STAND POINT
Dave Wallis gives you the real fans' perspective every week

SATURDAY offered one of those chances to enjoy an unexpectedly sunny autumn day with two football feasts.

Firstly Swindon were at Accrington Stanley (okay, some might question my definition of feast), before England faced Macedonia.

Town drew and so did England, but my country performed in a manner that made me laugh rather than cheer. Some of what was seen from our most highly rated footballers was almost derisible.

I, like so many committed club supporters, want my country to win but see it as a side issue to proper football. Swindon Town is real life, but watching England is a parody of the real thing, like watching EastEnders.

There were 72,000 people at Old Trafford, but almost twice that number watched League Football on the same day with the inevitable clash of interests. And that doesn't include those who watched the likes of Supermarine, Chippenham and Salisbury.

Can't it be expected that all of them might have been interested in watching their country?

When faced with a club-or-country decision, supporters of lower League sides often find themselves polarised into one of two groups.

Miss watching their countrymen in favour of a lengthy trip around that very country, or stay close to the box, denying their cash to the clubs who need it most. How far south would Town supporters have been at 6.45pm, the time England's match finished in Manchester?

They could have popped into a pub somewhere to watch the game, but that would have added another two hours or so to their arrival back in Wiltshire.

The attitude of the FA and the Football League regarding international fixture arrangements is disrespectful to football's supporters, with the authorities only considering fans of clubs in the top two divisions.

I didn't travel to Accrington, instead listening to Ed Hadwin on the radio. I'd like to make it plain that my decision had nothing to do with watching England.

To rub salt into the wound, Town's game at Accy was held up for 15 minutes by the non-arrival of the fourth official.

That's the FOURTH official. Just a few years back we didn't need one at all, now he has the power to delay the kick-off.

I look forward to being able to give STFC a quick tinkle to tell them I'm stuck in traffic and the match will have to wait for quarter of an hour.

That delay meant that supporters of both sides missed their national side kick-off, even if they'd dashed straight to a TV.

Then there were the 72,000 who went to Manchester to actually watch England.

I spotted a Bristol Rovers' flag at Old Trafford. Why weren't they watching their side's home clash with Boston?

With Town fans taking a trip to the north regardless of whether they were watching club or country, I hope I didn't spot any Town flags because there weren't any.

1:49pm Thursday 12th October 2006

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