Your Say

E-mail me with your views on Hyde United Football Club, this Web Site, or anything about football. Subject to censorship your letter will appear here! Please title your e-mail "Your Say."

I am writing to express my deep disappointment in the way I have been treated by an 'official' representative of Hyde United Football Club.
I have been following Hyde United for nearly 14 years now, since I was 13, and have always been involved in one way or another. When I was 14 I helped out by selling pies in the tea bar or selling raffle tickets to make money, etc. Nine years ago I was asked to help out with the catering in the sponsors/directors room upstairs. Over the last nine years, many people who were also volunteers like me, have helped me with the food and for that I was (and still am) very grateful. People gave up their time for free and missed the games to help out and save the club money. As far as I am aware, in all the time I have organised the catering, there have been no complaints in relation to the quality or quantity of food provided. I have made many friends during the time I spent up there, mostly
fans who have sponsored regularly and also visiting directors and officials from other clubs and organisations.
The week before the Ray Stanley Memorial Match, I received a quick phone call bfrom our new commercial manager telling me that after a discussion with Tony Beard, there would no longer be a buffet provided as it wasn't 'cost effective'. Instead Hyde United would now be paying a local pub (where the commercial manager drinks) to cook and provide a hot meal for the sponsors at full time.
This was because she said she wanted something that looks good, simple but effective". I was then informed that a purchase of a soup urn was to be made the next day at a price of around £200!
On Monday evening I arrived at the ground at 6.45pm, to be told to polish the cutlery as the soup had been made and the chilli and rice from the pub delivered. The room was laid out to look more like a restaurant than a sponsors lounge at a non-league football club.
Anybody who knows about football and the people that watch it, would know that groups of men come along with their friends to watch the match and have a good time. Being seated at a table with napkin wrapped cutlery, isn't really their scene, from experience I know that they would rather grab a plate of food, a bottle of beer and gather in a group to discuss the first half! This is HYDE UNITED not Manchester United!
On Wednesday evening I was working until late and got to the game for the last 20 minutes. Afterwards I went upstairs to see Peter, and whilst getting a drink, was informed from behind the bar, in front of sponsors and friends, that "we are sorted now, you are relieved of your duties"!!! from a commercial manager who had absolutely no power over me nor had ANY right to speak to me like that in front of people I knew and with absolutely NO respect, tact or diplomacy. After nine years of working there for nothing, I feel I have the right to be treated with some respect and would have expected a director to at least take me to one side and explain why I was no longer required. This has STILL not happened, and I would like a full explanation as to why somebody with no experience or respect was able to a) make the decision in the first place and b) be so insensitive to do it where she did. I am writing this because I did speak to Martin Knowles after the incident and he said he had no knowledge of this decision and that the commercial manager had no right to speak to me like that and he would be speaking to her about it as it was 'out of order'. His opinion was that the catering side
of things should not be within the remit of the commercial manager apart from communication in relation to the numbers to be catered for. I still do not know if he did speak to her. You may be thinking what has this got to do with Hyde United FOOTBALL Club, but there are now waitresses and bar staff being paid wages in the sponsors lounge, whereas there has never been any money to pay volunteers before. We haven't even had a full sponsor's lounge yet as we have only played friendlies. I am sure the room will be filled when the season starts as the commercial manager does seem very competent on that front. Hopefully then, the money will come flooding in and staff will be needed as it does get very busy in there.
Unfortunately, pushing out the people who have worked there over the years for nothing, does not win anybody friends and rather than trying to build some sort of empire, the commercial manager should try to make acquaintance with the people who know what they are doing and who are there to help Hyde United and not for their own monetary gains.

Louise Berkley

Am I the only one to be incensed at the Stalybridge bench at last Monday's match.
While everyone in the crowd stood respectfully for the one minute's silence the WHOLE of their bench just sat through it all.

OK, I know we aren't having the best of seasons, but that is because most of the players don't seem all that bothered. We have some players bursting blood vessels on half chances, whilst some seem to be out there to get a suntan. Having gone to Altrincham expecting to see a decent evenly matched football game, I see us go 1-0 down. By then I think OK we can still bounce back, hoping their goal to have inspired us but Oh No! Instead of bouncing back up we sink like a lead balloon, we put no effort in and our defending was diabolical. Also why isn't Colin Hall a first team player, he came on at Alty when we were 2-0 down and within about 5 minutes he had got himself in 2 great goalscoring positions and was going for every ball and closing their players down.

Making the locals aware here is a football club just down the road

Simon Hall

Right, thankyou Mr Goodwin! All I wanted to know is what your were really on about. Oh, and you were saying about how I couldn't run the club - quite right, that's not my job and in MY opinion the job being done is not very good!

My point Tom, is that why try to pull the wool over our eyes by telling us everything is fine. Lets be honest it isn't and trying tell everyone it is, is pure folly - I can just imagine the smiles on the faces of Bridge fans, sat on top of the league, when our manager says everything is good at the club and then we go and get hammered - AGAIN!!!!!!!.

I don't necessarily blame Macca for the lack of cash! Almost every club in Non league football is struggling, but every other club seems to find players who want to play. Lets be brutally honest, I would rather get beaten while we used a group of players who cared. We have some good players at the club who are just not trying and bleeding the club dry - THAT is what I blame Macca for.

You know exactly the point I was trying to make, but I feel that you, and many others, are looking back at the good times we had through rose tinted goggles developed, and deservedly worn, during the last few seasons - I
suggest we all look to the future and consider the question...........'Are we good enough and do we have what it takes?' Unfortunately the answer is a resounding 'no!!!'

As for your sideswipe at the boardroom. If the club had been run by me, or you, we wouldn't have one anymore! They have done a great job keeping this club afloat although I recognise that they have made some mistakes. I
suppose you would have been happy to have a side that won the league only to be told sorry you're saying where you are the ground isn't good enough. That other source of income called Man City wouldn't be here is the ground was bad. The fact is that crowds are what keeps a club going and if the likes of me, who have watched for over 25 years, are getting to the stage where we don't care if we see the game, or not, what chance do we have in maintaining or increasing gates. Its the performances that count and I reckon I have seen no more than five good ones this year!!!

Finally, as for Mikes masterstrokes.........Aspinall - Gone; Banim - Gone; Bennett - New keeper signed!

Don

Mr Goodwin - a good piece of original writing with good use of both similes and metaphors, but what points (no pun intended) were your trying to make? I agree that we have had a devastating season but surely you can't blame Macca because look at the season we had last year - remember some of Macca's masterstrokes with the signings of players like Bennett, Aspinall, Banim... the list goes on. We haven't had the money to buy someone since Lutel James - that's not Macca's fault - it's the men upstairs who've created that problem from the comfort of the boardroom.

Before Saturday, I was encouraged to read Mikes comments about the club being on the right track. Having watched that rubbish against Bamber, I would like to know which track it is we are on? Has the freight train in front broken down, are there leaves on the line or has someone sneaked onto the line and changed the points so we are now sat in a siding?

Either way, that was a shambles and heads should roll.

As I now work out of Manchester and could soon be relying on public transport to get back for games, all I can say is I hope that the tiger train is behind me and not in front - or I will never get home!!!!

Don Goodwin

Born in Stockport, grew up in Hyde; watched Hyde from the 1950's, and remember all the golden oldies from Freddie Pye/Jack Hilton/Jack Dobson/ Eric Lowery/Pete O'Brien et.al. Also the County nexus .. Eric Webster (out) and Oshor Williams (in). (Oshor, if you're still at Ewen Fields, I saw you at Edgelely Park, and rated you
then). I've been a long way away and a long time since (though I make it to Ewen Fields and the Sportsman from time to time) . Otherwise the internet is a marvellous tool for keeping in touch.

I don't think Macca needs to be so defensive. For all he's done with his team, I think we need to be grateful. I know this season hasn't started so well, but that happens from time to time. The only thing you have to be
careful about is that it doesn't start off a long-term decline, but even that happens in the life of clubs (for example Burnley, who were European material when I first started to sort-of-follow them, as an alternative to County -
see what I mean?)

But I don't think this need happen to Hyde. The 'rub of the green' can also work the other way. We all have to live (when I say 'all', I mean all semi-pro clubs like my new-found home at Pacy-sur-Eure in Normamdy, in the
French National Division, which is the equivalent of the Conference) in the narrow band between the players we find and the players we sell (plus the ones we can fiddle on loan). T'was ever thus. And I think over the years,
Macca hasn't done badly. So let's hear it for Macca and Hyde

sincerely yours,

Geoff Kershaw

I have been reading the various comments that people have written in and their suggestions for players positions etc. But on scanning this site I notice that Macca's page has not been updated since Xmas. Well, I want to know what he has to say about the teams recent performance. Kindly tell him to get off his rear end and put pen to paper and let us know what he feels is the problem.

Well after watching the last few tigers performances they have played well but haven't had the rub of the green the frustrating thing is the few defensive mistakes which are costing us and also we look dangerous going forward but it just won't go in. Jody Banim has gone goal crazy since Christmas notching at least a goal a game Simon also looks back on form. But the worrying thing is we are still in the bottom half of the table and people won't come to watch us if we are still there also with Bridge doing well people think we are underachieving. We need to do something to get the people through the turnstile.

Thanks once again Luke , but I don't know if lowering the charge at the turnstile is a good idea as you would need a good few extra supporters to make up for the lower price.

Thanks for your comments Luke, but I have watched Hyde for over 30 years (home and away, I was going to Whitby) and in that time have seen some high class rubbish. It is not a matter of supporting during the bad times, I have done that, it is a matter of heart and passion. I may not like getting beaten 4-1, but if the lads have given 100% then it becomes a less bitter pill to swallow.

Just think about the people who do jobs for nothing in their spare time, the players get paid. Think about that.......PAID, for not giving a stuff about the paying public and the helpers. We love the football club, sponsor games (check at the Gateshead game should you not believe me), help on the ground, etc. We will still be here when the players have left. I just want the players to realise that we expect them to leave the club in as good a
position as possible and I, for one, will not accept anything less than 100% effort.

REMEMBER, it takes more than a team to make a football club..... You can replace a team, supporters you cant.

Don

I was at Hucknall yesterday and the lads really played with pride commitment that had been lacking Jody worked his socks off and should have had a hat trick, Big Steve Rimmer was a big presence in the defence and we looked more settled Neil Hall Charged forward when he could and Coco also covered a lot of ground, But then people like Don Goodwin wouldn't have seen it because he along with other fans had a stay away, I know it's hard for some fans to get to away games if your like me and haven't got a car then get the team coach or get a lift off somebody else. People managed it when we played Frickley in the FA Cup, and also at Emley last season, but because we aren't doing as well as most people hoped then people get the wrong attitude. I know this season it's been poor to watch at times but if we keep supporting then the club can forward and the dream of playing in the conference could become a reality, What good is staying away doing?

I note your comment to Don's e-mail about cheering up after the result at Hucknall. I'm afriad that it will take more than one performance to win back some of the fans who will have undoubtedly "had enough" after Mondays game (and numerous others before, lets face it, Monday was just the icing on the cake). It takes quite a bit to get me peed off, I had missed only 2 games in 4 seasons before today and probably only 6 or 7 in the last 7/8 years yet everytime I had missed a game I had a reason. Hucknall was the first game I have missed since then with no reason, I just couldn't be bothered spending my money travelling to watch a team with no heart. Anyway, enough moaning, I hope Saturday starts us on our way to better times, no-one likes losing but it is tolerable so long as we at least try and look like we want to win.

Steve Bowker

I admit one game does not make a season, but it's the first step in the right direction!

Well, today has to be first........................

It is a Saturday afternoon and I have just got my car back. The question is 'how do I spend my refound freedom?' The lads have flogged their guts out for three days trying to get the pitch back into a playable state after
Monday night's debacle (me being one of them).

The answer should be to travel down to Nottinghamshire to watch the lads play at Hucknall. But wait.......................... I just cant be bothered anymore. I look at the work put in at the football club by many volunteers, who incidentally do it all for nothing, and then compare it with the effort put in on the pitch. NO COMPARISON!!!!!!!!

I have also heard members of the team, manager etc included, stating that the pitch is attrocious, and we only think of Man City. IF the pitch is THAT bad, then why can every other damn team do so well on it.

Last season we had a similar team, same officials and same directors. So what has gone wrong? I wish I could put my finger on it, but you look over the hill you will find that the 'bridge play with heart and pride - something
that seems to be missing these days here.

As much as we whinge, the majority us will be here until we turn up our toes.

So come lads SORT IT OUT!!!!!

Don Goodwin

Thanks Don, I hope Tony Beard's Hucknall match report has brightened you up after what appears to have been a superb victory.

Remember the start of the season? OK, dodgy result at Burscough but then 2-1, 6-2, 5-1 and then that magnificent win at Droylsden 4-2. Look at it now: We've lost 4-1 to our local rivals (although none of our players
realised that with the exception of David Hansen and Matthew Taylor) and we've got beaten by a second rate team from the North East 2-1. The main problem is the team. My recommendation would be:

GK: Bennett
CB: Wilson
CB: Aspinall
CB: P Taylor
LM: Walker
CM: Band
CM: Richardson
RM: M Taylor
ACM: Banim
FC: Yeo
FC: Bierne/Hanson.

Beeston and the likes are just rejects from the higher divisions who think that all Hyde fans are Man U fans who can't afford the matches. All we ask for is some HUNGER from the players.

Does anyone remember the fast attacking football we played at the end of last season (and finishing strong) and also at the beginning of this season. we played a system of Yeo & Hanson up front with Jody behind them with a free role. This proved a great formula for the team scoring 15 goals in the 3 games they played together. However, Yeo missed the following games through suspension. But when Yeo came back Macca never played the same team again, but continued to swap and change players left, right and centre. One example of this is when we played Northwich and beat them away 2-1, there was players in that squad that didn't play for age's after that played their heart out that night. In particular I can't understand why Jody Banim isn't in the squad all the
time, he is the only player we have who can create anything from nothing, but more important he can supply the passes that Simon Yeo thrives on, not the hit and hope that we're doing at the moment. The last thing I would like to mention is on Monday when we went 1-0 down the crowd we still right behind the team but Macca was ranting and raving at them. Surely a bit more encouragement from the bench would have stopped Hydes players heads from dropping so early on. Lets hope we can put 5 passed Hucknall again on Saturday and turn the
season around.

Michael Taylor

Good point John, but I didn,t think it had reached that high a standard yet!!!!!

What was that c$*p I watched last night. We sign a 6 ft plus centre half from Marine and then leave him on the bench!!!!! Bloody hell give the guy a chance we are not exactly gonna lose a winning streak are we?

Ah well, back to the darkened room to contemplate my navel fluff. It's more consistant the the team.

Cheers

Deeeej

Just one word can sum up Hyde's season so far...
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