1.
From: Nellies Pool Team
To: Paul Teal
Subject: Singles Knockout

Hi Paul,
 
Will Brown missed playing in the singles knockout. Unfortunately he was originally marked down as a 'bye' in the first round, and when I was emailed the change, it was too late to get a message to him as his mobile was non-functioning.
 
I was just wondering if the league may kindly consider giving him a match, as..
 
a) It was rather short notice
 
b) When he did find out on the match evening he was prepared to attend the venue (although later than 7.30) but was told not to bother
 
c) it would make a nice good will gesture - especially as the league had promised Anna (nellies Landlady) that no more knockouts would take place at the pub, and then of course we had the latest singles fixtures there (I had to do quite a bit to calm her down on that one)
 
I would be very grateful if you could pass this on for serious consideration - especially as Will seems to be a very dedicated young player.
 
Sincere regards,
 
 
Mark
Nellies
2.
From: Paul Teal
To: Nellies Pool Team
Sent: Monday, December 03, 2007 11:31 PM
Subject: Re: Singles Knockout

Mark
 
As the changes to the knockout draw where sent out and posted on the website 5-6 days before the scheduled matches and all other players managed to turn up at the required venue then it would be unfair to them to put Will through to the next round.
 
I would be interested to know who told him "not to bother" as contacting Rich Anderson or myself might have enabled us to contact the venue and arrange for him to play.
 
I'll speak to Rich and let him know that Nellies is not to be picked as a knockout venue in the future.
 
Hope this explanation is acceptable.
 
Paul
3.
From: Nellies Pool Team
To: Paul Teal
Sent: Monday, December 03, 2007
Subject: Singles Knockout

Dear Paul,

 
I'm very disappointed that you and/or the league committee consider just a few days notice, adequate for any scheduled alteration. You mentioned that everyone else managed to meet with the changes - I wonder how many players were originally scheduled not to play (drawing a bye) who then found themselves with a game? Why would anyone have reason to check the website (again), when the fixtures had only just been supplied on paper. It seems such a shame that in all the very many years of playing with the Beverley league, that the organizational standards have dropped quite substantially.
 
In the past, fixtures were arranged, and then posted, very well in advanced, delivered by hand to each venue. Now whilst I'm aware that technology permits alternative means of delivery - as no consistency is being applied - then problems will, and are occurring.
 
For example; The last unscheduled managers meeting, which I was notified by text, with just a few hours notice. After canceling something relatively important (business related), as I assumed the meeting must have been extremely urgent, I was amazed beyond belief (as were many others) that the sole reason for the 'Captains Meeting' - was in fact not a meeting at all, but just a means for the committee to hand out fixtures to those who were fortunate enough to attend - this is absolutely ridiculous!! Furthermore - to add insult to injury, the fixtures list was inaccurate, and lacking important detail, which ultimately was the cause of our 'paying' player Will's, non-attendance at the singles knockout.
 
So maybe the committee is proposing, that every team should check the website every couple of days, just in case a message or reschedule is posted there, instead of 'text', 'posted to the pub', or 'hand delivered to summoned captains'.
 
And whilst I'm on this rant, maybe I could suggest that captains meetings are only held when genuinely required, i.e. when voting is required on an issue of importance. Just assembling a number of individuals, with no agenda in mind, other than the threat of penalty in their absence - makes no common sense, and is counter productive to team scores relating in any way to teams pool abilities. Of course one must have to wonder why such un-productive, time-wasting meetings are called in the first place.
 
Interestingly enough, if there ever was a genuine reason to hold a meeting - it was following the criminal incident at the White Horse Inn, by the Lincoln Lakers.
 
Finally, whilst I thank you for speaking to Rich, advising him that The White Horse Inn will not be used as a knockout venue in the future - I find it incredible that this is necessary - as Rich was told verbally by Anna (Landlady) in my presence. However, this detail was obviously quickly forgotten.
 
Of course the committee don't make mistakes. And when one of my team misses a match which he paid for - it is solely his fault! Right!!?
 
May I propose, that the committee consider..
More detail on the first proposal; Why not arrange a method of communication (for urgent or updated info), for each team on an individual basis. I.E. teams x,y and z are only emailed, and teams a,b and c have copies of that email available for collection from venues p, q and r, when they are notified by text with a message like 'urgent pool league message issued'.
 
Sincere regards,
 
 
Mark
Nellies
(Copy posted at: www.nellies.co.uk/pool)
 
 
P.S. I noticed that the singles and doubles knockout detail at the website are 'the old' previous fixtures.

4.

From: Paul Teal
To: Nellies Pool Team
Sent: Wednesday, December 05, 2007 11:46 PM
Subject: Re: Singles Knockout

Mark
 
Whilst I appreciate you have some critism of the Beverley Pool League, and also some valid points,  the manner in which you put over your points is unconstructive and antagonistic.  To say that the BPL holds meetings because of vanity or funds for the pub is juvenile to the point of being offensive.  Meetings are held so captains can raise and discuss issues in a democratic manner and points are deducted so no team can complain of not being present when a decision is made.  There are only 4 meetings scheduled for the course of this season and at an average of 30mins per meeting, means an input from yourself of around 2 hours in 8 months.  I personally spend more time than this every week on BPL matters (double on knockout weeks) so, for someone who's team couldn't even be bothered to attend a presentation night to pick up trophies that had been purchased for them, I suggest you devote some of your precious time to supporting the committee instead of attacking it.  I don't devote my own time (and money in some circumstances) to be told I hold meetings for my own vanity.
 
Communication is an important issue and I agree could be better on our part.  You ask for a 4-week notice of events and when I publish all the captains meeting dates at the start of the season I get critisized for not reminding people 1 week before each meeting.  When I send out an electronic scoresheet to help lost scorecards then the first email I get is yourself moaning that not everyone has excel !!
 
We had a new member of the committee running the singles knockouts for the first time and coupled with many late entries led to a rush to get the information distributed.  We ask for concessions to be given in these circumstances and are already making plans to avoid these issues again. 
 
The reason we didn't allow W Brown to be allowed into round 2 of the knockouts is a lesson we have learnt many times in the past.  Whilst, in isolation, I would have no problem with him being put through we leave ourselves open to a volley of requests of "you put him through so why can't I go through?".  I have bent rules in the past to allow these types of things to occur but have decided to follow the rules more closely now as to avoid any more confusion and accusations of double standards.
 
I now consider the matter closed.  Should you wish to raise this matter with the committee then please submit your complaint in writing.
 
Paul Teal

5.
  

From: Nellies Pool Team
To: Paul Teal
Sent: Friday, December 07, 2007
Subject: Singles Knockout

 

Dear Paul,
 
Thank you for your prompt and comprehensive reply.
 
My apologies for causing you any upset, it was not my intention to antagonize - merely to state my personal observations / opinions - democratically.
 
My questioning, for the holding of regular meetings - was certainly not directed at you personally, and I'm sure we all appreciate the time you put in - and as I'm someone who does weekly (unpaid) charity work - I really do understand.
 
However - I still maintain that it is pointless to call a meeting, when no meeting is required. At the 'meetings' - there's usually very little debate or discussion, if any at all. However - that's just my opinion. Maybe it would be better to put to the vote at the next meeting, this question; "Should captains meetings be regularly be held - even if there is no prior agenda for debate or voting?".
 
What was very antagonistic and upsetting, was; at just two hours notice, and with fear of losing our team valuable points, I cancelled a meeting - which now proves to have cost me £135 profit. Furthermore, I then hastily walked from Molescroft to the Humber Keel, only to discover that there was in fact no meeting as such - and then later to learn that after all of that, the fixtures list that was handed out, was inaccurate - and in our case, was the initial cause of this whole incident, regardless of who's to blame. So I'm sure you would agree that anyone would be a little unhappy, in these circumstance.
 
You've accused me of moaning, regarding the score-card file format. I think that accusation is grossly unfair. I was trying to be constructive - as you probably weren't aware that a lot of people would not be able to open that file format - and I even went to the effort to reproduce that file as a common .pdf for you , which anyone can open (even if needing to do a free download of a pdf reader). But if you consider my constructive efforts as moaning - then I'm sorry you feel that way.
 
I'll accept the committees ruling on not allowing Will to play his re-scheduled singles match - and thank you for bringing it to their attention for their democratic consideration.
 
Have a nice weekend. Sincere regards,
 
 
 
Mark
Nellies