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

[LB]

Truro v Torquay
Weymouth v Yeovil
Taunton v WSM
City v Chip

Xmas and NY games. Simple.

You don't really think the National League will do anything that obvious do you!

[Roy D Hacksaw]

And to complete the set, Aveley beat Hornchurch 1-0 away in the other play off. Get yer maps out! (Essex, the other side of London, near Purfleet, but not as far as Canvey, if you can't be bothered looking).

[Luton Roman]

And to complete the set, Aveley beat Hornchurch 1-0 away in the other play off. Get yer maps out! (Essex, the other side of London, near Purfleet, but not as far as Canvey, if you can't be bothered looking).

Aveley had Jonathan North in goal, a scourge of City in the past for Wealdstone though let in a few when at Slough in August.

[comrade powell]

You could see the floodlights of Aveley’s ground from that of Thurrock when we used to play there (not ETU but the ground where Paul Evans was sent off in his last appearance). The likes of Mid-Steve and Kermit will recall the farce when we arrived there the first time and bang on the doors to let us in only to find only bottled beer on sale in the bar. So the next season I had the bright idea that we walk the mile or so to Aveley. It was a mistake….

[kermit]

Almost as comical as your scenic walk to the Waggon and Horses in Halesowen via the church and cemetery!

[Bristol end]

Amusing exchange between Dulwich fans and a Chippenham supporter:

https://www.urban75.net/forums/threads/dhfc-v-chippenham-town-sat-29th-april-2023.381593/page-7

[Luton Roman]

Amusing exchange between Dulwich fans and a Chippenham supporter:

https://www.urban75.net/forums/threads/dhfc-v-chippenham-town-sat-29th-april-2023.381593/page-7

Yes, bit embarrassing, I usually write a draft then leave it overnight when I have had a few, then rewrite completely!

[Bristol end]

Posting rambling messages on opposition fans forums probably best avoided, especially at 3am on a bank holiday!

[comrade powell]

He did hit the nail on a few heads though! Just waded through all nine pages of the thread - contains some very pertinent points as to their relegation.

[Bristol end]

You're right, there are some pertinent points amongst the jokes. Particularly liked the one comparing the working class credentials of Chippenhams fan base Vs Dulwich!

"Give me 616 hardy blue collar workers, fresh from their shift at the local turnip mine, any day."

[2weirdtown]

I was intrigued by several Hamlet posts asserting they were content with their lot. Well they might be, with those big crowds presumably providing financial security.  Which may be no bad thing.
I was reminded of comments on here regarding the muted atmosphere at TP since the outdoor bar opened.
It was very muted at the last game. I don't get to many, my previous being home to St Alban's which I also found a bit quiet.
Is it getting like the USA, where it's a family day out and they all sit there eating and drinking?  
Is it no co-incidence there is an increasing amount of American 'investment' in English 'soccer'?  If that is so, some are clearly clueless like at Chelsea (ha ha) and it'll probably end in tears at Wrexham.
Just a passing observation.

[Peter Newman]

Well Chelmsford & Braintree have been eliminated from the play-offs so it's 2 more trips to Essex other than a NLN transfer.

[Luton Roman]

And to complete the set, Aveley beat Hornchurch 1-0 away in the other play off. Get yer maps out! (Essex, the other side of London, near Purfleet, but not as far as Canvey, if you can't be bothered looking).

And back to back promotions for Aveley with Danny Scopes in charge who took Concord to Wembley in Trophy I think.

[Peter Newman]

The apparent financial problems at Yeovil could have potential implications. If the situation is really desperate it might lead to administration and a possible further relegation. I recall, vaguely, when there was a similar situation a club was saved from relegation. The saved team was the 4th from bottom side with the most points from either North or South.
If this arose now it would save Kettering.

[Bristol end]

It's going to be difficult for Yeovil to attract players given there are 8 local teams in the market.

[Peter Newman]

BBC Sports News have an article stating that Southend have received another winding up petition from HMRC.
Would they be demoted and save Torquay?
We might still be playing Dulwich!!

[LB]

Would be ironic if after waiting so long to play Yeovil they got demoted to the league below us!

Southend apparently aren't allowed to offer any of their current players new contracts or sign new ones because they are under a transfer embargo.

Fancy there could be a bit of to-ing and fro-ing yet before the leagues are finally settled.

[Luton Roman]

It's going to be difficult for Yeovil to attract players given there are 8 local teams in the market.

Southend have had more winding up orders than Wstford have had managers in the last 12 months.

[LB]

I see the FA issued the league allocations today and as expected with Oxford being promoted Bishops Stortford have gone north.
Some interesting ones in other leagues - Southern League South includes both Mousehole and Malvern Town which according to Google maps is a 500 mile round trip!

[PSJRoman]

Reading this article it shows the impact of the FA`s self interested approach to the Pyramid structure of non league football.
They don`t appear to take into consideration the effect on the smaller clubs of shunting these teams from one league to another
just to tidy up things for the FA. The consequences for these smaller clubs can be quite serious for their whole infrastructure.
Surely it`s time for a full review of non league football if the lower level clubs are going to survive into the future.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-12099647/Bishops-Stortford-play-near-Stansted-Airport-placed-National-League-North.html

[Luton Roman]

Reading this article it shows the impact of the FA`s self interested approach to the Pyramid structure of non league football.
They don`t appear to take into consideration the effect on the smaller clubs of shunting these teams from one league to another
just to tidy up things for the FA. The consequences for these smaller clubs can be quite serious for their whole infrastructure.

Good luck trying to find a solution. It has been debated across non league football for years.
Surely it`s time for a full review of non league football if the lower level clubs are going to survive into the future.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-12099647/Bishops-Stortford-play-near-Stansted-Airport-placed-National-League-North.html

[BenE]

I agree that it is unfair that certain teams are constantly at risk of being shunted between different leagues purely on the basis of their geography. But it is better for the majority to have split leagues. Possibly the only really fair thing to do would be to compensate those teams financially as it is they that enable the leagues to function at all.

[BenE]

I know there were only three entered the prediction compo but it looks like 2weirdtown won hands down.
Overall I think it is good to have such a strong SW presence in the league.

[Beau Nash]

Some people think it's all over - https://www.bsfc.co.uk/club-news/club-statement-5/https://www.bsfc.co.uk/club-news/club-statement-5 - oh no it isn't? However, appeal unlikely to succeed. See Channel 4 news Sunday 21 May.

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