npower Football League Thread

Harrold wrote:Iain Turner is no longer training with Swindon which could open up a move to us.

In other news we'll be doing crossbar challenge for Soccer AM tomorrow.

Michael Smith ‏@m_smith1988
doing crossbar challenge tomorrow for soccer am :-)

Reports on twitter saying we've agreed a fee for Andy Bishop of Bury. Don't hate us forever Matty.

Trent wrote:

Harrold wrote:Iain Turner is no longer training with Swindon which could open up a move to us.

In other news we'll be doing crossbar challenge for Soccer AM tomorrow.

Michael Smith ‏@m_smith1988
doing crossbar challenge tomorrow for soccer am :-)

Reports on twitter saying we've agreed a fee for Andy Bishop of Bury. Don't hate us forever Matty.

If this is true, who will Bury play up front next year?

Jordi wrote:Bristol City beating us 1-0, nothing new there.

Walcott wrote:Another free for Gillingham 35 year old Deon Burton

The only thing I'm looking forward to atm is the pre match drinks.

Uncle John from Jamaica wrote: 2 best chants heard so far, bearing mind the away end is facing into the blinding sunset:
We're Leeds United, we can't see a thing!
plus
The sun's a cunt, and so is Bates!

Harrold wrote:I'd rather not have him. It's just a twitter rumour but seeing as you are on here thought I'd post it see what you thought. Would like to see us make a signing in the striker position who isn't prone to injury the last thing we want to be doing is having another injury prone player on the books. Thanks but no thanks.

I read a blog earlier which rounds up the whole of the FL and there was a peice on Barker leaving and the writer who's a Bury fan said the general consesus regarding the replacment of Barker is that the fans want Andy Morrell from Wrexham - a little risky if you ask me. I thought he was player manager at Wrexham too? Not that a pay-rise to League One manager status would see him hang his boots up.

Out of the managers touted for the position who'd you like to see be appointed?

Edmundsson were picked up by Aage Hareide from Newcastle in the winter. The Faroese national team man has struggled to play their way to a spot on the team in Viking - which basically was the main motive for his transition. Now Bristol Rovers wish him permanently or on loan, according to TV2. Rovers play at level four and picked up recently Ålgård Rogvi Baldvinsson.

coolhead33 wrote:I was in the side. There was less leg room than Elland Road. Everyone in the stand was sitting down all game as well which is a first.

ShakerMatty wrote:Burtons ground is a cracker to make an atmosphere in which I experienced on a Friday night a few years back.

A FOOTBALL fan has been jailed for two months for having a smoke grenade at Home Park during a Plymouth Argyle match.

Oxford United supporter Carl Wells was also banned from football matches for six years.

District judge Maurice Champion said: "This was an appalling act of utter recklessness.

"If that grenade had gone off in that stadium I can't even begin to think what would have happened."

Wells, of Wallingford, Oxfordshire, admitted possession of a firework or flare at a sporting event in view of the pitch on April 21.

Angela Furniss, for the Crown Prosecution Service, said Wells was among about 800 Oxford United fans at the Barn Park end for the League 2 match with Argyle.

She added he was spotted holding a green canister in his right hand at the top of the stand at about 2.45pm.

Mrs Furniss said he put the canister in the pocket of his hooded top and then dropped it on to the floor as stewards approached.

She added the canister was found to be a Hanger 18 smoke grenade, usually used in paintball games.

Will Willden, for Wells, said the season ticket holder was handed the canister and had no intention of pulling the pin to set it off.

He added he had intended to dispose of the grenade after the match.

Mr Willden said he should have handed in the device to stewards but feared he would get into trouble.

He added Wells wanted to apologise for the offence.

Mr Champion said: "I take this offence very seriously. Football is family entertainment and having this sort of weapon could cause a degree of confusion.

"There could be quite serious results if used."

The judge jailed him for two months and gave him a six-year football banning order, which prohibits him from all professional games.

Black footballer wins discrimination case against Gillingham FC
Mark McCammon was treated worse than white players, tribunal rules

A black football player was racially victimised and unfairly sacked by his former club, an employment tribunal has ruled.


Mark McCammon was dismissed by Gillingham FC for alleged gross misconduct last year.


But the striker argued that his employer had treated him and other black players less favourably than white colleagues, in what is thought to be the first such successful case involving a football club at an employment tribunal.


McCammon claimed that after sustaining an injury the club tried to “frustrate him out” by refusing to pay for private medical treatment – a benefit that had been offered to white players.


McCammon – who was Gillingham’s highest paid signing at £2,500 per week – was also barred from writing a blog, which was not the case for all other players, the panel heard.


He also told the Ashford tribunal how he and two other black players were ordered to drive into the football ground in “treacherous” heavy snow conditions or face a fine, while some white players had not been required to attend.


It was during an angry confrontation over this incident that McCammon accused club manager Andy Hessenthaler of being “racially intolerant”. McCammon was subsequently dismissed for aggressive conduct and racism after a disciplinary hearing.


In response to the latest ruling, a statement from McCammon’s solicitors said: “He is pleased that the employment tribunal has found in his favour, and feels that the judgment makes clear that his dismissal was not only unfair but an act of race victimisation.”


However, Gillingham FC said it was “staggered” by the court’s decision and would be taking advice on whether to launch a legal appeal.


A statement from the League Two club read: “We are hugely disappointed, in fact staggered, by this decision. As an organisation we are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate against, nor
victimise our staff.


“This case is the first of its kind to be brought against the club in its entire history, a history that has seen the club employ many thousands of staff of various race, religion and creed, none of whom have ever felt the need to bring such a claim.”


McCammon, a former Barbados international, signed a three-year contract with Gillingham in 2008. He has previously played for Millwall, Charlton and Swindon, but is currently without a club.