Re: The annual Who Will We Play In The League Next Season thread

[kermit]

Anyone know how Yeoville got on tonight?
And yes Colin, I am being ironic!!

[turnstyle13]

Have a read.

https://gloverscast.co.uk/match-report-gateshead-4-yeovil-town-0/

If you can't laugh at somebody else misfortunate what can you laugh at? And we even get a mention. How touching that they remember us.

[Steve Whites Missus]

Have a read.

https://gloverscast.co.uk/match-report-gateshead-4-yeovil-town-0/

If you can't laugh at somebody else misfortunate what can you laugh at? And we even get a mention. How touching that they remember us.

In the number of years I've been selling the matchday draw tickets I've only experienced rudeness once, so not naming names I'm just glad their manager is going to get his just rewards

[Roy D Hacksaw]

So I think we can just about assume that we probably won't be going up this season now - sad but true. So how's it looking for the teams that may well be battling us for twelfth next season? Well it's starting to get interesting.

The battle to avoid the drop from the National League above us is getting very interesting. Maidstone United are definitely coming back to us next term, while EFL stalwarts Scunthorpe United were sadly confirmed for the drop today too - but they'll be going North, obviously. Our old mates (ahem) down at Yeovil Town got a stay of execution with their late equaliser today, but have to rely on the three sides above them getting no more points for the rest of the season, while they bag all of theirs - so it's reasonable to assume they'll be back with us soon. But it's the last slot that is still offering the most excitement. Torquay United are currently filling the last berth, on 46 points with three left to play. But they're currently on a winning run, so you wouldn't bet against them escaping relegation at the death - just year. Above them, two points clear on 48 are Aldershot Town. A win today kept them clear of Torquay, but they've been on shaky ground lately, so might be getting the relegation collywobbles, despite also having three to play. However, the two sides above them have been on a terrible run at exactly the wrong point in the season. Maidenhead United have been in freefall of late, and sit on 49 points with two left to play, as do York City - only with a better goal difference. Above them today, struggling Dorking Wanderers probably saved themselves with a late win.

So, with Maidstone and Yeovil definitely down there's a 75% chance that we'll be getting a third Southern side coming down with them. In which case we'll be losing one of our more Northerly sides from this season's roll call. Currently the Northernmost is Braintree Town, although the league division map kicks up a bit towards the East. Next most likely to head North is Oxford City, but if they manage to bag promotion, we could even be losing Hemel Hempstead Town or St Albans City. Who'd have thought it! (And before anyone asks, there are 14 more Northerly sides than us currently in the National League South, so we ain't going anywhere!).

Looking below, the Southern League all of a sudden isn't the cut-and-dried two-horse-race between Weston-super-Mare and Truro City that it appeared to be for most of the season. Weston still lead on 89 points with two left to play, but suddenly Bracknell Town are in second place on 84 with a game in hand after an incredible run. So Weston have to be careful not to drop a point in their remaining games in order to guarantee the automatic promotion spot. Faltering Truro now find themselves in third on 80 points with three left to play, while Chesham United and Poole Town make up the rest of the slots on 79 (with one game left) and 77 points (with two games left). Now only Swindon Supermarine can jump into the last berth from below on 71 with two to play - but they'd have to rely on Poole losing heavily in their last two games while they win both of theirs.

Out East, the Isthmian League is still looking pretty unpredictable. Bishop's Stortford are now four points clear with one to play on 85, and looking good for it, as Hornchurch below them can't catch them on 81. However, with two left to play, Canvey island can still mathematically catch Stortford with two left to play - but it would rely on the Bishop's losing to already relegated Herne Bay on the last day of the season. The last two play-off places are still wide open though. You would expect that Aveley are safe on 74 with two left to play, and Cray Wanderers fill the last position on 73 with only a game left. Below them, Lewes seem the only side likely to sneak in at the last minute on 71 - but three spots below them, Hastings United with two left to play can still just about mathematically do it. But it's very unlikely.

We might as well look at who we could be losing from our league, while we're at it. Ebbsfleet United are definitely promoted automatically, but there's still ten side who can drag their way into the play-offs. Even we're not mathematically out of it - but to be honest it would take the rest of the clubs above us to be hit with a nasty bug and us to win our next two games to make it. And at the bottom, Concord Rangers aren't totally gone, but looking at how tired and bereft of ideas they were today it's unlikely they'll escape. Hungerford Town also look doomed, while Weymouth and Cheshunt are seven and six points respectively behind the first safety slot - currently filled by Dulwich Hamlet.

So all in all, we'll be both gaining and losing six - or possibly even seven - new sides. And that's not counting anyone who suddenly goes out of business or gets relegated for financial irregularities over the closed season. But if all goes well, we could be left with a few less M4 trips and potentially big gates than we've had for a while. Exciting times!

[Beau Nash]

Yeovil lost 3-0 tonight and are relegated so will be playing City next season.

Torquay lost 5-1 and are in the relegation zone and are favourites to be relegated.

[Bristol end]

Championship to National South. Absolutely brilliant fall from grace. Back to their natural level.

[SteveBradley]

Yeovil lost 3-0 tonight and are relegated so will be playing City next season.

Torquay lost 5-1 and are in the relegation zone and are favourites to be relegated.

If the last time we played Torquay is anything to go by, these two games on ther own should add a good few hundred to our average gate over next season.

[turnstyle13]

'If the last time we played Torquay is anything to go by, these two games on their own should add a good few hundred to our average gate over next season.'

Lets hope the 'authorities' don't then impose some ridiculous limit on the attendance capacity, and that the club is fully prepared to deal with segregation and the 'away end'.

We all know that physically the ground hasn't changed since Rovers were here, and the capacity then was circa 8,800. We aren't going to be getting that.
But when Torquay last came I recall the capacity was set by B&NES at something like 3,500 and I think that was even an increase on what B&NES initially wanted to limit the gate to. The gate was 3,492.

This cap was I think related to have adequate and valid certificates on the safety testing of the barriers and levels of stewarding.
So having appropriate discussions with the B&NES stadium inspectors well in advance to warm them up to these big game(s) - coz they are coming - to know what measures need to be taken so that there is time to do the work will be important.

[Luton Roman]

Championship to National South. Absolutely brilliant fall from grace. Back to their natural level.

Was it April 1995 the last league game between us? Birkby celebrating his goals in front of their fans I recall, 3-0 to City pretty much sent them down. Only 4 figure home league crowd that season, average less than 700.

[Roy D Hacksaw]

Torquay are only three points behind free-falling Maidenhead with two left to play (albeit with an inferior goal difference) - BUT they have to play Wrexham on the last day of the season. That'll be a game to keep an eye on!

[Beau Nash]

Championship to National South. Absolutely brilliant fall from grace. Back to their natural level.

Only one entity to blame...board management! FGR could possibly follow?

[Peter Newman]

So it looks likely that someone will have to move North. Oxford City have been there, previously, but they could get promoted leaving the opportunity for another team.
Would be somewhat ironic if Bishops Stortford won promotion from the Isthmian to Nat North!

[Bristol end]

With Weston's promotion confirmed thats four Somerset clubs next season. They should scrap the Premier Cup for 23/24 and just give it to the highest finishing Somerset club in the NLS.

[kermit]

So it looks likely that someone will have to move North.  Oxford City have been there, previously, but they could get promoted leaving the opportunity for another team.
Would be somewhat ironic if Bishops Stortford won promotion from the Isthmian to  Nat North!

Braintree are on a similar geographical level.

[turnstyle13]

Back when Yeoville were last relegated from the Alliance as it was then, instead of going into their traditional home of the Southern League, they elected to go into the Isthmian since they thought that this would be an easier route back up the food chain. They did go up but it took them a few more years than a straight bounce back and with a squad of mostly London based players.
Perhaps this time they will elect to go National League North?

[kermit]

Or they might not sort out who owns them, go bust, and restart in the Western League!

[kermit]

BBC Points West will be interesting next season. Will they carry on giving the Slime coverage and ignore the rest like usual.
They cannot seriously give them coverage and then elect to ignore us, WsM, Chipp'n'pin,, Taunting.
Oh yes they will.

[Dave]

BBC Points West will be interesting next season. Will they carry on giving the Slime coverage and ignore the rest like usual.
They cannot seriously give them coverage and then elect to ignore us, WsM, Chipp'n'pin,, Taunting.
Oh yes they will.

Somerset Live website similarly

[Bristol end]

https://bathvoice.co.uk/2023/04/19/bath-voice-sports-news-yeovil-town-fc-relegated-to-the-national-league-south-setting-up-an-all-somerset-derby-next-season-with-bath-city-fc/

[Luton Roman]

https://bathvoice.co.uk/2023/04/19/bath-voice-sports-news-yeovil-town-fc-relegated-to-the-national-league-south-setting-up-an-all-somerset-derby-next-season-with-bath-city-fc/

Bit of an odd item, some interesting facts but strangely put together and 1 huge error.

[Dave]

https://bathvoice.co.uk/2023/04/19/bath-voice-sports-news-yeovil-town-fc-relegated-to-the-national-league-south-setting-up-an-all-somerset-derby-next-season-with-bath-city-fc/

Did ChatGPT write that?

[Bristol end]

According to Wiki we've played Yeovil 232 times. Presumably most of those were competitive matches? The article seems to suggest something quite different.

[turnstyle13]

Article is more fiction than fact.

[City 'til we're relegated]

My records show 259 competitive fixtures against yeovil.

[Roy D Hacksaw]

A quick update about what to look for in the results around the South tomorrow…

In the National League, Maidstone United, Scunthorpe United and Yeovil Town are confirmed as relegated. We'll obviously get two of those three. The last drop spot is currently inhabited by Torquay United. They're in great form, but it's still looking tricky for them. With two left to play, they sit on 46 points with a goal difference of minus 22. Their remaining two games are Altrincham away and Wrexham at home on the last day of the season - so they'll have to win tomorrow to stay in with a chance of escape. There are still three sides who can replace them in their slot. Maidenhead United sit three points above them with a GD of -13, but are in terrible form. They still have to play Barnet at home and Gateshead away. On the same points but with a GD of -8 are York City, and two points ahead of them on 51 are Aldershot Town. They've rallied of late, but have to play York tomorrow, the result of which could make next week's final weekend a true feast for maths fans! Torquay may be in the best form, but still have to rely on the results of three other sides and would probably have to win both of their remaining games to even be in with a shot of escape.

The Isthmian League title has gone to Bishop's Stortford. However, if three sides from the South are relegated from above, they would probably be the favourites to head North. With just the one game left, Hornchurch (81), Canvey Island (81) and Aveley (75) have all guaranteed a play-off place. Cray Wanderers (73) currently fill the last berth, but could still be caught by Lewes, who sit below them on 71 points.

Sadly the Southern League title went to Weston-super-Mare. Bracknell Town, Truro City and Chesham United make up three of the four play off slots, while Poole Town fill the fourth on 77 points. They can still mathematically get caught by Swindon Supermarine on 74 points, but the two teams' respective results would have to see a shift in goal difference of an unlikely twelve goals.

Personally I hope Torquay make the drop, and Bracknell and Lewes get through in the play-offs, but it could go any way!

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