Page 7 - Deal Round Up March 2020

The Magnet Inn

267 London Road, Deal
01304 271045

Paul & Katrina wish to thank all their staff and customers for their support
but have to announce that, sadly,
they are leaving for ‘pastures new’ at the end of March.
The Magnet will, however, stay open.

Darts (3 boards), Pool, Juke Box, Free Wi-Fi
Patio Area And Ample Car Parking
Live Football On Three Large Screens

How’s This For Support! By Jon Crouch
On his self-enforced night off, Jurgen Klopp could have done much worse than to pay a visit
to Crabble, home of Dover Athletic recently. While the esteemed Liverpool chief was watching
his side’s FA Cup replay with Shrewsbury Town from the comfort of his own home - passing
down duties to Under 23s coach Neil Critchley - the players, staff and supporters of Barrow
AFC were, quite simply, putting his argument of an over-indulged fixture schedule to shame.
After the initial fixture was postponed following the tragic death of an individual on the West
Coast Main Line on October 12, Bluebirds fans were up bright and early for their gruelling
cross-country trip to the south-east coast – a whopping 768-mile round trip.
Meeting at the club’s Holker Street ground at stupid o’clock in the morning, the hardy 23
members of the Bluebirds Supporters Trust were welcomed with bacon rolls in the car park – a
terrific gesture made by the club’s extremely grateful manager Ian Evatt. Players, staff and
supporters arrived back in Barrow-in-Furness at around 5am leaving a number of whom just
enough time to wolf down their Cornflakes and early morning cuppa before going back to
work. Now that’s dedication for you.
Speaking after the Reds’ 2-2 draw at the New Meadow, Klopp said that none of his first-team
squad would be involved in the Anfield replay as it falls during the Premier League mid-
season break. The decision was estimated to cost the League One Shrews around £500,000
in lost revenue. Granted, Klopp’s men have been victims of their own success, challenging on
Premier League, Champions League and World Club Championship fronts, but there was little
sympathy of his argument for many Non-League players, who are forced to juggle an equally
gruelling schedule on the field with work and family commitments, for a small fraction of the
numeration.
True, the debate on fixture congestion is nothing new but it does seem to be escalating when
it comes to reigniting the flame in the FA Cup.

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