Local Non-League Thread

Looking at Saturday’s Conference games.
Must be the weekend when the most amount of travelling took place.
It is ridiculous for this level to be travelling so far and surely not sustainable.
Only 3 games involved less than 400 miles round trip….

Tamworth v York (248 round trip)
Forest Green v Braintree (330)
Southend v Solihull 300

The rest were
Boreham Wood v Hartlepool (484)
Rochdale v Wealdstone (407)
Aldershot v Gateshead (626)
Altrincham v Eastleigh (416)
Boston v Truro (724)
Carlisle v Sutton (664)
Scunthorpe v Bracknell (534)
Woking v Morecambe (510)
Yeovil v Halifax (534)
 
Mad Eyed Screamer said:
Looking at Saturday’s Conference games.
Must be the weekend when the most amount of travelling took place.
It is ridiculous for this level to be travelling so far and surely not sustainable.
Only 3 games involved less than 400 miles round trip….

Tamworth v York (248 round trip)
Forest Green v Braintree (330)
Southend v Solihull 300

The rest were
Boreham Wood v Hartlepool (484)
Rochdale v Wealdstone (407)
Aldershot v Gateshead (626)
Altrincham v Eastleigh (416)
Boston v Truro (724)
Carlisle v Sutton (664)
Scunthorpe v Bracknell (534)
Working v Morecambe (510)
Yeovil v Halifax (534)
Click to expand...
The blatantly obvious solution for the economic health of all clubs at this level, would be to go regional. More relatively localised rivalries surely means bigger crowds and larger away followings. The removal of overnight stays for clubs would be a godsend too. There would still be a way of making promotion to the Football League work if there was a National League North, Central & South.
It was madness to ever call time on the old system of Division Three North & South at the end of the 1957/58 season. There must have been some kind of rationale for that decision but hard to imagine what with hindsight ?
 
simmo said:
Rochdale are in 2nd position with two games to go on 102 points.

Final game could be the actual decider, against York who are currently top on 104 points.

Remarkable consistency by both sides.
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Went to Rochdale yesterday, in fact I've been to quite a few of their matches this season, unfortunately it looks as though Dale are running out of steam at the wrong time. The game and performance yesterday was awful but they were bailed out by a couple of late goals. That York game on the final day could be carnage!
 
Bluemoon dan said:
Went to Rochdale yesterday, in fact I've been to quite a few of their matches this season, unfortunately it looks as though Dale are running out of steam at the wrong time. The game and performance yesterday was awful but they were bailed out by a couple of late goals. That York game on the final day could be carnage!
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Been keeping an eye on Rochdale, fell apart in the last 2 weeks but they just need to get to the York game with a chance.

Still a crying shame that 2 don't go up from the conference automatically, been multiple seasons now where the top 2 deserve automatic promotion.
 
bareblue said:
The blatantly obvious solution for the economic health of all clubs at this level, would be to go regional. More relatively localised rivalries surely means bigger crowds and larger away followings. The removal of overnight stays for clubs would be a godsend too. There would still be a way of making promotion to the Football League work if there was a National League North, Central & South.
It was madness to ever call time on the old system of Division Three North & South at the end of the 1957/58 season. There must have been some kind of rationale for that decision but hard to imagine what with hindsight ?
Click to expand...
This what the pyramid addresses.
 
MCFC1993 said:
Been keeping an eye on Rochdale, fell apart in the last 2 weeks but they just need to get to the York game with a chance.

Still a crying shame that 2 don't go up from the conference automatically, been multiple seasons now where the top 2 deserve automatic promotion.
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Think how it felt for teams prior to automatic promotion/relegation - when you had to be "voted" into the league, and that was after a selection process to see who would be put forward for the vote.
 
WesthoughtonJohn said:
Think how it felt for teams prior to automatic promotion/relegation - when you had to be "voted" into the league, and that was after a selection process to see who would be put forward for the vote.
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The old boys network ensured that clubs voted each year for the self preservation society.
Altrincham missed out one year by one vote - two club delegates who allegedly had offered to support Alty didn’t vote!
One was stuck in traffic and the other apparently got “lost” in the room in the Cafe Royal where the vote was held and didn’t cast his vote.
Rochdale were reprieved and stayed in the 4th division
 
Used to watch Chadderton when we were away and I wasn't travelling in the days before IPTV.

I no longer live in the area but I see they're in the final playoff spot in the league with 1 game to play, above Irlam who have a game in hand against top of the table Wythenshawe tonight.
 
blue b4 the moon said:
Used to watch Chadderton when we were away and I wasn't travelling in the days before IPTV.

I no longer live in the area but I see they're in the final playoff spot in the league with 1 game to play, above Irlam who have a game in hand against top of the table Wythenshawe tonight.
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Lost 5 of their last 6 Chaddy or they'd have been certain to be in the play offs and still in with a chance of automatic promotion, luckily for them Wythenshawe still need at least a point to be confirmed as champions so should keep them honest tonight.

Separate note Lewis Byrne who plays up front for Chaddy has scored 55 league goals so far this season, the most (by quite a distance) that anyone has ever scored in a league season at that level
 
WesthoughtonJohn said:
Think how it felt for teams prior to automatic promotion/relegation - when you had to be "voted" into the league, and that was after a selection process to see who would be put forward for the vote.
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Barrow and Workington allegedly voted out because of geographic location.
Wimbledon and Hereford voted in due to a couple of impressive cup results IIRC.
National League should be split into north, south-east and south-west with all three winners being promoted to whatever the fourth division is called these days.
 
East Level 2 said:
Barrow and Workington allegedly voted out because of geographic location.
Wimbledon and Hereford voted in due to a couple of impressive cup results IIRC.
National League should be split into north, south-east and south-west with all three winners being promoted to whatever the fourth division is called these days.
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I'm sure the midlands based clubs will vote for that!
 
Mad Eyed Screamer said:
I'm sure the midlands based clubs will vote for that!
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The current problem is that the National League North already has teams that you would not consider "Northern" e.g. Oxford City, Peterborough Sports and even Merthyr Town.
Another League would perhaps be preferred by teams based in the Midlands ?
It's bonkers that this season, Merthyr Town and Hereford have to play South Shields, Spennymoor and Darlington...
 
I have a good mate who supported Peterborough nytid through thick and thin. ( I used to go and watch them sometimes when City following permitted - he's been to a few City games too)

Absolutely hates Darragh MacAnthony, something to do with an Aunt and Uncle and a timeshare, so he's taken to watching Peterborough Sports home and away he aint half put some miles in this season and his alcohol consumption has fallen through the floor due to him driving everywhere - the bastard looks super fit too!

He's kept his season ticket for London Road though and will relent when they play any 'local' rivals - Northampton & Lincoln this season - when I asked him why he kept on keeping on he smiled and said that he remembered me banging on and on about Swales and still spending my money on City!
 
Mad Eyed Screamer said:
The old boys network ensured that clubs voted each year for the self preservation society.
Altrincham missed out one year by one vote - two club delegates who allegedly had offered to support Alty didn’t vote!
One was stuck in traffic and the other apparently got “lost” in the room in the Cafe Royal where the vote was held and didn’t cast his vote.
Rochdale were reprieved and stayed in the 4th division
Click to expand...
I remember those days as a young lad when the bottom 4 in the old 4th Division had to apply for re-election. Peterborough were regarded as the top non- league club and tried unsuccessfully to join the League for several years. Despite having a set-up far superior to many 4th Div clubs. Hence their nickname 'The Posh'. They eventually got in when Gateshead were voted out - the first time they had ever needed to apply. Some other clubs were regulars in the bottom 4 and the rumour was that one or two brown manilla envelopes had been passed around the old boys network.
 
BillCarlisle said:
I remember those days as a young lad when the bottom 4 in the old 4th Division had to apply for re-election. Peterborough were regarded as the top non- league club and tried unsuccessfully to join the League for several years. Despite having a set-up far superior to many 4th Div clubs. Hence their nickname 'The Posh'. They eventually got in when Gateshead were voted out - the first time they had ever needed to apply. Some other clubs were regulars in the bottom 4 and the rumour was that one or two brown manilla envelopes had been passed around the old boys network.
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When you look at who got elected out (as someone said) it was all geographical - and Wigan apart - it was northern teams voted out for teams south of Birmingham

Out
Workington
Barrow
Gateshead
Southport

In
Wigan
Wimbledon
Hereford
Peterborough

Cambridge United came in when Bradford PA went bust and Oxford United replaced Accrington Stanley.
 
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