I have recently been made aware that we may currently have some issues at our Club regarding player/team selection and I am keen that we all work together to try and resolve these. The issues are apparently causing a level of frustration and friction within the Club and I feel very strongly that these are not allowed to fester, escalate and damage the excellent collective Club spirit we have worked so hard to cultivate over the last five years.

With five male adult teams and 70 players to accommodate, weekly team selection at Nailsea United Football Club is never going to be easy. It is perhaps inevitable that not every single player is going to be totally happy every single week. However, every possible effort should always be made to achieve this, since we would otherwise be failing our prime Club aims and objectives, which are to take a professional approach to everything we do, strive for the best possible playing standards we can possibly achieve, promote the qualities of openness, honesty, understanding, communication, dedication and enthusiasm within the Club and above all, encourage all of its members to enjoy themselves and have fun.

As part of our Club Rules and Constitution, we have Club Rules in place, which need to be adhered to and followed if we are to stand any chance of achieving our Club aims and objectives. Some extracts from these (below) make things very clear.

Rule 10. Club Teams

The aim of the Club is to field five teams to compete in the highest standard of league competition its ability and facilities will permit.

Rule 11. Team Selection Committee

All Nailsea United FC teams to be selected on merit and by seniority i.e. First team to Colts. If a player is selected as substitute for two consecutive weeks for the same Club team, he or she must be offered a full game with the team below for the following (third week). It is then up to the player to decide what he or she wishes to do.

All Team Managers must share information, respect and trust each other, communicate with each other, and think of the Club first and not themselves.

My understanding is that these Club Rules are perhaps being compromised and this needs to be addressed. I have therefore agreed with Chris Adamson, our First Team Manager and Chairman of the Selection Committee, that our Team Managers will be reminded of these Club Rules prior to selection for the games to be played on Saturday, 13th February. Furthermore, all of the Club’s players will then be expected to appear for whichever of the Club’s teams they are selected for. However, if they are not prepared to do this or are unhappy about having to do so, they should in the first instance raise their concerns directly with Chris (contact details below). Chris will then do all he can to try and resolve these in the best interests of the Club and the player. Should any player be dissatisfied with the outcome of Chris’ efforts to resolve any issue, they will have the option to raise it with myself. I will then review what has happened and if necessary, again try my best to resolve.

Chris and I strongly believe that this is the best and fairest way to find out if there are any genuine selection issues that we, as a Club, need to tackle and resolve. We give you our total commitment that we will fully investigate and take any reasonable action necessary to ensure the best possible experience of our Club’s players is always paramount and that this is balanced with us all collectively working hard to making our Club as successful as possible on and off the field.

Contact Details : Chris Adamson - 07725 176651 & Spencer Lee - 07712 492107

Spence

Spencer Lee

Club Chairman

Nailsea United Football Club

11 February 2010