-----Original Message-----

From: Alan Smith
Sent: 27 October 2005 22:41
To: Laird Bob
Subject: Summer Football Debate

Hi Boab,
Re summer footlball.

It makes sense. Rotten conditions & weather do not make for attractive football. As for watching, I remember watching a game at Dens last season (I've got a photo on my phone 12th Feb - maybe Livi, maybe 'Well)

Alannah and I were in Shankly stand and I cannot remember a colder game. The wind swirled in the stand and I was wishing my life away for the end of the match. This was on sunny winters day.

I can recount numerous games from my (our) youth when the weather was miserable. An although the football suffered , at least standing terraces with everyone huddled together made it bearable!. Winter football is a joke, it's not attractive to watch and it's not nice having to watch it.

I've been to Ice Hockey matches where I was warmer because in an ice rink there isn't any wind! The last home game I was at was v Ross County and besides the football being dire, I was frozen. Admission, food, drink and programme cost over£30. Irrespective of the display on the pitch I can think of more comfortable ways of spending that sort of money on a cold afternoon.

Come the festive season there are other demands too. The sooner Scottish football wakes up to the fact that summer football is the way ahead the better. And by the way the "if you're not prepared to watch your team come rain, shine, tsunami's , nuclear bombs, etc, you're not a true supporter" argument is rubbish an not worthy of attention.

Cheers, Boris

-----Original Message-----
From: michaelfox
Sent: 24 October 2005 21:41
To: BoabL@blueyonder.co.uk
Subject: summerfootball

Hi I come from mayo where summer football is played for the last 10years the league we are involved in is junior football named Mayo Association Football League in the Last two Seasons The Eircom League has come on board after watching the advantages of summer football.

Due to summer football our pitches are one of the best standards in junior football, we are able to play with more teams in every club, as young has u-8 all the ways upto u-18 including junior teams

We are able to play days in the week twice at weekends on any day no matches called off better football played due to better pitches our Club Ballyheane fc. has two pitches one training pitch also a side astro turf, plus club house.

In 2004 we played host to England vs. Scotland girls u-18 round robin tournament which was held in a number of mayo pitches this was due to summer football and to the quality of pitches summer soccer is the way foreword let no one tell you any different good luck

Michael Fox

From: Allan Kettles
Date: 07 April 2003
To: Boabl@blueyonder.co.uk
Subject: Re: Fw: Summer Football Debate/Petition

Hi Bob,

The Dees Down South have voted for Summer Football so far.

Not a lot, so far the only votes are : 4 in favour of Summer Football and 2 against.
Not a great sample really.

Cheers,
Allan

----- Original Message -----
From: Scott Glenday
To: Robert Laird
Sent: Wednesday, April 02, 2003
Subject: Re: RE:

Bob,

Passed on our feedback to George . Surprisingly Perth Dee's overwhelmingly backed the Status Quo.

regards,
Scott.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Grahame Couttie"
To: "boabl@blueyonder.co.uk
Sent: Wednesday, March 26, 2003
Subject: Re: Summer Football Debate

Robert

Sorry I've not got back to you earlier - as promised!

I personally feel that a close down in January and February would be most appropriate, but after the Christmas and New Year traditional fixtures.

The only thing about 'summer football' ie playing in June and July are that these months offer the best weather for other sports - golf, watersports, hillwalking etc etc as well as traditional holidays, and therefore feel that the crowds may be affected as a result. If you close down Jan/Feb then you will need to play in these months, perhaps having July off as a break starting the season again in August.

I feel now that the SPL have abandoned the winter shutdown, it may be sometime before the summer football debate raises it's head again, particularly if the SPL clubs get undersoil heating/protection and games are not called off as a result. Apart from one dodgy call off at Dens, the season hasn't been seriously affected by the weather this winter.

The answer to 'bums on seats' - winter or summer - is to have a league where the games mean something!!

Regards
Grahame

----- Original Message -----
From: Alex Benvie
To: boabl@blueyonder.co.uk
Sent: Wednesday, March 05, 2003
Subject: Re: "Summer Football"

Hi Bob

I have not heard the crowd figure on the radio as yet but hopefully the reduced prices will have added a couple of thousand on to the gate. I see that there is a lot of disquiet about the number of televised matches and all the hullabaloo about their kick off times. I am all for Saturdays' at 3pm but would prefer the season to start in April and finish at the end of summer.

Talking of which, I recall Dundee V Arsenal at the start of the 1975/76 season (Strachan's debut) standing in the South Enclosure throughly enjoying the sunshine and the football. Better than sitting in Firhill in March!!!!!!

Cheers for just now.

ALEX

----- Original Message -----
From: "Scott Swankie"
To: boabl@blueyonder.co.uk
Sent: Tuesday, March 04, 2003
Subject: Re: Summer Football Debate

Bob

I will speak to our members next time around and let you know our collective views.

For what it is worth, I certainly think we need to move to at the very least no football in December and January and I am probably in favour of a move to summer football in general.

Cheers
Scott

----- Original Message -----
From: "Steven Gold"
To: "'Robert Laird'"
Sent: Monday, February 24, 2003
Subject: RE: Summer Football Debate/Petition

Broughty Ferry Branch back your plan...

best of luck
steve

A big thank you to the Broughty Ferry Branch Of the Dundee Supporters Association, your endorsement of my proposal is most welcome, you are the first Official Supporters Club so far to have passed your opinion.

Others I know are awaiting their next committee meetings to ballot their members opinions on this highly emotive issue.

----- Original Message -----
From: steve sinclair
To: BoabL@blueyonder.co.uk
Sent: Sunday, February 23, 2003
Subject: summer footie!

'It's tradition.' , 'It's a man's game!'

Usual arguments, not worth sod all. Think about the customers. I'd rather sit in sunshine in a T-Shirt/DFC Top ogling girls at half time in the crowd in nowt more that a belt and a bra.

Seriously, the most enjoyable games have to be in early August, late April when the weather is not sub-zero.

How are we supposed to encourage kids to go to football in cold/damp conditions. Who knows, with being half way through a summer season with a mid-term break for world cups or Euro Championships, we might actually win a game or two.

It's not as is cricket is a major competitor in Scotland.

Stevie

Bob,

I appreciate that there are pro's and con's right across this debate and no 'sure fire' answer.

Let me offer up the following suggestion - TWO SHUT DOWNS - December to February inclusive and the whole of July.

My season would commence at the beginning of March and finish at the end of November. Having the break in July would split the season into two x four month periods.

There are few International or European games held anyway in December, January or February, so this should not affect Scotland or our European qualifiers too much. In order to make my suggestion work, there would have to be a slight reduction in the number of games played, either that or more midweek matches, which should not be a problem with 'summer' football.

Danny Cameron
Highland Dark Blues

----- Original Message -----
From: "Fraser MacDonald"
To: Bob Laird
Sent: Friday, February 21, 2003
Subject: Summer Football

Personally I'm against summer football, but I gather from the messageboards that I'm in the minority. Reasons as follows:
- people go on summer holidays and would miss games when away (sad, I know!)

- christmas and new year fixtures are great to go to in the holidays, ideal for people who come home for christmas

- too cold? wrap up warm. Granted, on terracing it's easier to keep warm

Ideally I'd like to see football move into the 21st century with covered stadia for the winter months, like the Amsterdam ArenA, but outwith the Old Firm this is a non-starter in Scotland.

When you compare facilities for ice hockey, cinema etc. with football, the stadia are pretty poor irrespective of the weather.

----- Original Message -----
From: Scott Glenday
To:'Robert Laird'
Cc:
Sent: Tuesday, February 18, 2003
Subject: Summer Football

My own belief is that there are pros and cons to both arguments . I probably lean towards summer football myself , but then again do like to attend games over the Festive season.

In the meantime I'll ponder and seek opinion in Perth...

Scott..

----- Original Message -----
From: George Knight
To: 'Robert Laird'
Cc:
Sent: Tuesday, February 18, 2003
Subject: Summer Football

Bob,
At a recent meeting with DFC I asked the very same question; the response was that although it is a topic for discussion it was considered a lower priority whilst the impending resignations from the SPL were on the go. Those matters are now resolved and I personally would be willing to re-initiate the dialogue on it.

My personal belief is that in this day and age, summer football is a must. It is after all an entertainment business....would you pay £15 to freeze your bollocks off at the Odeon on a Saturday.

I am personally very passionate about this and whilst I cannot speak for the rest of the Committee or indeed our membership base, it is certainly worth polling the clubs to gauge their feelings.

Cheers Geo.

----- Original Message -----
From: john.huband
To: boabl@blueyonder.co.uk
Sent: Tuesday, February 18, 2003
Subject: Re: Summer Football Debate/Petition

All of us up here have suffered the dismay of travelling around 150 miles to find the game off and then having the return 150 miserable miles back! For this reason alone I would prefer summer football.

Then again lots of other things to do in summer and football in winter helps get through the long winter days. You have certainly opened an interesting debate here as there are good arguments for and against.

A few of our members planned to go down for the Hibs game. Some us decided not to go and to meet up and watch the game in a local pub. Three members met at 10.30 on the morning of the game all set to travel but on checking road report for A9 decided against traveling and to join us in the pub.

I think 3 actually went down for the game. Ten of us plus a Hibee mate met in the pub and we got the Dundee game on the big screen! (Much to the annoyance of some who had come along to watch the english game which was also on).

We were all gutted when match abandoned. How bad would it have been if we had actually travelled? Same with the Livi game. Mark Kerr took his son (a Dunfermline supporter but we're working on that) down to the game. I sent a txt to Mark at 2.40pm to let him know match off!

He was gutted and very annoyed. These two topical examples sway me towards summer football.

Maybe a compromise is needed with a longer winter shut down, earlier start to season and later finish. A reduction in number of games eg 16 team league playing each other h and a might be worth looking at.

My ideal would be for decent stadiums/stadia with some sort of retractble roof to keep grounds playable and supporters warm! My immediate thoughts for what they are worth.

Best wishes.
John.

----- Original Message -----
From: H.Peter Rose
To: BoabL@blueyonder.co.uk
Sent: Monday, February 17, 2003
Subject: Summer football debate

For sure! Been talked about for 40 + years, just as amalgamation and a new stadium will be! Once 30,000 fans talked about it now only 5-7,000!

It would take vision and courage and most of all club owners listening to the remaining fans! I see little hope but worth the fight because real fans appear to know more about what people in 2003 want than the owners and SPL!

Harry Rose

The teams/SPL/ Berti Boy cannot even re-arrange games without conflict!!!!!!

----- Original Message -----
From: JP
To: BoabL@blueyonder.co.uk
Sent: Monday, February 17, 2003
Subject: Summer Football

I think a change to playing football in the milder months (March - December) is long overdue in this country. Surely it is just common sense to see our weather is unpredictable in this country.

Argument for summer football.

1. Fans safety & comfort, under seat heating never gets a mention.
2. Players safety, less likely to get injured or aggravate recent injuries.
3. Pitches would be in better condition. (continual use of undersoil heating worsens the condition of pitches).
4. General standard of football would improve.
5. No backlog of fixtures due to games being cancelled.
6. I would like to think playing in the milder months would help increase attendances.
7. More away fans would travel to games without the possibility of games being cancelled.
8. Scottish football as a product would improve due to the above.

I just think there are more pluses than minuses for summer football. On the question of world cups or european championships, well just adjust the fixture list to accommodate these competitions.

People will say fans go on holiday in the summer, but they don't all go at once and most fans nowadays will probably have a couple of holidays per year. Most will also be season ticket holders and will more than likely give there season ticket to a friend or relative who maybe attends the football every now & then. This nullifies the effect on attendances of fans off on holiday.

The SPL was created to try and raise the standard of Scottish Football. If the SPL are serious about this they should start summer football ASAP.

----- Original Message -----
From: Alan Smith
To: Boab Laird
Sent: Sunday, February 16, 2003
Subject: Summer Fitba'

Hi Boab

Totally agree with you Although the safety of the players is paramount, it is ridiculous to expect fans (the paying customers) to watch a game in freezing conditions. Would this be acceptable in any other form of entertainment? And I include Ice Hockey - I've never been to an Ice Hockey Match where I have been as cold as at a foootball match.

Boris