lappinitup 629 Posted June 12, 2015 I''m not sure if I''m allowed to reproduce blogs on here but I think this one is worthy of a bigger audience so here goes......In my view: Sunday really is the best day for footballJack Sinclair Thursday, June 11, 2015 9:17 AM Like many others across the country, I wake up early on a Sunday morning, travel to a muddy field and pay money for the privilege of being kicked and sworn at for an hour and a half all in the name of fun. That’s right, I play Sunday league football. “Grass-roots football” as it’s also known (though I haven’t played on a pitch with grass in a long time, mud and rusty metal roots football would be more appropriate).In my many years of playing the ugly game I have invented a set of rules to live by to make the football fun whilst simultaneously ensuring you don’t look like a complete idiot. These are the do’s and don’ts of Sunday league.Do go out the night before if you want to. An early night impresses nobody and the rest of your team will be hungover, so it isn’t going to affect the game.Don’t forget your stuff, nobody has spare water or a pair of size 13 boots to borrow. Stop asking.Do use every cliché available “We’ve gone quiet” “AWAY!” “One of you” and “straight in lads” should all be phrases actively encouraged on a football pitch.Don’t be horrible to the ref. The standard of officiating should be equal to the standard the sport is played at.If you can’t complete a five-yard pass without the ball flying out of play then you’ve got no right to complain if the ref makes the odd mistake.Do try to play it out from the back if you can. This usually creates more problems than it solves but it does make your team look deceptively in control for a moment, this is until the defender who has the ball is under so much pressure he needs to smash it up field completely ruining the illusion.Don’t celebrate too vigorously. A gentle underarm fist pump followed by a couple of high fives is more than enough. A knee slide looks ridiculous if instead of doing it towards a stadium of fans, you’re on your knees in front of a bewildered family of five and two crows fighting over a crisp packet.Do mark someone at a corner. Pointing at players who aren’t being marked and shouting “Who’s got the big guy?” doesn’t count.Don’t play like it’s a professional game. Pretty much everything professional football is known for has no place on a Sunday league football pitch. Feigning injury, attempting audacious 60-yard passes and numerous step overs will impress nobody and make you enemy number one with their massive central defender. Do go to the pub after the game. You turned up to the game a little bit hungover, so you might as well finish the day with a beer or three.Bonus points are awarded for watching a game in the pub and berating players for making the same mistakes you made literally a couple of hours earlier. As the money and interest in professional football increases year on year I am sad to say Sunday league football has declined in popularity significantly recently. To think that in 10 years people might not get the chance to play the sport they love on a rubbish pitch against a load of overweight estate agents is devastating.There needs to be real change to save what is left of grass-roots football and living by these rules might just be a step in the right direction. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Herman 9,586 Posted June 12, 2015 He forgot to mention that in Sunday football you''re allowed to take out lumps of the cocky 19 year old, the one that had a trial for the Leyton Os.Does anyone know why Sunday football is declining. Is it simply that people can''t be bothered? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lake district canary 4,520 Posted June 12, 2015 [quote user="Herman "]Does anyone know why Sunday football is declining. Is it simply that people can''t be bothered?[/quote]Too many people out cycling......... [:(] [;)] Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
morty 0 Posted June 12, 2015 [quote user="Herman "]He forgot to mention that in Sunday football you''re allowed to take out lumps of the cocky 19 year old, the one that had a trial for the Leyton Os.Does anyone know why Sunday football is declining. Is it simply that people can''t be bothered?[/quote]Is it really though?My oldest lad plays in a league, so I am no stranger to standing on a cold, rainy sideline on a Sunday morning. Some of the venues have 4 or 5 pitches, and they are always packed with teams of all ages. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Crabbycanary3 994 Posted June 12, 2015 Really enjoyed that article and reminded me of my Sunday League days. In my last season , our Manager/Kit Man/Organiser got us tracksuit tops with our initials on (cringe!)Some people may say that made us look professional, but in the nether regions of the North East Norfolk Sunday League, ''professional'' wasn''t the word our opponents used! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Herman 9,586 Posted June 12, 2015 [quote user="morty"][quote user="Herman "]He forgot to mention that in Sunday football you''re allowed to take out lumps of the cocky 19 year old, the one that had a trial for the Leyton Os.Does anyone know why Sunday football is declining. Is it simply that people can''t be bothered?[/quote]Is it really though?My oldest lad plays in a league, so I am no stranger to standing on a cold, rainy sideline on a Sunday morning. Some of the venues have 4 or 5 pitches, and they are always packed with teams of all ages.[/quote]I can only speak about my local area, but the Sunday leagues have shrunk from double figures to about 4.(Sorry threw out local rag so can''t give a definitive number). This lack of teams is quite noticable at my local park on a Sunday as well. No real hard evidence I''m afraid, but it does look like it''s shrinking. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Herman 9,586 Posted June 12, 2015 [quote user="lake district canary"][quote user="Herman "]Does anyone know why Sunday football is declining. Is it simply that people can''t be bothered?[/quote]Too many people out cycling......... [:(] [;)][/quote]Fat blokes in lycra or fat blokes in ill-fitting footy clobber!? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
morty 0 Posted June 12, 2015 [quote user="Herman "][quote user="morty"][quote user="Herman "]He forgot to mention that in Sunday football you''re allowed to take out lumps of the cocky 19 year old, the one that had a trial for the Leyton Os.Does anyone know why Sunday football is declining. Is it simply that people can''t be bothered?[/quote]Is it really though?My oldest lad plays in a league, so I am no stranger to standing on a cold, rainy sideline on a Sunday morning. Some of the venues have 4 or 5 pitches, and they are always packed with teams of all ages.[/quote]I can only speak about my local area, but the Sunday leagues have shrunk from double figures to about 4.(Sorry threw out local rag so can''t give a definitive number). This lack of teams is quite noticable at my local park on a Sunday as well. No real hard evidence I''m afraid, but it does look like it''s shrinking.[/quote]Ah its a shame if it is then, people need to enjoy it while they are still young and fit enough to do so.I''d kill to be able to play again! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lake district canary 4,520 Posted June 12, 2015 [quote user="Herman "][quote user="lake district canary"][quote user="Herman "]Does anyone know why Sunday football is declining. Is it simply that people can''t be bothered?[/quote]Too many people out cycling......... [:(] [;)][/quote]Fat blokes in lycra or fat blokes in ill-fitting footy clobber!?[/quote] [:S] Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lake district canary 4,520 Posted June 12, 2015 [quote user="lake district canary"][quote user="Herman "][quote user="lake district canary"][quote user="Herman "]Does anyone know why Sunday football is declining. Is it simply that people can''t be bothered?[/quote]Too many people out cycling......... [:(] [;)][/quote]Fat blokes in lycra or fat blokes in ill-fitting footy clobber!?[/quote] [:S][/quote] Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
First Wazzock 863 Posted June 12, 2015 The days of seeing a four figure crowd at Eaton Park on a Sunday morning to watch Loke have long gone! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tetteys Jig 830 Posted June 13, 2015 Perhaps 6 a side has taken over which has increased massively in recent years. I do both. 11 a side is more for the weekends though as it takes up a fair few hours. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KoromaCrab 0 Posted June 13, 2015 good shout about 5/6aside. Smaller pitch, less muddy, less to run - maybe even easier to get to. Also more chance of games happening with full teams - playing 11-aside has a risk or one or two players not turning up and fines happening. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites