Benjrider10

It was Cheshunt’s responsibility to verify that whatever the player told them was correct. A 30-second internet search for “Ben Frempah” would have found ETFC’s post announcing his signing. The Cheshunt secretary is in an awkward position. Interesting that CC says there is evidence the Cheshunt manager has been poking fun on-line. I can’t be bothered to look but if this is so, he’s a fool. Can’t respect a manager who posts just a couple of weeks ago that he has released 2 of Cheshunt’s squad from last year because they weren’t committed to the club, only to have no problem poaching a player registered with a different club and completely ignoring the rules. Our (ex) PM has found to his cost that people who say one thing but do another, eventually get caught out.

The whole affair reflects poorly on the player (and on Cheshunt). Frempah is (was) an experienced professional and must be familiar with registration formalities. He knew that he had signed registration forms with ETFC only a few days ago. Incredibly naive if he thought he could play a trial/friendly for another club mere days later and NOT cause a stink. I agree with LS. No way Frempah can be allowed back into the ETFC dressing room now. Andy signed him because he thought he would fit well with the team and set a good example. Sadly, the player’s actions speak for themselves. Cheshunt’s conduct is equally unbecoming. Somebody at Cheshunt FC approached Frempah to play. The question is whether that “somebody” knew that Frempah was registered with ETFC. I await with interest the result of the FA’s investigation. But to some extent that investigation is irrelevant. The player’s conduct demonstrates an utter lack of commitment or loyalty and Craig Edwards has already made his feelings on that plain: https://cheshuntfc.com/2022/07/05/news-from-manager-craig-edwards/ I’d be pretty disappointed if I was a Cheshunt fan, to see Frempah in their team going forward. He’s done it to us, who’s to say he won’t do it to them? I quite enjoy Albury Walker’s banter on this forum, it’s exactly what a local club rivalry should be. But this isn’t oneupmanship, this is conduct unbecoming. I hope Cheshunt do the right thing, send Frempah packing and clear the air with our manager and board. Their post about ETFC’s non-participation in this weekend’s Community Cup tournament was pretty ill-considered too.

Also sounds like there is an outside chance that Mo Faal will still be around. Surprising that nobody from the Conference (or Conference South) has come in for him (yet). Good luck to him, he will be a fantastic addition for whoever he decides to play for (selfishly, I hope it is us) …..

If Cass, Della-Verde and Sayoud do sign on the dotted line (and Andy Leese indicated at the ETFCSS meeting last night that all 3 would), I think the squad is shaping up nicely. Tough start to the season though (Folkestone home, Hornchurch away) and drawing Kingstonian away in the FA Cup preliminary qualifying round will be a stern test. Roll on the season!!

With such a bumper crowd for the play-off semi vs. Hornchurch (call it 2,000), the club must have made a decent amount of money from gate receipts, bar take, club shop sales, food etc. What I hadn't realised until I checked on the Isthmian League website Meeting Your Responsibilities.pdfis that the play-offs are treated as cup games, not league games. This makes a big difference. For league games, the home team keeps the gate receipts (minus all matchday expenses). For cup games, the gate receipts are split 37.5% home team, 37.5% away team and 25% to the league. So my guess of, say, GBP 15k gate receipts would mean ETFC and Hornchurch both getting GBP 5,625 and the league getting GBP 3,750. ETFC would keep all profits from the bar, club shop, food etc. so say another GBP 2k. So ETFC coffers boosted by (my guess) GBP 7k to 8k. Still good, but not as much as I thought. 25% for the league looks high to me, and I think the home team should be rewarded for its performance over the season by getting a higher split than the away team. Thoughts on the split?

Ahead of the semi-final playoff against Hornchurch, I spotted these on the ETFC Facebook page. All three well worth a listen.

Good luck to all involved with ETFC for the play-off semi-final against Hornchurch tonight!! Really hope we make it through to the final …..

Good Sam Youngs got Supporters’ POTY, he’s had a terrific season 👍👍👏👏

Can someone post re end of season awards please …..

We finish 3rd in the league!!!!! Superb! 👏👏👏👏 Bring on the play-off semi, nothing to lose 🥂

I think it's been a great season already. All of us would have settled for the play-offs given the pre-season we had. The club has done us proud. Anything here on in is a bonus.

Looks like Hornchurch away for the play-off semi-final. We'll go in as underdogs and I think that will suit us ...... Premier Table Filter By Division # Team Pl HW HD HL AW AD AL W D L F A Diff Pts Adj 1. Worthing 40 17 1 2 13 3 4 30 4 6 98 42 56 94 0 2. Bishop's Stortford 40 13 6 1 11 6 3 24 12 4 86 31 55 84 0 3. Hornchurch 40 13 3 4 12 3 5 25 6 9 87 38 49 81 0 4. Enfield Town 40 15 2 3 9 4 7 24 6 10 88 57 31 78 0 5. Cheshunt 40 8 5 7 13 4 3 21 9 10 69 39 30 72 0 6. Folkestone Invicta 40 11 7 2 9 4 7 20 11 9 81 57 24 71 0 7. Lewes 40 10 4 6 10 5 5 20 9 11 87 60 27 69 0

Important 3 points last night, very tight between no. 2 and no. 5 in the table. Every dropped point between now and the end of the season is going to cost. Cheshunt also challenging for top 5 if they win their games in hand. We have a strong squad this season, look at last night's bench (Joseph, Smith, Della Verde, Kiangebeni, Sayoud). And Cass is suspended! Going to be a terrific finish to the season. COYT!!!! # Team Pl HW HD HL AW AD AL W D L F A Diff Pts Adj 1. Worthing 36 15 1 2 11 3 4 26 4 6 88 42 46 82 0 2. Bishop's Stortford 36 11 6 1 9 6 3 20 12 4 76 31 45 72 0 3. Enfield Town 36 14 1 3 8 4 6 22 5 9 80 51 29 71 0 4. Hornchurch 35 12 2 4 9 3 5 21 5 9 69 34 35 68 0 5. Folkestone Invicta 35 11 6 1 8 4 5 19 10 6 75 47 28 67 0 6. Lewes 35 9 3 5 9 4 5 18 7 10 76 51 25 61 0 7. Cheshunt 33 8 4 5 9 4 3 17 8 8 55 30 25 59 0

Made the most of an unplanned week at home by watching the East Thurrock game. Had a good feeling pre-match that we would get the 3 points and agree with other posters that although East Thurrock were poor, we did what we needed to do. Not a match that will live long in the memory except for Della-Verde’s free kick, which was a cracker! Thought our midfield 3 of Thomas, Youngs and Maia looked solid. Add Percy to the mix when back from suspension and at last we have proper competition in midfield. Which we will need for the Hornchurch game. If we get a point (or better) from that, we must be strong contenders for the play-offs. Nothing much else to report except job done. Jeez I had forgotten how cold it can be in March, definitely a thermal socks day.

Listened to the Worthing live commentary. Disappointing but I think the Wingate game away was the one that really knocked our confidence. Worthing and Bishop’s Stortford are both strong teams and deserve to finish above us in the table. Was surprised to see Faal, Cass, Sayoud and Cunnington start. If we learned anything from the Wingate game, it is that we are better balanced with Della Verde in the starting 11. Need to get back to winning ways quickly if we are going to make the play-offs now. Having said that, and on the back of 3 straight defeats in the league, I still think we have had a good season (cue accusations of lack of ambition) 🙃