Leeds

[Lee Newell]

I remember going to a reserve match around 20 years ago when Neil Thompson was manager, only reserve match I've ever been to. We were in a reserve league and played Newcastle U21s and a few of our first-teamers played. I don't really see much difference between this and then apart from this is officially a first team fixture for us.

Watched the match on the stream. It was a reasonably entertaining match to watch, with a bit of a friendly match feel to it. The first teamers that played looked good which is good to see likes of Leak, Ward and Marriott who haven't had as many first team starts as they would have liked putting the effort in. Couple of good finishes from Ward from outside the penalty area who ran the midfield and would give the man of the match. We were the better team until the end of the match when took several first-teamers off leaving Ward and Leak only first team outfield players playing at the end. Interesting to compare the level of a big club like Leeds U21s to us, our first teamers looked a higher level than Leeds but our u23s looked well below their level.

[Pete Brooksbank]

I don't really see much difference between this and then apart from this is officially a first team fixture for us.

Yes, and that's exactly why everyone's so bloody furious about it.

The Elite Player Performance Plan is Leeds United's problem, not ours.

[noughtyforties]

I don't really see much difference between this and then apart from this is officially a first team fixture for us.

Yes, and that's exactly why everyone's so bloody furious about it.

The Elite Player Performance Plan is Leeds United's problem, not ours.

Who's furious about it Pete?

All I've seen is you and a few of the outraged by everything mob getting wound up on SM. The majority just don't bother with it.

The people voted with their feet, hopefully clubs lose money hosting games and next summer at The League AGM the whole sorry episode is consigned to the bin.

Stop wasting energy on it, you know the League couldn't run a bath.

[Pete Brooksbank]

Go look at the replies under the VNL's Ives tweet last night and tell me it's just "a few".

Sorry if you don't think it's an issue getting worked up over; lots of other people do. I mean, you go ballistic over 1-0 defeats at home - I choose to go ballistic over existential threats to non-league football as it exists today.

[Pilgrim86]

I remember going to a reserve match around 20 years ago when Neil Thompson was manager, only reserve match I've ever been to. We were in a reserve league and played Newcastle U21s and a few of our first-teamers played. I don't really see much difference between this and then apart from this is officially a first team fixture for us.

From what I remember, about 900 people went to that!

Just found it on Ken's site, 933.

https://bufc.drfox.org.uk/res03.html
https://bufc.drfox.org.uk/L221003.html

[noughtyforties]

Go look at the replies under the VNL's Ives tweet last night and tell me it's just "a few".

Sorry if you don't think it's an issue getting worked up over; lots of other people do. I mean, you go ballistic over 1-0 defeats at home - I choose to go ballistic over existential threats to non-league football as it exists today.

Yep, as I though, a few like yourself who make fair points, the rest are the usual pile on merchants.

Maybe a reform of non league is long overdue anyway, I'd hope you'd be as opposed to us traipsing up to Lancaster or Blyth on a Tuesday night in regional football as you are this. I find it scandalous part time clubs have to do this sort of travelling, reform is badly needed but as always self interest at the top overrides common sense for small clubs

[Pete Brooksbank]

Travelling is a pain but there's a trade off there - how do you fix that problem without making non-league so hyper-regionalised we play everyone too often and it all gets too boring?

[Fishtoft Crew]

Must admit I’m not happy that FA Cup replays are a thing of the past which takes away the potential for getting a big payday if we draw at home. This odd payday has transformed some clubs future. Yet we are expected to provide opposition to academy players of some of the big clubs.

[Pete Brooksbank]

Must admit I’m not happy that FA Cup replays are a thing of the past which takes away the potential for getting a big payday if we draw at home. This odd payday has transformed some clubs future. Yet we are expected to provide opposition to academy players of some of the big clubs.

Mark Ives will claim the introduction of the NL Cup has nothing to do with the scrapping of replays.

Frankly, I think Mark Ives is a liar.

[howmanynames2pick]

a good run out for the younger lads against good opposition.
a good opportunity for senior players  to get minutes in.
also good to give the younger lads a chance to play a match with senior players

an opportunity to see players and players from higher clubs to see our facilities.
I've been told by one of the Leeds players granddad that he was impressed by the set up at Boston.
i believe there is  prize money available as well.

I personally didn't get but speaking to a few who did have told me it was highly entertaining.

[Lee Newell]

Run by businessmen who make business decisions, not football decisions.

Yes, in the commentary on the TV stream, Craig was saying how National League Cup does have reasonable financial benefits for club. £10k for a win.  Higher prize money for winning a National League Cup (£10000) match than FA Trophy 3rd round (£4500) where we start plus we keep all ticket money whereas have to share it in Trophy. And Joe Simpson has been arranging matches v good u21s sides for the u23s as we have a u23s side but no league for them so gives them a match they need and good experience of playing at JCS in front of a crowd.

Win 3 or 4 matches and that could pay a player's salary for the season. On the flip side we don't have a big first team squad and would have been a big blow if lost a player through injury, although watching the match it did feel a bit like a friendly match without many hard tackles going in so less likely to get an injury.

[Pete Brooksbank]

I fully understand the financial incentives, but I do not feel they're worth legitimising B teams in senior football.

Unless anyone actually *wants* to be watching Boston v Blackburn B in the National League in a few years, of course.