Mainland Premier League

I hear Western have appointed a coach any names? 

That's what I heard aswell Vim

Wouldn't a tree be closer. 

Preston Bell to Western, 

Anderson back to United  but wont miss him on last seasons performance anyway.

 Nomads have a few more also rans moving on wanting to play [sit on bench more like] for an MPL club.

If you spent games on the bench for Nomads last year what MPL team are you getting game time at this season.

Hi Reginald, 

Uni has an open training on the 2nd of Feb at Ilam fields and trials later in the month. There are many students from outside of Christchurch that play for the club.

Confirmation of no 50th anniversary Rangers/Coastal pre-season tournament due to hardly any MPL teams wanting to play for a range of reasons with the major one being the mid-week games.  

Boo.

And the youth head coach job has just been advertised too I hear.

Edit:   Oops I read it wrong it's actually the Youth job.

One would assume that it is good that jobs are advertised rather than shoulder tapped - it the Pride role season by season or several season?

That's the preseason tournament that for 47 years had midweek games?

Don't worry about it, people do what they do.

Rangers Park, lights and two games a night much better for real football fans.

Big problem getting players there on time for kick off let alone warm ups. Part of the more spread out and detours needed in town these days.

Vim the Rangers tournament was fantastic over the years . but since the earthquake and the moving to linfield , it doesn't serve the purpose of preparation, as the last few years , a lot of teams at times were struggling for a starting 11 close to Ko. I made our call not to enter this year for that reason , but if games were later and under lights we would have been there. Maybe you could have moved tournament to the weekend , so maybe as a board members instead of a wee dig at others could have seen it was an issue . Look forward to sparring during the next 10 months

I wasn't having a dig, just disappointed it didn't come together, especially in the 50th year. Once we heard there was some disinterest, through YF no less, teams had already organised their own games for the weekend. 

Yes the old days were best with lights and two games, but we're stuck with what we've got at the moment, and we'll continue to do our best. 

I'm living at Rangers Park at the moment, everyone's welcome to come round and have a tournament in my back yard, all 10sqm of it. I do have lights tho.

Agreed that it was never the same after it moved from eric adam.  wa

Ben Stroud has signed for the Phoenix. Moving to Wellington ASAP. 

Ben Stroud has signed for the Phoenix. Moving to Wellington ASAP. 

From today's Press - update on the Christchurch Football Academy at Yaldhurst

http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/sport/65514031/Slava-Meyns-state-of-the-art-multimillion-dollar-sports-facility-gets-a-move-on

Selwyn  are clearly doing things right. They are planning for the future with the seniors and youth set ups. Amazingly one of the youth lads has been approached by Halswell with the promise of captaining the youth team plus cash per game. Tut tut.

RIP

Was surprised to see it as you were, had no idea and shocked to read it.

Played in the same team for a while way back. Caught up over the years at various events. Quiet, undemonstrative. Totally dedicated to football coaching and loved his cones! Good memories.

What friendly games are being planned over the coming weeks, time and venue's please.

Not the  75th Anniversary of the Rangers Pr-Seaon Tournament

Coastal MPL v Selwyn Div 1 on Tuesday night @ Coastals Linfield Park  6.30 KO

A couple of pre-season results from Saturday: Ferrymead Bays 2 ChCh United 1 and Western 2 Universities 1 

Is it still the case that if you are on the paid Coaching Staff at Mainland you are not allowed to coach at club level?  

Not if your the Football Development Manager or Competitions Manager. Guess the latter is not paid coaching staff, arguably the FDM isn't either. FTC coaches a conflict if they coach at club as well? Begs the question why kids would pay for FTC program delivered by the same coach that could coach them at their club.

You could say not really in the Spirit of the game

From the Dragon's f/b page.

Canterbury United are pleased to announce that Andy Pitman has accepted the role of ASB NYL Head Coach for 2015 season.

Pitman is well-recognised in the Canterbury region, representing Canterbury United as player until 2013. Originally from Wales Pitman has a great understanding of the national game.

FTC coaches don't coach "in grade". So for instance Xavier, in 2014 did FTC boys and Coastal Senior Men.

Hard to see that raising hackles or being a conflict of interest. 

I guess now that Xavier is a paid employee of Mainland Football in a coaching capacity then a conflict of interest is fully apparent and you will be looking for a new Senior mens coach this year!

Xavier has just taken up a part time job working in primary schools just like other FDOs have done. Taken after he has the Coastal gig and has been all cleared by Mainland so it's a big stretch to say there is a conflict of interest.  Let's see if it works in practice. 

"Hey 10 year old boy!  You're really good you should come and play in my Mainland Premier team!"

Sound legit?

Ozvaldo , have u not read the 11th and 12th commandments

Thou shall question others but not Coastal

Thou shall have one rule for most but another rule for others :-)

Interesting was standing around the watercooler in the 'office at HQ' the other day an one staffer was surprised that Xavier was not required to stand down. Also understand was roll is 30 hours a work or is this wrong.

Has been all cleared by Mainland does that mean the board or the other FDO's, most which have former ties with Coastal.

Aware of at least one FDO that was not allowed to coached at MPL level, one was the 2014 season.

The new season must be getting closer (31 days or 1 month 3 days) as a few news snippets in recent days via Facebook, just in case you missed them:

Halswell have confirmed two imports coming over for the season, Josh Smith and James Ollerhead, both from the UK and looks like all go for their MPL new coach, Graeme Aitkinson, ex English pro to arrive in March.

University have appointed Morgan Tomlin as their Women's MPL coach for the coming season. Morgan coached FC Twenty11 to the Women's MPL title in 2011.

IFANZ report that goalkeeper Ellis Hare-Reid has flown out to attend Spanish Football Academy.

Was Xavier a FDO before or after he had the Coastal MPL gig?

I'm picking you know the answer to this so why the stirring? Did you miss out?

Ellis definitely flew out to Spain yesterday so that much is true