Keith B Posted November 16, 2012 Share Posted November 16, 2012 I have a small wager (very small!) on it being an ex-striker who went on to play for our neighbours and others and of whom, I have recently lost contact. I've ruled out messrs Parker, Constable, Holman, Wharfe, et al. Hope I am not wrong, but we'll wait and see. If I am correct, I'll donate a tenner to the club funds, meaning I haven't got a hope in hell, any more than I have of winning the raffle. Not hopeful of making Saturday's game, after a health issue, but who knows? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swifty Posted November 16, 2012 Share Posted November 16, 2012 Is it Paul German, part of our sparkling strike force from the turn of the millennium? Bring back "The Kaiser"! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
footyfan Posted November 17, 2012 Share Posted November 17, 2012 saw Pietro at the game today...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beano Posted November 17, 2012 Share Posted November 17, 2012 Was he on the bench for Godalming? If he was, that doesn't count... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swifty Posted November 17, 2012 Share Posted November 17, 2012 Pietro was at the game - but not in the squad - as he's another former Ashford player now at Godalming - his cousin (Antonio Simeone?) is also there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pitbull Posted November 18, 2012 Share Posted November 18, 2012 Pietro is now an Ashford player again. Welcome back to where you belong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith B Posted November 18, 2012 Author Share Posted November 18, 2012 A snipett of good news on the back of a difficult thrashing by Godalming. Let's see you do what you were doing consistently a couple of years ago, Pietro. I had thought it might be Richard Butler, but am glad I was wrong! I agree that we should see him as being at home with us, let's make him know it as well. I can remember him ripping Bedfont Town apart at The Orchard two years ago. Worth the admission money alone. Aside from the young lady behind the bar, of course. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pitbull Posted November 18, 2012 Share Posted November 18, 2012 Keith ,I think you may be thinking of Christian Nanetti rather than Pietro who was with us last season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith B Posted November 18, 2012 Author Share Posted November 18, 2012 Yes - I stand corrected. All these "non - Smith & Jones names" get me confused. Pietro will do for me, though. But.......anyone know what Richard Butler is doing football-wise these days? I saw his great-grandad on a re-run of On The Buses recently, but I know buses are One Person Operated (that used to read One Man Operated, until the term OMO became inappropriate for some reason) so I suspect he has not followed in those footsteps, though I know that great uncle Reg was a driver, not a conductor. "Mind the closing doors, please" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swifty Posted November 18, 2012 Share Posted November 18, 2012 Aha! The return of our roving Olympic steward, no doubt tempted back by a huge signing-on fee and a double portion of the chairman's casserole. Welcome back P, or Palla, or whatever you prefer being called! Looking forward to seeing you terrorise the oppo full backs again. Let's see if you can (deservedly) improve your goals-per-game ratio while you're at it. For the record, 'Nando' is currently with Lewes, having started the season with Havant and Waterlooville. As for Butler, not fussed where he is - another one who left us in slightly less than perfect circumstances, like one former player I saw yesterday who was treated like a prodigal son (maybe due to his long service at the club) but who dumped on us big time when he left, leaving a very sour taste in my mouth for one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatboyatmfc Posted November 19, 2012 Share Posted November 19, 2012 Glad to see Pietro back at the RPS. If the story is correct that he is returning it will give us more competition up front and a different dimention to our game. I was surprised when he didnt come back after his Olympic duties but will be pleased to see his never say die attitude back in the Tangerine shirt again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manurgrate Posted November 19, 2012 Share Posted November 19, 2012 Good to see Pietro returing to the fold, he is an energetic and skilful player. With a bit of luck, he would have scored more goals at the end of last season. I am a bit surprised at the lingering bitterness by some on this forum about the departure about certain ex players. We weren't in a position to match the ambitions of players such as Richard Butler and Byron Harrison. I think that we should be proud that the club were able to develop talented players, who were able to play at a higher level. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swifty Posted November 19, 2012 Share Posted November 19, 2012 It's very pleasing to see former players go and on and do well, and I realise we sometimes have trouble matching expectations or ambitions, but we're all entitled to our opinions. As a supporter and spectator, naturally, I don't get to hear many of the the details or opinions behind the dressing room / boardroom doors and that's to be expected. It's also natural, then, when I make a judgement or opinion based on what I've heard or been told. If I haven't been given the whole equation, it's expected that I'll put two and two together and get five, or four using a different method. One player went on strike and never played for us again, another left after what can best be called lengthy and heated discussions, and if I haven't got all the facts to hand then someone can feel free to give me the full details, at which point I'll consider changing my viewpoint. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith B Posted November 21, 2012 Author Share Posted November 21, 2012 As someone who also looks in from the outside, picking up snippets/gossip here and there, I think we should be proud to be the first rung on what is often a very short ladder for many players who pass through the Club. Personally, I have nothing but respect and admiration for Byron Harrison and Richard Butler, as I do for Jermaine McGlashan and others I could mention (even at this time of the morning). I feel privileged to have seen the Club do well with these guys in our ranks. The important point for me, though, is that in the last year or so we have cut our cloth according to our modest means and not over-extended ourselves, and we know who to thank for that (Bob P, Sue C and Phil M to name but three). If we had carried on over-stretching our modest means, we could well have gone the same way as Bedfont Town. If the players move on for the money on offer, I would not blame them for it. They give up their Saturdays as well as Tuesday and Thursday evenings, something I am sure causes occasional friction with partners, boyfriends (sorry, couldn't resist it), husbands and wives. Given that Paul Burgess has spent his entire footballing life at Ashford and understands the finances better than many managers, I am sure he won't be banging on the Chairman's door asking for 'more'. Except for the casserole, of course. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SlimBoyFat Posted November 21, 2012 Share Posted November 21, 2012 Keith, Thank you for your kind comments. I can assure you that Burge is well aware of the club finances but still regularly "bangs on the door" as I would expect from a manager who wants to put out the best quality side for Ashford that he can. We understand that and where possible try to accomodate him, hence the Boost The Budget and Predication initiatives this year. We are going in the right direction as a club and I hope we will be able to offer a little more to Paul in the future. Having said that I think the current squad is excellent, it's sometimes easy to criticise players who have a bad game but we must remember, as you said, they give up their Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays and for some at very little reward. On the player front, I am happy that we now have a squad who want to play for the club but that shouldn't stop them wanting to aim higher and we should certaiinly not stand in anyone's way, be it a move for financial or football reasons. I am always proud when I can say to someone who mentions a player "he used to play for Ashford" or "he came through Ashford's youth set up". Sometimes things aren't done in a way that most of us would like but these are young men often being influenced by outside forces so maybe we should forgive the odd bit of "unprofessional" behaviour in the way they leave. Finally, on topic, a warm welcome back to Pietro, a thorn in many a defences side last season. Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith B Posted November 21, 2012 Author Share Posted November 21, 2012 Phil - totally agree. As I don't get down so often these days, can I send my predictions by email and pay electronically (BACS, perhaps), as I do want that growing prize fund! To do a BACS, I would need a bank account number and sort code number as well as an account name. Feel free to send it via my private email address keith.balmer@btinternet.com Best regards, Keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swifty Posted November 21, 2012 Share Posted November 21, 2012 Cheques please made out to "Swifty" at the usual address! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith B Posted November 22, 2012 Author Share Posted November 22, 2012 Ok Swifty - what is the postcode for Broadmoor? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatboyatmfc Posted November 22, 2012 Share Posted November 22, 2012 Heart warming that we have such loyal and generous supporters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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