The Non - League thread

[Alan Partridge]

Scheduling more midweek games early in the season would help.

Then giving grants / funding for pitch care would also help.

How would such grants be funded? Easy really. If Wayne Rooney alone paid a compulsory levy of just 0.01% of his salary to help fund non league football that would divert £2000 per week to places where it's needed.

That alone would be sufficient to ensure better surfaces at the entire Combined Counties League and which would inevitably result in less postponements due to waterlogging.

If all professional footballers made that compulsory payment the amount generated would be sufficient to transform not just pitches but the entirety of grass roots football.

It's obscene that it doesn't happen now.

Alternatively, do away with the meaningless cup competitions. Stick the the League, the Vase and FA Cup. It is not as if every club in Step 5 and below partake in the B&BST.

On top of that Diddy are involved in something called the Red Insurance Cup or something which is even more mickey mouse than the B&BST. So 4 Cups plus a 40 game + league season is far too many games at that level of football.

[Tony Le Mesmer]

You can add another 4 league games to the tally next season because Steps 3/4 are increasing leagues to 24 teams. Nothing short of utterly brainless. Who actually comes up with such a destructive idea? Surely not the clubs themselves? IMO, any semi pro league should have an absolute max of 20 teams, preferably 18.

[Stuka]

How's Guernsey doing? Anychance they could get promoted?

[Deadlock]

There's a chance, yes, but it's looking unlikely they'll win the division now. 15 points behind the leaders with 5 games in hand, but still 9 games to play in 14 days, including 4 in 4 days at the end of the season.

[Stuka]

There's a chance, yes, but it's looking unlikely they'll win the division now. 15 points behind the leaders with 5 games in hand, but still 9 games to play in 14 days, including 4 in 4 days at the end of the season.

if they somehow go up it would be one of football's most remarkable achivements I reckon.

[royal_ross]

Southern One Central leaders Burnham, lost their potential title settler H v Rugby 2-3 but Sluff doubly helped them out by walloping Rugby 4-0 away 2 days later

Great performance, best of season

Rebels making a late stab to gatecrash the play-offs after all? Still 4 points to make up on their landlords (Beaconsfield) in the last PO spot.

Very unlikely, as relying on others

Sluff now go to strugglers NGU.

NGU are form team, so will be tough, but will be there with the boy tomorrow

Good 3-1 win I see, going to take a wild guess and say O'Toole scored? Did Burnell do his usual sulk aswell

[Christof]

Southern One Central leaders Burnham, lost their potential title settler H v Rugby 2-3 but Sluff doubly helped them out by walloping Rugby 4-0 away 2 days later

Great performance, best of season

Rebels making a late stab to gatecrash the play-offs after all? Still 4 points to make up on their landlords (Beaconsfield) in the last PO spot.

Very unlikely, as relying on others

Sluff now go to strugglers NGU.

NGU are form team, so will be tough, but will be there with the boy tomorrow

Good 3-1 win I see, going to take a wild guess and say O'Toole scored? Did Burnell do his usual sulk aswell

A very enjoyable afternoon in the sun in the leafy suburbs.

Nice little ground, quick pint before the game (some of the STFC faithful walked there from Slough for charity, as they do to the last away game of each season), then onto the main event.

Neil Shipperley's NGU men included one Mark Nicholls, ex-Chelsea, Reading (loan) and Maidenhead, pulling the strings in midfield (and, later elsewhere). Their keeper is the 'biggest' player I have ever seen above Sunday league level, making Akinfenwa look like Karen Carpenter. In time-honoured non-league fashion, every time he took a goal kick, the wags behind the goal shouted something, normally about pies, burgers or (topically) horsemeat

Anyway, NGU went 1-0 up, Slough equalising from a corner at the end of the 1st half (thanks to a flap from the big fella). Second half, Slough got into 2nd gear, put some pressure on them, and got another corner. This time, our man punched it into his own net. By now, the jokes were really flying, felt a bit sorry for him in truth, then with 6 minutes left Ed Smith went through, our hero drags him down, gives away a penalty and gets sent off.

As NGU had already made their 3 subs, up steps Nicholls, puts on the wildly oversized jersey, and makes a valiant attempt to save the pen to no avail. 3-1, game over. Good banter from him to the travelling masses (attendance 163), and another win. Sadly, Slough's hopes of reaching the play-offs look distant as Becky SYCOB and Royston both won.

So, O'Toole didn't score (he did play well though), and Danny didn't play but probably still moaned (he was there, but not on the bench, still out with knee issues after the Brighton marathon last weekend).

[Christof]

Scheduling more midweek games early in the season would help.

Alternatively, do away with the meaningless cup competitions. Stick the the League, the Vase and FA Cup. It is not as if every club in Step 5 and below partake in the B&BST.

On top of that Diddy are involved in something called the Red Insurance Cup or something which is even more mickey mouse than the B&BST. So 4 Cups plus a 40 game + league season is far too many games at that level of football.

The Red Insure Cup, for the Southern League - what a waste of time. So important that clubs are forced to field at least seven players that played in the previous two league games, so they can't put a reserve team out. Slough played one game, and subbed a player after one minute on the clock. Sadly they still won, ended up having to go to Frome Town for the semi-final (nice, after a day's work for the lads), and fortunately lost else they would have had a two-leg final!

Keep the Vase/Trophy/FA Cup. Scrap the Red Insure-type League Cups. Put County Cups on Thursday evenings so as not to ruin league dates, and allow reserve teams to play instead of 1st teams. Put on more midweek fixtures Aug/Sept/Oct. Have two contingency weeks at end of season to cover bad weather periods such as this winter.

[Terminal Boardom]

And clubs should also invest in the maintenance of their pitches. It would also be good if the powers that be would encourage the installation of 3G pitches to turn the grounds into proper community facilities.

[Tony Le Mesmer]

So, for Southern League teams they face 46 league games (+ poss play offs), the FA Cup, FA Trophy, Red Insure Cup and County Cup. For a player with a full time job, that is just rediculous. Unless you are a young player looking for a career at a higher level, that would be enough for me to pack the game in.

[Deadlock]

Despite a substitute appearance by Bignose Le Tissier, Guernsey lost 4-2 away to Colliers Wood United tonight.

[Royalist]

Slough cannot make the play off's after last nights game. Be interesting to see if they make a managerial change as its clear the money been given there for promotion

[floyd__streete]

Grimsby 0-1 Newport in the BSP Play-offs last night:

Grimsby joint-boss Rob Scott told BBC Radio Humberside:

"I think we deserved a point."

Finger on the pulse there, Rob

[Four Of Clubs]

Slough cannot make the play off's after last nights game. Be interesting to see if they make a managerial change as its clear the money been given there for promotion

..indeed Bigg Town's 3-1 win at Guildford LAST night put the POs beyond the Rebels - but Tuesday's result (namely their landlords Beaconsfield's win at Godalming) didn't go their way either, despite Slough grabbing a very scruffy win over the Kingfishers (Thatcham)

I popped along to Waterside Pk on Tuesday eve - since there was something riding on the game - but you wouldn't have thought so by the performances. Sluff looked well out of sorts for a side that had had a late surge to threaten the POs. Scored from a fairly soft pen late on (80' ish?) then bagged another close to FT.

Woodford's season didn't improve on Tue either - remaining pointless - they went down 4-0 at Leighton - the team immediately above them. It was Leighton's first points in 12 games since a win at Fleet in mid-Feb.

Monday I watched the 'Moles' bt Newbury 2-1. The same night Windsor edged past Farnham 2-1 at Stag Meadow.

Other action locally this week, saw Egham keep pressing at the top of the CCLP - winning 8-1 at Guernsey's w/e conquerors Chessington & Hook. As said above last night (Wed) MleT came on for the last 10' at CWU but Guernsey were already losing 3-2 I think and conceded again late on.

In the Hellenic - where much is already decided, apart from how many/few actually go down to Div One - RTFC lost at Thame; Marlow were surprisingly beaten 1-3 at Oak Tree Road in the League Cup Semi-Final by Oxford City Nomads - Ray Spence scoring for the home side. Ascot got a good result with a 3-2 win at Flackwell.

On Wed Wok & Emm's great recent winning run shuddered to a halt 2-1 at Cheltenham Sarries and Newbury recovered from their reverse at Binfield on Monday beating Ardley by the same score at Faraday Rd.
In Div One Woodley won at Easington and host Finchampstead (who lost at Chalfont Wasps 4-1) tonight (Thu) at Charvil (18:30 KO).

Also tonight Sandhurst and Hartley W. have vital home games in their struggle to stay in the CCL Premier - whilst fellow basement-occupiers Dorking travel to Farnham.

[Royalist]

http://audioboo.fm/boos/1353328-spencer ... ion#t=0m0s

Club loses is sugar daddy and can't cope.

Yawn.

[Four Of Clubs]

Fixtures w/e 27th April

CCLP
Fri 26 Apr 13
Guernsey v Ash Utd

CONFS
AFC Hornchurch v Hayes & Yeading
Basingstoke v Salisbury
Bath City v Sutton Utd
Billericay v Maidenhead Utd
Bromley v Dover
Dorchester v Weston-S-Mare
Eastbourne Borough v Staines Town
Farnborough v Chelmsford
Havant and W v Boreham Wood
Tonbridge Angels v Truro City
Welling v Eastleigh

SOUTHP
Chesham United v Kettering Town
SOUTH1C
AFC Hayes v Royston Town
Ashford Town (Middx) v Beaconsfield SYCOB
Aylesbury v Thatcham Town
Biggleswade Town v Burnham
Chalfont St. Peter v Rugby Town
Fleet Town v Barton Rovers
Guildford City v Daventry Town
Leighton Town v North Greenford United
Northwood v Uxbridge
Slough Town v Chertsey Town
Woodford United v Godalming Town
SOUTH1S&W
Abingdon United v Shortwood United
Cinderford Town v Hungerford Town
Didcot Town v Bishops Cleeve
North Leigh v Bridgwater Town
Swindon Supermarine v Clevedon Town
Winchester City v Paulton Rovers

CCLP
Badshot Lea v Horley Town
Bedfont Sports v Croydon
Camberley Town v Colliers Wood United
Chessington & Hook United v Hanworth Villa
Egham Town v Hartley Wintney
Epsom & Ewell v Cove
Guernsey v Molesey (5.30 p.m.)
South Park v Dorking
Wembley v Windsor – Windsor’s last league match of the season.Currently sit 5th: S.Park & Baddy Lea are 7 & 8 points back BUT with plenty of games in hand
CCL1
Banstead Athletic v Feltham
(at Feltham FC)
Eversley & California v South Kilburn
Farleigh Rovers v Westfield
Mole Valley SCR v CB Hounslow United
Sheerwater v Frimley Green
Spelthorne Sports v Warlingham
Worcester Park v Knaphill

Sun 28 Apr 13
Guernsey v Sandhurst Town (1.30 p.m.)

HELLP
Ardley United v Slimbridge
Ascot United v Kidlington
Highmoor Ibis v Shrivenham
Highworth Town v Binfield
Marlow v Cheltenham Saracens
Thame United v Wantage Town
Wokingham & Emmbrook v Holyport
HELL One (West)
Letcombe v Lydney Town
HELL One (East)
Headington Amateurs v Maidenhead United Reserves
Milton United v Chalfont Wasps
Rayners Lane v Bracknell Town
Thatcham Town Reserves v Henley Town
Woodley Town v Easington Sports

WESSP
Alton Town v Bemerton Heath Harlequins
WESS1
Amesbury Town v Tadley Calleva
Brockenhurst v Whitchurch United 1st v 2nd but Whitchurch would need to win by 4 goals to pip the Badgers for the title. Not sure but both may yet go up to the Premier anyway.
Fleet Spurs v Hythe & Dibden - usual rumours abound that Spurs will switch to the CCL for 13/14
Pewsey Vale v Team Solent
Stockbridge v Cowes Sports

.. again unsure of our choices - probabaly another dip into the N.Berks - though I have read there's some wet stuff on the way which might furhter restrict options.

[floyd__streete]

SOUTH1S&W
North Leigh v Bridgwater Town

IN!

[Four Of Clubs]

SOUTH1S&W
North Leigh v Bridgwater Town

IN!

... not sure what state Bridgwater will be in - excluding any silly cups they may still have been embroiled in; they've had to play 15 matches in the last month - read somewhere they'd had something in excess of 40 plus matches that needed to be re-arranged since October - something to do with Somerset Water Tables!

[Four Of Clubs]

Tonight's result:

CCLP Guernsey 1-1 Ash Utd - att 857 - AUFC reportedly equalise on 90' were down to 10 men deep in stoppage time, having conceded quite late on themselves - last 15' ish. If someone has done the maths correctly Egham now only need 5 points for the title ? The Sarnies fans are going bezerk over on the CCL Forum
Too late for me to be @rsed to check!
- GFC play Sat (Molesey) and Sun (Sandhurst) - if Egham bt Hartley W. tomorrow and GFC drop further points; that particular race could be all over this w/e.


... oh and for completion - in the Hellenic One East Chalfont Wasps W4-2 v Magpies Ressies at York Rd - unsurprisingly paying attendance posted as 10.

[Four Of Clubs]

Yesterday's NL results and some Play Off dates:

Results w/e 27th April

CONFS
AFC Hornchurch 2-0 Hayes & Yeading
Basingstoke 0-4 Salisbury
Bath City 0-4 Sutton Utd
Billericay 1-0 Maidenhead Utd
Bromley 0-4 Dover
Dorchester 2-1 Weston-S-Mare
Eastbourne Borough 2-0 Staines Town – att given as 5,961 – very dubious - needs checking - the 'Massive's' web site is showing 591 which is a tad more reasonable!
Farnborough 3-1 Chelmsford
Havant and W 1-1 Boreham Wood
Tonbridge Angels 3-2 Truro City
Welling 1-1 Eastleigh – att 1522 but Spitfires dampened the promotion party slightly with a late equalizer

- If I’ve got this right these are the CONF South Play Off Semi Final line ups - dates tbc but provisionally:
(1st Leg Tue 30th April )
- Chelmsford (5th) v Salisbury (2nd )
- Eastleigh (4th ) v Dover (3rd )
(2nd Leg Sat 4TH May)
- Salisbury v Chelmsford
- Dover v Eastleigh
FINAL Sunday 12th May at ground of highest placed club
- Relegated AFC Hornchurch, Billericay & Truro

CONF North Play Offs also 2 legged S-Fs Guiseley v FC Halifax; Brackley v Altrincham
Relegated: Corby Droylsden & Hinckley – Histon survive by virtue of one goal – stayed up with a 0-0 v Bradford PA.

SOUTHP
Chesham United 0-0 Kettering Town
SOUTH1C
AFC Hayes 2-2 Royston Town
Ashford Town (Middx) 2-1 Beaconsfield SYCOB
Aylesbury 3-0 Thatcham Town - all three goals after 88’ !
Biggleswade Town 0-3 Burnham - Burnham Champs
Chalfont St. Peter 0-3 Rugby Town
Fleet Town 0-2 Barton Rovers
Guildford City 2-0 Daventry Town
Leighton Town 0-2 North Greenford United
Northwood 3-0 Uxbridge
Slough Town 3-0 Chertsey Town
Woodford United 1-2 Godalming Town - Woodford led 1-0 with 20’left. Final season record P42 L42 F 21 A 185 GD -164 – must be the first nil point haul at this level for a very long time (excluding pts deductions etc – I’m sure there’ll be a like-minded Anorak or two who’ve posted up somewhere the last time this was ‘achieved’ – might have a quick scan about later)
SOUTH1S&W
Abingdon United 0-2 Shortwood United
Cinderford Town 1-0 Hungerford Town
Didcot Town 0-1 Bishops Cleeve
North Leigh 3-1 Bridgwater Town
Swindon Supermarine 1-2 Clevedon Town
Winchester City 2-1 Paulton Rovers

Southern League Play-Off Semi Finals dates (1 leg only) :

Monday 29 April 2013
Division One South & West
Hungerford Town v Paulton Rovers

Tuesday 30 April 2013
Premier Division
Chesham United v Hemel Hempstead Town
Stourbridge v Gosport Borough
Division One Central
Godalming Town v Biggleswade Town
Rugby Town v Beaconsfield SYCOB
Division One South & West
Merthyr Town v Swindon Supermarine

RYMAN League
Play Off Matches - Semi Finals - North Division
Maldon & Tiptree v Aveley
Thamesmead Town v Witham Town
Play Off Matches - Semi Finals - South Division
Faversham Town v Hythe Town
Maidstone United v Folkestone Invicta


CCLP
Badshot Lea 1-2 Horley Town – Badshot Lea groundshare @ Godalming to end will move in with Ash Utd for 13/14.
Bedfont Sports 3-2 Croydon
Camberley Town 2-1 Colliers Wood United
Chessington & Hook United 3-0 Hanworth Villa
Egham Town 1-6 Hartley Wintney – astonishing scoreline and HW siezed a great chance of survival, now climbed above CWU & Ash Utd at the bottom – especially with Dorking losing and ‘Fizzers’ unlikely to gain ‘owt from Guernsey this PM.
Epsom & Ewell 1-6 Cove
Guernsey 3-2 Molesey att 854 – Moles pulled it back to 3-2 in the 95’
- With 1st and 3rd placed sides both getting a fearful battering at home yesterday this may give a weary GFC the boost they need for the final run in. Gap to Egham 14 points with 6 games left – Egham take title if they win their last two; both at home v Horley and Bedfont Sp.
South Park 1-0 Dorking
Wembley 1-0 Windsor – reportedly a right damp squib end to the season for Windsor
CCL1
Banstead Athletic 1-1 Feltham
Eversley & California 3-1 South Kilburn – E&C wisely have decided NOT to appeal against the CCL’s ineligibility ruling on their grading but if they complete the necessary work by the end of May and certain clubs are switched over to the Hellenic close season, they may be re-considered for a promotion slot should they finish top three.
Farleigh Rovers 0-3 Westfield
Mole Valley SCR 3-0 CB Hounslow United
Sheerwater 2-3 Frimley Green – FG promoted
Spelthorne Sports 6-1 Warlingham
Worcester Park 1-3 Knaphill

Sun 28 Apr 13
Guernsey v Sandhurst Town (1.30 p.m.)

HELLP
Ardley United 2-2 Slimbridge
Ascot United 0-3 Kidlington
Highmoor Ibis 4-0 Shrivenham
Highworth Town 0-0 Binfield
Marlow 6-0 Cheltenham Saracens -att 134 - 4 goals for I Davies
Thame United 3-3 Wantage Town
Wokingham & Emmbrook 1-0 Holyport
HELL One (West)
Letcombe 3-4 Lydney Town
HELL One (East)
Headington Amateurs 3-2 Maidenhead United Reserves
Milton United 1-1 Chalfont Wasps
Rayners Lane 1-1 Bracknell Town att 92
Thatcham Town Reserves 0-1 Henley Town - played at Henley at least Henley finish off their wretched season with their first win.
Woodley Town 1-1 Easington Sports - Woodley go to champions Rayners L on Tuesday – whilst Bracknell host 2nd placed Head Ams the same night – a win for 'Robins' could see them finish up in 3rd, should Woodley lose or draw.

WESSP
Alton Town 0-3 Bemerton Heath Harlequins
WESS1
Amesbury Town 2-1 Tadley Calleva
Brockenhurst 0-2 Whitchurch United - Brockenhurst win title by 3 goals from their visitors
Fleet Spurs 1-1 Hythe & Dibden
Pewsey Vale 3-2 Team Solent
Stockbridge 3-4 Cowes Sports

... went to a title decider down in the Surrey County leagues at Tongham v Chobham - good day apart from the odd hailstorm and the 0-0 scoreline; on a day when my other available choices - positively rained goals!