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Jimes wrote:

So, putting a slightly wonky record straight, there are a few reasons for Santos putting in a second team this year. We're not planning any sort of world (or even BCFA) domination, or thinking of being able to 'play the system' to our advantage by getting rules changed.

We have been thinking about it for a while as we do seem to be gathering people at training each week - friends from workplace, family members and in-laws turning up to join in - many of which are un-churched and really enjoy the atmosphere and ethos of the club. What we cannot do is play everybody in one team due to a number of factors - one being we'd never get any consistency with no two players playing together more than once in the season , and there are obviously very varied standards of player within the club so a number of players would not be able to cope with the pressures and glitz of 1st Division football week in, week out (myself included... ). And the aging population of the original members of Santos are finding it harder and harder every year to keep up with the youngsters (that's me too ) and rather than pushing them out to find new clubs that are not connected to the church they have been attending for possibly 10+ years, it seems a little less harsh to put in a second team.

The reason behind the rule change was primarily to make things more flexible to enable those players making improvements in the second team to be able to play in the first division later in the season (but before playing 9 league games for the third div team!), and to aid rehabilitation for injured players.

To be frank, I feel that the integrity of VCF Santos is under scrutiny, and this reflects the integrity of Bristol Vineyard Church, and so with this in mind, I can assure you that the main reason for having a second team and approaching the BCFA for a rule change, is to continue to foster a competitive but encouraging ethos in the club that allows us to continue gathering more people who can be exposed to followers of Jesus and see what living life to the full is all about.

Please scrutinise us - keep us accountable, question us and make known any concerns, but please don't wade in with accusations and ideas of unfair play. We are wholly committed to the values of the league, and with this in mind - football really is just a game! Life and relationships, on the other hand, are a little bit more.
Thank you for listening

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StapletonGas wrote:

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Jimes wrote:

So, putting a slightly wonky record straight, there are a few reasons for Santos putting in a second team this year. We're not planning any sort of world (or even BCFA) domination, or thinking of being able to 'play the system' to our advantage by getting rules changed.

We have been thinking about it for a while as we do seem to be gathering people at training each week - friends from workplace, family members and in-laws turning up to join in - many of which are un-churched and really enjoy the atmosphere and ethos of the club. What we cannot do is play everybody in one team due to a number of factors - one being we'd never get any consistency with no two players playing together more than once in the season , and there are obviously very varied standards of player within the club so a number of players would not be able to cope with the pressures and glitz of 1st Division football week in, week out (myself included... ). And the aging population of the original members of Santos are finding it harder and harder every year to keep up with the youngsters (that's me too ) and rather than pushing them out to find new clubs that are not connected to the church they have been attending for possibly 10+ years, it seems a little less harsh to put in a second team.

The reason behind the rule change was primarily to make things more flexible to enable those players making improvements in the second team to be able to play in the first division later in the season (but before playing 9 league games for the third div team!), and to aid rehabilitation for injured players.

To be frank, I feel that the integrity of VCF Santos is under scrutiny, and this reflects the integrity of Bristol Vineyard Church, and so with this in mind, I can assure you that the main reason for having a second team and approaching the BCFA for a rule change, is to continue to foster a competitive but encouraging ethos in the club that allows us to continue gathering more people who can be exposed to followers of Jesus and see what living life to the full is all about.

Please scrutinise us - keep us accountable, question us and make known any concerns, but please don't wade in with accusations and ideas of unfair play. We are wholly committed to the values of the league, and with this in mind - football really is just a game! Life and relationships, on the other hand, are a little bit more.
Thank you for listening

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Absolutely no problem with this as far as I am concerned. Before joining the old Counterslip club in the early 90's I was with Fishponds Athletic who had a 3 team structure.

If you can expand in this way then it can only be good for the club and in this league it is even better news as this gives the chance to reach out and spread the Christian Faith to more guys. I have often said that a good well run football club where things are done properly and a great package is on offer, gets the lads in the door, then they find out that there is so much more to the club. Run a half baked operation and guys will leave and go elsewhere.

Hopefully more clubs will aspire to this and grow. Certainly when I was with Thornbury for 6 years, we seriously looked at a reserve team, but the old rules were too restrictive. At that time you had to run as 2 separate clubs. If we had these new rules then, well who knows, it may have been possible.

I often trained with you in the 07/08 season at City Academy and you seem a good bunch of lads. Good luck with it and I hope you prosper.

Ian

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Eakes wrote:

Unfortunately the people that are questioning it are people who weren't there on Monday night and didn't hear the discussion, which is unfortunate. All the best to VCF, I admire them taking this step, its one Woodies have thought about but its a big step to take administratively etc and we weren't ready for it. So you'll certainly have my support and I would imagine most sensible people that play in the BCFA.

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Eakes wrote:

Unfortunately the people that are questioning it are people who weren't there on Monday night and didn't hear the discussion, which is unfortunate. All the best to VCF, I admire them taking this step, its one Woodies have thought about but its a big step to take administratively etc and we weren't ready for it. So you'll certainly have my support and I would imagine most sensible people that play in the BCFA.

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Crofty7 wrote:

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fearsleftfoot wrote:

this is controversial but would the rule have been changed if a team without someone on the committee decided to put two teams in!

I agree with lenny Santos will be favourites, I assume though that they cannot play in the same division with VCF Santos, what happens if one is promoted and one relegated or the reserve santos (when promoted from div 3 or if the league reverts back to 2 divs( keep winning div 2 but cant be promoted to div 1. Could make a mockery of the league.

As i said a little controversial, the floor is open

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At the end of the day Fears we as a BCFA league had to pass the rule change, therefore it was the decision of the league managers to allow Santos( and widcombe) to excercise this rule, the fact Si Baker raised it is no different to as whether we had raised it. As much as there is a freedom to discuss things there is discussion and there is accusation the second of which isn't really warranted on this board nor is it the place to do it. To question how the BCFA is ran (by people who voluntarily give their time) is a bit much and a laugh coming from someone who's team didn't attend the AGM.

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