team Craig Power.

Although as Academy Director Danny Laws rightly gets plenty of credit for these successes that should be extended to his recruitment. Craig gets on quietly with his job in a very efficient way and I enjoyed joining his in the dugout for the recent Border League Cup semi-final against Headinghams. The opponents were from two leagues above, but our lads were excellent with the 2-1 scoreline possibly not reflecting on their dominance in the game.

With another semi-final win last week that means they are in the finals of the Suffolk Primary Cup, the Tommy Thompson Cup as well as the Border League Cup. With a chance of achieving the runners up spot and with it promotion a possibility, it has been a great inaugural season for this team that are all U17’s!! We will all be supporting Craig and his boys but whatever the outcome this new team this year has given youth players great exposure to the realities of non-league football. Some of those experiences could not be further away from home comforts of the Kings Marsh Stadium and I was with the team for the January away game against Harwich Rangers.

This was played at Low Road in Dovercourt which is about 200 yards from the beach and with it the Winter North Sea breeze (GALE!!). It was so cold it was the first time I had ever seen plenty of volunteers to run the line (yes only 1 match official at this heady heights).

The view from the Low Road pitch - Bliss!!

Did you know we are running an online Goal of the Season competition. It’s on Facebook and this is the link:

Goal of the Season - Facebook Voting

For those of you not on Facebook but would like to watch the goals this is the link:

Goal of the Season 2018/19

I feel it would be right and proper to flag up the great run that Jamie Godbold’s Lowestoft team have been on. They are currently in 2nd place in the form guide in the Evo-Stick Southern Premier Central League covering the past 4 matches. This has given them an 8-point buffer in the relegation battle and will be seen as a great achievement if they can stay up as Jamie rebuilds that famous club.

What do we think of the FA restructure that was implemented at the start of this season??

Well I suppose that depends on what club you are looking at it from. The Step 3 switch for the 3 Suffolk clubs (Needham, Leiston and Lowestoft) seems to be a bit of a tough one, although I understand the massive delay at Cambridge caused by extensive road works has not helped.

If there was to be a balanced view on this, then you could say that Needman’s longest journey is Stourbridge at 176 miles and if they were in the Isthmian Premier League it would be Bognor Regis Town at 152 miles. So, I hear you say not much in that then?!

Well, I would beg to differ because in the Isthmian League there are 5 south coast teams that are long journeys however in their current league there are about 11 long hauls!! In addition, the average away journey for these 3 Suffolk clubs is somewhat higher than the whole league.

I have looked at the Central Premier and South Premier leagues and I cannot see why the FA did not put the clubs east of Oxford in one league and the ones west of Oxford in the other one?!?!

So here is my stab at a ‘fair’ step 3 league:-

1. Kings Lynn Town
2. Lowestoft Town
3. Leiston
4. Needham Market
5. Kings Langley
6. Chesham
7. Beaconsfield
8. Harrow Borough
9. Staines
10. Met Police
11. Walton Casuals
12. Hitchin
13. Royston
14. Biggleswade
15. St Neots
16. St Ives
17. AFC Rushden and Diamonds
18. Kettering Town
19. Banbury Town
20. Harlow Town
21. Bishops Stortford

This should cause a bit of a chat/stir?!?!?

BTW and just to confirm that opinions and comments in the Musings are mine and mine alone and not in any way the official line of football club (that should continue to really make it interesting!!).

So, while I am on a roll, what about the reduction in the leagues sizes at step 4 in particularly our league (Isthmian North Division). There was clearly no thought about the impact in the reduction in games, just some idea that travelling would be cut down. So, here’s the thing; to save a few quid on petrol which most clubs don’t pay for midweek games as players tend to travel directly to games we have lost a number of midweek games. A game will generate a hell of a lot more revenue than missing a few Tuesday night journeys in fuel costs.

If it had to be that leagues were too big and needed trimming, then the season should be made shorter. Football clubs at our level have limited costs outside of the season so ensuring there are a few more midweek games helps everyone I believe.

As we are stuck with this position, wouldn’t it be good if someone had come up with an idea for an alternative way of generating interest and extra games???? Well you guessed it, I have, but currently I am sworn to secrecy which I will honour if the relevant people show they are being proactive with my suggestion………..

As I continue on my role let’s move onto to BREXIT!!! Actually, forget that! At least in a football match when you lose you shake hands and take it on the chin. You don’t spend the next 2 years trying to change the result!?!?

Well I thanks for listening and as is the normal sign off - I hope I have made some sense in my ‘ramblings’ if not then I have to say that’s nothing new!!!

All the best

MJM