Pardon my ignorance, but........

what exactly is a benefit year, and in what way is it different to an extra years contract?

 

There'll be a game against Man City, something like that, with a few Oakwell legends thrown in - last testimonial game I remember was for Gary Fleming!

 

There used to be tax breaks for such testimonials although that's less appropriate these days and the rules now seem to reflect that, although I've not read them in detail.

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/manuals/eimanual/eim64120.htm

 

they'll not get a penny peace out of me, so it don't matter to me what it is,

 

The coldest April day ever! Froze my feet and all other extremities off. Reckon there would have been a much higher crowd than 5,000 there had the weather been better, especially as we'd just been promoted!

 

so does this mean he'll effectively get a testimonial (or similar) but probably not a contract extension?

 

Why?

 

He ought to be getting a new contract, a coaching role, and a testimonial.

Been one of our better players despite limited appearances.

 

He`ll get a contract for 1 year and the club will have a whipround for him throughout the season, events, games etc, and then they buy him the dearest carriage clock they can afford or just give him the money.

 

Payers used to get em years back...when the wages aren't great. Remember players having summer jobs in between seasons, and not that long ago (70s). So when a player had show loyalty to a club, at the end of his career. He'd get a benefit season. Which would include things like dinners.golf days, gentlemens evenings...and culminate with a match. Normally against a big club to get the fans in....all the money raised would go to the player after exes. To help back into civvy street so to speak....But on a personal note..why any player now would want one is beyond me...it ill be interesting to see how well Sir Bob is backed when the tin comes rattling...

 

Maybe these days with the more lucrative playing contracts the testimonial could be used to raise money for the players favourite charity.

 

That's the only way id support it scoff....not having a go at Bobby personally..but if its one thing that's ****** this game sideways is players wages...and the disproportions it has to the people that are asked to support it..

 

Agree entirely with you there. When a player was earning a similar amount to the fans *and* looking at having to find a new career at 30 it was a big thing for the player (and probably made a few stick around longer than they would have normally). Now that players are earning many times more than the fans it isn't fair to ask the fans for more money.

It could possibly work as a free entry exhibition game where people could go and show appreciation for the player too...

 

Sir Bobby wanted his testimonial against Celtic or Rangers if he got one so hopefully that happens. I'd imagine there will be a dinner function with maybe donations made to raffle off for a charity/church of his choosing.