Post by btl on Apr 11, 2011 9:37:48 GMT 1
This season's on/off/on start to the Glasgow's season have left me and, I sispect, a goodly number of the Tiggeratti kicking their heels so far this year. It was only when my better half wondered why she was seeing much more of me at the weekends that got me thinking what was different this season compared with previous seasons.
The answer was obvious - the demise of the third piece of silverware - the Premier Trophy (aka the league's coming so lets dumb down and strengthen up trophy).
And no I don't want to get into an arguement with the "magi" from the East about last June - enough has been said about that meeting and what happened and was said.
Looking at last seasons fixtures we had Premier League fixtures in March and April before the start of the League and KO Cup campaign
Tigers 2010 Fixtures
Date Opposition Comp.
21/03 Coventry Ch H
26/03 Edinburgh ST A
28/03 Edinburgh ST H
04/04 Newcastle PT H
05/04 Newcastle PT A
11/04 Berwick PT H
17/04 Berwick PT A
18/04 Workington PT H
23/04 Edinburgh PT A
24/04 Workington PT A
25/04 Edinburgh PT H (Rain-off till 25 July
Compare to this season even allowing for our late start this is this seasons early season fixtures
27/03 Edinburgh ST H P
01/04 Edinburgh ST A
03/04 Newport PL H P
10/04 Workington PL H P
17/04 Berwick PL H
24/04 Newcastle PL H
25/04 Newcastle PL A
28/04 Sheffield PL A
What's the difference - very few home and away meetings between the Northern tracks early season - I know that some of you will say that the fixtures don't look too different from above but when you look deeper its the away meetings that are radically different. AND we are only scheduled to travel to Berwick, Workington, and Newcastle ONCE a year - and VICE- VERSA ! These meetings are usually well supported by visiting fans.
The reasons for doing away the the Premier Trophy are well documented - but I feel compelled to make an alternative suggestion: one that will provide the travelling fans an opportunity to see their teams in action and since most of the Northern tracks are from Thu-Sun provide revenue for the Promotions with visiting fans who will travel from/to each of their teams fixtures. AND we Glasgow and Edinburgh would not had to make up another trophy - the Super/Summer Cup.
I see a number of opportunities here:
1. For promotions to gain revenue
2. For the fans to see their teams - both home and away
3. To retain the third piece of silverware
Consider the options - with the Tigers hovering around the basement for the past two or three seasons I usually went to all Northern section away meeting as you travel in hope and anticipation at the start of a new season. As the season progresses holidays aside if your team is doing well then you travel - if not you might not. That I think would cover points 1 & 2 - as for point 3 - well it might be the only success a team has if their team's form nosedives in mid season.
This would provide 6 A and 13 B home fixtures = 19 in total
It could also work for
15 teams - 3 groups pf 5 = 18 home meetings - PT winners + best runner ups to semis
16 teams - 4 groups of 4 = 18 meetings - PT winners to semis.
Am I being too simplistic? Discuss
Rant over.
The answer was obvious - the demise of the third piece of silverware - the Premier Trophy (aka the league's coming so lets dumb down and strengthen up trophy).
And no I don't want to get into an arguement with the "magi" from the East about last June - enough has been said about that meeting and what happened and was said.
Looking at last seasons fixtures we had Premier League fixtures in March and April before the start of the League and KO Cup campaign
Tigers 2010 Fixtures
Date Opposition Comp.
21/03 Coventry Ch H
26/03 Edinburgh ST A
28/03 Edinburgh ST H
04/04 Newcastle PT H
05/04 Newcastle PT A
11/04 Berwick PT H
17/04 Berwick PT A
18/04 Workington PT H
23/04 Edinburgh PT A
24/04 Workington PT A
25/04 Edinburgh PT H (Rain-off till 25 July
Compare to this season even allowing for our late start this is this seasons early season fixtures
27/03 Edinburgh ST H P
01/04 Edinburgh ST A
03/04 Newport PL H P
10/04 Workington PL H P
17/04 Berwick PL H
24/04 Newcastle PL H
25/04 Newcastle PL A
28/04 Sheffield PL A
What's the difference - very few home and away meetings between the Northern tracks early season - I know that some of you will say that the fixtures don't look too different from above but when you look deeper its the away meetings that are radically different. AND we are only scheduled to travel to Berwick, Workington, and Newcastle ONCE a year - and VICE- VERSA ! These meetings are usually well supported by visiting fans.
The reasons for doing away the the Premier Trophy are well documented - but I feel compelled to make an alternative suggestion: one that will provide the travelling fans an opportunity to see their teams in action and since most of the Northern tracks are from Thu-Sun provide revenue for the Promotions with visiting fans who will travel from/to each of their teams fixtures. AND we Glasgow and Edinburgh would not had to make up another trophy - the Super/Summer Cup.
- Split the 14 teams into two groups of seven
- Rename the Trophy fixtures Premier League Fixtures A
- Rename the League fixtures Premier League Fixtures B
- All points then go towards LEAGUE table
- At a cut-off date top two teams in Northern section and top two teams in Southern section determined by LEAGUE points from Fixtures A contest the Premier Trophy as before.
- Premier League Fixtures B until play-off cut-off date in September as before.
I see a number of opportunities here:
1. For promotions to gain revenue
2. For the fans to see their teams - both home and away
3. To retain the third piece of silverware
Consider the options - with the Tigers hovering around the basement for the past two or three seasons I usually went to all Northern section away meeting as you travel in hope and anticipation at the start of a new season. As the season progresses holidays aside if your team is doing well then you travel - if not you might not. That I think would cover points 1 & 2 - as for point 3 - well it might be the only success a team has if their team's form nosedives in mid season.
This would provide 6 A and 13 B home fixtures = 19 in total
It could also work for
15 teams - 3 groups pf 5 = 18 home meetings - PT winners + best runner ups to semis
16 teams - 4 groups of 4 = 18 meetings - PT winners to semis.
Am I being too simplistic? Discuss
Rant over.