Football

[Haywain]

There doesn't seem to be any rules as to what players are picked, which surely makes it unfair to opponents.

The alternative would, of course, be not playing it which isn't a great deal fairer.

 

[SuspectUsual]

The alternative would, of course, be not playing it which isn't a great deal fairer.

Or alternatively the rules for the National League Cup in England, which features most national league teams and some premier league / championship under 21 teams. The national league teams are required to play a number (6?) of their first team from the previous game, injuries permitting. (Or something like that).

The upshot can be a load of strange substitutions, like here:

Hartlepool United vs Middlesbrough U21: National League Cup stats & head-to-head

Follow live text commentary, score updates and match stats from Hartlepool United vs Middlesbrough U21 in the National League Cup

www.bbc.co.uk

(Link to Hartlepool 0 - 10 Middlesbrough U21s, with Hartlepool making four substitutions in the first two minutes)

Stupid rules get stupid outcomes

 

[AlterEgo]

Fair play to their fans for building a phoenix club and making it successful within a few years. But Rangers ceased to exist. Sevco/Zombie Rangers is a new club.

The fans didn't build Rangers 2.0!

 

[d9009alycidon]

The alternative would, of course, be not playing it which isn't a great deal fairer.

I would have thought the fairest way to approach this would be for the match to be postponed until the players are available, however I get the impression that the SPFL don't really bother too much about this cup, it is seen by many as a cheap season filler when the bigger teams with genuine international commitments are idle. Crowds are terrible at this stage, and it doesn't help that they change the format nearly every season.

 

[Haywain]

I would have thought the fairest way to approach this would be for the match to be postponed until the players are available,

As it's in a league phase, the difference between 1-0 and 14-0 is fairly negligible, so I can't see what would really be gained from not playing because Hearts had a weakened team.

 

[DarloRich]

Fair play to their fans for building a phoenix club and making it successful within a few years. But Rangers ceased to exist. Sevco/Zombie Rangers is a new club.

It didn't though did it? A football club is more than the corporate entity or dodgy rich bloke who owns it. You know that but it is useful tool to bash Rangers with, escpailly if you are of a more green persuaion!

 

[Haywain]

It didn't though did it? A football club is more than the corporate entity or dodgy rich bloke who owns it. You know that but it is useful tool to bash Rangers with, escpailly if you are of a more green persuaion!

There might be a view that Rangers continued to exist, but the fans certainly didn't "build a phoenix club".

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Amongst the results of Tuesday's Women's International friendly matches, one result was eye-catching...

Ethiopia 16 ... Seychelles 0

 

[Broucek]

According to Gemini Seychelles has an estimated population of approximately 135,000 to 136,000 people

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

According to Gemini Seychelles has an estimated population of approximately 135,000 to 136,000 people

Both Gibraltar with a population of 37,936 and Andorra with a population of 83,753 can field international football teams.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 3 Oct 2026 ==

Northern Ireland really functioned well as a team unit yesterday and were worthy 3-0 winners away to Úkraine.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 3 Oct 2026 ==

Cymru Premier League

The New Saints 9 ... Cambrian United 0

Rather a much higher score than might have been expected, as Cambrian Únited are mid-table and had won three of their last four rmatches.
It was 5-0 at half-time and by the end, six different players had scored for The New Saints.

 

[Harvester]

Croatia 0 England 7 (Nations League)

Should have been double figures, Croatia’s defence was abysmal.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

FA Cup...3rd Qualifying Round

Bury FC 2 ... Bromsgrove Sporting 1

Yet another good attendance of 3,342 saw a match between two good in-form teams, which Bury won by the odd goal in three.

 

[SuspectUsual]

Solihull Moors 0-2 FC Halifax Town

Halifax put in their best performance of the season, Solihull were pretty rubbish, and 2-0 to us flatters them. Could (should) have been at least 6

The linesman on our side was out of breath during the warmup, and every time we broke forwards in the second half he was at least 3 yards behind play and absolutely guessing offsides.

 

[Jimini]

Croatia 0 England 7 (Nations League)

Should have been double figures, Croatia’s defence was abysmal.

They were absolutely shocking aye.

 

[SuspectUsual]

Sunderland Women 3-1 Leicester City Women

The first game of women’s football I’ve been to and very enjoyable it was too. We’ve been meaning to go for a while because my partner’s nephew’s friend plays for Sunlun, but never got round to it before. A crowd of 513 at the Eppleton Colliery Welfare ground - a tidy little place with one stand and then standing round the rest of the pitch, a nice little cafe, and lots of families there.

A decent standard of football for the most part, Sunderland a bit more composed on the ball than Leicester, and it helped that the pitch was excellent - presumably Sunderland employ the grounds people as it’s used for their under 21s as well.

A deserved 3-1 win for the lasses, might have been more but for some wasteful finishing

Interestingly, the women all shout “man on” to warn their teammates of an approaching opponent

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Lots of Sunday matches in the 3rd qualifying round of the Women's FA Cup where numerous winning teams achieved up to 8 goals, but four matches shown below had even higher winning scores than that....

Stockton Town 1 ... Leeds 12
Bridgwater United 10 ... Royal Wootton Bassett 0
Chesterfield 10 ... Thurmaston DPC 0
Blyth Spartans 0 ... Chorley 9

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: Saturday at 12:25 ==

The match chosen by the BBC for live coverage of the FA Cup 4th qualifying round tie at 12.30 on Saturday, 17th October is Bury FC (8th in Northern Premier League, Premier Division) versus Harrogate Town AFC (2nd in National League).

Bury have this season already had home match attendances over 3,000 for some of their home league matches.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: Sunday at 15:21 ==

Northern Premier League...Premier Division

Alfreton Town 2 ... Bury FC 3

Alfreton are coming to terms with being in this league's premier division after last season's relegation from National League North, whereas Bury were promoted from Northern Premier League, West Division, so last season, two league places were between them

An attendance of 982 saw Bury score in the 18th and 24th minutes, but Alfreton pulled one back in the 45th minute. Alfreton equalised in the 68th minute, but Bury scored the winner in the 88th minute.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Coventry City 4 ... Newcastle United 1

Four different scorers for Coventry, who have now won their last two matches.

 

[DannyMich2018]

Coventry City 4 ... Newcastle United 1

Four different scorers for Coventry, who have now won their last two matches.

Yes Cov not bad result at all, their next match is next Mon against Spurs at Spurs ground who've not won yet this season....