BALL PROBLEMS

At every home game I've been to this season, the ball seems to have been replaced at least once. I assume they're supplied as part of a sponsor contract, but the quality must be pretty low if we're continually having problems with them. Has anyone at the Club taken this up with the suppliers?

Not just at home games it has happend at the away games at Swindon Supermarine, Evesham and last Saturday at Cinderford.

I agree with this, whilst some people blame the pitch (which is not ideal) the balls seem to be out of shape and have no life in them.

As Gordon states, I think I ve witnessed a change of ball in almost every away game too.

I understand the ball supplier supplies the league and the league then supplies the clubs with a certain amount of match balls with additional ones purchased as and when required.

I wonder if any other clubs have filed any complaints...

The balls are out of shape and Jamie Mac contact the league sec who told him to massage the bladder when pumping up. Rubbish they are just bad.

The pitch needs to be rolled with a heavy roller and its something that we have mentioned for a while now but its still the same, the way we play at the moment the pitch does not suit us, away pitches seem to suit us more which shouldnt be the case

SHEP

quite agree with that comment shep.

Well said shep..there's been negative comments regarding unevennes of the playing surface this season..also grass is growing up the nets/posts,surely these nets can be lifted after every game,as happens at away grounds and the grass cut......

SHEP09 wrote:...massage the bladder when pumping up...

Any chance we can get the Sec doing this on Martyrs TV?!!

Yes would be good T.V .Interesting to see how he would be able to massage his bladder and pump up the balls at the same time .

Brings a whole new meaning to those "BOOM" tweets he does!

Sorry to disappoint you but Barlow pumps up the balls, I just complain about them.

In his day, Tim Drummond would have killed for a headline like this:

Excusive: Merthyr Town Club secretary admits to club Coach pumping up his balls...
“And he’s not very good at it” confirms executive.

Apparently there is a picture of this but no daily paper is brave enough to publish it will have to check you tube on the internet

Although I have it on good authority that a French magazine will be publishing as a follow on from a Catherine Middletons breasts!

Solihull Martyr wrote:

SHEP09 wrote:...massage the bladder when pumping up...

Any chance we can get the Sec doing this on Martyrs TV?!!

Hahaha! I can try to arrange that for a laugh!

As a matter of interest, how much does the Southern League charge for a ball. Sussex League price I'm told is £45 and bloody expensive when your ground has a railway line next to it. Ryman League I was told is only £25. The only difference seems to be a badge, but we've only had one game with a deflated bladder, and that was, I think, because the home team didn't have enough to replace the ones being booted out of the ground.

Can't remember exactly Timshorts but less than £20 plus VAT.

Thanks Jamie. Looks like we are getting ripped off then!

The balls cost £15 each via the Evostick Southern League

I'm not surprised they only cost £15 each, surely this problem is affecting every side in the League not just us. Even if they're sold at a reduced rate because of sponsorship, that's no reason to put up with crap quality. The fact that we had to again change the ball on Tuesday after only 2 or 3 minutes is embarassing, has anyone at the Club complained to the League or directly to the ball suppliers?

Yes we have had discussions with the league, and 2 of our balls have been sent by the league to the manufacturers to test. We await their feedback.

I understand the manufacturers have had good feedback about the type of ball we use.