Golden Fans

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 15 Mar 2007, 22:21

Football managers and chairmen have laughed off proposals to decide drawn Football League games with a penalty shoot-out.

I have a brilliant idea! I am willing to go along with the penalty decider, but I think that the penalties should be taken by supporters of each team.

Here is how it works. Season ticket holders are entitled to buy a lottery ticket for each game at £1 each. Regardless of the result, all the money goes to a local charity. In the event of a draw, a lottery takes place. Five supporters from each team are chosen to take the penalties against the opposing goalkeeper.

It's every supporter's dream to score a match-winning goal for their team and this is their big chance. The lucky supporters don a strip and boots and run onto the pitch to huge applause. Imagine the tension, the excitement!

Talk about the twelfth man! These guys (and gals) are the representatives of the ordinary punter on the terraces, bridging the gap between the pampered millionaire stars and the ordinary supporters who pay their wages. Let's face it - they probably care more passionately about their club than half the players anyway!

Think about it. People always complain that penalties are a lottery, so let's make it a real lottery, make a few dreams come true and benefit some local charities at the same time.

'Ladies and gentlemen, the game has ended in a draw and it will now be decided on the Golden Fans rule.'

It could be you. Are you ready to face the challenge?

seanie · Post by **seanie** » 16 Mar 2007, 00:17

The excitement might dissipate after a couple of hours of fan after fan resolutely failing to score. You'd have to blindfold the goalkeeper to even things up.

Come to think of it that could be another way of resolving things. After the full time whistle the teams have to don blindfolds.

They then have to play guided by the encouragement of the fans.

"COLDER"

"WARMER"

"COLDER! COLDER!"

"WARMER! WARMER!"

"KICK! KICK!"

"DIVE! DIVE! DIVE!"

"GOAAAAAAAALLLLLLLL!!!!!!"

Plug · Post by **Plug** » 16 Mar 2007, 00:37

I have played a fair number of games of "Touch Rugby" in the last few years and in competitions when it is a draw at full time they play an extra 5 minutes. At the end of each minute each team has to withdraw one player so that with 2 minutes to go it is 2 versus 2.. If football teams had to play an extra 30 minutes and had to withdraw a player every 5 minutes it could be down to 5 v 5 for the last 5 minutes ( that is if they started the extra time at 10 v 10).. This tests the skill of the manager as the manager has to decide whether to take off a striker and pack the defence or take off a defender.

I also remember that when I was in the Scouts - 5-a-side games were decided by the number of corners won in the absence of goals. Perhaps a combination of reducing the number of players and counting the number of corners or throw ins in the final third of the pitch (or the number of "genuine" attempts at goal) should decide the game???