| Genuinely... I would like to know the opinion on this. 19:09 - Nov 5 with 2925 views | waveneyblue |
My son referees youth football and received this message yesterday.....
Good afternoon all, I hope you are well.
I have received the following regarding Remembrance Day on Sunday:
I have had some members of the public raise questions about the observing of 2 minutes silence on Remembrance Sunday morning. As most of you will know across the country at 11am normally, communities gather to observe 2 minutes of silence in respect to the fallen in past conflicts. The concerns that have been raised with me has been that this is often made difficult by the noise and voices coming from football pitches usually quite near to village churches, memorials or cenotaphs.
The observation of 2 minutes silence is an individual choice and cannot be mandated, however could you please reach out to your clubs to ask them to respect the wishes of their local communities and avoid if possible being active at 11am on Remembrance Sunday. This may mean timing KO’s to ensure that at that time no football is being played, if that is possible. I do understand that most clubs hold their silence at the start of a match but although that is respectful and much appreciated, it still doesn’t take into account the silence that some communities wish for at 11am.
I hope that you all understand where this is coming from and I am passing on a request from communities where football is played.
I coached for the last 3 years and we always held 2 minute silence at kick off, which we made sure was totally respected (and it always was). My feelings are that the matches should go on as normal and everyone should be allowed to pay respects in their own way.
But maybe its just me.... Hence the question. |  | | |  |
| Genuinely... I would like to know the opinion on this. on 19:12 - Nov 5 with 2486 views | SitfcB |
It’s all gone a bit mad. |  |
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| Genuinely... I would like to know the opinion on this. on 19:15 - Nov 5 with 2447 views | J2BLUE |
Personally I think if one team is not wearing red and the other black so you can arrange yourself into a giant poppy and arrange for a sky diver (in full poppy costume) to take a picture from above for social media then I would wonder if you even care.
The officials should be in green for the stem. Obviously. |  |
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| Genuinely... I would like to know the opinion on this. on 19:15 - Nov 5 with 2446 views | bluelagos |
I agree with you absolutely. |  |
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| Genuinely... I would like to know the opinion on this. on 19:26 - Nov 5 with 2335 views | surreyblue |
Definitely feels heavy handed. What time is kick-off for each half? It feels a much larger imposition if the game needs to be stopped compared to waiting a minute or two at the start of a half. |  | | |
| Genuinely... I would like to know the opinion on this. on 19:30 - Nov 5 with 2306 views | waveneyblue |
| Genuinely... I would like to know the opinion on this. on 19:26 - Nov 5 by surreyblue |
Definitely feels heavy handed. What time is kick-off for each half? It feels a much larger imposition if the game needs to be stopped compared to waiting a minute or two at the start of a half. |
Games always start at 10. Depending on age, its 30 or 40 minute halves, so it wouldnt be a minor adjustment. | | | |
| Genuinely... I would like to know the opinion on this. on 19:30 - Nov 5 with 2285 views | Nthsuffolkblue |
It seems reasonable that there is a silence at 11 am on the 11th. On Remembrance Sunday it is often at 11 am too but I can see why it might vary. If at all possible, if the match can fit in that would be good but it shouldn't be a decision for the referee. It should be the clubs to agree on it. In an ideal world the match would kick off at 11.02 after the silence but if it is already scheduled for earlier, can the 11 am fit in with half time? Can reasonable adjustments be made? Ultimately it is for individual clubs to come to the best arrangement. If they are right beside where a silence is being observed it is probably different to where they are not.
At the end of the day, those who are being remembered fought for the freedom for people to make these choices. |  |
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| Genuinely... I would like to know the opinion on this. on 19:33 - Nov 5 with 2271 views | waveneyblue |
| Genuinely... I would like to know the opinion on this. on 19:30 - Nov 5 by Nthsuffolkblue |
It seems reasonable that there is a silence at 11 am on the 11th. On Remembrance Sunday it is often at 11 am too but I can see why it might vary. If at all possible, if the match can fit in that would be good but it shouldn't be a decision for the referee. It should be the clubs to agree on it. In an ideal world the match would kick off at 11.02 after the silence but if it is already scheduled for earlier, can the 11 am fit in with half time? Can reasonable adjustments be made? Ultimately it is for individual clubs to come to the best arrangement. If they are right beside where a silence is being observed it is probably different to where they are not.
At the end of the day, those who are being remembered fought for the freedom for people to make these choices. |
Thing is, there are often 3 fixtures per pitch, often 10am, 12pm, 2pm.
So not as simple as delaying an hour.
If it was 11am kick off, 100% delay it, but it isnt | | | |
| Genuinely... I would like to know the opinion on this. on 19:34 - Nov 5 with 2257 views | Crow77 |
Personally after what everyone gave in said conflicts. and what they all gave up at the time and after is it really that hard to stop the game 30 secs before 11 and to stop and let everyone remember and say thanks to every single one of them. From all sides very few of them wanted to fight. | | | |
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| Genuinely... I would like to know the opinion on this. on 19:37 - Nov 5 with 2210 views | Nthsuffolkblue |
| Genuinely... I would like to know the opinion on this. on 19:33 - Nov 5 by waveneyblue |
Thing is, there are often 3 fixtures per pitch, often 10am, 12pm, 2pm.
So not as simple as delaying an hour.
If it was 11am kick off, 100% delay it, but it isnt |
Doesn't that make it simple to ensure 11am is during half time in the first fixture (even if the second half is slightly delayed - probably with time allowed at the end of the first half it won't need to be)? | |
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| Genuinely... I would like to know the opinion on this. on 19:39 - Nov 5 with 2215 views | JakeITFC |
I think if it’s genuinely disturbing to the silence at a cenotaph/memorial then it isn’t an unreasonable request, I’d simply just ask the ref to blow at 10:59 and have a couple of minutes break.
When I was a kid our ref stopped a game in 2003 to tell us that England had won the rugby World Cup! |  | | |
| Genuinely... I would like to know the opinion on this. on 19:42 - Nov 5 with 2183 views | mellowblue |
The more the world wars retreat into the past, the more important to people rembrance sunday seems to be. I thought it would have worked out the other way, that it would have fade away. | | | |
| Genuinely... I would like to know the opinion on this. on 19:44 - Nov 5 with 2141 views | Nthsuffolkblue |
| Genuinely... I would like to know the opinion on this. on 19:42 - Nov 5 by mellowblue |
The more the world wars retreat into the past, the more important to people rembrance sunday seems to be. I thought it would have worked out the other way, that it would have fade away. |
The further into the past it disappears, absolutely the more important it is to remember. | |
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| Genuinely... I would like to know the opinion on this. on 19:48 - Nov 5 with 2136 views | waveneyblue |
| Genuinely... I would like to know the opinion on this. on 19:37 - Nov 5 by Nthsuffolkblue |
Doesn't that make it simple to ensure 11am is during half time in the first fixture (even if the second half is slightly delayed - probably with time allowed at the end of the first half it won't need to be)? |
Youth football only has 5 mins for h/t.
Appreciate if there was an easy way round it, then absolutely fine - I don't agree with stopping the game and the obvious complications that come with that. | | | |
| Genuinely... I would like to know the opinion on this. on 20:02 - Nov 5 with 2038 views | Nthsuffolkblue |
| Genuinely... I would like to know the opinion on this. on 19:48 - Nov 5 by waveneyblue |
Youth football only has 5 mins for h/t.
Appreciate if there was an easy way round it, then absolutely fine - I don't agree with stopping the game and the obvious complications that come with that. |
Ah.
Delaying the start of the second half probably wouldn't be that disruptive still would it? Even if it did mean 10+ min for half time for once. | |
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| Genuinely... I would like to know the opinion on this. on 20:09 - Nov 5 with 2003 views | vapour_trail |
My lad will kick off at 10 on Sunday, well 10.02 this week. The second half will start around 10.50.
Same every home game and the pitch will be in use right through the day given the number of teams in the youth section.
We are not near anyone we are likely to annoy (I don’t think).
Personally, I think the letter to your boy is heavy handed, unrealistic, and demonstrates an increasing intolerance around remembrance from people who feel it should be done exactly as they mandate. |  |
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| Genuinely... I would like to know the opinion on this. on 20:13 - Nov 5 with 1943 views | southnorfolkblue |
I agree with you. Holding it an hour early is no less respectful. I would politely reply that the game will be ongoing at 11am so you’ll be holding the 2 minutes silence early. That way if there are people who would be genuinely upset about this, they can find somewhere else to pay their respects. They could also choose to join you.
The cynic in me would love to know what number constitutes some people and whether that number can truly be said to be representative of the local community | |
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| Genuinely... I would like to know the opinion on this. on 20:16 - Nov 5 with 1916 views | waveneyblue |
| Genuinely... I would like to know the opinion on this. on 20:02 - Nov 5 by Nthsuffolkblue |
Ah.
Delaying the start of the second half probably wouldn't be that disruptive still would it? Even if it did mean 10+ min for half time for once. |
The halves are shorter 30/40 mins max, it would be a 20 min half time.
I have absolutely nothing against showing respect and I made sure the boys in my team knew the importance.
However, I dont like the slightly forced narrative thats creeping in, as I guarantee it will have the absolute opposite affect to what they are hoping to achieve. | | | |
| Genuinely... I would like to know the opinion on this. on 20:21 - Nov 5 with 1869 views | mellowblue |
| Genuinely... I would like to know the opinion on this. on 19:44 - Nov 5 by Nthsuffolkblue |
The further into the past it disappears, absolutely the more important it is to remember. |
I don't doubt it. | | | |
| Genuinely... I would like to know the opinion on this. on 20:24 - Nov 5 with 1828 views | Nthsuffolkblue |
| Genuinely... I would like to know the opinion on this. on 20:16 - Nov 5 by waveneyblue |
The halves are shorter 30/40 mins max, it would be a 20 min half time.
I have absolutely nothing against showing respect and I made sure the boys in my team knew the importance.
However, I dont like the slightly forced narrative thats creeping in, as I guarantee it will have the absolute opposite affect to what they are hoping to achieve. |
Fair enough.
Unless the competing clubs feel strongly and want to have a second half interruption to observe it, I would say 10am is perfectly reasonable. If it were Sunday 11th, that might be an exception and it might be worth considering well in advance. Could matches start earlier (9.30 instead of 10am) or an interruption to the second half be acceptable on such a date? Even then, though, if clubs felt 10am was better, it shouldn't be a problem. | |
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| Genuinely... I would like to know the opinion on this. on 20:25 - Nov 5 with 1846 views | vapour_trail |
| Genuinely... I would like to know the opinion on this. on 19:42 - Nov 5 by mellowblue |
The more the world wars retreat into the past, the more important to people rembrance sunday seems to be. I thought it would have worked out the other way, that it would have fade away. |
Remembrance Sunday sustains. I am not convinced that memory of the two wars, of how and why they happened, have quite the same shelf life however. | |
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| Genuinely... I would like to know the opinion on this. on 09:38 - Nov 6 with 1354 views | soupytwist |
You don't say how old your son is, but as he referees youth football I expect he's maybe in his late teenage years.
If this has come from the league/local FA, it's not a responsibility to place on him. It should be the coaches of each team who are asked to decide on this. And if there has been "a request from communities where football is played." then send it to those teams who will be playing in a location where this could conceivably be a problem (to some people). |  | | |
| Genuinely... I would like to know the opinion on this. on 09:55 - Nov 6 with 1257 views | EuanTown |
There are many things apart from football on remembrance Sunday which create noise so I would not single football out. So long as it is observed before the match.
Do these people want everything to stop at 11am on the Sunday and on the 11th November as well. Just not possible. |  | | |
| Genuinely... I would like to know the opinion on this. on 10:03 - Nov 6 with 1219 views | Cafe_Newman |
If those wanting to observe a short act of remembrance in public are worried about the possible sound of children nearby enjoying their freedom, they need to think a bit more about what the people they are remembering died for. |  | | |
| Genuinely... I would like to know the opinion on this. on 10:16 - Nov 6 with 1188 views | artsbossbeard |
Had this at Stowupland a few years back as the church is next to the big playing field and it was the same style of request.
No biggy really, I think we just delayed the KO to 11:05 from 10:30, if memory serves. |  |
| Please note: prior to hitting the post button, I've double checked for anything that could be construed as "Anti Semitic" and to the best of my knowledge it isn't. Anything deemed to be of a Xenophobic nature is therefore purely accidental or down to your own misconstruing. | | Poll: | Raining in IP8 - shall I get the washing in? |
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| Genuinely... I would like to know the opinion on this. on 10:21 - Nov 6 with 1161 views | Sharkey |
"The observation of 2 minutes silence is an individual choice and cannot be mandated." It IS virtually mandated at football matches, (sometimes in late October.) If disturbing a minute's silence is not yet a criminal offence, it soon will be.
I'm with the 'members of the public' on this. They make the effort to go once a year to the war memorial at the traditional time on Remembrance Sunday. Football could shut up for a moment to show its genuine respect, rather than parading its respect as if it were a competition to see which club can be the most respectful.
(To be clear, I'm talking about places where the football pitch is quite close to the war memorial, as the original letter states.) [Post edited 6 Nov 10:40]
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