Messages

1

The B-Ark / Re: Quiet Forum

« on: December 24, 2024, 03:44:14 PM »

Rochdale have said that you have to wait until the new date is announced, and then you can claim a refund on your match ticket. It's in their online charter - https://rochdaleafc.co.uk/club-charter/

The pitch inspection was nicely timed IMO. BUSA held off on leaving from the JCS (due to leave at 10.30am) until the result of the inspection. Anybody going by car from Boston would probably have left a bit later.

Not aware of many clubs having an online charter. It's the sort of thing which ought to have been spelled out for away fans upon postponement, because most away fans wouldn't know to even look for such a thing.

I don't agree on the timing of the pitch inspection. Yes, the supporters bus was leaving at 10:30, but what time was the player's bus leaving? Given they'd be looking to get to Rochdale at least an hour before the fans they'd no doubt have already been on the road and we've then incurred additional expenses. It needed to be much earlier from that perspective, let alone any fan considerations.

2

The B-Ark / Re: Quiet Forum

« on: December 23, 2024, 09:06:21 PM »

It's not just us. While some clubs have excellent pre-match information, others are utterly useless: I often see poor Richard Collins desperately trying to get information from away clubs on transport/parking stuff, only to be steadfastly ignored.

Yeah. The last two weeks alone proves there's a problem with Comms at a lot of clubs in the National League.

Forest Green's website said fans could pre-book car parking at an adjacent school. So I phoned them up and, before I'd actually spoken to a human being, a pre-recorded message gave out an email address to contact about parking. So I hung up and sent an email. That was a full week before the game. One day before the game, I'd still had no reply. So I contacted them via X. They then messaged me and asked me to phone. I did (again) and from there it got sorted. But the Comms were very poor and misleading.

I bought a ticket online for the Rochdale game on Saturday. Postponement obviously can't be helped, but I'd really like to know what Rochdale's policy is in refunds. Are we expected to hold on the ticket until the game is rearranged? Or do they refund all purchases and then we start again? Different clubs have different policies around this sort of thing, so you can't just assume.  But a query sent on Saturday evening still remains unanswered on Monday evening. I don't expect clubs to answer ever enquiry in a matter of minutes, but I do think this sort of info needs to be much more forthcoming than it currently is.

3

The B-Ark / Re: Sutton

« on: September 08, 2024, 01:43:44 PM »

Kudos to the Sutton stewards as well, extremely affable bunch. As were the Sutton fans congratulating us as we left the ground.

I thought the stewarding was chaotic to be honest! We got inside the ground and took up a, position on the front fence. Nobody told us we were standing anywhere we shouldn't until literally the moment the game kicked off. Then a steward came up and said we had to move behind a yellow barrier. We started to move but then a second steward told us we didn't have to. Didn't watch the first minute of the match properly as we were doing the hokey cokey along the terrace, trying to work out where we were supposed to be. We ended up standing on the front fence near to a "no standing" sign, but with the full assurance from the steward that we we were allowed to stand there. For a side that has just come out of the Football League, I was surprised how badly organised things were. When you think of all the improvements we had to make at York Street, like yellow painted hatch markings, etc, but Sutton had none of that. From what one of the stewards said there are two different security companies who manage the games and they have different rules in different parts of the ground. Home fans behind the goal get moved back from the front fence, but away fans down the side are allowed to stand there. Trouble is, the inconsistency even confuses the stewards themselves.

Stewards were friendly and amenable enough, just didn't seem to know what they were doing!

4

The B-Ark / Re: Where are they now?

« on: September 04, 2024, 10:07:51 AM »

Tre Mitford has also been on trial at Swindon Crown Court (alongside Brackley midfielder Shepherd Murombedzi).

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/two-drug-dealers-admit-to-distributing-multiple-kilograms-of-cocaine/ar-AA1pUKB3?ocid=BingNewsVerp

5

The B-Ark / Re: Sam McLintock departs

« on: February 20, 2024, 12:38:32 PM »

Newton also allowed Dennis Greene to continue after being convicted (benefit fraud).

Plus he sanctioned the signing of Rob Wesley (killed the wrong horse in a case of mistaken identity).

And Adam Chapman (death by dangerous driving).

+ Ashley Timms (blackmail).

6

The B-Ark / Re: Where are they now?

« on: January 24, 2024, 07:02:10 PM »

Miguel de Souza listed in last night's Tamworth programme as their Academy Head of coaching. Played a few games for us (and a lot of other clubs) in the early 2000s.

7

The B-Ark / Re: Grounds visited

« on: December 11, 2023, 07:40:53 AM »

233, I think. Mostly with BUFC.


Accrington Stanley, Alfreton Town, Altrincham, Anstey Nomads, Arnold Town, Ashton United, Aston Villa, Atherstone United, Atherton Collieries, Bamber Bridge, Banbuy United, Barnet, Barrow, Barrow Town, Barwell, Basford United, Bath City, Bedworth United, Belper Town, Biggleswade Town, Bishop Auckland, Bishop's Stortford, Byth Spartans, Boreham Wood, Boston Town, Boston United (York Street), Boston United (JCS), Bourne Town, AFC Bournemouth, Brackley Town, Bradford Park Avenue, Brighton & Hove Albion (Withdean), Bristol Rovers, Bromsgrove Sporting, Burscough, Burton Albion (Eton Park), Burton Albion (Pirelli), Bury, Buxton, Cambridge City, Cambridge United, Cammell Laird, Carlisle United, Carlton Town, Carshalton Athletic, Chelmsford City, Cheltenham Town, Chester / Chester City (Deva Stadium), Chesterfield, Chorley, Clevedon Town, Clitheroe, Coalville Town, Colwyn Bay, Congleton Town, Corby Town (old ground), Corby Town (new ground), Crawley Town, Curzon Ashton, Dagenham & Redbridge, Darlington (Feethams), Darlington (Reynolds Arena), Darlington (Bishop Auckland), Darlington (Blackwell Meadows), Dartford, Doncaster Rovers, Dorchester Town, Dover Athletic, Droylsden, Durham City, Eastwood Town, Emley, Everton, Evesham United, Exeter City, Farnborough Town, Farsley Celtic, Forest Green Rovers, Frickley Athletic, Fulham, AFC Fylde (old), AFC Fylde (Mill Farm), Gainsborough Trinity, Gateshead, Gloucester City (old), Gloucester City (new), Goole Town, Grantham Town (London Road), Grantham Town (Meres), Gresley Rovers, Grimsby Town, Guiseley, Halesowen Town, AFC Halifax / Halifax Town, Harrogate Town, Hartlepool United, Hastings Town, Haughmond, Havant and Waterlooville, Hayes, Hednesford Town, Hereford United, Heybridge Swifts, Hinckley United, Histon, Holbeach United, Hucknall Town, Huddersfield Town, Hull City (Boothferry Park), Hyde / Hyde United, Ilkeston Town, Kendal Town, Kettering Town (Rockingham Road), Kettering Town (Latimer Park), Kidderminster Harriers, Kidsgrove Athletic, Kings Lynn / Kings Lynn Town, Kingstonian, Kirby Muxloe, Knowsley United, Knypersley Victoria, Lancaster City, Leek Town, Leamington, Leicester City (Filbert Street), Leicester City (Kingpower), Leigh RMI / Genesis, Lichfield City, Lincoln City, Lincoln United, Liverpool, Loughborough Dynamo, Lowestoft Town, Macclesfield Town, Maidenhead United, Maidstone United, Maldon Town, Manchester City, Manchester United, AFC Mansfield, Mansfield Town, Margate, Marine, Marlow, Matlock Town, Merthyr Tydfil, Milton Keynes Dons, Mirrlees Blackstones, Morecambe, Morpeth Town, Nantwich Town, Newcastle United, Newport County, Northampton Town, North Ferriby United, Northwich Victoria, Notts County, Nuneaton / Nuneaton Borough / Nuneaton Town (Manor Park), Nuneaton / Nuneaton Borough / Nuneaton Town (Liberty Way), Leyton Orient, Oadby Town, Ossett Town, Oxford City, Oxford United, Peterborough Northern Star, Peterborough Sports, Peterborough United, Prescot Cables, Quorn, Radcliffe Borough, Rainworth Miners Welfare, Redditch United, Retford United, Rochdale, Rossington Main, Rothwell Town, Runcorn, Rushall Olympic, Rushden & Diamonds, Salford City, Salisbury City, Scarborough, Scarborough Athletic, Scunthorpe United, Sheffield FC, Sheffield United, Shepshed Charterhouse / Dynamo, Shirebrook Town, Shrewsbury Town, Skegness Town, Skelmersdale United, Sleaford Town, Solihull Moors, Southend United, Southport, Spalding United, Spennymoor United / Town, Stafford Rangers, St Albans City, Stalybridge Celtic, Stamford (old), Stamford (new), Stevenage Borough, Stockport County, Stocksbridge Park Steels, Stratford Town, Sutton Coldfield Town, Swansea City, Swindon Town, Tadcaster Albion, Tamworth, Telford United / AFC Telford, Tiverton Town, Torquay United, FC United of Manchester, Vauxhall Motors, Walsall, Welling United, Wembley, Weymouth, Whitby Town, Winsford United, Wisbech Town, Witton Albion, Woking, Worcester City, Workington, Worksop Town, Wrexham, Wycombe Wanderers, Yeovil Town, York City (old), York City (new)

8

The B-Ark / Re: v Kettering

« on: December 06, 2021, 09:39:18 PM »

The (fair) match report on Kettering's website claims we had four loanees from Sheffield United. I make it two, one of whom never got on the pitch. Have I missed something?

I believe Kettering had at least one player on loan from Sheffield United as well. Could four be a combined total across both teams?

9

The B-Ark / Re: My mate Bob

« on: November 17, 2021, 07:49:29 PM »

Ebbsfleet United had a season ticket holder who travelled from Italy.

https://metro.co.uk/2011/10/09/football-fan-makes-1800km-round-trip-from-italy-to-watch-ebbsfleet-united-3429324/

10

The B-Ark / Re: V Blyth

« on: October 24, 2021, 09:22:22 PM »

  OXO, pleased you had a good away trip yesterday, did Liam"s dad say where he is playing now?  I know that he left Dunstan UTS last season and wonder if he"s still playing?.  Incidentally, just watched Sheffield FC v Dunstan highlights from yesterday - Marc Newsham scored a peach of a winning goal for home side in 85th. He"s captain there and still doing what he does best !

Liam now lives and works in Dubai.

11

The B-Ark / Re: FA Cup 3rd qualifying round - is it still a regionalised draw?

« on: September 20, 2021, 04:53:19 PM »

It's a shame the draw doesn't get more media coverage than it does. As far as I can tell its only available via the FA website and then via club social media accounts. Surely there's enough interest from clubs, officials and fans to warrant maybe a 30 minute slot on a station such as Talk Sport? It would also make the whole thing a lot more transparent in terms of how it is actually carried out.

At what stage does the media start to cover the draw?

12

The B-Ark / Re: Where are they now?

« on: August 01, 2021, 04:54:00 PM »

Herve Pepe Ngoma,  who sustained a bad injury whilst playing for Boston and hasn't played since, has now resumed his playing career after a five year gap - joining Coalville Town. Kalern Thomas and Courtney Wildin also play for Coalville, and Danny Davidson is the assistant manager.

13

The B-Ark / Re: Stamford Match Off

« on: July 18, 2021, 09:40:28 AM »

Stamford are now playing Anstey Nomads in a friendly on the same date!

14

The B-Ark / Re: Concerns about Saturday

« on: July 15, 2021, 08:53:47 PM »

Fortunately it'll be T-shirt weather on Saturday. The biggest problem with narrow turnstiles may come later into the season if we get a midweek game in the winter months and we're all trying to get through the turnstiles with six layers of clothing on.

15

The B-Ark / Re: Where are they now?

« on: July 12, 2021, 06:42:33 PM »

Ross Fitzsimons unveiled at Weymouth.