The Welsh Cup is one of the longest standing club competitions on gods green earth. Wrexham won the trophy for the first time in 1878 and up until 1996, one of my favourite competitions to watch my beloved Merthyr Tydfil FC in. 1987 saw Merthyr win the damn thing 1-0 in a replay final at Ninian Park against Newport, they then proceeded to beat Atalanta 2-1 at penydarren park before getting done 2-0 in Italy in the 87-88 Cup Winner Cup. I was only 5 so can't really remember this, but it's all good.
Then to everyone's disappointment we were excluded from the cup as we played in the English System. Merthyr joined Cardiff, Swansea, Wrexham, Newport and Colwyn Bay as teams excluded from their own national cup competition. Booooo
Then news came out at the start of this year we (now of course Merthyr Town) we once again invited to join, along with the other 5! 3 accepted (Merthyr, Newport and Wrexham) and the excitement began. Now as Merthyr play in a very backwards league at the moment (and who knows for how long) we joined in the 2nd qualifying round, playing 2 games in 2 days and with a second string beating a small team 5-1. All good. The draw came out and Merthyr got Barry Town in the first round. Much additional excitement!
Merthyr and Barry had an awesome rivalry back in the day, yes now both teams have fallen on hard times and dropped down the respective league systems, but the rivalry was still there. This was potentially the tie of the round with the Welsh Premier and Blue Square Premier teams not joining for 2 more matches.
Game day came and Merthyr put their team on twitter and I went what? It was a second string. I knew at that moment we'd get beat against by all accounts a tidy Barry side. I'm very sorry but who exactly do Merthyr think they are playing 'fringe' players in a cup match against a team that'd give our first side a potentially even match.
What was the thinking?
Is the Welsh is (was) not a priority? Then why enter it, nobody had a gun to their heads.
Did we disrespect the opposition? Arrogance? Someone needs to have a long hard look at some of the players in the side, even the first team, then have a look at the teams who've beaten us in competitions so far this year and reassess how good they think we are again. Last years league wasn't a pub league, but it certainly wasn't high quality, had to be won, but don't get carried away.
Did the manager(s) misjudge the game? They both played in Merthyr v Barry games, they know the rivalry. Sounds a bit naive to me.
Anyway, Barry won easily and deservedly 3-0 and Merthyr sit out the business stages of the competition. Based on that as well looks like I'll be saving myself some £7's in the upcoming weeks, oh well!
Showing posts with label Welsh. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Welsh. Show all posts
Monday, 3 October 2011
Saturday, 5 March 2011
Voting!
Right now, there are thousands of people all over the world fighting for the right to live in a democracy, to vote. I like to think we're very lucky in the UK that we already live in one. Yes democracy relies on the people and people do indeed make mistakes, but at least they're our mistakes. I don't feel anyone should be rules by a self appointed leader who they may not approve of. So, why oh why oh why when Brits (us Welshies in this instance) get a chance to vote, do we not bother.
Yesterday, Wales had a referendum on giving our assembly more law making powers. All cool, it's a yes or it's a no, you've hardly even got to worry about which box to tick! However a massive 64.8% of people waived their hard earned vote and decided to sit on their arses instead. In my locality of Merthyr Tydfil, we were the 4th worst turned out area with 30.1% of our proud 55k contributing. But why?
In my opinion, both campaigns were poor, partially thanks to the 'no' campaigners not taking up 'lead' status, meaning no funding and no allowance for a 'yes' campaign, meaning lower visibility of the points from either side. In all honesty except one leaflet through the post, you had to go look for any information yourself. Not ideal for reaching those people not typically all that interested in politics. On the other hand, it did save some public cash.
Maybe people haven't realised that this'll affect them. No doubt if there had been a line in there saying, 'vote yes and benefits will rise in wales' turnout in Merthyr would have been 90%, with another 5% turned away for being to drunk. But as we can't even get to 60% for a general election laziness may be a factor. (I mean honestly people, a little difference last time and Merthyr would have been under Conservative rule now, via Cleggs brown nosing.)
I'm all for compulsory voting (go Australia), obviously if you have a valid excuse, fair enough, but I'd imagine the majority of no shows wouldn't. Yes making people vote may be unpopular, or seem like forcing an opinion where there is none, but people can always abstain. At least their voice is then heard. Would any winner really accept a seat if their votes were superseded by abstentions?
Overall, I think the 35% who did show made the right choice, I'm not 100% sure the assembly members themselves are altogether ready for more power, but we'll now have a great chance to find out. It'll just always stick in the mind that the decision was ratified by only 20-odd% of those available to vote.
Mainly I'm gutted that the no campaign was called true wales, not the same as in '97.
Just Say No...
Just like Zammo
Yesterday, Wales had a referendum on giving our assembly more law making powers. All cool, it's a yes or it's a no, you've hardly even got to worry about which box to tick! However a massive 64.8% of people waived their hard earned vote and decided to sit on their arses instead. In my locality of Merthyr Tydfil, we were the 4th worst turned out area with 30.1% of our proud 55k contributing. But why?
In my opinion, both campaigns were poor, partially thanks to the 'no' campaigners not taking up 'lead' status, meaning no funding and no allowance for a 'yes' campaign, meaning lower visibility of the points from either side. In all honesty except one leaflet through the post, you had to go look for any information yourself. Not ideal for reaching those people not typically all that interested in politics. On the other hand, it did save some public cash.
Maybe people haven't realised that this'll affect them. No doubt if there had been a line in there saying, 'vote yes and benefits will rise in wales' turnout in Merthyr would have been 90%, with another 5% turned away for being to drunk. But as we can't even get to 60% for a general election laziness may be a factor. (I mean honestly people, a little difference last time and Merthyr would have been under Conservative rule now, via Cleggs brown nosing.)
I'm all for compulsory voting (go Australia), obviously if you have a valid excuse, fair enough, but I'd imagine the majority of no shows wouldn't. Yes making people vote may be unpopular, or seem like forcing an opinion where there is none, but people can always abstain. At least their voice is then heard. Would any winner really accept a seat if their votes were superseded by abstentions?
Overall, I think the 35% who did show made the right choice, I'm not 100% sure the assembly members themselves are altogether ready for more power, but we'll now have a great chance to find out. It'll just always stick in the mind that the decision was ratified by only 20-odd% of those available to vote.
Mainly I'm gutted that the no campaign was called true wales, not the same as in '97.
Just Say No...
Just like Zammo
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