Well readers it's started all again. At a meeting on Monday 13th Feb 2006 Southport and District League Committee once again fined Dell Rangers FC a staggering £150 fine. Moreover they voted on kicking Dell Rangers out of the league. Allegedly an ex Dell Rangers manager is being accused of continuing to manage/work behind the scenes at the club. A Committee member has wrote a damaging letter stating that Frank McShane was heard by himself encouraging players on the field of play and making managerial decisions. This is a complete lie because I know for a fact as well as many others that F. McShane has nothing whatsoever to do with the running of Dell Rangers FC. He has only attended a few games this season, reason being his son and nephew play for the club, The committee have now told Dell Rangers FC that Mr McShane cannot go within 25 yards of any player whilst Dell Rangers are playing. If so the club will be dealt with severely i.e. expulsion from the league. This is an outrageous decision, as we all know footballers play on a public park. The committee member who has wrote this damaging letter needs to take a look at himself and wonder why he has wrote these lies and why he is himself on the Committee. This is tarnishing the good name of Dell Rangers FC. Anybody who has played football in this league in the last 30 years know that Dell Rangers are a well organised successful club. 3 members as well as Mr McShane were wrongly banned in my eyes last season for standing up to a controversial decision made by the Committee. I also know that several members of the committee were embarrassed by this decision, but unfortunately there are a few members that vote on decisions made by two other people i.e. Mr Ramsden and Mr Halfpenny this is obviously a personal vendetta, do these two people not think enough damage has been caused? It is becoming farcical and embarrassing. It would be interesting to know if Liverpool County FA has been made aware of this outrageous decision. I look forward to your replies on this controversial decision, those who love football should reply and voice their honest opinion.

P.s. These people should no be allowed to get away with this injustice please voice your opinion for the love of football in this town.

The league committee must be getting worried as Dell are now climbing the table and they can't have them win it twice on the run,can they

Few photo's from yesterdays Infirmary Cup 1/4 Final against Marshside Hesketh are below,showing support from more than 25 yards away

After reading the article from Monday 20th February I feel I should post this letter. I am presently on the Committee of the S & D league and I’m ashamed of how Dell Rangers FC where treated last year and indeed this year. Myself and at least three other members are considering resigning. To stop a person being 25 yards away from watching or even speaking to his son is an utter disgrace. My fellow Committee members need to answer themselves some serious questions. Everybody is aware that it is a personal issue between D.Ramsden and B.Halfpenny. Leave the club alone for the sake of football in this town.

I am a manager in the S & D Sunday league. The decision to ban Dell Rangers ex manager at all let alone give him a touchline ban in scandalous. Dells ex manager was always approachable on any football matter even when his team beat us he never snubbed me and always shook my hand and said unlucky or you played well today. Or he’d say so and so’s a good player try playing him in another position next time. He was right and the player is a different player 2 years on. Enjoy your retirement Frank you deserve it but you don’t deserve a ban. Committee you’re a disgrace.

Following on from the interesting articles being posted about Dell Rangers and the Southport & District league, I am drafting this letter in an attempt to clarify the present situation with regards watching Dell Rangers FC play football in the Southport & District league on a Sunday morning.

I have been informed verbally by Tommy Howie, manager of Dell Rangers FC's second team, that I am forbidden to be within 25 yards of a Dell Rangers player or football game.

I would like to seek confirmation that this is the case, as I regularly walk my dog on public fields on sunday mornings and enjoy watching local league football in my home town.

I have no affiliation with the Southport & District League or any club in the district, due to a 12 month ban imposed upon me for a letter I sent to the Liverpool FA last year, airing my views as to how games were being officiated in that league. Surley this instruction should be delivered to my home address by the league and not via a club that I am no longer associated with?

I have had to seek legal advice on this matter, only from my companies solicitor at this stage, as I am unaware that this ban is legal and seems to invade and inhibit my civil liberties in public areas.

Is this in affect an anti social behaviour order that has somehow been imposed upon me to prevent me from enjoying watching football in public areas? Can this be upheld as my only crime was to draft a letter of complaint to the FA and do not impose any threat to any players concerned?

I am aware that Dell Rangers had their fixtures suspended, points lost and fined as a result of another individual viewing a match and I do not want to cause any further harm to the decent name of Dell Rangers FC.

This seems to clearly demonstrate that the league still have a grievance with Dell Rangers FC and its former members who were banned in April 2005.

I would welcome a response in an attempt to allow me to know what sanctions have been imposed upon me and to then allow me to seek guidance as to the legality of such a ban and what actions I can take.

Regards,


Chris Birchall

PS. As anyone can testify, who has seen Chris Birchall play in goal, his eye sight is poor from up close, so 25 yards is going to be impossible !!

Oh Dear..The District League Demolition Duo are back,when will they ever learn?..you won't finish off a great club DELL RANGERS as long as they have the support both on and off the pitch as was shown last sunday when i visited Meols Park to watch a champions performance against CLUB VILLA...what has it come too when J.B and Co have to virtualy stand in the ditch to watch the lads,because of the leagues pathetic 25 yard touchline ban.Take it from me, it's not in their history to be beaten so get off their backs and let a club with years off District League history carry on its tradition. (26.5 metres from touchline to duckpond!!!!!!!)

It’s nice to know after a good win and a slight hiccup last week that Dell Rangers are still up there fighting to retain their well deserved title which they thoroughly deserved last year. The teams that are up there with them know that if they want to take Dell’s title they have a fight on their hands. I’m just wondering when a certain Mr Ramsden or Halfpenny will start refereeing Dell’s games to try and prevent them retaining there title. The pair last year gave some outrageous decisions against Dell Rangers and I should know because I played in one of them and it was very embarrassing. Or is the rumour that Mr Ramsden is eventually retiring true? (We all hope so) and that is 90% of players in this town. I also wonder do the Liverpool County FA or higher governing bodies know that this touchline ban is illegal. Look forward to hearing your replies on this matter.

I can't ever see him retire..once J.B's ban is up and he's back in action Ramsden will be even more determined to finish the Dell...i honestly don't know what's up with the guy,is it because he doesn't want the same teams winning trophies every year?......if he's given half a chance he'll try and finish the Dell, just like he personally broke the hearts of club players and officials at Bedford
Rangers.For the best part of 12 years we tried to reason with him
but he wanted the club out and in the end he got his way.
Perhaps away from the surroundings of the District League he's
a decent guy?..but honestly as regards Football in this town i could write a book about the times he has personally changed his view on certain decisions when challenged,and not been true to his word. Anyone who runs a football team will tell you...its a thankless job and takes up a hell of a lot of time and commitment
but also has its rewards when you can put a decent team together and challenge for honours,this i fear is what Mr Ramsden doesn't want and he'll never change......if he says its
Black then its Black! end of story.

On the 18th Feb a letter was handed to the assistant league secretary from John Burns former secretary of Dell Rangers for the attention of the league conmmitee. At a meeting of the committee the letter was handed to the league secretary who failed to bring it to the attention of that committee. As has been stated in previous posts what is the use of having a committee if the league is run like a dictatorship and letters are not discussed, the letter was about the 25 yard touchline ban (Which they were informed by Dell secretary was actually 25 yards from the pitch) imposed on four former members of Dell Rangers FC. It would be nice to see if any of the committee have the courage to ask the League Secretary to see the letter or even comment on this forum about the way things are run.

Originally Posted by JEB

On the 18th Feb a letter was handed to the assistant league secretary from John Burns former secretary of Dell Rangers for the attention of the league conmmitee. At a meeting of the committee the letter was handed to the league secretary who failed to bring it to the attention of that committee. As has been stated in previous posts what is the use of having a committee if the league is run like a dictatorship and letters are not discussed, the letter was about the 25 yard touchline ban (Which they were informed by Dell secretary was actually 25 yards from the pitch) imposed on four former members of Dell Rangers FC. It would be nice to see if any of the committee have the courage to ask the League Secretary to see the letter or even comment on this forum about the way things are run.

Surely it's as clear cut case......the comm members SHOULD BE MADE to view this letter

Originally Posted by columbo

It’s nice to know after a good win and a slight hiccup last week that Dell Rangers are still up there fighting to retain their well deserved title which they thoroughly deserved last year. The teams that are up there with them know that if they want to take Dell’s title they have a fight on their hands. I’m just wondering when a certain Mr Ramsden or Halfpenny will start refereeing Dell’s games to try and prevent them retaining there title. The pair last year gave some outrageous decisions against Dell Rangers and I should know because I played in one of them and it was very embarrassing. Or is the rumour that Mr Ramsden is eventually retiring true? (We all hope so) and that is 90% of players in this town. I also wonder do the Liverpool County FA or higher governing bodies know that this touchline ban is illegal. Look forward to hearing your replies on this matter.

90%!!! more like 100..

Originally Posted by Birk Daley

Surely it's as clear cut case......the comm members SHOULD BE MADE to view this letter

There can only be one reason why this letter was kept from the committee, and that is the league secretary had no remit from that committee to impose a 25 yard touchline ban, he did this I suspect in a fit of pique because he could not get his own way in the meeting by once again trying to ban Dell Rangers from the league. The charges that were levelled against Frank McShane were a complete fabrication, and the two members of the committee who wrote letters with these false claims should be ashamed of themselves.

Originally Posted by JEB

There can only be one reason why this letter was kept from the committee, and that is the league secretary had no remit from that committee to impose a 25 yard touchline ban, he did this I suspect in a fit of pique because he could not get his own way in the meeting by once again trying to ban Dell Rangers from the league. The charges that were levelled against Frank McShane were a complete fabrication, and the two members of the committee who wrote letters with these false claims should be ashamed of themselves.

A certain committee member was the main instigator in disgracefull
scenes at Devonshire Road over the week-end.........25 yard touchline ban on it's way then??.....i think not!!!!!!!! The tables
will be turned and they'll do like they allways do...Have there little
meeting and stick together like the low life that they are!!!!

Originally Posted by Birk Daley

A certain committee member was the main instigator in disgracefull
scenes at Devonshire Road over the week-end.........25 yard touchline ban on it's way then??.....i think not!!!!!!!! The tables
will be turned and they'll do like they allways do...Have there little
meeting and stick together like the low life that they are!!!!

If this member of the committee is who I suspect it is he was one of the letter writers instigating the touchline ban meted out to the four former members of Dell, bearing in mind that these four former members of Dell Rangers that were banned never committed any acts of violence or threatening behavior, their crime, writing letters of complaint about unfair treatment against their club and players. I wonder if the league secretary will look into this committee members actions, or just put it to one side for now until he needs another scurrilous letter writing and rewards him with turning a blind eye to his actions.

JEB sounds a decent man with high morale values , all he is asking , in my opinion , is to be treated fairly . After what has happened at devonshire road it will be interesting how the committee deal with a serious incident. If they are consistant then it will be another case of double standards . I really dont understand why the committee carry on , do they get some sort of twisted pleasure out of treating good people harshly?