The Non - League thread

[Compo's Hat]

Now this would be a proper away day! Shame Reading town moved leagues.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/9518284.stm

Not sure who would pay for the flights over there though.

[Royalist]

Dont think anyone is doubting Scott/Melvin's past record on the pitch at all although the fact they didnt find another club with a bigger budget above the level windsor are now at is surprising

[Svlad Cjelli]

Another one bits the dust - not so local, though....

Chairman Andrew Connolly says he had no option but to call time on Rossendale United – and insists he did so with a heavy heart. The Stags were kicked out of the North West Counties League at the League’s annual meeting on Saturday - and it now seems certain that the 113-year-old club will die. United are cash-strapped and in February were forced to postpone games after the water supply to Dark Lane was disconnected. Connolly, who has not been out of the country contrary to claims made at the League AGM, has been trying to sell the club but there has been no interest.

He said: “It is a very sad day for Rossendale United and for me personally. It has been well documented over the previous months the financial predicament the club has found itself in and as I have stated previously I am not in a financial position to bale out the club once more. We have had several positive meetings with the supporters but we cannot get away from the harsh facts. I have had no interest from any third parties to get involved in any way, which is understandable in this difficult economic climate and so it is with great sadness and a heavy heart I find no option but to call it a day. I would like to thank all the local volunteers and supporters for their help in particular to Billy and Dave Howarth and Dave Rogan and many more for all their great support over the years.”

[Svlad Cjelli]

Now this would be a proper away day! Shame Reading town moved leagues.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/9518284.stm

Not sure who would pay for the flights over there though.

The full breakdown of clubs in CCC Division One is :

Ok – they were CCC a few years ago.

And in fact Guernsey are in Division One. Full breakdown is :

Division One
Bedfont Sports Bookham - Relegated from Premier Division CB Hounslow United Cobham Eversley Farleigh Rovers Feltham Frimley Green Guernsey - New team Hartley Wintney Knaphill Sheerwater South Kilburn - Transferred from Hellenic Division One East Spelthorne Sports - Promoted from Surrey Elite League Staines Lammas Warlingham Westfield Worcester Park

So the likes of Eversley, Hartley Wintney & Frimley Green will have to travel to Guernsey. Wonder how their treasurer feels about that?

[Terminal Boardom]

Now this would be a proper away day! Shame Reading town moved leagues.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/9518284.stm

Not sure who would pay for the flights over there though.

The full breakdown of clubs in CCC Division One is :

Ok – they were CCC a few years ago.

And in fact Guernsey are in Division One. Full breakdown is :

Division One
Bedfont Sports Bookham - Relegated from Premier Division CB Hounslow United Cobham Eversley Farleigh Rovers Feltham Frimley Green Guernsey - New team Hartley Wintney Knaphill Sheerwater South Kilburn - Transferred from Hellenic Division One East Spelthorne Sports - Promoted from Surrey Elite League Staines Lammas Warlingham Westfield Worcester Park

So the likes of Eversley, Hartley Wintney & Frimley Green will have to travel to Guernsey. Wonder how their treasurer feels about that?

I remember hearing something along the lines of Guernsey paying the travelling expenses of their visitors.

[Tony Le Mesmer]

Now this would be a proper away day! Shame Reading town moved leagues.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/9518284.stm

Not sure who would pay for the flights over there though.

The full breakdown of clubs in CCC Division One is :

Ok – they were CCC a few years ago.

And in fact Guernsey are in Division One. Full breakdown is :

Division One
Bedfont Sports Bookham - Relegated from Premier Division CB Hounslow United Cobham Eversley Farleigh Rovers Feltham Frimley Green Guernsey - New team Hartley Wintney Knaphill Sheerwater South Kilburn - Transferred from Hellenic Division One East Spelthorne Sports - Promoted from Surrey Elite League Staines Lammas Warlingham Westfield Worcester Park

So the likes of Eversley, Hartley Wintney & Frimley Green will have to travel to Guernsey. Wonder how their treasurer feels about that?

Pretty sure i read that Guernsey have to pay the travel costs of the oppo.

[Royal Rother]

This may be of some interest to those who have contributed to the brief discussion about Windsor FC.

Posted by Kevin Stott, Chairman of Windsor FC on the Windsor Forum last night:

To All Supporters of Windsor F.C.


I can see that there is a genuine desire amongst Supporters to ensure that we are running the new club in a sensible fashion. In simple terms what we are trying to achieve is a position whereby the club is self sustaining. In other words not reliant for its survival or continued success on me or any other benefactor.

It will take a while to get there and inevitably there have been start up costs. I have absorbed the majority of these to date and have committed to investing in the development of the 3G Training Pitch, which will ultimately provide the initial income streams to move us towards the goal of self sustainability.

I am keen that all supporters can access information on the running of the club; indeed the key elements of the business plan were outlined to the supporters at the last open meeting held at Stag Meadow.

However if any supporter would like to have more detailed information, could they kindly make themselves known to me and I will happily arrange a one to one meeting to go through any aspect of the club in as much detail as they want.

Assuring you all of a genuine desire to get things right.

[AthleticoSpizz]

Now this would be a proper away day! Shame Reading town moved leagues.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/9518284.stm

Not sure who would pay for the flights over there though.

according to The NLP some months ago, Guernsey will be funding all opposition travelling expenses.

[Royalist]

Rother please do not buy everything Mr Stott says hook line and sinker. He had a HUGE part to play in Windsor/Peter SImpson going bust if you listen to pub talk.

Long term staff who worked behind the scenes for years are up in arms over Scotts appointment and are really mulling over if they want to return. That's very sad and was very avoidable.

[Royal Rother]

Sorry, I'd rather listen to the man himself and make up my own mind than go by pub talk which as we all know is normally complete bollocks.

Incidentally, I have heard about the supposed background of the feud and the ultimate outcome.

Frankly, whether I believe the version I've been told or not, I really don't give a damn about all that. It is completely irrelevant to the situation at hand which is getting football back at Stag Meadow.

Stott has been extremely open about everything, has answered every question asked of him in the open meetings and has now offered to meet people one to one to discuss the business plan and funding etc. to ensure that worries and concerns about the proposed model are addressed. So he has shown himself to be extremely inclusive and respectful of everyone who has Windsor FC's interests at heart. Including the old guard, of that you can be sure.

What more can he do?

But he is also a businessman and strong-minded professional - he (and his committee) went through the proper interview process with a number of candidates (possibly not everyone as time was tight and there were so many people interested in the job) and the selection committee made a decision as to who was the best person for the job.

This is a community football club but it is also a business and not all decisions are going to be popular. The club itself has no future if it cannot attract more than 60 or 70 fans along to games so the way in which things are done simply HAS to change. New supporters have to be generated.

To close in the same way I did my last missive on the subject, if some of the old guard don't like that, or the way Stott & Co go about it and fall away as a result, then sobeit.

[Svlad Cjelli]

But he is also a businessman and strong-minded professional

......

This is a community football club but it is also a business and not all decisions are going to be popular. The club itself has no future if it cannot attract more than 60 or 70 fans along to games so the way in which things are done simply HAS to change. New supporters have to be generated.

I don't know much about teh actual situation there, but aren't those two statements a bit contradictory? Why has a business man got involved with a club with such a small supporter-base?

And was the community-ownership route ever considered?

[floyd__streete]

To close in the same way I did my last missive on the subject, if some of the old guard don't like that, or the way Stott & Co go about it and fall away as a result, then sobeit.

The voice of the fans speaks.

[Royal Rother]

Yep, like me, the vast majority appear to be completely behind Stott.

[soggy biscuit]

Sent off for a nob piercing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MciOb4GtkvU&feature=player_embedded#at=71

[Alan Partridge]

Yep, like me, the vast majority appear to be completely behind Stott.

All 6 of them?

[Tails]

Yep, like me, the vast majority appear to be completely behind Stott.

All 6 of them?

No, vast majority. That means no more than 5 but more than 3...

[Royal Rother]

I've already made the crowd size joke this week.

Ramming it home is hardly gentlemanly.

[Terminal Boardom]

But he is also a businessman and strong-minded professional

......

This is a community football club but it is also a business and not all decisions are going to be popular. The club itself has no future if it cannot attract more than 60 or 70 fans along to games so the way in which things are done simply HAS to change. New supporters have to be generated.

I don't know much about teh actual situation there, but aren't those two statements a bit contradictory? Why has a business man got involved with a club with such a small supporter-base?

And was the community-ownership route ever considered?

1. Because he loves the club.
2. Because there was so little time between W&E folding and the deadlines to the FA etc had to be met if football was to return for the coming season.

The new club is determined to become a focal point for the community and considerable work has already been done to ensure this.

Personalities aside, let's see what shape Windsor FC are in come the end of April 2012 and then decide whether the concept is something to be proud of or not.

[Svlad Cjelli]

Fair enough.

Not a criticism, BTW - just a genuine interested enquiry, because no-one sane and with sa ound business sense would spend their own money forming a non-league club, surely?

[Royalist]

A season will not be enough time to fairly judge. 5 years much more likely.

The fanbase will not grow above WEFC levels unless a FA Cup run. There simply is no demand in the town for anything more than 200 fans.

Not read it myself yet but the back page of the Observer has "Fans In Revolt" as the back page!