Here's the article by Bill Cowen (abridged - taken out 1st 4 and final paragraphs)
"My last article strongly criticised Mainland Football and its poor leadership and after visiting Barnett Park for our MPL match with Bays here is some more criticism and it does have a bit to do with the result. The presentation of Barnett Park was a disgrace for out Premier Men's competition - how the best players are expected to perform on a bumpy, inconsistently cut, poorly marked paddock like that is beyond reason. On top of that - no ball boys and non compliant showers. I am well aware that we have had earthquakes but that is the some for all of us - this game should simply not have been played. So standards obviously not too important in that regard as far as Mainland and indeed referees are concerned - nothing really matters ....
Three weeks ago I reported on a summit called by Mainland regarding the Senior game - what has happened about that - exactly the same as the above - nothing. This meeting as I advised was facilitated b Hockey's excellent Pat Barwick who I have since corresponded with and she shares the view that excellence and winning do matter as she neatly put it "Sport is about competition - winning and losing. Sport at the top is not recreation it is serious competition". Does that conviction from a proud Cantabrian sound like nothing really matters?
Mainland who represent a once proud Canterbury region do not deliver excellence except in KPI's reported in their latest Annual Reports such as record amounts of money collection and storage and a staggering $800,000 plus wage bill which is fine by me if excellent quality is delivered - but it is not. I ama a life member of mainland Football and will attend the AGM enthusiastically!"