Exactly. If being in prison didn't wake him up, being suspended by Hull FC is hardly likely to.

You don't get charged and bailed to Court for having a "skinfull"

I do agree about reserving judgement, though.

Then why post irrelevant twaddle about having a drink problem then?

A time when the game was different. In what way. I see a team that plays games on a rugby pitch. Players that are idolised by kids and are role models for those kids. Knocker, Crooks, etc were my heroes. I used to sit in top club or the supporters club with my parents and see these players after a game drinking and I wanted to be just like them.
They were professionals who also had ft day jobs. They played more games and to that end really shouldn't have been drinking. The two I mention were also the top of their profession being internationals. So yes its a different era but the responsibilities were exactly the same.

As for Fry well I used him as an example of how society has forgiven someone who has made a mistake in the past. He was young he went to jail / borstal whatever it was and we forgive and conveniently in some cases forget. The same can be said of many other people in society. Pop stars with drug convictions, no doubt some of your work colleagues etc. Yet because all the people who have been mentioned on this thread are rugby players some won't forgive. Why is that. I take it they are all very happy in their ivory towers.

I would also suggest that whatever your profession getting ratted and working the next day will always affect your performance. It certainly does for me, and is why I don't drink excessively on a school night.

The sad thing for sports stars in teams is that social events are all part of the team bonding. Its also part of every day life for anyone who works in a team. Martin may well need to ask himself if he should be part of that kind of bonding event. If he decides he shouldn't his mates should appreciate it and not outcast him as can sometimes be the case.

As for others claiming he wasn't the only one who was ratted. Well he was the only one who it would seem upset a copper and I would imagine got plenty of warnings to move on and take himself out of harms way. If the Sun's report is correct (I have no reason to doubt it) then I suspect he over stepped the mark once too often and the end result would be inevitable. In most cases i am sure it would end with an £80 fine and no more said about it. Due to his previous drink related offence he has to face a court.

His previous suspended sentence was spent when he went down so will not be part of any future sentence.

Any way Merry Christmas. I am off work now till the 3rd so off to get ratted.

The reference to Stephen Fry was a bit mis-judged. Comparing apples with pairs, comparing someone who went off the rails, who then got his butt in gear and shaped up. To someone who seams to have a never ending supply of problems.

As I said earlier all sides have em, and every time they do something stupid plenty is said about them. Someone said that with it being a new club then he deserves a second chance depending upon the infringement. This maybe true however the alternative view point is just as valid, that given his previous, with this being a new club you would think he would want to keep his nose cleaner than his team mates. (how many other players are suspended)?

Also given recent years where Hull FC have flattered to deceive, you could say that this event is a sign that FC supporters now wait for each year to say that things have not changed. It maybe a false sign, but given the new coach and board, everyone maybe waiting with renewed optimism, but from experience are waiting for the disappointment to hit.

It used to be a similar thing with Wire each year. Every year was going to be the year of the wolf, but every year something would pop up and dash that new year optimism. Until one year it held.

Martin has managed to inject those familiar doubts before the new year, which is some record in itself regardless of the incident.

The responsibilities weren't exactly the same, at all. The game has moved on immeasurably since the Crooks/Norton era. Players these days are (relatively) well paid, full time, professional athletes. This, in my book, brings with it the responsibility to look after yourself as well as possible. Going out and getting so drunk that you end up in the cells doesn't fall into that category.



We're not talking about someone who got into bother as a youth and has gone on to have a successful career and law-abiding private life since. We're talking about a bloke who has just been in prison, who has a history of problems at other clubs and who, only a few weeks into his new contract, has been arrested for being drunk and disorderly. Your comparison with Fry is not only irrelevant, it's also ridiculous.

Has anyone connected Radders boxing event with the Aspinwall alleged offence?

said like a true non drinking, non smoking christian no doubt!!!
The crusade you are on on here to discredit the lad and get everyone to agree is well like you are ripped yourself
the club will deal with it as they seem fit
you have a sweet alcohol free xmas mate!!

Oh please, not this nonsense again.

Quite aside from the fact that some of us have been nearly 50 years on this earth and managed to not humiliate ourselves at the works 'do' and also not get arrested for anything whatsoever, there is the issue of mixing copious amounts of alcohol and training.

Talk about missing the point...

You seriously think that you can equate the fitness demands of modern pro RL with the old semi-pro game?

Really?

I never said it meant 'mega riches', I said pro RL players were 'relatively' well paid. I'd imagine the average first teamer will be on £30k+. Whilst not a fortune, it's a full time wage and they should be taking the appropriate measures to ensure that they are as fit as possible. To compare today's players to those of 20 years ago is a bit daft, in my opinion.



I don't think that players shouldn't be given 'another chance'. I think that they shouldn't be given endless chances. He's had problems at other clubs, he had a suspended sentence, then he went to prison. Cas didn't want him and Hull stepped in to offer him 'another chance'. If I were in his shoes, I'd be doing everything I possibly could to keep my nose clean and to get into the best shape possible before February. Instead, he gets arrested for being drunk and disorderly. We're not talking about one mistake here - it's a continuous pattern of behaviour.



I've never been in the position where 3 pints have made me so intoxicated that I end up in the cells. I don't think anyone else has. As someone (was it you?) pointed out, he would have received numerous warnings from the arresting officer to calm down and move along. If it is shown that he ignored those warnings, he was either very drunk or, if he'd only had three pints, a total idiot.



I dunno at this stage if we should sack him or not. If he's found guilty, yes, get rid. He's had enough chances before he came here and this shows his contempt for his employers and the club's fans.



There are consequences to all our actions, civilised society or not. If he's guilty, he should go. The last thing we need this season is another disruptive influence in the dressing room. The club should be sending out a message that the players need to be totally focussed on the job in hand, and that any transgressions will be severely dealt with - particularly where the perpetrator has previous form.