11 July 2010

I wonder if your chairman could answer a few questions regarding his conduct at the Golden Boot award ceremony for Aquinas fc on the 5 June 2010. I have been deeply offended at the proceedings. Your chairman has considered my 12yr old son Marcus unworthy even to mention his name at this presentation, even though Marcus is overall top goal scorer for this club. As a result your chairman has caused much hurt and has made Marcus feel worthless at a stroke.

Of the 350 or so kids in Aquinas, Marcus without doubt has the necessary credentials to be fully entitled, by default to have his name mentioned at the Golden Boot award. Why his name was not mentioned at this award is beyond me and it has left me with the belief that something doesn't just smell, it stinks.People have been givien the impression in the Aquinas guestbook that I am disputing the the winner of the award. I am not and I never have been. My issue is all about the blatent lack of respect, which I believe to be intentional, directed at Marcus

In the Aquinas guestbook on 14 June your chairman states:- "I am more than happy to provide clarity on the golden boot We usually explain the rationale behind it every year.I can't remember if we went through it again this year."

As your chairman can't remember, I can. As a matter of fact, he did not explain any rationale this year and also his speech was very short and amounted to the same or very similar to:-

- THIS YEAR'S GOLDEN BOOT IS UNUSUAL INTHAT IT GOES TO ONE OF THE OLDER PLAYERS B _ _ L_ _ _ _ _ _

So could your chairman explain:-

- Is it not customary and respectful to mention both contenders names at the Golden Boot award?
- If the rationale is explained every year why was it not done this year ?
- Why suddenly change the proceedings and protocol of the Golden Boot ?
- Is it not extraordinary that at any Golden Boot award the top goal scorer is given zero recognition ?
- Do you have any regard for your club's top goal scorer Marcus ?
- Why did you not mention his name ?
- Do you care you have hurt a 12yr old in such a manner ?
- Did you set out to punish Marcus purely because he was leaving this club ?

The submissions to the Aquinas guestbook go directly to the chairman's inbox. He has allowed the following to be posted and it has remained to this day. Since I am not permitted to defend myself on your guestbook as my submissions go no further that his inbox I would be glad to respond to the people that posted the comments.

19 June

Well done Bobby, your reply was 100% correct. The parents didn't even have the courtesy to tell the managers that he was leaving. Aquinas took x from plunkett when he was an average footballer and made him what he is today.

A few days after the last match of the season Marcus's manager P.D phone me to ask if Marcus was staying at the club.I told him NO, Marcus would be playing in the National league next year and he would be joining Cliftonville. He also offered to recommend Marcus to other clubs if I wished and he suggested Crumlin. On the eve of the club day P.D phone me again. He was fit to tell me that Marcus was playing for Clitonville on the 5 june at a tournament in Comber. I confirmed he was indeed playing for Cliftonville and he was going to sign for them. I raised the Golden Boot award with P.D and I explained as Marcus felt he was a contender for this he wanted to opt for the club day at Aquinas instead of the finals day Comber.

On the 14 June your chairman said :-
" Pascal was under the impression that he was staying with the club on the club day."
What???? You must be JOKING !!!!
Anyway to correct this nonsense I sent him an e-mail on 15 June which included the words :-
"You say Pascal _ _ _ _ _ _ _ didn't know Marcus was leaving the club until the Fun day. In fact he knew weeks beforehand as I was stupid enough to tell him when he phoned me to ask the same."

Now, your chairman knows very well that Marcus is leaving this club and I definitely had the courtesy to tell his manager, and I have told you chairman the same again on 15 June yet he is happy to allow one of the gathering mob to post untrue propaganda on the 19 June. Why did he allow someone to post something which he knows not to be true?:-

Your chairman claims he didn't know Marcus was leaving the club.Even if this was true I would hardly think he would risk offending a lad that is going to play for his U14 team in a few months time.

Just to answer the second part of this person's post.

" Aquinas took x from plunkett when he was an average footballer and made him what he is today"

I diagree and I do believe Marcus would have been a much better player had he been elsewhere. The 2 odd years he has been with this team has simply done nothing for his confidence. By all means do not believe me, I suggest you talk to some of the other Dads. All I know is that the only thing Marcus left this club with was a broken heart. Not one person in your club wished him anything, not a single word. You certainly have an unusual way of treating kids.

So to the person that posted the above, I think you owe me an apology since it appears you are actually 100% wrong.

Another person was allowed to post :-
19 june
nevermind the golden boot give dilusional parents the boot. the masked man.

Nobody likes a smart arse.

Would I be right to conclude I would have been wiser pretending Marcus was staying at this club until after the prize giving.