The Non - League thread

[Royal Rother]

...... and of course the Pre-Season Friendlies start up again in only 5 weeks!

Surely that's deserving of a

[Four Of Clubs]

...... and of course the Pre-Season Friendlies start up again in only 5 weeks!

Surely that's deserving of a

... and just so's you can time getting your Anoraks out of 'deep cleansing soak' to dry off , here's some 'big' games nearby on Saturday 7th July :-

Feltham v Wembley (@ The Orchard Bedfont)
Frimley Green v Alresford
Horndean v Wokingham & Emmbrook
Knaphill v Badshot Lea (at Molesey)

... though expect there'll be plenty more on that day, announced in due course?

[Terminal Boardom]

To put the record straight, Whyteleafe have been relegated to the Kent League which "earnt" Chessington & Hook Utd an undeserved reprieve in the CCL Premier. Guildford City have found their way into the Southern League Central Division. I am very interested to see how they are accepted considering how sporting they aren't.

As for friendlies, 3 to highlight from a Windsor FC perspective:

23rd July home v Wycombe Wanderers 7.30pm
26th July away v Holyport 7.30pm
28th July home v Hayes & Yeading 3.00pm

[Four Of Clubs]

To put the record straight, Whyteleafe have been relegated to the Kent League which "earnt" Chessington & Hook Utd an undeserved reprieve in the CCL Premier.

ooops - didn't check that - don't have a lot of dealings with NL football in Kent. Currently known as the Kent League Premier - this is a STEP05 league but the STEP06 league (Kent Invicta) that 'feeds' it is in a seperate constitution (or was) and relegates to the Kent County League - mmm confusing.

I, like a lot of others, wrongly assumed 'leafe would go 'back to where they came from' but since they've never been in the CCL NOR any Kent league before AND are in Surrey - little wonder I'd assumed they were staying up.

Apparently both Kent & Sussex Leagues tend to grab what they can from their county neighbours (i.e. Redhill, Lingfield & Dorking have clubs in the Sussex leagues) to remain with a viable number of clubs - i.e. of late 16 has been the norm for Kent which is a bit low for STEP05. I believe their constitution does state that it is for clubs based in 'Kent and South East London'. At least the Sussex County top division has 20.

Chessington & Hook theoretically, could still have been relegated to Div One, had Dorking Wanderers not had their transfer (and promotion) to the CCLP 'blocked' by the Sussex league. There was also a rumour about Wembley moving across to the South Mids league (but that's an annual talking point) and Southall joining from the Middx County but the Vale Farm mob are staying put and 'Sahfawl' have gone to the SSM instead of the CCL.

[Hoop Blah]

... another rumble has started up that Mark Bartley and his 'team' have left RTFC - tendered resignation on Sat AM.

Expect 'Goal Post' to pick up on this later in the week?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Presumably this will mean some movement of Barts etc to strengthen Highmoor/IBIS or are there rumours of another destination?

[Four Of Clubs]

... another rumble has started up that Mark Bartley and his 'team' have left RTFC - tendered resignation on Sat AM.

Expect 'Goal Post' to pick up on this later in the week?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Presumably this will mean some movement of Barts etc to strengthen Highmoor/IBIS or are there rumours of another destination?

... no word as yet - seems a dispute about where the club was 'going' as in ambition off the field.

Doubt if any of the RTFC management team would head across to H/I - got the impression earlier in the season when groundshares were being discussed - in the event of H/I not continuing @ Palmer Pk - that the two sides were definitely NOT on each others Christmas card list!

Just a statement in yesterdays' on-line Post and no other 'rumbles' that I've picked up on elsewhere - not that I've looked that hard. The erstwhile 'Barmy Army Drummer' doesn't have the time to keep his websites/chat rooms up to date - now I believe he is in gainful employment somewhere?

[Hoop Blah]

The two sides are pretty well linked with lots of them play together for Dee Road on Sundays, and a few other sides, and are all old mates really. Anything that went on during the cup final was, I'd imagine, just the competitive spirit and desire to get one over their mates for bragging rights round the town.

[Four Of Clubs]

The two sides are pretty well linked with lots of them play together for Dee Road on Sundays, and a few other sides, and are all old mates really. Anything that went on during the cup final was, I'd imagine, just the competitive spirit and desire to get one over their mates for bragging rights round the town.

...nah the perceived/faint 'sniff of animosity' was there long before the Cup Final - deffo seemed to be a 'clique' thing going on somewhere, higher up than at the playing level, between the two - notwithstanding any Sunday league player cross-overs.

I think S S-K is/was also the manager for Dee Rd last season - and Ray Spence and a fair few others affiliated to RTFC certainly played for them as well as a number of H/I players - and possibly even some from Thatcham Town?

Someone (a hopper) was chatting to an H/I 'official' at a Palmer Park match - (March/April time) and they made it very clear that they thought they would not be welcome by the 'people in charge' @ Scours should a groundshare become necessary to stay in the Hellenic.

As it turned out, apparently some kind of agreement was made for H/I to stay at PP for the foreseeable future - so any relationship wasn't put to the test?

[Hoop Blah]

Roland and those behind he scenes might not've welcomed them no, but I'd be surprised if there was any problem elsewhere considering the closeness of those involved. They might not've welcomed them as they'd be direct competition for the same players too though.

SSK has been a big part of Dee Rd for years, but not the manager as such.

Was Spence still playing for Town towards the end of the season? I thought he was playing more for South Reading recently.

[Four Of Clubs]

Was Spence still playing for Town towards the end of the season? I thought he was playing more for South Reading recently.

Yeah - big news early February - was that 'Razor' had returned from a very brief spell @ Hungerford - might have played in one or two games for RTFC without scoring & was certainly on the bench - then was injured/suspended (again) but subsequently seemed to stay at South Reading for the rest of the season.

Didn't appear when I visited Scours later in Feb - not sure he even appeared for RTFC again in 2012.

... had notched 9 goals in 12 League matches up until November - possibly why he got lured over to Bulpit Lane - co-incidentally was due to start a lengthy suspension period from the RSL & the Hellenic around that time too.

[Hoop Blah]

He's certainly an excellent player who could've played at a much higher standard.

[Hoop Blah]

Bartley has gone to Marlow, so nothing in the Highmoor idea.

[Four Of Clubs]

Bartley has gone to Marlow, so nothing in the Highmoor idea.

..here's a bit more lifted from the Marlow FC site - he's taking big bad Marcus with him too, as well as a few others :-

NEW MANAGEMENT TEAM FOR MARLOW
Marlow F.C are pleased to announce that they have appointed a new management team to take them into the 2012/2013 season, their first in the Uhlsport Hellenic Premier Division.
Mark Bartley is taking over the management position and is well-known locally having played at Hayes, Slough Town, Burnham and Thame United before taking over as caretaker manager at Reading Town in the latter part of season 2011/2012 and guiding them to safety before leading them to a successful season last term with a young squad.
His assistant Marcus Richardson gained both football league and non-league experience at clubs such as Cambridge United, Hartlepool, Torquay United, Rochdale, Bury Town, Yeovil Town, Farnborough Town and Windsor & Eton - and is still available to turn out as a player!
Completing the line-up are coach Roy Hanley who holds a Uefa-B license and Lawrence Kingsbury who was at AFC Bournemouth as a youngster and is a former national athlete who specialises on the conditioning and tactical aspects.
The club would also like to put on record its appreciation of the service and commitment given by Steve Croxford over many seasons and particularly for his efforts in difficult circumstances in the latter part of last season which proved to be one of many disappointments.

... for anyone whose not been to the 'Arthur Davis Memorial Ground' on Oak Tree Rd yet, it is a real NL 'gem'. 'Carols Catering' - a portakabin just inside the entrance - is an absolute treasure - so much so they do a roaring trade during normal weekday hours, providing for the local building trade.

... was a lot of worrying rumours that the owners (NWE UK Ltd?) were trying to sell the site off and make the club groundshare up at Flackwell - whilst Wycombe Council decide whether to let them develop a new site - one location was being suggested and the plans were on show in the clubhouse - an old quarry along the eastern side of the A404(M).

Essentially all previous strategies got nowhere with WCC and were torn up after 9 frustrating years - a fresh start to find a location in the area and develop along with Flackwell Heath are slowly taking shape - again!

[Four Of Clubs]

... Damn missed the edit 'window' it is the 'Alfred Davis Memorial Ground'

[Wax Jacket]

if Marlow leave that ground it'd be a crying shame, lovely place

[AthleticoSpizz]

Since retiring, Nicky Forster to sign-on as a player for next season for the team he manages, Dover Athletic
Neville Roach to manage Thatcham Town
Wembley FC to field Graeme Le Saux, Ray Parlour, Claudio Caniggia, Brian McBride and Martin Keown in their FA Cup games next season (courtesy of Budweiser).
Jimmy Quinn cited as the manager (then of Shrewsbury) that saved England GK Joe Hart from obscurity, by giving him his big break.

[Four Of Clubs]

First 'Fred' for the new season - since the Cup draws were made this AM - here's the Extra Prelim draw for the FA Cup (southern-ish only)

.... they've drawn a few rounds in advance so I'll put the 'what ifs/either ors' etc on later.

.... the early parts of the FA Vase & Trophy have been drawn too - all available via http://www.thefa.com

FA Cup Extra Preliminary due to be played Sat 11th August (expect a few to switch to Fri eve/Sun PM - updates in due course):

110 AFC Dunstable v Ampthill Town
111 Hanworth Villa v Bethnal Green United
112 Hoddesdon Town v Berkhamsted
113 Wodson Park v Colney Heath
114 Bedfont Sports v Tring Athletic
115 Haringey Borough v AFC Kempston Rovers
116 Staines Lammas v Barking
117 Wembley v Langford
118 Biggleswade United v Cranfield United
119 Broxbourne Borough V&E v Dunstable Town
(walkover for Dunstable Town – Broxbourne Borough V&E removed)
120 Hadley v Hertford Town
121 Hanwell Town v Haringey & Waltham Development
122 Harefield United v Hillingdon Borough
123 Crawley Green v Stotfold
124 London Colney v Hatfield Town
125 Kings Langley v St Margaretsbury
126 Aylesbury United v Enfield 1893
127 London Lions v Clapton
128 Sporting Bengal United v Cockfosters
129 Oxhey Jets v Leverstock Green
130 Ardley United v Holyport
131 Kidlington v Shrivenham
132 Cove v Slimbridge
133 Reading Town v Newport Pagnell Town - renewing some recent B&B Senior Trophy rivalry there
134 Hartley Wintney v Holmer Green
135 Old Woodstock Town v Wantage Town
136 Bracknell Town v Binfield
137 Ascot United v Sandhurst Town
138 Thame United v Newbury
139 Witney Town v Marlow
140 Wokingham & Emmbrook v Camberley Town
141 Abingdon Town v Fairford Town
142 Flackwell Heath v Windsor - could be a good one Flackwell can be quite tasty on their day and have great clubhouse
143 Erith Town v Ringmer
144 Littlehampton Town v Molesey
145 Tunbridge Wells v Beckenham Town
146 Peacehaven & Telscombe v Banstead Athletic
147 Chessington & Hook United v Warlingham
148 Cobham v South Park
149 Pagham v Sevenoaks Town
150 Arundel v Epsom & Ewell
151 Lordswood v Erith & Belvedere
152 Dorking v VCD Athletic
153 Redhill v Whyteleafe
154 Deal Town v Ashford United
155 Lingfield v AFC Uckfield
156 Hailsham Town v Greenwich Borough
157 Fisher v East Preston
158 Mole Valley SCR v Badshot Lea
159 Horley Town v Holmesdale
160 Lancing v Selsey
161 Egham Town v Westfield
162 Chichester City v Crowborough Athletic
163 Shoreham v Colliers Wood United
164 St Francis Rangers v Rye United
165 Corinthian v Croydon
166 Hassocks v Sidley United
167 Raynes Park Vale v Horsham YMCA
168 Bitton v Bristol Manor Farm
169 Bemerton Heath Harlequins v Hamworthy United
170 Winterbourne United v Moneyfields
171 Hallen v Fawley
172 Farnham Town v Alresford Town
173 Highworth Town v Corsham Town
174 GE Hamble v Whitchurch United
175 Almondsbury UWE v Petersfield Town
176 East Cowes Victoria Athletic v Verwood Town
177 Downton v Ash United
178 Hayling United v Fareham Town
179 Wootton Bassett Town v Calne Town
180 Horndean v Brockenhurst
181 Fleet Spurs v Totton & Eling
182 Alton Town v Bradford Town
183 Ringwood Town v Cadbury Heath
184 Longwell Green Sports v Melksham Town
185 Christchurch v Cowes Sports
186 Romsey Town v Lymington Town
187 New Milton Town v Newport (IW)
188 Blackfield & Langley v AFC Portchester
189 Bournemouth v Pewsey Vale
190 Plymouth Parkway v Welton Rovers
191 Gillingham Town v Tavistock
192 Bodmin Town v Brislington
193 Bishop Sutton v Radstock Town
194 Street v Hengrove Athletic
195 Chard Town v Ilfracombe Town
196 Wells City v Barnstaple Town
197 Larkhall Athletic v Willand Rovers
198 Odd Down v Saltash United
199 Buckland Athletic v Bridport
200 Sherborne Town v Elmore


... and of course it now means any league fixtures for those starting the previous week can be released now.

[Wax Jacket]

I'm always interested in what you embolden and don't there - Dorking in bold but not Holmer Green for instance?

[Barry the bird boggler]

Have they sorted out who is playing in the Hellenic League Premier and East/West Divs yet?

[Four Of Clubs]

I'm always interested in what you embolden and don't there - Dorking in bold but not Holmer Green for instance?

... its pretty arbitrary - I tend to 'embolden' as you say, clubs from leagues I consider to be predominently "local" (roughly with a majority of members inside an hours travel) and hence regularly feature them on my Previews/Reviews.
Holmer Green are in the SSML so don't usually get their league fixtures listed - whereas Dorking are CCL. There are probably a few other SSML clubs that are closer too. (geographically but not necessarily in 'time to travel' - Hillingdon, Leverstock, Tring etc ) Holmer Green's ground is a good one, another highly recommended clubhouse.

By the way the red note above re Broxbourne V&E is due to the fact that they appear to have folded pre-season! Strange they seemed to have a thriving club house - though not that many in actually watching their games.

PS Completely forgotten how to amend the main Thread Title - anyone care to advise - or is it something we need a nice friendly mod to do for us?
- don't seem to be able to EDIT the OP - which is what I thought I did last year.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Oh ... and since I've sparked off some immediate responses here are the Hellenic Constitutions for 12/13 season.


Premier Division

Abingdon Town
Ardley United
Ascot United
Binfield
Cheltenham Saracens
Flackwell Heath
Highmoor-Ibis
Highworth Town
Holyport
Kidlington
Marlow
Newbury
Oxford City Nomads
Reading Town
Shrivenham
Slimbridge
Thame United
Wantage Town
Witney Town
Wokingham & Emmbrook

Division One East

AFC Hinksey - rumours abound that their behaviour in last season's OSL Premier make Highmoor/Ibis look like Girl Scouts!
Bracknell Town
Chalfont Wasps
Chinnor
Didcot Town Reserves
Easington Sports
Finchampstead
Headington Amateurs
Henley Town
Maidenhead United Reserves
Milton United
Penn & Tylers Green
Rayners Lane
Thatcham Town Reserves
Woodley Town

Division One West

Brimscombe & Thrupp
Carterton
Clanfield
Cricklade Town
Fairford Town
Hook Norton
Lambourn Sports
Letcombe
Lydney Town
Malmesbury Victoria
New College Swindon
North Leigh Reserves
Old Woodstock Town
Purton
Tytherington Rocks
Wootton Bassett Town