There is only one simple way to say this, the Britbowl is coming.
Next weekend the UK Football world descends on Doncaster. The Keepmoat Stadium, home of the Doncaster Rovers soccer team and in the BAFL’s own Doncaster Mustangs welcomes six teams all looking to be National Champions.
Being National Champions show that your team is the best prepared and has executed your game plan the best.
Will your team be the Champions?
This week British Football Online (BFO) will help you through each of the six games coming from Doncaster.
Today I thought it was best to get to know the organisation who run our beautiful game.
So I asked Mark Blyth who is the Football Operations Director and Ken Walters the BAFL Chairman a couple of questions, here is what they said.
Daniel Ferdinand: How is organising the finals weekend going?
Mark Blyth: It's the normal frantic couple of weeks, it always is. But as of today (17th) we're pretty much on top of everything. Next week is a long week for me as I tend to spend a lot of time down at the Keepmoat Stadium helping out with the preparations, ie; overseeing the pitch markings and stuff like that. I'm like that, I like to be 'at the coal face' so to speak. It's not that I don't trust the guys down there, but I can be on hand if a question needs answering regarding anything to do with the event.
DF: Are you happy with how the season has gone?
MB: Not entirely. We've had major issues regarding Youth football this year in the sense that a lot of teams either pulled out before or during the season. It's not been easy for some of the teams as it's effectively reduced their season to 3 or 4 games which isn't ideal in anyone's eyes. So we need to address that. We've also had issues with there being not enough Officials to cover all our games. However I need to thank everyone that made a real effort ot help out by resheduling their games to make things work. We ended up losing only a fraction of the games we could have which, for me, was a result.
DF: Can you explain to us the BAFL's history with Doncaster Rovers and the Keepmoat Stadium?
MB: From 2000 we held our Finals at Don Valley Stadium in Sheffield and they did us proud for 8 years. But in 2008 we got word that we may have a problem. Basically Rotherham United were in deep trouble and were set to be booted out of Millmoor and their training ground by the Family that had owned them for so long. In the end the word became true as we were presented with the scenario that DVS had signed a primacy agreement with RUFC which meant that we couldn't hold our Finals there in 2008. To cut a longer story short, we decided to up sticks. The Keepmoat Stadium (well the Athletics Arena bit) had been home to my team (Doncaster Mustangs) since it opened in 2007 and we decided to ask them if they could step in at short notice. To be honest they were brilliant and and bent over backwards to help us. The dates we wanted fitted into Rovers schedule so we were able to rescue the situation. They must have been impressed as we are back again and looking to secure a longer term deal.
DF: Where do you see the BAFL over the next few years?
MB: We need to come good on the things we had intended to do for Youth and Junior football when we took over their operations in 2007/8. We have a Strategy meeting planned for November when we'll be inviting all Youth & Junior teams (both Kitted & Flag) to attend so we can thrash out a clear pathway for their spehere of the sport. It's not going to be a finger pointing session, we don't need to do that. What we need to do is find solutions to the problems we face. That's the immediate future. A bit further down the line for me is to establish a significant top division that is attractive to the public.
DF: What contact does the BAFL board have with the NFL?
Ken Walters: BAFL is a member association of BAFA – the National Governing Body. The protocol for a relationship with the NFL is, therefore, via them.
DF: Talking about next year, are there any new teams for next year?
MB: We have 2 new teams that are entering our Associate process this coming Autumn. How they perform during that time will determine whether or not they make it to full member status for 2010.
DF: Do the BAFL board have any sponsorship deals in the pipe line?
KW: The BAFA does not have any ‘irons in the fire at this time’. The economic climate is very tough at this time and we are focusing our efforts on the delivery of quality competitions for our member clubs.
DF: Back, in the 80's teams used to get crowds of around 7,000, how do we get there again?
MB: That's a tough question to answer and I'm not sure there is a simple answer. As I said before, one of my personal long term goals is to establish a top division that is attractive to spectators and sponsors alike. But it's going to take a lot of hard work from a lot of people to get there.
DF: What does the BAFL board do over the winter?
MB: Well we don't go into hibernation, that's for sure. As soon as this season is over, we start preparing for the next. We will be deciding the format for the competitions for 2010, getting in the applications for 2010, doing all our 'housework' from 2009...the list goes on. It's a 12 months of the year job.
DF: Finally, what are the British Lions up to this winter?
MB: Coach Ayub has a game planned against France for November which I'm hoping to be involved in organising. Actually I've done a little ground work for that already so hopefully it will get the nod. After that my guess is that they will be planning and preparing for the Euros next June or July. You'd have to speak to the Lions Coaches & Staff for a clearer picture of their plans.
I would like to thank Mark and Ken for their time in answering my questions. I hope this interview has given you an in sight into the weekend and the board.
Keep coming back this week for more Britbowl content each day.
Here is a map to show you how to get to the keepmoat. Why don't you join in on the fun.
Prices:
£10 Adults
£5 Under 16's & Seniors
Under 10's free
Follow me on Twitter for all my latest updates on all things Football from both sides on the pond and my ramblings about Fantasy Games and other stuff.
Next weekend the UK Football world descends on Doncaster. The Keepmoat Stadium, home of the Doncaster Rovers soccer team and in the BAFL’s own Doncaster Mustangs welcomes six teams all looking to be National Champions.
Being National Champions show that your team is the best prepared and has executed your game plan the best.
Will your team be the Champions?
This week British Football Online (BFO) will help you through each of the six games coming from Doncaster.
Today I thought it was best to get to know the organisation who run our beautiful game.
So I asked Mark Blyth who is the Football Operations Director and Ken Walters the BAFL Chairman a couple of questions, here is what they said.
Daniel Ferdinand: How is organising the finals weekend going?
Mark Blyth: It's the normal frantic couple of weeks, it always is. But as of today (17th) we're pretty much on top of everything. Next week is a long week for me as I tend to spend a lot of time down at the Keepmoat Stadium helping out with the preparations, ie; overseeing the pitch markings and stuff like that. I'm like that, I like to be 'at the coal face' so to speak. It's not that I don't trust the guys down there, but I can be on hand if a question needs answering regarding anything to do with the event.
DF: Are you happy with how the season has gone?
MB: Not entirely. We've had major issues regarding Youth football this year in the sense that a lot of teams either pulled out before or during the season. It's not been easy for some of the teams as it's effectively reduced their season to 3 or 4 games which isn't ideal in anyone's eyes. So we need to address that. We've also had issues with there being not enough Officials to cover all our games. However I need to thank everyone that made a real effort ot help out by resheduling their games to make things work. We ended up losing only a fraction of the games we could have which, for me, was a result.
DF: Can you explain to us the BAFL's history with Doncaster Rovers and the Keepmoat Stadium?
MB: From 2000 we held our Finals at Don Valley Stadium in Sheffield and they did us proud for 8 years. But in 2008 we got word that we may have a problem. Basically Rotherham United were in deep trouble and were set to be booted out of Millmoor and their training ground by the Family that had owned them for so long. In the end the word became true as we were presented with the scenario that DVS had signed a primacy agreement with RUFC which meant that we couldn't hold our Finals there in 2008. To cut a longer story short, we decided to up sticks. The Keepmoat Stadium (well the Athletics Arena bit) had been home to my team (Doncaster Mustangs) since it opened in 2007 and we decided to ask them if they could step in at short notice. To be honest they were brilliant and and bent over backwards to help us. The dates we wanted fitted into Rovers schedule so we were able to rescue the situation. They must have been impressed as we are back again and looking to secure a longer term deal.
DF: Where do you see the BAFL over the next few years?
MB: We need to come good on the things we had intended to do for Youth and Junior football when we took over their operations in 2007/8. We have a Strategy meeting planned for November when we'll be inviting all Youth & Junior teams (both Kitted & Flag) to attend so we can thrash out a clear pathway for their spehere of the sport. It's not going to be a finger pointing session, we don't need to do that. What we need to do is find solutions to the problems we face. That's the immediate future. A bit further down the line for me is to establish a significant top division that is attractive to the public.
DF: What contact does the BAFL board have with the NFL?
Ken Walters: BAFL is a member association of BAFA – the National Governing Body. The protocol for a relationship with the NFL is, therefore, via them.
DF: Talking about next year, are there any new teams for next year?
MB: We have 2 new teams that are entering our Associate process this coming Autumn. How they perform during that time will determine whether or not they make it to full member status for 2010.
DF: Do the BAFL board have any sponsorship deals in the pipe line?
KW: The BAFA does not have any ‘irons in the fire at this time’. The economic climate is very tough at this time and we are focusing our efforts on the delivery of quality competitions for our member clubs.
DF: Back, in the 80's teams used to get crowds of around 7,000, how do we get there again?
MB: That's a tough question to answer and I'm not sure there is a simple answer. As I said before, one of my personal long term goals is to establish a top division that is attractive to spectators and sponsors alike. But it's going to take a lot of hard work from a lot of people to get there.
DF: What does the BAFL board do over the winter?
MB: Well we don't go into hibernation, that's for sure. As soon as this season is over, we start preparing for the next. We will be deciding the format for the competitions for 2010, getting in the applications for 2010, doing all our 'housework' from 2009...the list goes on. It's a 12 months of the year job.
DF: Finally, what are the British Lions up to this winter?
MB: Coach Ayub has a game planned against France for November which I'm hoping to be involved in organising. Actually I've done a little ground work for that already so hopefully it will get the nod. After that my guess is that they will be planning and preparing for the Euros next June or July. You'd have to speak to the Lions Coaches & Staff for a clearer picture of their plans.
I would like to thank Mark and Ken for their time in answering my questions. I hope this interview has given you an in sight into the weekend and the board.
Keep coming back this week for more Britbowl content each day.
Here is a map to show you how to get to the keepmoat. Why don't you join in on the fun.Prices:
£10 Adults
£5 Under 16's & Seniors
Under 10's free
Follow me on Twitter for all my latest updates on all things Football from both sides on the pond and my ramblings about Fantasy Games and other stuff.
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