HARTY: On local football and Ami Khan

AS attractive as England's World Cup draw is and, regardless of the fact that the Premier League is perhaps one of the strongest domestic leagues on the planet, it appears that when it comes to the smaller clubs, at the bottom of the pyramid, the footballing authorities seem almost hell-bent on seeing teams go to the wall.
By The Newsroom
Published 9th Dec 2009, 12:47 BST
Updated 8th Jun 2018, 00:59 BST

Take for example, Worthing United, a team who regular readers know I have a great affinity with.

Under the stewardship of joint managers Jason Rutherford and Fred Proto, they have gone to the top of County League Division 2.

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Yet, under the proposed ground criteria for Division 1 next season, promotion would be denied, even if the Mavericks were to finish in the promotion places.

The footballing authorities want clubs like United to spend significant amounts on ground improvements when their attendances very rarely get into three figures. And, more often than not, the majority of the gate receipts go on paying for the officials.

It's a double-edged sword in United's case as any ground improvements might turn out to be only short-term as, by the terms of their lease, the club could find themselves looking for a new ground with just 18 months' notice.

Perhaps the answer for United has been under their noses for years?

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Would it make economic sense for United first to share with Worthing, who currently have no reserve team, at Woodside Road?

They could still have their reserve team play at Lyons Way, with a Worthing League side playing there every other week, generating income for the club.

In addition, United is not just about Rutherford and Proto's charges. It also runs teams from Under-7 right up to Under 18.

So, with the first team not having priority over the pitch, at least two, or maybe three, United youth teams could also play at home on the pitch over the course of the weekend.

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Certainly food for thought. And with the prospect of potential promotion being scuppered by FA regulations, perhaps time for Worthing's Morty Hollis and United chairman Brian Harwood to get round the table.

Amir Khan's emphatic 72-second demolition of Dmitry Salita at Newcastle on Saturday was unfortunately tempered by Khan's pre-fight statement that, in his opinion, he's still being denied superstar status in this country because of institutionalised racism.

Clearly, for all his obvious ability, Khan is severely lacking when it comes to his knowledge of domestic boxing history.

Fighters from ethnic minorities have reached the summit of British boxing and won world titles in the last 30 years without any hint of the racism to which he refers.

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Hopefully, Khan's comments, later questioned by his own father, were born out of inexperience and his ring performance will put him among the best in his sport in this country, regardless of the colour of his skin.

And, finally, with the Albion having their traditional and obligatory pre-Christmas Friday fixture, I find myself in a bit of a quandary this Saturday.

Worthing United kick-off at home to Little Common at 1.45pm but, almost at the same time, and virtually a stone's throw away at the Rotary, Broadwater CC FC have two local footballing legends, Phil Bonetti and Keith Rowley, making their club debuts.

A tough choice, maybe a half at each game is the answer?

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