Perhaps someone can suggest a league which we can play in that won't cost us £300/£500 a week! The reserves is there first and foremost for progression of the youth team players to men's football. Secondly for first team players to keep fit/coming back from injury etc, and finally for potential local players to get somewhere near the first team.
An added bonus this year has been that we have been around the top all season, but it is not our aim to win the Lincs League ....it is all of the above.
Don't forget we are trying to make the reserves a self funding entity without taking resources away from the club.
None of the players are paid a penny, they train twice a week and have to travel both times from their homes, which are around the county and then on a Saturday four of them are paid a small amount of expenses to take their cars to away games. A healthy gate like Tuesday's 201 obviously helps ....so those not travelling to telford why not come down to The Jakemans and watch a cracking game of top v second! The lads could possibly win the title tomorrow, but have been weakened by call ups to the first team!
I think a midweek league would be better, but the youths play on a Wednesday so none of them would be making that progression, so a Saturday league is preferable. The Lincs League are working hard at the moment to attract a few more teams for next season, hopefully making the league better.
Sorry to have gone on a bit but sometimes feel a bit frustrated!