This top of the league lark is funny. If I believe what I read, with each new game we win or draw, the worse our team is. Apparently Bognor play fantastic football, as do Dulwich. Lewes will win the league and at least some teams like Aveley "try to play" whilst we on the other hand "make no attempt to create anything and rely on long throws and set pieces." A poor mans Stoke I think he said. I had to chuckle when I read that.

But, on our forum it has been debated that our long throws produce nothing and previously discussed, our delivery at set pieces is poor. I think both views have some small merit, which is why our national game is so wonderful. We have so many differing opinions

Yes we have a long throw and some times it works, but others times it doesn’t. Would those football purists shout "No, No, not the long throw again" if they had it in their armoury? We do get a lot of free kicks in the final third, but, if the opposition didn’t foul us so much and stop us trying to 'play' they could negate that.

Stoke? We are the league's top scorers with 46 goals so far, unlike Stoke who have managed just 16. Even Bolton and Blackburn have scored 20 & 22.  We sneaked into top spot unnoticed, but now we are the talk of the division 

On a more serious note, I was having a discussion the other day, well, it was more a reminisce than a discussion, about the old days (I must be getting to a certain age). How players used to stay at one club, season after season. It all came about because I mentioned how nice it was to hear Arthur Coughlin at his recent birthday party recall happy memories about his ten years with Billericay. We discussed how it’s a short career and once its over, all you have is your memories. There have always been players who move from club to club, but I don’t think it’s to the same degree that it happens now.

Isn’t that a shame? So many lads don’t understand that they will never be a pro-footballer, and because of that, and their belief that they need an agent and have to move from club to club, "because that what us footballers do." They forget that the most important thing, regardless of which club they’re with, is to embrace their happiness and enjoyment, because before long its to late, and it will have passed them by.

I just can’t see, in that 40 years time, there will be a party like Arthurs. And that will be a shame.  I know I talk about the players a lot on here, but keep seeing them make the wrong choice, so by writing about it, I hope that some at least, read this and think about what is important when it comes to football at this level. I would ask them to think about what stories they would they like to tell their grandchildren. Do they want to be saying how they had great friends and how they won this or that medal or this or that award. Or do they want to recall how they played for X number of clubs and how they should have been a pro but didn’t because this or that prevented them.

To a certain degree, its similar with spectators. So many Billericay residents will sit at home and watch football on the box, claim to be fanatical about football and talk of how they miss the terraces and sensible prices. But they have all of those things on their doorstep and they don’t embrace them. The older folks in the town still talk about how Billericay won the Vase’s and what wonderful times they were. They can recall great memories to their children and grandchildren of how Billericay won the Essex Senior league and how they travelled here or there, and how Billericay won this cup or that cup. Just like Arthur and his team mates recall those times. But like the modern day footballer the modern day residents of Billericay are missing out. The young fathers are missing out on a special father and son bond, standing on a cold terrace, right at pitch side, shouting your team on. Young girls are missing coming to the ground to get close to the footballers. Families are missing out on mixing with the players after the game, the children can get autographs and the parents can have a crafty drink before they get home. Husbands can have a tea or a beer in the clubhouse after the game whilst watching the late game on TV with their mates and talking about how shocking the ref was today and how we should have had a penalty. It's all there, yet so many will miss out and let life pass them by as they sit on the sofa waiting to find out which 200k a week footballer has done what to who.

Come on people, we are top of the league, its time to bank some memories.

Happy Christmas everyone.

Steve