I've been in a similar position at times with the team I play for. They're not as young as some of the Doncaster players, but lacked the general RL nous that the opponents had.

Hopefully, that will all sort itself out soon.

Those young lad's turn up for training week in week out and put their life and soul into playing for the Dons and get paid a pittance at the side of what the other reserve teams get..

Other reseve teams turn up at Toll Bar on club buses, when our lads have to make their own way to games, 'home or away'.. But they do it for the club and win, lose or draw we should be proud of them...

Well said DonnyD they have only played one away game so far at York which was a night game and with the majority of the players living in the Hull area it made sense for them to make their own way there for that game as they woudnt have made kick off travelling to Donny first to pick up a bus,i am sure a bus will be provided for the away games such as Whitehaven etc
Fridays game against Hunslet will be another tough test for the boys against a big Hunslet side so get down and support these boys who may not win the game but will give 110 % With the situation in the first team tony miller will probably call up some of the experienced players making the reserves team even younger. Good luck boys for Friday

There are rules on how many over age players can be played.

Fev have young lads who are physically stronger because they spend three nights a week doing weights and training in a professional enviroment.

Your own players were quick to tell tales to us about how amateurish it is at training at Doncaster. Perhaps this would explain why they lack strength, direction and the chance to compete?

It seems the clubs is going through much more important issues than the Reserves but dont blame Fev for playing Richard Blakeway and a couple of other 23 year olds!!!
As Gargoyle as posted, the players are treat badly at Reserve level, not picked even when training etc. Who's fault is that?

The team that Fev fielded wasnt the issue, the issue is some of the unfair stick our players have been getting from their own supporters .many of these players are 17 and 18 yr olds who are playing off the back of a winter season with having no rest. Of course they will lack strentgh at this age which is the main reason they look weak in defence. The boys do use weights but Rome wasnt built in a day.

I've seen Tony at the games I've attended so people saying he wasn't there are wrong.

Still doesn't explain why there was only 3 on the bench for the Fev match when others were available. One of my mates who has signed for the reserves got a phone call friday evening following the unfortunate accident involving some of the players, another did not.
Not going to do the lads confidence much good thinking they'd rather play with 16 than have him on the bench is it? And I'm sure he cant have been the only one.

As for the men against boys that will not wash due the the limitations on overage players.

And the bitching and arguing on the pitch? Should be addressed by the coaching staff.

Still not looking good from where I'm standing

I travelled 50 miles to the game on sat with a player who did not know if he had been selected to play or not until he got there. The coaches shouldnt have to ring round asking players to attend on match days. They were all asked to attend every game whether selected or not as they are a team. i am aware that a player who had been selected pulled out shortly before the game with an injury which is beyond anyones control so if that lad had turned up it woulnt have left the rest of them to play with 16 players.

Big John who ever you are you speak common sense there are a few people having a go at the team and set up. As stated at the start of this thread at York your players showed a lot of balls and where the better team on the night. Dont rise to the antics of Bandito and Gargoyle probably never played or understand the requirements of Rugby League

Wrong on every count. Add coached Juniors, managed Youth and ran as secretary Youth and Junior section.

As for turning up for matches when not selected despite training-neither would I after four matches without being offered a sniff of a chance!

Thanks Yorkrl at last someone with understanding of what it takes to play at this level and realises that it takes more than a few weeks to build a succesful team i have watched them play in all of their games and like i have already said they give 110% every week, it will all come together soon people need to be patient and support them also to those people playing cricket because they have not been picked for a game need to decide are they part of the team or not as attendance to every game should come as standard regardless if they are playing or not with the exception of work commitments etc.

that is a typical amateur game comment had the lad turned up last sat he probably would have got a game. Its not the junior league were players take it in turns to play at my previous amateur club turning up regardless came as standard.Staying away on match days isnt the answer to getting into the team the lad needs to be visible and his chance will come

Sorry, should have mentioned chance to work, oversight on my part. My mates would rather play for reserves but turning down work to sit and watch is a no-brainer.
Playing cricket is important to them as well, so when the team is selected after training they have the choice.
As for turning up regardless of selection in team or not, hats off to 'bigjohn' for doing that. Will you be going to Whitehaven to sit in the stand, like I have in the past, if the player you travel with isn't in the 17? If so, I salute your dedication (and I'm not taking the p155)

Work commitments are an exception i have been fortunate to be associated with several players in the past some who now are playing for superleague clubs some of these players at 17 and 18 yrs also had other interests but there comes a time for a young lad to have to make choices in their lives about whats important to them as they often cannot give 100% commitment to both and yes thanks for the compliment Gargoyle i will be at the Whitehaven game regardless hope your mate gets his chance soon

I coach Fev reserves mate, no antics here, just feel sorry for the players who are complaining about the way they are treated at Donny.

Who the hell asks every player to turn up on game day without telling them if they are playing or not?

Do they not have game prep the nigth before? Do they not hand tip sheets out to the 18 players selected? Do they not give the lads chance to prepare for a game the night before by knowing they are playing and therefore eat well and plenty of rest?

How long before the players who turn up every Saturday only to find out they aint playing think 'sod this, I am off on the beer the ngiht before now cos I never get picked nayway'

Prior to the Fev game the starting 13 were named at training on the thursday night the subs not named due to giving more time to players recovering from knocks and then due to unforseen circumstances 6 of the 13 were unable to play unforseen circumstances can occur at any time so players should be prepared for a call up at short notice and not take the initial team selection as written in stone.

Surely you as the Fev coach must have had to change your team on occasions at short notice

nobody can for see future and lads getting injured in warm ups and such but i know a lad who was 18th man and coaches still picked sum1 else instead of him! i think its a case of his face doesnt fit!!

i also dont think anyone is having a go at lads coaching staff yes!
i played for dons/dragons acadamy alliance and reserve and on occasions we had to ring people to come and play there is nothing wrong with it, it beats playing wi 15 or 16 because that doesnt look good!

The player who turned up as 18th man for the York (H) fixture and was then overlooked in favour of someone else is a friend of mine. What really p155ed him off even more was the player who had to drop out at short notice played in the same position as him, yet the player drafted in over his head did not! Now that is p155 poor management/coaching if I've ever seen it. The bloke has already played at this level at a different club and accepts that you're not always going to get a start, so has total understanding of what it takes to play at this level (Quote from 'bigjohn'), but when decisions like that are made you must start to wonder what is going on?

And Bandito is correct in every point. The 18 should be selected prior to match day, leaving the rest of the squad to decide what to do with their saturdays, be it support the team, work, play an alternative sport or go on a massive bender on friday night if they want to.

As for the 'Amateur' game comment about not bothering after 4 games, the reason for this is clear for all to see. If the team were performing well and results were improving theres always the thought that you 'Don't change a winning team'.
But look at the results!
As already stated, my friend (the one already mentioned, I've more than one in the reserves) knows exactly what it entails to play at reserve level, and would quite willingly adhere to that. What he won't put up with is being messed about when it looks as though his face doesn't fit.

Good luck for the rest of the season, I think the lads are going to need it.

Just been told some of the reserves who have been getting mullered are in the first team squad for tomorrow.
Get your house on Halifax getting 80 (and I say that with absolutely no pleasure).
As previously stated-we've had it!

A mere setback.....in the history of the Dons.....and nothing new.
I will be there.

Good luck to the boys who have been called up to the first team for

tonights game and to the rest of the lads for their match on Friday

Lets get behind both teams and show our support

I'm with you on that bigjohn but it's a sorry state of affairs I'm afraid.
I was there at Tattersfield in 1995 when 'Fax beat us 0-72 and we were lucky to get nil. An even bigger defeat could be on cards for them although I hope they prove me wrong.

(PS it was[u £6 [/uto get in to the reserves at Hunslet 2 years ago when my mate played. Take plenty of cash!)

£3 now

You never know the underdogs have come out on top before as long as they do their best thats all you can ask for under the circumstances.

what a game for those reserve players to make their debut in against Fax and in front of the sky cameras

Thanks for tip at Hunslet hope it is £3 now dont mind paying but £6 is a bit steep

I didn't think the supporters were slating the lads - more the amateurish way in which they felt the team was being run.

Lost 90-0 last night