The Non - League thread

[Royal Rother]

Yes FOC, the Windsor defeat at Wembley was the worst performance in months.

Horrendous game but Wembley were certainly better.

Looking forward to next season already!

[Rev Algenon Stickleback H]

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)

Woodford actually took the lead with 20 minutes left. The lead lasted a whole five minutes, and the winner came on 82.

They also lost all three cup games they played (0-3, 1-3, 1-5) just for good measure.


As bad as letting 185 goals in in a season is, someone yesterday felt a bit worse.

I can't remember the team, but in one of the county leagues yesterday a team could only field eight teenagers for their match, and lost 42-0.

edit: here it is, Stone Dominoes 0 Hanley 42
http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/Fo ... z2Rm2oD3nD

[frimmers3]

onwards and upwards for mighty frimley green....

[Four Of Clubs]

onwards and upwards for mighty frimley green....

... had a brief ( friendly of course ) exchange with a Cambo man who frequents the NL Forum - not too bothered about the marauding crew from the Tennis Ct End - says a lot of ex-Cambo lads have hopped over to FG to play and thinks there might have been a bit of over-reaching on the cash front.

I suspect he would be inwardly delighted to see them up in the big time - especially since there's every chance that Sandhurst AND Ash may drop down depriving Camberley of some local rivalry.

Result from this PM CCLP Guernsey 3-2 Sandhurst - reportedly Fizzers belied their basement spot and played very well - GFC fans admitting they were lucky to grab win.

Stone Dynamoes much featured on the NL Forum for their regular slaughterings too - think the 42-0 topped them all though.
Bear in mind this is their Reserves - the firsts have already left the NWCFL and indeed the Reserves have resigned from the above league with immediate effect and their record has been (here's that great word again!) expunged.
They'd let in 111 goals in 6 matches.

[AthleticoSpizz]

started with 8 , and just teenagers too, apparently

[Royal Rother]

onwards and upwards for mighty frimley green....

Do you go and watch them?

[Big Foot]

Cove were 2-1 up at Half Time away to Epsom on Saturday and a m8 of mine took kick off for the 2nd half...where he chipped the keeper from inside the centre circle to put them 3-1 up

[Rev Algenon Stickleback H]

Stone Dynamoes much featured on the NL Forum for their regular slaughterings too - think the 42-0 topped them all though.
Bear in mind this is their Reserves - the firsts have already left the NWCFL and indeed the Reserves have resigned from the above league with immediate effect and their record has been (here's that great word again!) expunged.
They'd let in 111 goals in 6 matches.

in some ways it just goes to show what a tiny % of the population are good enough even to play at that level.

I bet every one of the eight were players who were considered good players at school level, yet are clearly miles away from even county league level in ability (although having only 8 hardly helps)

I remember years back, early 90s I think, Reading played Bracknell at Larges Lane in the Berks & Bucks Cup. There was a guy playing for Bracknell that I went to school with. He was amazing at school, so good that virtually no-one could stop him, and he could only get to play at break times by promising that he wouldn't score, or his team would always win.

Yet there he was, playing for a Bracknell team rock bottom of the old Rymans Div 3, and he wasn't good enough to be a first team regular.

[Terminal Boardom]

Looking back to this non league season, which owing to the weather experienced will drag on and on, isn't it time that the FA seriously looked at promoting the use of 3G pitches at the lower levels? They make a fortune from the Premier League and a number of gems have been unearthed over the years who have gone on and enjoyed professional careers. Not only would the pitches be less prone to postponements but they would also provide valuable recreational facilities to the communities.

As for Windsor FC, I have been absolutely delighted to see how well they have done this season after the upheavals of early September. Mick Woodham has done a brilliant job and I am looking forward to seeing how next season shapes up.

[Royalist]

The thing with 3G pitches is they do not last forever so clubs will be fighting hard just to stay as they are.

[Terminal Boardom]

The thing with 3G pitches is they do not last forever so clubs will be fighting hard just to stay as they are.

I concede that they don't last for ever but the revenue generated is good for the clubs and it would enable those clubs to not only fulfil fixtures but also maintain the pitches to a high standard. If it's good enough for Champions League Finals etc, it's good enough for non league football.

[Royalist]

The thing is not every club has the resources to run a profitable 3G pitch. Most the people who work at the clubs are volunteers so to turn a club into a 7 day a week business is costly and unrealistic. Not to mention some clubs might be in areas were the demand is just not there. After all Windsor has good facilities at the boys school already not to mention places like the home park and power league just down the road.

I agree with it working for some clubs but to think of it as some sort of problem solving cash cow is unrealistic*

* Bit rich from someone who wants summer leagues and smaller more local leagues!

[frimmers3]

onwards and upwards for mighty frimley green....

Do you go and watch them?

when time allows yes.the park is less than two hundred yards from my front door.

[Deadlock]

I remember years back, early 90s I think, Reading played Bracknell at Larges Lane in the Berks & Bucks Cup. There was a guy playing for Bracknell that I went to school with. He was amazing at school, so good that virtually no-one could stop him, and he could only get to play at break times by promising that he wouldn't score, or his team would always win.

Yet there he was, playing for a Bracknell team rock bottom of the old Rymans Div 3, and he wasn't good enough to be a first team regular.

There was a guy with a huge nose in the year below me at primary school who was only allowed to play at break time in goal. He once launched a goal kick from one end of the playground to the other, where it landed on my head. He subsequently went on to play for Southampton and England, before becoming a Sky pundit.

[Warfield North Stand]

Heading to Larges Lane for the promtion party tommorow night ( hopefully). Should be a decent crowd too. Come on you Robins!!

[Royal Rother]

onwards and upwards for mighty frimley green....

Do you go and watch them?

when time allows yes.the park is less than two hundred yards from my front door.

Good. It appears likely we'll have an opportunity to meet up next season.

[Barry the bird boggler]

Heading to Larges Lane for the promtion party tommorow night ( hopefully). Should be a decent crowd too. Come on you Robins!!

Little bit out of touch with the Eastern Hellenic this season, last I heard was that Rayners Lane had it pretty much tied up even though Bracknell had about 6/7 games in hand. Is it 2 or 3 up in that league this season? If so I take it Bracknell are looking likely to nick one of those places?

[peterroyal76]

The thing is not every club has the resources to run a profitable 3G pitch. Most the people who work at the clubs are volunteers so to turn a club into a 7 day a week business is costly and unrealistic. Not to mention some clubs might be in areas were the demand is just not there. After all Windsor has good facilities at the boys school already not to mention places like the home park and power league just down the road.

I agree with it working for some clubs but to think of it as some sort of problem solving cash cow is unrealistic*

* Bit rich from someone who wants summer leagues and smaller more local leagues!

Maidenhead Rugby club have a 3G pitch and I believe they've started to make it pay by renting it out. I know quins trained on it before they played saracens on their 3G pitch.

[Four Of Clubs]

Heading to Larges Lane for the promtion party tommorow night ( hopefully). Should be a decent crowd too. Come on you Robins!!

Little bit out of touch with the Eastern Hellenic this season, last I heard was that Rayners Lane had it pretty much tied up even though Bracknell had about 6/7 games in hand. Is it 2 or 3 up in that league this season? If so I take it Bracknell are looking likely to nick one of those places?

... Promotion from Div One of Hellenic is always a bit complex and this season even more vague than usual. It is usually two up from each of Div One West & East.

Not looked on the Hellenic Chat Board of late where there are a couple of notable Robins contributors (not least 'Duds' who seems to be Mr Bracknell) BUT from what I can guess - if indeed tomorrow is indeed a possible 'promotion party' as billed above by WNS .....

..... then Bracknell currently in 6th - have to win and hope Woodley get nothing at Rayners Lane who are up as Champions already - up to where is not confirmed - it may be up and over to the CCL or the SSML but as I've stated before on this thread - that rumour does the rounds every season.
The difference now, is that Rayners La. do have floodlights and also appear to meet the slightly more strictly applied rules, of those two constitutions; compared to the looser guidelines adopted in the the past by the Hellenic.
Should Woodley lose or draw and Bracknell win - they would finish as high as 3rd place - 2nd place Headington Amateurs - their opponents tomorrow - are not eligible on ground grading - although are upgrading what little they do have currently. I assume then if WNS knows his Hellenic rulebook for this season then 3rd is sufficient to be considered for promotion.

EDIT just had a quick look at the BTFC site and it does indeed appear WNS is right and the scenario I've outlined above is accurate enough - if Robins can get up to 3rd place after Tue night, they should be promoted back to the Hellenic Prem.

To be honest the Hellenic is so desperate for sides to make up numbers in the Premier, they may yet offer a place to Chinnor currently down in 5th. They are rumoured to have already offered a STEP05 lifeline to Sandhurst should they wish to cross over from the CCL. I think tonights' big win for Colliers Wood effectively relegated Sandhurst from the CCLP.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
... elsewhere in the HELLP Binfield thumped Flackwell Heath 5-3 away, to confirm a 3rd place finish in the Hellenic, behind Wantage and Champs Marlow. These two meet at Oak Tree Rd tomorrow night (Tue)

Tonight (Mon) I watched Hungerford make heavy work of beating Paulton Rovers (nr Bristol) 4-2 aet at Bulpit Lane - to progress to the SOUTH1S&W PO Final - where they'll meet the winner of tomorrow's tie twixt Merthyr & Supermarine.
For Hungerford's sake I hope it's the Swindon club, cos I think Merthyr have battered them both times in the league this season - and on tonights' showing they don't look much cop at the back

Also tomorrow night - Guernsey come to Bedfont Sports, whilst CCLP title rivals Egham host Horley; Sandhurst play Farnham and Finch are at home to HELL1E 'bad boys' AFC Hinksey (KO 18:30)
... expect I'll pick one of the above for my entertainment ....

[dizzynewheights]

Do you go and watch them?

when time allows yes.the park is less than two hundred yards from my front door.

Good. It appears likely we'll have an opportunity to meet up next season.

that sounds lovely. May I come along I'll get the first round