"PLAYERS CODE" .BOTTESFORD TOWN F.C

I HAVE JUST BEEN LOOKING THROUGH BOTTESFORD TOWN'S WEBSITE AHEAD OF OUR TRIP THERE TO PLAY THEM ON SATURDAY. THE LINCOLNSHIRE TEAM WERE FORMED IN 1974 AND MOVED TO THEIR PRESENT GROUND "BIRCH PARK" IN 1983. THIS CLUB HAVE MUCH TO BE PROUD OF BOTH ON AND OFF THE FIELD IN THEIR SHORT HISTORY.

THE THING WHICH I FOUND REALLY IMPRESSIVE WAS 'THE PLAYERS CODE'. WHICH REA DS AS FOLLOWS;

PLEASE,

play for fun and enjoy the game, not just to please the manager or show off.

play by the rules, real winners do not need to cheat.

encourage your team mates at all times.

do not shout at a team mate when he makes a mistake, it might be you who makes the next one.

accept the referees decision, even if you think he is wrong.

listen to the manager, he is there to help and advise you.

turn up for training as often as possible, it is the regular practice at training which makes a good team.

enjoy training and train hard, you will notice the benefits when you play your matches.

keep quiet when your manager is talking, it is rude to talk at the same time, and you will not know what he is saying or wants you to do.

control your temper and emotion.

play fairly and try to win by playing good football.

be a good sport and try to enjoy yourself.

DO NOT,

argue with the referee and his assistants, they will not change their decision, and they might penalise your team again for arguing.

be selfish, football is a team game to be enjoyed by others.

think you are the best player and can do everything better than everbody else, you are part of a team.

think you will play in every minute of every match, your manager has the whole squad to think about.

get involved in arguments with other players, you are there to play and enjoy football.

leave everything to the manager, he will need help putting the nets up, corner flags, sorting out kit etc.

indiscipline and swearing-it will not be tolerated.

THAT IS THE MAIN PART OF THE CLUBS PLAYERS CODE, IF MORE CLUBS TRIED TO FOLLOW THESE SIMPLE RULES, AND PLAYED THE GAME WITH THE RIGHT SPIRIT AND PASSION THEN FOOTBALL WOULD BE ALL THE BETTER FOR IT.

BRIEFLY, THE CLUB HAVE 2 SATURDAY AND 3 SUNDAY TEAMS, THEY ALSO RUN 4 GIRLS TEAMS AND HAVE 6 TEAMS IN JUNIOR LEAGUES, THEIR PROUDEST MOMENT CAME IN 2003 WHEN THEY WERE AWARDED "F.A CHARTERED STANDARD CLUB" THEN BECAME ONE OF THE 83 F.A CHARTERED STANDARD COMMUNITY CLUBS, LINKS WITH BOTH LEEDS UTD AND SHEFFIELD UNITED HAVE HELPED THE CLUB IN PLAYER RECRUITMENT, AND IMPROVING THE SKILLS OF EXISTING PLAYERS, THE CLUB ALSO HAVE STRONG LINKS WITH LOCAL SCHOOLS AND ARE SOON TO LIAISE WITH THE LINCOLNSHIRE F.A TO MAKE FURTHER PROGRESS WITH THE COACHING OF SCHOOL CHILDREN AT A YOUNGER AGE.

SO A REALLY ENTHUSIASTIC AND AMBITIOUS, FORWARD THINKING CLUB, AND I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO MY VISIT ON SATURDAY TO BIRCH PARK AND ALONG WITH AROUND 300 OTHER "SEADOGS" LOOKING FORWARD TO AN EXCELLENT GAME OF FOOTBALL.
"UP THE BORO"..............................................