Mmmm, the outcome for the individual is the same - getting drunk - but the outcome as far as how the club is perceived by potential sponsors and other outsiders is different. I think the point the OP was making was not to judge the actions but to simply point out that the actions presented a 'risk' to the club, a risk that could've and (in my opinion) should've been avoided.

So how many drinks are we talking they had? Question to the people who were there and saw this?

Who was counting? - ok 1 or 2 or more players had a couple of pints of lager ( I had 3 or 4 ) Unless the managment had said that none of the players were to drink then I don't see a problem.

It was watching them falling about and having to be carried out at the end of the night I thought was not right.

JOKE

From what's been said on here, a couple of the squad had a couple of lagers. There's been no reports of drunkenness, bad behaviour or anything like that. So my point is and has always been, what's the difference between not getting drunk on beer and not getting drunk on fruit juice?

Be honest with yourself when you answer these and don't answer a question with a question!!!

1) If 22 players chose to drink soft drinks at a function, why did two (predictable) players choose to have a beer? (The key to the question is in the word 'predictable'!)
a) Arrogance.
b) Naivety.
c) Lack of managment instruction.
d) The predictable 2 got it right, and the other 22 should have had a beer as well.

2) If a current or potential sponsor with some/little/no involvement in professional sport, would they expect to see a Professional sportsman with.

a) a soft drink in their hand?
or
b) Stood at the bar drinking pints (Regardess of qauntity)?

3) If a profesional sportsman in their preparatory stages for a season ahead, would it be acceptable for them to be seen by a potential sponsor eating a kebab? or would it be better for them to be seen eating heathy food?

4) Do you think that there is a difference in what a professional sportsman is seen to be eating compared to drinking?
a) Yes.
B) No.

4) If I heard persons in the room talking about those drinking and referreing to it as 'their normal pre-season training regime', do you think sponsors would have also heard this?
a) No
b) Yes

5) Lastly we often get a lot of 'big personalities' expressing strong and often blinkered opinions on some of these posts. In which case, if you are half as committed to the club as you may sometimes profess to be with your infinite knowledge on this forum, why weren't you at the function supporting you club during this important phase of the club shaping it's future?

1-d (but only a couple)
2-Thats a leading question i wouldnt be expecting to see them drink any particular drink, only what they choose to drink.
3-It would be better to be seen eating healthy food, but at the end of the day its off season so they should have a right to choose there own food as long as they are putting the hard graft in when training (and by all accounts they are)
4-I dont particularly care.
5- I was working a 14 hour shift.

As i said earlier did and of the board memebers or sponsors have a drink?

Each to their own Pyeman.

In your book if it is off season and the lad has put in the graft, he could stand there in front of potential new sponsors with a pint in one hand a kebab in the other, surrounded by people wrongly suggesting that they are on the p@ss again and it wouldn't be off putting to an investor.

Have you thought about nominating yourself for the pride of Britain award, you're a real role model, you really know about setting an example to others....or is that just an image which others shouldn't read into!! Proper clueless!!

Theres no need to be like that grobs, i dont see the point in bringing it to a personal level just because i disagree with you. I just happen to believe that the players should be allowed a couple of pints, when its off season, when they have been putting the hard graft in. If you dont agree thats fine, we are all entitled to our opinion.

If they had been getting hammered i would be annoyed also but a couple of pints, i really dont see a problem.

Did the club directors and the sponsors have a drink?

Couldn't agree more.

Pyeman - my appoligies, I shouldn't have taken it to a personal level!!

In today's world it seems that there is an excuse for everything and there are way too many 'soft touches' in society. Ok some investors may look and see a player enjoying a responsible beer and think nothing of it, however some may have expected a professional sportsman not to drink. There's no right or wrong, as it is simply an opinion. The same for overhearing comments passed about a players drinking habits. Some may take note, some may brush it aside. However, why take the risk when it is avoidable? For me if the players were asked not to have a drink on that night, it wouldn't have done any harm at all and the potential of a negative thought wouldn't exist.

It could even add confidence from the aspect of how seriously players are taking their pre-season training, and also how disciplined they are both personally and as a managed unit.

The atmosphere of the night was very good, with a positive energy in the air. As per a previous post, there was an anticipation of expectation in the air, talks of the clubs commitment to a future in SL. I notice some posts suggesting it was a night of celebration....a bit early for that really!!! But I'm not un-sympathetic to the view of the guys being chuffed to receive their squad number.

For those asking about the Directors having a drink, the few that I saw...no they didn't. To a large degree most were driving as can be confirmed by the parking situation. The car park was jam packed and out onto the road. For those that may have had a drink, they were in an absolutely different situation from that of the players!! They may actually have been entertaining guests and sponsors during the evening. Also the directors were not being asked how their pre-season training was coming along, or are they almost up to match fitness yet?

For the selective word twisters out there, I have never said that they guys shouldn't drink, pre-season, mid-season or post seasn. I haven't said that any of the guys were drinking to a stage of being out of order, either. Whether we like it or not, or agree with it or not....drinking pints is not everyones expected/accepted image of a professional sportsman. (it's like seeing a slimmer with a kebab in hand, we don't know the background but it can create an impression).

So again why not pro-actively manage the situation so to control this perception.

Apology accepted grobs. Think we will have to agree to disagre on this one.

Split down the middle this discussion. If it was in season I would agree but I'm afraid it's not.

Have to agree, its ok for the players to drink in moderation at these events, same as after games, it is ok for them to be having 1 or 2 drinks in the players bar / sponsors lounge, but maybe not to the extent that was going on last season allegedly by some players.