So often we hear that a player has signed on an 'emergency loan', when there seems to be no emergency at all. In reality, they are short term loans for between four weeks and three months. To understand them needs a careful reading of the Football League's rules regarding players' contracts, and how a team can bring players in (or send players out) during the season.
Full contract
Perhaps best to first undertand a full contact. This is for players over the age of 17, and will be a contract to 30th June in any year. Any renegotiated contract with increased remuneration has to be for at least one more year than the current contract. So once a club has signed a player under contract, he is at that the club until the end of the season, or any season thereafer.
The Transfer Windows
Players can only be signed on a full contract or on a standard loan during the football transfer windows. In the Football League, these are from the end of one season to midnight on 31 August, and then midnight on 31 December to 31 January.
Standard Loan
A standard loan can be for either a half or full season, and must be to the time when either of the transfer windows reopens, so are either to 31 December, or to the end of the season. Only a season long loan can be recalled by the club, and only in the January transfer window. A club can have a maximum of four loan players under the age of 23 and four over 23s in the season. No more than two over 23s can join one club from another in a season.
Emergency Loan
In reality, these are just short term loans of four weeks to three months. They are permitted during the Transfer Windows, and then again from seven days after the Transfer Window has closed until the fourth Thursday in November, so from 7 September 2011 to 25 November 2011 this season. In the second half of the season emergency loans can be made from 7 January 2012 to the fourth Thursday in March (the 22nd March). Emergency loans must be between 28 days and 93 days long, and recalls are only allowed after 28 days.
Youth Loan
These are basically the same as Emergency Loans, except the youth player must continue to be in the programme of education put in place for him. The 93 day maximum loan period does not apply, but the loan cannot be beyond the player's 21st birthday.
Emergency Loan of Goalkeeper
This is perhaps the understandable Emergency. Where all professional goalkeepers are certified unfit or are suspended, an emergency goalkeeper can be signed for seven days, renewable every seven days (again the other 'keepers must be certified unfit), subject to a maximum of 93 days for any one goalkeeper.
Loan players on the team sheet
A maximum of five loan players (standard, emergency or youth), excluding emergency goalkeepers can be named on a team sheet.
Loans from one club to another
A maximum of four loan players (standard, emergency or youth) may join one club from another, but one additional youth player can be loaned.
That is about as much as is digestible, without delving into the realm of non-contract players.
Sunday, 2 October 2011
Saturday, 20 August 2011
Paolo Di Canio's thoughts ahead of the derby game
Swindon Town manager : Paolo Di Canio
Since yesterday morning I woke up thinking about Oxford and I felt straight away the butterflies in my stomach.
I think this rivalry is bigger than Lazio and Roma. In Rome the rivalry is big but they play twice a year. Here, they don't play often, so the rivalry has grown.
It's the most important derby of my career.
This is absolutely a very special game and for us it should be a World Cup final.
"He's [Oxford United Striker, No. 9 James Constable] a big Swindon fan through and through - the Oxford fans know it.
If my players put in even 10 per cent of the fans’ desire for this game, they will be okay, with 100 per cent we will win easy but even if they bring with them 10 per cent of the fans’ desire to give their best then I will be very happy because then we are in a right way.
The 11 who will start on Sunday must be an 11 who can play football but also give their heart. I don’t mean that a good technical player will not play but they have to show that even if they are not proper nasty people, that is what they have to become in a positive and professional way.”
Oxford United Manager : Chris Wilder
We will keep our heads down and let them get on with it. You don’t win anything with articles or quotes in the paper, but every manager has their own approach. But it’s not about me, it’s about my players and it’s about the supporters getting behind us like they always do.
Since yesterday morning I woke up thinking about Oxford and I felt straight away the butterflies in my stomach.
I think this rivalry is bigger than Lazio and Roma. In Rome the rivalry is big but they play twice a year. Here, they don't play often, so the rivalry has grown.
It's the most important derby of my career.
This is absolutely a very special game and for us it should be a World Cup final.
"He's [Oxford United Striker, No. 9 James Constable] a big Swindon fan through and through - the Oxford fans know it.
If my players put in even 10 per cent of the fans’ desire for this game, they will be okay, with 100 per cent we will win easy but even if they bring with them 10 per cent of the fans’ desire to give their best then I will be very happy because then we are in a right way.
The 11 who will start on Sunday must be an 11 who can play football but also give their heart. I don’t mean that a good technical player will not play but they have to show that even if they are not proper nasty people, that is what they have to become in a positive and professional way.”
Oxford United Manager : Chris Wilder
We will keep our heads down and let them get on with it. You don’t win anything with articles or quotes in the paper, but every manager has their own approach. But it’s not about me, it’s about my players and it’s about the supporters getting behind us like they always do.
Wednesday, 3 August 2011
Kassam attendance records - the highest
In order,
12,243: 06 May 2006 - vs Leyton Orient FL2. away 4,603 = home 7,640
The day we were relegated from the football league. Orient were given the whole of the North Stand some weeks before when Oxford were seemingly safe. An early goal for United from Eric Sabin was equalised by Craig Easton. Gary Alexander put Orient 2-1 ahead, before Chris Willmott levelled the score. Late on, ex United player Lee Steele scored a third to win promotion for Orient, and relegation for United along with Rushden & Diamonds. United finished with 49 points, Bury, Torquay, Notts County and Stockport were all on 52 points, and a victory for United would have seen them safe.
12,177: 06 Nov 2002 - vs Aston Villa LCP. away ???
11,963: 03 May 2010 - vs Rushden & Diamonds BSP POS2. away 1,109 = home 10,854
11,825: 03 Mar 2012 - vs S***don Town FL2. away 1,266 = home 10,559
The home tickets had sold out back in November, and the S***don tickets went on sale on the coldest night of the year. United were down to 10 men early on after James Constable was sent off for an elbow on 10 minutes, but two quick goals from Asa Hall and Oli Johnson put the Yellows 2-0 up after 16 minutes. With two banks of four, and Scott Rendell up front on his own, United defended resolutely on to claim victory, doing the double over S***don Town, and ending their 10 match winning streak.
11,673 10 Jan 2016 - vs Swansea City, FAC 3rd round. away 1,429 = home 10,244
United won 3-2 after going one nil down early on to Jefferson Montero, before a Liam Sercombe penalty on half time drew us level, and two second half goals from Kemar Roofe took us 3-1 up, before Swansea pulled one back to leave a nervy last 25 minutes.
11,647 30 Jan 2016 - vs Blackburn Rovers, FAC 4th round. away 1,485 = home 10,162
United won 3-2 after going one nil down early on to Jefferson Montero, before a Liam Sercombe penalty on half time drew us level, and two second half goals from Kemar Roofe took us 3-1 up, before Swansea pulled one back to leave a nervy last 25 minutes.
11,645: 08 Dec 2002 - vs S***don Town FAC. away ???
11,121: 26 Dec 2001 - vs Luton Town FL2. away 2,646 = home 8,475
11,065: 26 Dec 2006 - vs Woking BSP. away 306 = home 10,759
The day we were relegated from the football league. Orient were given the whole of the North Stand some weeks before when Oxford were seemingly safe. An early goal for United from Eric Sabin was equalised by Craig Easton. Gary Alexander put Orient 2-1 ahead, before Chris Willmott levelled the score. Late on, ex United player Lee Steele scored a third to win promotion for Orient, and relegation for United along with Rushden & Diamonds. United finished with 49 points, Bury, Torquay, Notts County and Stockport were all on 52 points, and a victory for United would have seen them safe.
12,177: 06 Nov 2002 - vs Aston Villa LCP. away ???
11,963: 03 May 2010 - vs Rushden & Diamonds BSP POS2. away 1,109 = home 10,854
This has the record for the highest
number of home fans = 10,854. The match was the Conference play-off semi-final 2nd leg. We had drawn the first leg away, but won the second leg, and went on to win the
Wembley Play-off 3-1 against York and return to the football league.
11,825: 03 Mar 2012 - vs S***don Town FL2. away 1,266 = home 10,559
The home tickets had sold out back in November, and the S***don tickets went on sale on the coldest night of the year. United were down to 10 men early on after James Constable was sent off for an elbow on 10 minutes, but two quick goals from Asa Hall and Oli Johnson put the Yellows 2-0 up after 16 minutes. With two banks of four, and Scott Rendell up front on his own, United defended resolutely on to claim victory, doing the double over S***don Town, and ending their 10 match winning streak.
11,673 10 Jan 2016 - vs Swansea City, FAC 3rd round. away 1,429 = home 10,244
United won 3-2 after going one nil down early on to Jefferson Montero, before a Liam Sercombe penalty on half time drew us level, and two second half goals from Kemar Roofe took us 3-1 up, before Swansea pulled one back to leave a nervy last 25 minutes.
11,647 30 Jan 2016 - vs Blackburn Rovers, FAC 4th round. away 1,485 = home 10,162
United won 3-2 after going one nil down early on to Jefferson Montero, before a Liam Sercombe penalty on half time drew us level, and two second half goals from Kemar Roofe took us 3-1 up, before Swansea pulled one back to leave a nervy last 25 minutes.
11,645: 08 Dec 2002 - vs S***don Town FAC. away ???
11,121: 26 Dec 2001 - vs Luton Town FL2. away 2,646 = home 8,475
11,065: 26 Dec 2006 - vs Woking BSP. away 306 = home 10,759
10,691: 08 May 2007 - vs Exeter City BSP POS2. away 1,000 (Exeter's estimate) = home Est 9,691
This was the second leg of the Conference play-off semi-finals. United had won the first leg 1-0, and were 1-0 up after 27 minutes in the second leg, before Exeter drew one back before half time. Rob Duffy missed a one-on-one with the goalkeeper, Exeter took the scores level over the fixture, and the game went to extra time and penalties. The match report says differently, but I think we hit the post on three of our spot kicks, and we were left to rot with another three years in the Conference. Exeter went on to win the play-offs, and indeed were also promoted to League One whilst United remained in the BSP.
10,613: 08 Sep 2009 - vs Luton Town BSP. away 2,331 = home 8,282
Luton Town had been relegated three years in succession, and were now in their first year in the Conference, having had 30 points deducted the season before. Oxford were no longer the only 'big' team in non-league. Shortly into the season, Luton were the visitors on a Tuesday night to the Kassam stadium, apparently with many of their supporters unable to get into the match. Early on, United won a penalty, but it was parried away, however the ball was soon back in the Luton area for James Constable to knock in.
10,298: 26 Apr 2009 - vs Northwich Victoria BSP. away 119 = home 10,179
The last game of the season, and Oxford were hoping for a miracle to reach the BSP play-offs, having had a five point deduction earlier in the season. United needed a win and for other results to go in their favour. However, the game was lost 2-1, with a pitch invasion marring the game. Visiting goalkeeper Ryan Clarke gave a thumbs up to the home crowd at the end of the game, and would soon be signing as United's first choice goalkeeper.
10,049 26 December 2013 - vs Plymouth Argyle. FL2. away 699 = home 9,350
Promoted by the club as "The Big Match", it ended up as a big disappointment. After an even but uneventful scoreless first half, the Us conceded within 45 seconds of the restart, with a shot that Ryan Clarke watched shoot into the far corner to his left. Asa Hall briefly put us level with a long range shot into the goal in front of the Oxford Mail stand. Another defensive mix-up saw us 2-1 down, and once Dave Kitson gave away a penalty and it was 3-1 it was very much game over. A late own goal on 88 minutes gave United a spectre of hope, but there was not enought time to force the equaliser.
10,138: 2 Feb 2016 vs Millwall, LCP area final 2nd leg.
9,559 16 Feb 2016 vs Northampton. L2. away 1943 = home7616
9,870: 24 Sep 2003 - vs Reading LCP. away ???
9,683 26 Dec 2015 vs Exeter. away 547 = home 9,136
9,477: 26 Dec 2003 - vs Leyton Orient FL2. away 635 = home 8,842
9,440: 28 Dec 2010 - vs Macclesfield Town FL2. away 86 = home 9,354
Promoted by Bridle Insurance.
Highest number of home fans in a conference match (incc play-offs) = 10,854 vs Rushden
Highest number of home fans in a conference match (excl play-offs) = 10,759 vs Woking, 26 Dec 2006
Highest number of home fans in a league match = 10,559 vs Swindon Town
Highest number of home fans in a conference match (excl play-offs) = 10,759 vs Woking, 26 Dec 2006
Highest number of home fans in a league match = 10,559 vs Swindon Town
Highest number of home fans in an FA Cup match = 10,244 vs Swansea
Highest number of home fans in a League Cup match = ???
Thursday, 14 July 2011
Oxford United pre-season tour to USA
Following on from their first pre-season match for 2011/12 against Didcot Town, Oxford United headed out on Monday for their three match USA pre-season friendlies tour / team bonding week / Seacoast United visit.
As a first time visitor, it is easy to see why the region is known as New England - apart from the clapboard wooden houses, the surrounding countryside could easily be mistaken for rural Oxfordshire with grassy meadows and woodland. The local roadsigns and towns however suggest a surreal version of the English placenames that the colonialists named after their own hometowns. Boston is the biggest city, Manchester is about 20 miles East of Exeter where United were to play their first game, and Dover is a further 20 miles North and inland.
United are based in Portsmouth, about 60 miles North of Boston on the Gulf Of Maine. The weather has been hot, sunny, cloudless and humid, with temperatures in the 80s. After a few days training at the high school and on the beach, including taking sessions with a local school, on Wednesday the team went to the evening game between New England Patriots and Manchester United
- although plans for a pre-match barbecue were scuppered by the first rain in over a week.
Oxford's first match was played at Exeter High School. From what I could gather, the school relocated a few years back to an out of town site, and from the main highway the drive to the school was about another mile. The school was surrounded by sports fields, with all weather tennis courts and athletics track as well as grass pitches. An enterprising Seacoast fan had placed $5 parking signs at the entrance, however the local police were having none of it, insisting that as the school was public property, they could only ask for donations.
Confusion over a 6pm, 6:30 or 7pm kick-off meant your writer arrived well over an hour early for the actual 7pm kick-off. Chairman Kelvin Thomas was already at the ground, chatting to various of the Seacoast United coaches and management, and was quick to say hello. Seacoast is perhaps similar to the United youth and community system, running youth teams at all age levels, but on a much larger scale. Several of the Seacoast training staff were here from the North East of England to coach the youngsters, which would become apparent later from the stadium announcer's accent. The rest of the United non-playing tour were along soon thereafter. Matt from the ticket-office, Jerome Sale from Radio Oxford, Yellow Player Adam and Simon too. The players then arrived in a cortege of pick-up trucks with Chris Wilder, Mickey Lewis, Andy Melville, Alan Hodgkinson, and Andy Dubowski.
The Americans take a pride in sports, and the match took place in the William Ball Stadium, which is the school's American Football / Soccer stadium. This was an astroturf pitch, primarily marked out in white with the grid-iron ten-yard lines and markings, and the soccer pitch in yellow. There were also blue lines for lacrosse perhaps. Behind each goal were the American football posts, which were surely tempting some row Z shots and touch-down conversions. Also two reasonable sized electronic scoreboards, again designed for the gridiron scores. The "Bill-Ball" had two stands on either side of the half way line, in the traditional bleachers lay-out : uncovered benches, although aluminum rather than old fashioned wood. The main stand was perhaps 40 rows high on a steel frame contruction, with a decent sized commentary box at the top, and a roof top area for cameramen and photographers. Beneath the stand was an open concourse offering soft drinks, pizza slices or hot dogs. Being a high school there was of course no alcohol license.
At least one other fan had made the trip from England, although later on we did spot a few fans wearing polo shirts with the United logo.
About half an hour before kick-off, the stand started filling up, mainly it seemed Seacoast United familes and school children. All of the Seacoast officals wore the club t-shirt, which at least gave the game a semblance of a home crowd, whereas amongst other football shirts were a few Manchester United and Arsenal colours. A small souvenir stall was set up, with a 4 page team-sheet for a dollar, Seacoast scarves, tops, and a pre-season Seacoast-Oxford t-shirt for $20. A local mortgage company also had a stall giving out mini-balls, and trying to tempt new contacts with a half-time draw for Redsox tickets if you gave them a business card. After a half hour warm-up with music blaring out [The Who, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, MGMT, Kings of Leon, ] both teams then came back out to Carmina Burana (the Old Spice music) with a Seacoast youth teams' guard of honour. Surprisingly there were no cheerleaders. Both teams lined up for the National Anthems before the main stand with the Stars and Stripes, and Union Flag. A Seacoast school girl sang both anthems beautifully, first our own, although she did surprise the Oxford squad and myself by continuing for a second verse after we had all cheered and applauded at the end of the usual verse and chorus.
Onto the game: trialist Chris Knopka played in goal for the full 90 minutes. Michael Duberry and Jake Wright at the back; Tony Capaldi and Josh Payne slightly further up; Simon Heslop, Asa Hall and Andrew Whing in midfield; Alfie Potter, James Constable and Jon-Paul Pitman up front. The game opened fairly convincingly, Alfie Potter darting through the defence from the corner flag to score within 4 minutes. For Seacoast United Phantoms, apparently eight of the eleven starters were under 20 years old. However, their youth did not seem to bother them, and they played with a little flair and most of the time seemed assured of their formation and tactics. Numer 6 Steven Palumbo caught the eye early on, with a few little step-overs and a quick turn of pace catching United out. Later in the game he would again intercept United's careless passing.
Seacoast got a penalty midway through the first half, which was duly converted. The home fans cheered and clapped politely, with a little commentator-orchestrated feet trampling on the stand.
For the rest of the first half, Seacoast attacked well, and had four good chances, shooting wide when one-on-one, one over the bar, and United looked troubled. Duberry at the back was most vocal in the team, and seems to be the missing link from last season with his confidence and experience at clearing the ball from danger. At the front, it seems United had been watching too much Leo Messi and thought that they could run past two or three players at a time and score. It was not to be. There was one more good chance for United at the end of the first half when a well struck shot was parried by the Seacoast goalkeeper with his right hand, and then controlled with his left hand as if he were a basket-ball player.
There was no half time cross-bar challenge, but a few hundred kids were having mini kickabouts, with the United substitutes trying to do some warmups in amongst them.
Second half, Chris Wilder moved down to the bench from his first half spot below the commentary box next to Kelvin Thomas, and unexpectedly for a friendly there were no changes at half-time. Eventually, a few were made, Damian Batt and Matt Paterson coming on. Batt was dangerous with some attacking runs up the right, and for the last twenty minutes United looked the stronger side. JPP also had a good shot hit the bar and looks a good prospect for 2011/12. With a few minutes to go, Harry Worley was brought on and played as centre forward, missing a fairly good chance which brought a round of applause from the Seacoast fans.
After a few minutes of added time, the final whistle went on United's first USA game with a 1-1 draw. Seacoast jogged off the pitch, United jogged off towards the centre circle I thought for a warm down, but were then sat heads-down in a circle for Wilder's post match school report. As a fan it felt like we had been playing against a team of plucky youngsters like Barnet or Lewes, and I don't think Wilder will have allowed his players to blame the Astroturf, the heat, new players, or even the lack of fans. Perhaps JPP, Duberry and Batt will have come away with some credit, but overall 5/10.
As a first time visitor, it is easy to see why the region is known as New England - apart from the clapboard wooden houses, the surrounding countryside could easily be mistaken for rural Oxfordshire with grassy meadows and woodland. The local roadsigns and towns however suggest a surreal version of the English placenames that the colonialists named after their own hometowns. Boston is the biggest city, Manchester is about 20 miles East of Exeter where United were to play their first game, and Dover is a further 20 miles North and inland.
United are based in Portsmouth, about 60 miles North of Boston on the Gulf Of Maine. The weather has been hot, sunny, cloudless and humid, with temperatures in the 80s. After a few days training at the high school and on the beach, including taking sessions with a local school, on Wednesday the team went to the evening game between New England Patriots and Manchester United
- although plans for a pre-match barbecue were scuppered by the first rain in over a week.
Oxford's first match was played at Exeter High School. From what I could gather, the school relocated a few years back to an out of town site, and from the main highway the drive to the school was about another mile. The school was surrounded by sports fields, with all weather tennis courts and athletics track as well as grass pitches. An enterprising Seacoast fan had placed $5 parking signs at the entrance, however the local police were having none of it, insisting that as the school was public property, they could only ask for donations.
Confusion over a 6pm, 6:30 or 7pm kick-off meant your writer arrived well over an hour early for the actual 7pm kick-off. Chairman Kelvin Thomas was already at the ground, chatting to various of the Seacoast United coaches and management, and was quick to say hello. Seacoast is perhaps similar to the United youth and community system, running youth teams at all age levels, but on a much larger scale. Several of the Seacoast training staff were here from the North East of England to coach the youngsters, which would become apparent later from the stadium announcer's accent. The rest of the United non-playing tour were along soon thereafter. Matt from the ticket-office, Jerome Sale from Radio Oxford, Yellow Player Adam and Simon too. The players then arrived in a cortege of pick-up trucks with Chris Wilder, Mickey Lewis, Andy Melville, Alan Hodgkinson, and Andy Dubowski.
The Americans take a pride in sports, and the match took place in the William Ball Stadium, which is the school's American Football / Soccer stadium. This was an astroturf pitch, primarily marked out in white with the grid-iron ten-yard lines and markings, and the soccer pitch in yellow. There were also blue lines for lacrosse perhaps. Behind each goal were the American football posts, which were surely tempting some row Z shots and touch-down conversions. Also two reasonable sized electronic scoreboards, again designed for the gridiron scores. The "Bill-Ball" had two stands on either side of the half way line, in the traditional bleachers lay-out : uncovered benches, although aluminum rather than old fashioned wood. The main stand was perhaps 40 rows high on a steel frame contruction, with a decent sized commentary box at the top, and a roof top area for cameramen and photographers. Beneath the stand was an open concourse offering soft drinks, pizza slices or hot dogs. Being a high school there was of course no alcohol license.
At least one other fan had made the trip from England, although later on we did spot a few fans wearing polo shirts with the United logo.
About half an hour before kick-off, the stand started filling up, mainly it seemed Seacoast United familes and school children. All of the Seacoast officals wore the club t-shirt, which at least gave the game a semblance of a home crowd, whereas amongst other football shirts were a few Manchester United and Arsenal colours. A small souvenir stall was set up, with a 4 page team-sheet for a dollar, Seacoast scarves, tops, and a pre-season Seacoast-Oxford t-shirt for $20. A local mortgage company also had a stall giving out mini-balls, and trying to tempt new contacts with a half-time draw for Redsox tickets if you gave them a business card. After a half hour warm-up with music blaring out [The Who, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, MGMT, Kings of Leon, ] both teams then came back out to Carmina Burana (the Old Spice music) with a Seacoast youth teams' guard of honour. Surprisingly there were no cheerleaders. Both teams lined up for the National Anthems before the main stand with the Stars and Stripes, and Union Flag. A Seacoast school girl sang both anthems beautifully, first our own, although she did surprise the Oxford squad and myself by continuing for a second verse after we had all cheered and applauded at the end of the usual verse and chorus.
Onto the game: trialist Chris Knopka played in goal for the full 90 minutes. Michael Duberry and Jake Wright at the back; Tony Capaldi and Josh Payne slightly further up; Simon Heslop, Asa Hall and Andrew Whing in midfield; Alfie Potter, James Constable and Jon-Paul Pitman up front. The game opened fairly convincingly, Alfie Potter darting through the defence from the corner flag to score within 4 minutes. For Seacoast United Phantoms, apparently eight of the eleven starters were under 20 years old. However, their youth did not seem to bother them, and they played with a little flair and most of the time seemed assured of their formation and tactics. Numer 6 Steven Palumbo caught the eye early on, with a few little step-overs and a quick turn of pace catching United out. Later in the game he would again intercept United's careless passing.
Seacoast got a penalty midway through the first half, which was duly converted. The home fans cheered and clapped politely, with a little commentator-orchestrated feet trampling on the stand.
For the rest of the first half, Seacoast attacked well, and had four good chances, shooting wide when one-on-one, one over the bar, and United looked troubled. Duberry at the back was most vocal in the team, and seems to be the missing link from last season with his confidence and experience at clearing the ball from danger. At the front, it seems United had been watching too much Leo Messi and thought that they could run past two or three players at a time and score. It was not to be. There was one more good chance for United at the end of the first half when a well struck shot was parried by the Seacoast goalkeeper with his right hand, and then controlled with his left hand as if he were a basket-ball player.
There was no half time cross-bar challenge, but a few hundred kids were having mini kickabouts, with the United substitutes trying to do some warmups in amongst them.
Second half, Chris Wilder moved down to the bench from his first half spot below the commentary box next to Kelvin Thomas, and unexpectedly for a friendly there were no changes at half-time. Eventually, a few were made, Damian Batt and Matt Paterson coming on. Batt was dangerous with some attacking runs up the right, and for the last twenty minutes United looked the stronger side. JPP also had a good shot hit the bar and looks a good prospect for 2011/12. With a few minutes to go, Harry Worley was brought on and played as centre forward, missing a fairly good chance which brought a round of applause from the Seacoast fans.
After a few minutes of added time, the final whistle went on United's first USA game with a 1-1 draw. Seacoast jogged off the pitch, United jogged off towards the centre circle I thought for a warm down, but were then sat heads-down in a circle for Wilder's post match school report. As a fan it felt like we had been playing against a team of plucky youngsters like Barnet or Lewes, and I don't think Wilder will have allowed his players to blame the Astroturf, the heat, new players, or even the lack of fans. Perhaps JPP, Duberry and Batt will have come away with some credit, but overall 5/10.
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