Post by Dave on Jun 10, 2013 17:30:55 GMT
I was very saddened to read a statement made on the South Devon Football Forum by Ant Roach. In the statement he informed every one of his intensions to step down as the SDL secretary and the reasons he was doing so.
Here is what he had to say.
Dear All,
It is with great sadness that I will be standing down as Secretary of the SDFL at the AGM.
It is not a decision I have made easily and I am making it with a very heavy heart.
I have enjoyed my eight seasons on the SDFL but the time has come where I am no longer enjoying my position on the league any more and this has been compounded with a huge divide amongst the officers of the league.
Unfortunately there are quarters that do not share the vision of pushing the league forward in the right direction to improve the league as a whole for the players, clubs, referees and spectators.
Coupled with a certain league officer who has been actively canvassing for people to stand against me at the AGM, I now feel the time is right for me to step aside and put more time and effort into the Devon Ability Counts league that I am also a part of and that encompasses the ethics of what football should be about.
I have met some great people and have made some good friends in my time on the SDFL and I will still of course be involved as a Devon FA Councillor in the South Area so I will continue to serve you all in that capacity also and represent your voice where needed.
I will continue in office up until the AGM and for those wishing to stand as Secretary can you please advise me ASAP in order for me to include your name on the AGM papers.
If there is more then one application then a vote will have to be held by the clubs on the night.
I would like to thank the many great clubs for their fantastic support in my time in office and I wish you all well for the future.
--
Kind Regards
Anthony Roach
League Secretary
South Devon Football League
Devon County FA Councillor
I always thought I was very lucky to have a son, who shared my love of the beautiful game of football, it meant not only that we would spend so much quality time together watching the game, but I would also be able to watch him play from a very early age, nearly right up to when the time came for him to hang up his boots.
I knew when he played his first ever game at a very young age, he was a goal scorer, I think he got eight goals that day and I wonder how many goals he has scored during all the years he has been playing. I always thought he was good enough to play at a higher level than he did, the one time he turned out for Newton Spurs first team; he came on as a sub during the second half and only took four minutes to get on the score sheet.
I lost count of all the times I felt so very proud of him as he banged in another goal, there are so many wonderful goals I remember so well, but then I remember plenty of misses when he looked certain to score. But any good striker never worries when they do not go in and just keep on shooting because if you are a natural finisher, you will soon be back in the goals again.
I was always made so welcome by clubs he played for, I have met so many good local football players and enjoyed every second I have spent watching them play in the same team as Ant. Mind you I never always enjoyed having to run the line for some games, you do your best, give what you see, but still get moaned at and called a cheating ba****d lol.
I can put my hand on my heart and say no matter what Ant played for and where ever I have been with him, be it to watch a game he was not playing in, or just a trip to Homers Heath, he always seemed to be known by everyone and was very popular.
I was surprised when he told me he had become the registration secretary for the SDL and that due to taking up the position he was going to stop playing the game. I understood his reasons and knew he would miss playing and to be honest I was shocked by the amount of his free time he had to give up to do the job. I know what a good job he did and he was always on top of it and I also know he made sure the rules where the same for every single player and club for that matter.
I was so pleased a year later when he said he was going to start playing again, a chance for me to watch him score so many more goals and he sure did that. Playing the game meant so much to him, when I think back I can remember him playing with a broken toe, also the times he had big blisters on his heels and feet, but nothing was ever going to stop him from playing on a Saturday afternoon.
But it was not just about wanting to play the game, Ant wanted to give something back to the game and the reason he was always prepared to give up so much of his own free time. Without people like Ant and so many others there would be no local football played, while they may get some small payment, it most certainly never covers the real cost of their time.
If a manager turned up at the house and they did most nights, Ant would deal with their requests right away and would always explain the process and how long things would take to take effect. No special favors for anyone and everything done in a very efficient manner.
I was saddened when at least one manager or a club secretary tired to take advantage of the position Ant held on the SDL, they soon found out that Ant was not bent and not there for the bending, even if it meant he would miss out playing in a cup final that meant so much to him. I have also been disappointed to read remarks made by nameless people on one forum, claiming he was power crazy or not fit for the position he holds now.
Ant took over as the fixtures secretary job and finally as the SDL secretary while still doing other work for the Devon FA. Yes he would love to move the SDL forward, bring it up to date that is what is needed and it’s a shame he has met some opposition along the way.
I have just read a post where it has been claimed he has been talked into staying on as the SDL secretary, I hope that is the case as he has so much more to give and if he does stay on, I hope he gets the support he deserves, not only from other officers of the SDL, but club managers, secretary’s and the players themselves.
The only way forward is for people to work together, it’s the only way progress can be made, the SDL is a smashing league, full of so many good and talented footballers, let it be about football and nothing else.
Here is what he had to say.
Dear All,
It is with great sadness that I will be standing down as Secretary of the SDFL at the AGM.
It is not a decision I have made easily and I am making it with a very heavy heart.
I have enjoyed my eight seasons on the SDFL but the time has come where I am no longer enjoying my position on the league any more and this has been compounded with a huge divide amongst the officers of the league.
Unfortunately there are quarters that do not share the vision of pushing the league forward in the right direction to improve the league as a whole for the players, clubs, referees and spectators.
Coupled with a certain league officer who has been actively canvassing for people to stand against me at the AGM, I now feel the time is right for me to step aside and put more time and effort into the Devon Ability Counts league that I am also a part of and that encompasses the ethics of what football should be about.
I have met some great people and have made some good friends in my time on the SDFL and I will still of course be involved as a Devon FA Councillor in the South Area so I will continue to serve you all in that capacity also and represent your voice where needed.
I will continue in office up until the AGM and for those wishing to stand as Secretary can you please advise me ASAP in order for me to include your name on the AGM papers.
If there is more then one application then a vote will have to be held by the clubs on the night.
I would like to thank the many great clubs for their fantastic support in my time in office and I wish you all well for the future.
--
Kind Regards
Anthony Roach
League Secretary
South Devon Football League
Devon County FA Councillor
I always thought I was very lucky to have a son, who shared my love of the beautiful game of football, it meant not only that we would spend so much quality time together watching the game, but I would also be able to watch him play from a very early age, nearly right up to when the time came for him to hang up his boots.
I knew when he played his first ever game at a very young age, he was a goal scorer, I think he got eight goals that day and I wonder how many goals he has scored during all the years he has been playing. I always thought he was good enough to play at a higher level than he did, the one time he turned out for Newton Spurs first team; he came on as a sub during the second half and only took four minutes to get on the score sheet.
I lost count of all the times I felt so very proud of him as he banged in another goal, there are so many wonderful goals I remember so well, but then I remember plenty of misses when he looked certain to score. But any good striker never worries when they do not go in and just keep on shooting because if you are a natural finisher, you will soon be back in the goals again.
I was always made so welcome by clubs he played for, I have met so many good local football players and enjoyed every second I have spent watching them play in the same team as Ant. Mind you I never always enjoyed having to run the line for some games, you do your best, give what you see, but still get moaned at and called a cheating ba****d lol.
I can put my hand on my heart and say no matter what Ant played for and where ever I have been with him, be it to watch a game he was not playing in, or just a trip to Homers Heath, he always seemed to be known by everyone and was very popular.
I was surprised when he told me he had become the registration secretary for the SDL and that due to taking up the position he was going to stop playing the game. I understood his reasons and knew he would miss playing and to be honest I was shocked by the amount of his free time he had to give up to do the job. I know what a good job he did and he was always on top of it and I also know he made sure the rules where the same for every single player and club for that matter.
I was so pleased a year later when he said he was going to start playing again, a chance for me to watch him score so many more goals and he sure did that. Playing the game meant so much to him, when I think back I can remember him playing with a broken toe, also the times he had big blisters on his heels and feet, but nothing was ever going to stop him from playing on a Saturday afternoon.
But it was not just about wanting to play the game, Ant wanted to give something back to the game and the reason he was always prepared to give up so much of his own free time. Without people like Ant and so many others there would be no local football played, while they may get some small payment, it most certainly never covers the real cost of their time.
If a manager turned up at the house and they did most nights, Ant would deal with their requests right away and would always explain the process and how long things would take to take effect. No special favors for anyone and everything done in a very efficient manner.
I was saddened when at least one manager or a club secretary tired to take advantage of the position Ant held on the SDL, they soon found out that Ant was not bent and not there for the bending, even if it meant he would miss out playing in a cup final that meant so much to him. I have also been disappointed to read remarks made by nameless people on one forum, claiming he was power crazy or not fit for the position he holds now.
Ant took over as the fixtures secretary job and finally as the SDL secretary while still doing other work for the Devon FA. Yes he would love to move the SDL forward, bring it up to date that is what is needed and it’s a shame he has met some opposition along the way.
I have just read a post where it has been claimed he has been talked into staying on as the SDL secretary, I hope that is the case as he has so much more to give and if he does stay on, I hope he gets the support he deserves, not only from other officers of the SDL, but club managers, secretary’s and the players themselves.
The only way forward is for people to work together, it’s the only way progress can be made, the SDL is a smashing league, full of so many good and talented footballers, let it be about football and nothing else.
Time for an old man to reminisce a little