Ian Pethick

I think my views on Blazey are pretty clear - we are now paying massively for our chronic lack of ambition. The big difference with Bodmin is that they made a COMMITMENT to the new league before it was formed that they WOULD take promotion to the Western League if they finished in a promotion place. Have they eck. Blazey were winning the league regularly back in the days of the South Western League , this was never part of the FA pyramid system hence there was never an expectation to take promotion . I seem to remember ( others with more knowledge will undoubtedly shed more light on this ) that one of the reasons for the amalgamation of the old South Western Leagues and Devon Leagues into the Peninsula League was to bring Cornish football within the national pyramid . Immediate promotion into the Western League Premier rather Western League Division One was also part of this arrangement . Presumably something Bodmin Town would have been party to and in agreement with .

:thumbsup:

" We Hate It When Our Friends Become Successful " by Morrisey Possible theme tune for the Cornwall Football forum ?

Pretty much agree . I thought last season that The Ashes underachieved big time last year considering the size and quality of squad they had . No doubting that Stuart Dudley has added something to the club . Still think that you are probably playing for third place though behind Bodmin and Falmouth .

Bodnin are a good team and will win the league pity they won't take promotion as this would start to put Cornish football on the map. Using too much travelling as an excuse is no excuse at all we live out on a limb and as such have to travel in all sport and in life in general, price we pay for living in the best place in the world. If teams take promotion, in 5 or 6 years time half the Western league could be made up of Cornish/Devon teams . But thats another story i guess. Good luck to Bodmin for rest of the season. Well said sir . You only have to look at the distances that Cornish rugby and hockey teams cover every week to play at the highest possible levels .

Any idea where Danny Zalick is headed ?

Elburton Villa 2 v 1 Plymouth Parkway 0-1 (h/t) 1-1 Lewis Daw 2-1 Michael Landricombe Decent crowd..... Pitch held well..... Thank you to all who came..... Highest crowd this season at Haye Road Can see why Elburton have been been picking up wins in the last few weeks . Big improvement on the start of the season . Well organised defence that stuck to their jobs , and lively forwards that kept on making selfless runs behind the Parkway back line .Their delivery from set pieces was pretty good as well ( especially from the right side). Not the first time that Parkway have looked lifeless against sides lower down the league this season .Everything about us looked ponderous and predictable I would be interested in seeing how many points are dropped when Lee Doel doesn't play . We certainly lack his drive and energy in matches like this . I know that Martin Piper will probably get the headlines for two keeping clangers , but I can only think of a couple of players that can come come away from this match thinking they contributed much . Too many players looked completely off their game . After watching Saltash and Liskeard later in the day , it was striking to see how little pace we seem to have through the side compared to these teams .Having Lee Doel, Marc Bonney and Dennis Mason looking at a long spell out makes this seem even more obvious . Saturday's match against Bovey Tracey suddenly looks like a another potential banana skin .

Really good game of football . Thought the Ashes would take control of the game when they scored three quick goals after Liskeard had started the brighter . The Ashes probably sat back a bit and allowed Liskeard back into it , nice bit of brave management from Darren Edwards though when he made a double substitution after half an hour . Say what you want about the guys style , bit he certainly doesn't believe in dying wondering what could have been , Not sure if the Ashes are title contenders , lots of pace through the side and a constant goal threat . But they do look like they could let teams back into matches that they should win comfortably .

How on earth did you get a day long pass from Mrs Bald One ?

Looks like it could end up as race within a race then . Bodmin,Falmouth and Saltash battling for the title ( my prediction) , with Parkway and Buckland engaged in a secondary race to finish above each other in the top 5 . Not sure I would be completely comfortable if either team achieved promotion in this way , but it would ensure a thrilling end to the season . Especially if the weather doesn't improve and we end up with an almighty fixture pile up

Very logical Mr Nemesis . At Parkway we are probably in a better position (geographically speaking) than many of the Cornish clubs . For us , a trip to Wiltshire,Somerset or the Bristol area is not too different than travelling down to Penzance,Falmouth,Newquay or Porthleven. As we are a relatively new club on the scene as well , we would not risk losing lucrative local derbies on Boxing Days and Easter Mondays as we have nothing on the same level as Blazey v St.Austell or Liskeard v Saltash .I cannot see how we could keep many of the Friday evening games though . When I followed Liskeard in the Eighties and Nineties it was always the midweek trips that were the killers . Mostly the midweek games were against the likes of Exmouth and Dawlish , but sometimes a long haul to someone like Clevedon was unavoidable . That or having to play double headers on Saturdays and Sundays . Inconvenient for the players , but is that not one of the reasons they get paid ?

I think they probably know they exist Mr Guiness , but they probably are not aware of the standard of football and facilities on offer . Especially as the space allocated to the coverage of the Peninsula Prem within the Herald is not a lot greater than the P&D,Sunday and Wednesday Leagues . It is certainly not in the same league as the coverage afforded to the Cornish teams within the West Briton and the Cornish Guardian . I believe that glory hunting and apathy is rife within people Plymouth football people . When I think of all the so called "football fans" who crowd into pubs and social clubs on Saturday lunchtimes and Sunday afternoons rather than fork out 4 quid (or 60 quid for the season) to watch live,local football then I get annoyed . Especially dyed in the wool fans of the big clubs who have never watched their heroes play live . Completely unfathomable . If only every club in the league could convert 50-100 of these , then think of the boost it would give the local game .

Doesn't look good on Bodmin Town if two other clubs apply , but the leaders ( and possible champions ) are content to stay as big fish in an ever shrinking pond . They are the Martin Adams (BDO darts stalwart who continues to shun the PDC ) of the local football scene .

Watching a good side play football..Then having a beer in our clubhouse and then looking with admiration at our rather full trophy cabinet.. Do you never wonder what it could have been like testing yourself at a higher level ? Different teams, different players , different grounds ? You have the set up both on and off the pitch , can never understand why you don't .....

Should a team that wins a league be made to go up instead of staying a big fish in a small pond in a lower league? yes, else it will stagnate, and people will be having this same stupid discussion for years to come I guy who I work with is heavily involved with Brixham Rugby Club . We regularly have discussions concerning non-league football and rugby and the differences in culture and the way it is run . Anyway, he has told me that in rugby , any team that wins promotion on the playing field , and opts not to take it , faces an automatic four division relegation . Something for the English FA to consider ? How would Bodmin Town fancy life in the Duchy League ?

Speaking as a Parkway fan , I would love to see the club keep on pushing forwards and go into the Toolstation League . However , promotion has to be earned on the pitch , I do not believe that a club should be promoted if it is does not rightfully claim it by finishing in a promotion place ( be it top two or three , not entirely sure of the regulations).Promotion must be earned on the pitch ,not in a committee room . It makes a sham of the league if sides outside of the top places go up , but sides that finish as champions decline promotion season after season (looking at you Bodmin Town) I do not think we quite good enough this season to nudge into those top places , especially after dropping points at home to Ivybridge and Cullompton , and we are possibly not quite as strong squad wise as last season,but applying in itself (if this is true) gives a major statement of intent . The opening of the changing rooms is a big step forward ,coming only a few years after moving to an all new pitch and the installing of superb floodlights, this will hopefully be followed by a bar/social club in the not too distant future .Just need to sort those damned car park potholes/ankle deep puddles that I invariably end up treading in after evening games . I have said it before , and I'll say it again, a team in a city the size of Plymouth , with the amount of football fanatics living their,should be able to support a decent team (on top of Argye) of step 5 or even higher .

Big love to St.Blazey !!!

Not been there for a while , but is Porthleven's still good ? Seem to remember it being like a bowling green , but that was back in the 1990's . Lovely old pavilion style changing rooms as well .

Time for peace to break out and a bit of love spreading . Let's sit down cross legged on the floor,enjoy an exotic cigarette and possibly even switch on a lava lamp while we think about the things we love about St Balzy football club . 1 . One of the best pints in the league .Tribute well served and at a decent social club price . 2 . Decent ground to watch the game at . Lovely raised view on the bank behind the dug outs . 3 The Eden Project Stand . Anything to do with the Eden Project is fine by me . 4 .The St.Blazey Gates . Feels like a proper football club when you go through that beautiful , vintage ironwork . 5 PA Announcements . The PA being used to relay a warning that the pasties are close to running out . That is as close to the heart of non-league football as you could wish to get . 6 The Betting shop across the road . Cramped and smokie with the curtain across the door . Gives a lovely illicit feeling to losing your money . 7 Bobby Oaten . Might not really know what he is doing , but looks like the uncle you always wished you had .

Dan , I can assure you that it was not me . Anybody who knows me will testify to the fact that I strongly believe in the "win or lose , it's only a game ethos " . After the Cup Final on Bank Holiday Monday at Newquay one of your more vociferous fans (grey haired guy , don't know his name I'm afraid) made a point of coming up and shaking my hand at the final whistle and congratulating us . I certainly would have done the same if it was the other way around . The guys I go to the game with would not behave in the way mentioned above . You cannot generalise the many with the actions of the few .

Ill let you work that out!!! Couldnt make it on saturday as I was away on a stag weekend. As for the St Blazey fans not turning up, look at Parkways crowds. Take out the friday night home gate and you have crowds under 100. Seeing as your pushing to leave the SWLP or at least win it, not many turning up to watch. Why???? Dan , I have already stated on previous forum posts that I find Parkway's ( and many other teams in the leagues ) attendances disappointing, especially when you consider it is a city of 150,000 + with 10's of 1,000's living within 15 minutes walk of the ground .It is a fact though that Parkway are a relatively new club ,indeed we have only had our own ground for a few years , and don't have the many years of history and traditional support behind us that the likes of Blazey enjoy .This is something that develops over time I am a little upset that you consider it to be an unwelcoming club though , myself and Robin Van Parkway were actually looking out for you on Saturday and were going to come up and say hello and shoot the breeze .Mr Bald One is also one of the best blokes that you are likely to meet .Very passionate about Parkway and his football , but not "one eyed" at all and open to fair minded discussion . Definately not boring as well I do not consider myself to be a Blazey hater ( hate is a very strong statement , and indeed emotion, that I reserve for particularly odious individuals and organisations . St.Blazey Football Club is neither .) . On the contrary , I have enjoyed watching St Blazey on spare weekends in the past , I used to really enjoy watching the team of Hooper,Daly,Street, Harrington et al . I even followed Blazey to Exmouth to watch them in the FA Vase . What they were doing at the time was genuinely exciting and , at the time, really felt like they were pushing Cornish Football forward . Dan , at the end of the day this is banter , pure and simple . You have to accept that one or two people are really enjoying Blazey's predicament at the moment as the memories are all to fresh of some of the beatings they took in the not so distant past , but it is never personal ( at least not on my behalf). I am constantly thinking of how Parkway are on the up at the moment , but how everything in life is cyclical , and Blazey may well be passing us on the way back up in the future .We'll probably get it back then .

The lesser spotted Blazey fans were pretty conspicuous by their abscence . No sign of their distinctive plummage (scarves,shirts or flags) from where I was standing , and none of their instantly recognisable mating cries could be heard . I think three of this dying breed were huddled together at the front of the Bolitho Kop , but the rest of this endangered species may have migrated to warmer climes ( Mount Wise , Newquay to be exact) . Thats cruel. Go on kick a team when it is down. Oops didn't mean that, they haven't be relegated yet. Memories of St Blazey lording it over the rest of us are still pretty fresh I'm afraid .

The lesser spotted Blazey fans were pretty conspicuous by their absence . No sign of their distinctive plummage (scarves,shirts or flags) from where I was standing , and none of their instantly recognisable mating cries could be heard . I think three of this dying breed were huddled together at the front of the Bolitho Kop , but the rest of this endangered species may have migrated to warmer climes ( Mount Wise , Newquay to be exact) .

Parkway 4 St.Blazey 0 ( Sam Stevens 2,Paul Heveran,Shane Krac) Difficult to take much from this game . Parkway cruised it and Blazey were awful . Cannot see any way that Blazey can stay up on the evidence of this game . Summed it all up really when a Blazey player went down injured in the first few minutes , they had to ask Parkway if they could treat him as there was no physio with them . More proof of how far they have fallen and what a shambles the club has become . Lovely Oxo at half time from the new snack booth . Good to see a decent crowd making full use of this . Possible quote of the season from Bobby Oaten .His team were attempting a dash forward deep in the second half when well beaten , Mr Oaten was urging restraint from his players with the line," we don't need to score." Four goals,clean sheet,no bookings and no injuries . For Parkway it's onto Bideford and Falmouth , for St.Blazey it's a long farewell tour of the Peninsula League Premier Division .

This is just what the Peninsula league needs to establish it's credibility . For far too long clubs in this League have hid behind travelling expenses and distances as a reason to stay as big fish in a small pond ,hopefully clubs in the East and West Division will also stop imagining bogeymen and make the jump to the Premier Division as well when they are entitled to ( Camelford did , and seem to be more than holding their own ).This is, after all , one of the reasons why the league was formed .With each passing season with teams refusing promotions it was starting to feel just as stale as the old South Western League . Well done to Buckland for giving it a go , now you just need to get your season going to achieve the necessary league position . Interested to hear your thoughts though Dan Blazey as to whether you regret St.Blazey not giving it a go in the Western League in the mid-90's . Although I realise that not all the squad would have stuck around , do you think the increased status would have attracted more ambitious,younger players (possibly some that later turned out for Truro City)? This could have established a stronger and more sustainable future for the club , which means that you might not have ended up where you are today . What's the old saying in football ? After consolidation comes relegation .