London Senior Cup Semi-Final, Hanwell Town v Hamlet, Tuesday 15.04.25

[Multigums]

One big thing that hasn't helped this season is the constant log jam of injuries and stalled recoveries.

If there one other person flying under the radar and should be getting it in the neck, it's the physio

Possibly but every club has injuries - problem is no reserve/ youth team to cover hence short term loans or in Robe's case 20 mins. I don't know how you establish a whole team approach in such such circumstances and that is precisely why we are here - presumably talented individuals unable to coalesce into an effective unit. Still time

 

[Pink Panther]

Can't believe their no 9 missed that chance - lame shot that Berry easily snaffled.

I'm fairly sure it was the black #10 Chris Regis who missed the open goal, not the white #9 Alfie Pendlebury, not that it matters other than for the purpose of writing a report. (The Hanwell twitter feed doesn't mention the incident.)

One big thing that hasn't helped this season is the constant log jam of injuries and stalled recoveries.

If there one other person flying under the radar and should be getting it in the neck, it's the physio

We haven't had the same physio all season either. I believe we use a company that supplies a suitable regular individual, with a locum if necessary, and the bloke who was here for the first part of the season was replaced at the request of the new manager.

I'd be very careful before apportioning any blame to a physio without being in a position of knowledge. A physio might diagnose a problem and offer the correct recovery programme to minimise the number of games missed, but ultimately it's down to the player to follow that advice, and also for the manager not to rush him back and push him too hard.

The best recent spell came with Mason, Wynter and Chambers as the regular back three. Losing the first two, neither of whom is a specialist centre back, has been catastrophic.

German and Ross Marshall were great signings on paper at the start of the season, and should have formed the heart of a solid defensive unit. Each is clearly better than this league, yet we barely got any games out of them, never mind fielding both together. In theory a back three of those two either side of Chambers, with Wynter and Mason in front as a holding midfield duo, ought to be rock solid and allow us to pick 5 attacking or creative players around them without too many defensive responsibilities.

The midfield has usually consisted of whoever is available rather than finding an effective combination, and after Bremang's initial promise we still don't have a convincing second striker, either as an alternative to or a partner for Millsy.

Collins and Lynch played about 20 games between them without contributing a goal, yet Lynch (who displayed all the right attributes except sticking the ball in the net) seems to have turned into a 6'3" goal machine since joining Hemel Hempstead a division higher. If only Brad had inherited him, perhaps we'd have got similar returns and wouldn't be in the current mess?

 

[Pink Panther]

Match highlights. The goals conceded are pretty grim viewing.

 

[Dumebi Dumaka]

Rotten to the core…

There are some like Mills and Chambers who are maybe worth keeping but they’re the quiet ones when they should be the ones standing up as senior players pulling everyone else with them, so if they go then sobeit. I see no-one who actually really gives a fuck in this squad. Too many pampered primadonnas. Get rid, and put the next lot on performance based contracts. Yeah we might lose someone to 7 day approach, but I’ll take that over paying another version of this squad and many before for a full season when they just don’t deserve it. I don’t give a shit about the noise around attendances and perceived money, the fact is we’re all being taken for mugs by 16-20 players each season who talk a good game but fail to deliver.

Dumaka as Director of Football can do one. Absolute waste of space and deserves a lot more heat than he currently gets (none).

Al, I’m not online at all really but was made aware of this and other mentions of me so worth responding directly.

You haven’t heard from me in any role capacity because the Director of Football role has not been one implemented at the club. In season 22/23 when I joined, I acted in the position given the clear needs at the time. In practice, for anyone to operate effectively in a role a few things are required; a clear remit, agreed role description/alignment, expectations set and accountability in decision making. So without this existing, I haven’t felt it sensible to speak publicly from the position - I did turn down the first opportunity to do so at the time in 22/23 specifically for this reason. I am not in charge of footballing decisions and my role is no different to any other acting Director in providing advice and support on all club matters, football and non-football related.

I completely agree with folks re the consistently poor performance across the board over the years - incl all the contributing factors - and have been vocal internally as to what I believe needs to change since being in the building.

I’d be more than happy to discuss (with you and anyone) any heat you feel should be coming in my direction and answer any questions you have. I’m regularly at home games and don’t turn away any conversations.

I’ll be at the next two so please feel free to stop me if you see me! Or let me know if there’s an easy way we can connect before/after.

 

[Paula_G]

Succinct response and thanks though must admit I’m curious as to why no one within the club’s board and its inner circle has chosen to state this in the past 3 years particularly when your LinkedIn profile describes you as “Director of Football”.

 

[AveryDave]

Al, I’m not online at all really but was made aware of this and other mentions of me so worth responding directly.

You haven’t heard from me in any role capacity because the Director of Football role has not been one implemented at the club. In season 22/23 when I joined, I acted in the position given the clear needs at the time. In practice, for anyone to operate effectively in a role a few things are required; a clear remit, agreed role description/alignment, expectations set and accountability in decision making. So without this existing, I haven’t felt it sensible to speak publicly from the position - I did turn down the first opportunity to do so at the time in 22/23 specifically for this reason. I am not in charge of footballing decisions and my role is no different to any other acting Director in providing advice and support on all club matters, football and non-football related.

I completely agree with folks re the consistently poor performance across the board over the years - incl all the contributing factors - and have been vocal internally as to what I believe needs to change since being in the building.

I’d be more than happy to discuss (with you and anyone) any heat you feel should be coming in my direction and answer any questions you have. I’m regularly at home games and don’t turn away any conversations.

I’ll be at the next two so please feel free to stop me if you see me! Or let me know if there’s an easy way we can connect before/after.

Similarly appreciate the willingness to set the record straight on this, and does likely raise as many questions as it answers - but for a starter, could I suggest the club updates the website which also lists you as Director of Football?

Dulwich Hamlet Football Club - Staff & Officials

Dulwich Hamlet Football Club Staff and Officials

dulwichhamletfc.co.uk

 

[editor]

Similarly appreciate the willingness to set the record straight on this, and does likely raise as many questions as it answers - but for a starter, could I suggest updating the club website which also lists you as Director of Football?

Dulwich Hamlet Football Club - Staff & Officials

Dulwich Hamlet Football Club Staff and Officials

dulwichhamletfc.co.uk

Wouldn't hurt to put some faces on this rather unfriendly page either:

 

[Paula_G]

Wouldn't hurt to put some faces on this rather unfriendly page either:

View attachment 474905

And at least use a female silhouette for Brit

 

[Pink Panther]

It appears Hanwell fielded an ineligible player in this match. This is Joe Waight receiving the Man of the Match award after the game:

https://x.com/hanwelltownfc/status/1912473156096348264

And here he is on the teamsheet for Haringey Borough for a London Senior Cup 2nd Round tie against Barking earlier this season:

 

[NoShitSherlock]

Are we really the type of club that want to get in to a final on a technicality? I bloody hope not…
I’m much more concerned about how our Director of Football didn’t realise that he was the Director of Football for the last few years, despite it being on his own LinkedIn and the club website.

 

[Don't Slow Down]

I can now understand our second half performance. Half time team talk, "Treat the next 45 minutes like a training session, Hanwell have fucked up lads".

 

[Pink Panther]

Are we really the type of club that want to get in to a final on a technicality? I bloody hope not…
I’m much more concerned about how our Director of Football didn’t realise that he was the Director of Football for the last few years, despite it being on his own LinkedIn and the club website.

I'm sure we're not the type of club that "wants" to get into a cup final on a technicality, but we're probably also not the type of club that would wish to win a semi-final with an ineligible player.

We all know players are not allowed to play for more than one club per season in the same knockout competition. If the boot was on the other foot and we were disqualified because of this, would you say we were unlucky, or would you say it was our own fault for making a basic error? The Director of Football issue is completely irrelevant to this situation.

 

[Pink Panther]

.

 

[pompeydunc]

Are we really the type of club that want to get in to a final on a technicality? I bloody hope not…

Huh?! It's not our choice.

The LFA rules state that Hanwell will either be expelled or they will ask for the match to be replayed. That's quite a difference. There is probably precedent to look at.

The final is scheduled for 29 April at Harrow Borough. So with an Easter Monday match and a Saturday match for both clubs, there's no realistic chance of a replay. Perhaps Wednesday or Thursday?!

 

[NoShitSherlock]

You seem to have combined two separate issues in to one here Pink Panther
They are 2 separate points.

1. No team plans to field ineligible players.
But if we didn’t have the quality to beat that team on the day, do we deserve to progress? I didn’t see the match, so you tell me if that one player ran rings around everyone and single-handedly destroyed us. Maybe, if he was the PoM. If we had done the same, then quite rightly we shouldn’t have progressed.

2. We seem to be confused as to whether we have a Director of Football or not

 

[Paula_G]

It appears Hanwell fielded an ineligible player in this match. This is Joe Waight receiving the Man of the Match award after the game:

https://x.com/hanwelltownfc/status/1912473156096348264

And here he is on the teamsheet for Haringey Borough for a London Senior Cup 2nd Round tie against Barking earlier this season:

View attachment 474985

I believe there is a time limit for clubs to make a protest, two days after the match if I remember rightly from my experience though others might correct me. Presumably Dulwich’s secretary had spotted this at the time and an appeal has already been lodged with the London FA?

 

[pompeydunc]

I believe there is a time limit for clubs to make a protest, two days after the match if I remember rightly from my experience though others might correct me. Presumably Dulwich’s secretary had spotted this at the time and an appeal has already been lodged with the London FA?

Don't think the opposition needs to protest. I think the LFA's Cups & Competitions officer (and/or the Council committee) look at the lineups and raise any issues.

 

[Paula_G]

Intriguing. Seem to recall past incidents of something similar happening when the ineligible player was brought to the attention of the relevant FA by the team who had made the error in selecting the player. Interestingly the player in question didn’t play in the previous round although he seems to have been a Hanwell player at the time.

 

[Pink Panther]

You seem to have combined two separate issues in to one here Pink Panther
They are 2 separate points.

1. No team plans to field ineligible players.
But if we didn’t have the quality to beat that team on the day, do we deserve to progress? I didn’t see the match, so you tell me if that one player ran rings around everyone and single-handedly destroyed us. Maybe, if he was the PoM. If we had done the same, then quite rightly we shouldn’t have progressed.

2. We seem to be confused as to whether we have a Director of Football or not

I think you'll find you have combined two entirely unrelated issues in your original post by throwing in a reference to the Director of Football business. I haven't offered an opinion on whether or not we deserve to progress, I simply stated what has happened and linked some evidence. It's irrelevant how prominent a part the individual in question has played in a case like this. He's played 90 minutes for two separate clubs in the same competition, so he and his club have given the London FA a decision to make. Perhaps neither club deserves to be in the final, in which case why not just award the trophy to Brentford? I don't suppose they'd find that very satisfactory either.

 

[Raymondo]

Interestingly I see Jersey Bulls have lost out to Redhill FC winning the Combined Counties league due to 3 Pts deducted for Jersey Bills fielding an ineligible player (an admin error by all accounts). I’m in the camp of rules are rules.

 

[Pink Panther]

Interestingly I see Jersey Bulls have lost out to Redhill FC winning the Combined Counties league due to 3 Pts deducted for Jersey Bills fielding an ineligible player (an admin error by all accounts). I’m in the camp of rules are rules.

Jersey have really screwed up big time with a schoolboy error. They had a player (Toby Ritzema) suspended for a match at Abbey Rangers, which was abandoned due to a serious injury. Therefore the suspension was not completed, so he should have been suspended for the next game instead, but they picked him to start.

It's fairly common knowledge that yellow and red cards incurred in an abandoned game still stand. Even as someone who has never been a club official or committee member, I wouldn't expect an abandoned game to count towards serving a suspension, so it beggars belief that any club secretary wouldn't know that or at least double check to make certain.

 

[Raymondo]

Thanks for the insight Pink Panther. My point is I would expect the rules to be applied consistently across all competitions including the London Senior Cup.

 

[Bugpowder Dust]

The rules about ineligible players in cup games are long-standing and clear, and the penalties are well known.

So it seems pretty basic for Hanwell to know if one of their players is cup-tied or not.

I'm not going to be writing to the London FA about it, but if the decision is a replay or Hamlet go through, I'm equally not going to complain.

 

[Paula_G]

Do we even know if the club have put together a protest as the only place I’ve seen this mentioned is on here?

 

[Don't Slow Down]

See some of you on the 29th April then

 

[Taper]

Bradley Quinton alludes to the Hanwell issue in his post match interview. So I assume some formal process is underway.

 

[pompeydunc]

Don't think the opposition needs to protest. I think the LFA's Cups & Competitions officer (and/or the Council committee) look at the lineups and raise any issues.

I've re-read rules on this, and the opposition do need to appeal...and within two days. Rule 7b.

 

[wphillips7]

I've re-read rules on this, and the opposition do need to appeal...and within two days. Rule 7b.

What do you think could be grounds for an appeal

 

[liamdhfc]

I believe there is a time limit for clubs to make a protest, two days after the match if I remember rightly from my experience though others might correct me. Presumably Dulwich’s secretary had spotted this at the time and an appeal has already been lodged with the London

What do you think could be grounds for an appeal

Whether within 48 hours or not, the appeal is that they played an ineligible player. Seems strange to put the onus on a club to check the opposition’s line up, surely that’s for the governing body to do. Shouldn’t need to appeal, a player clearly played for another club. Schoolboy error by Hanwell’s secretary.

 

[wphillips7]

Agreed. Amazed that the player didn’t flag it