2018-19 Isthmian League Thread ("Bostik" if you must)

[Aberstone]

Tommy Brewer from Staines Town is the latest signing at Kingsmeadow Fetcham Grove King George's Field.

http://www.kingstonian.com/news/tommy-brewer-signs-for-kingstonian-2311231.html

Can not wait for August!

He was with us during the 2011-12 season, playing as a right back and central midfielder, he didn’t do much then but he’s been a long servant at Staines now and they clearly miss him.

If to be believed, we were likely to be the club above although recent signings would suggest our interest was faint.

K’s and Hornchurch have done some good business early on. If Bognor can sort out their off the pitch woes though, I think they’ll be a tough team to get past.

 

[Paddy]

We've moved our midweek fixtures from Monday to Wednesday. I think this is probably a highly unpopular move, from what I can gather from the Ks forum, but I honestly think it's a pretty good idea.

I think it makes sense from the POV of having extra time for recovery. Sure, any team who plays us on a Monday will have the same issue in this regard, but cumulatively if we're playing far more games on that day than our rivals, that's probably only going to have an adverse effect, isn't it? I seem to be in the minority among Ks (and quite frankly, I'm not a very good supporter, so what do I know!) but Monday doesn't really appeal to me as a match night. Would defo be more inclined to go midweek.

I'm largely quite 'meh' about our midweek match day although Wednesdays may see the casual/occasional fans opt to watch Champions League football on the tele if we're not doing as well as we are hyped up to do. Interestingly I don't think any/many other Isthmian clubs play Wednesdays so there might be some kind of psychological advantage once we are used to it.

 

[Riverside64]

I never really understand Monday midweek games, not really sure why Haringey Borough play Mondays. Wednesday is the traditional day for those groundsharing - Romford, Grays Athletic last season and I'd certainly prefer that to a Monday. I like proper midweek footy.

Our club skipper, Elliot Styles, has retired after 541 games and we've signed Jordan Clark ex-Thurrock.

 

[Meadow]

Shaw Lane have pulled out of step 3.

The following was posted on another forum.

1. The NPL Premier division gains the most northerly team in the new Central League, which by geography will be wither Coalville Town or Hednesford Town

2. The vacant spot at Step 3 should be taken by the next best playoff losing finalist, in this case, Wimbourne Town

3. The vacant spot at Step 4 should be taken by the next best 3rd placed side at Step 5, in this case, it would be FC Romania from the Essex Senior league

By my reckoning, the Plod could get moved back to the Bostik.

 

[Meadow]

Shaw Lane have pulled out of step 3.

The following was posted on another forum.



By my reckoning, the Plod could get moved back to the Bostik.

Or maybe not according to someone on twitter.

 

[Paddy]

Plz no

 

[Pink Panther]

Plz no

That's your Boxing Day/Easter Monday fixtures sorted then!

 

[DarkSithLord]

The FA were notified today by Shaw Lane AFC that they are to withdraw from the Northern League Premier Division.

As a result, the FA have written to Banbury United this evening to advise that the following will apply:

* Wimborne Town are to fill the vacancy at Step 3 and will be placed in the Southern League South

* Banbury United will be laterally moved to the Southern League Central

* Hednesford Town will be laterally moved to the Northern Premier League

*FC Romania are promoted to Step 4

* Fleet Town are to be laterally moved to the Southern League West

 

[The Paranoid Pineapple]

Yes FC Romania!

 

[Meadow]

Okay, I was wrong.

 

[Paddy]

If I was a Plod fan I'd be outraged that they are still staying in the Southern League. I'd also be considered akin to such fantasy creatures as Big Foot, The Easter Bunny & Chupacabra but that's not the point.

 

[JaredSUFC]

If I was a Plod fan I'd be outraged that they are still staying in the Southern League. I'd also be considered akin to such fantasy creatures as Big Foot, The Easter Bunny & Chupacabra but that's not the point.

Don't laugh or faint, but I've actually seen some Met Police fans.

As for this split thing/adding a new division it's all turning into a massive mess isn't it. Obviously re-structuring is never easy (remember how crazy the creation of the Conference North and South were?) but this is painful to watch and will probably get worse (there's talk of Fleet struggling to stay alive now)

 

[Pink Panther]

Yes FC Romania!

As for this split thing/adding a new division it's all turning into a massive mess isn't it. Obviously re-structuring is never easy (remember how crazy the creation of the Conference North and South were?) but this is painful to watch and will probably get worse (there's talk of Fleet struggling to stay alive now)

It appears to have created a lot more travelling for some clubs close to the main conurbations in return for giving those in the far flung rural and coastal areas a bit less. And with more divisions there will be more clubs on the edge of one division or another worrying about getting shifted next year.

D1N is now basically an Essex superleague, with a few Suffolk clubs making up the numbers. D1S now consists entirely of Kent and Sussex clubs except for Whyteleafe, which is almost in Kent, and Guernsey, which for the purpose of allocating them to a division is based at Gatwick Airport. The new Central Division to which Tooting have just been relegated just reads like a random list of commuter towns and suburbs from the western half of the Home Counties and Greater London.

 

[Paddy]

Don't laugh or faint, but I've actually seen some Met Police fans.

If they were dressed like this they don't count

 

[Lurchin Urchin]

As Jared says, that's a bad blow for Fleet. They struggle as it is, even without all that extra travelling. Not sure where their players reside but no doubt a large number are based Eastwards.

Anyway, on a more selfish note, we've now signed Lewwis Spence, ex-Thurrock. (Was gonna say signed from Thurrock but I guess that doesn't make sense.)

Splendid news. At this rate we may stay up for once.

 

[Paddy]

Defender Ugo Udoji joins K's from Eastbourne Borough.

Another player who featured for Staines Town last season essentially giving us a half ex-Swans, half ex-Ricay line up.

 

[Raymondo316]

We're being linked with Mohamed Bettamer from Staines.

Anyone got an opinion on him??

 

[Paddy]

We're being linked with Mohamed Bettamer from Staines.

Anyone got an opinion on him??

Played in the recent ConIFA World Football Cup for Barawa & was the reason the Ellan Vannin (Isle of Man) side withdrew from the competition. That's all I know of him. Staines were pretty decent last year so I'd imagine he's a good buy.

http://www.conifa.org/en/2018/06/04/conifa-statement-regarding-barawa-and-ellan-vannin/

 

[Ian_Wrexham]

Haringey have signed Chinedu McKenzie (was at Maidenhead last season but loaned out all over including Haringey), Jon Nouble (was at Thurrock last season) and Femi Akinwande (was at Concord last season after his release by Colchester to replace last season's top-scorer Ralston Gabriel.

 

[Seventyseven]

Haringey have signed Chinedu McKenzie (was at Maidenhead last season but loaned out all over including Haringey), Jon Nouble (was at Thurrock last season) and Femi Akinwande (was at Concord last season after his release by Colchester to replace last season's top-scorer Ralston Gabriel.

He had promised to sign for Tonbridge but pulled out at the last minute for 'personal reasons'.... I guess the lure of Haringey's huge crowds swung it for him.

 

[Pink Panther]

He had promised to sign for Tonbridge but pulled out at the last minute for 'personal reasons'.... I guess the lure of Haringey's huge crowds swung it for him.

Haringey's crowds have been growing steadily from a small starting point and they've now been promoted twice in the space of 3 or 4 seasons. There's a massive niche market for semi-pro football in Inner London these days if grounds are close enough to community hubs and transport links.

 

[rudebwoyben]

Haringey's crowds have been growing steadily from a small starting point and they've now been promoted twice in the space of 3 or 4 seasons. There's a massive niche market for semi-pro football in Inner London these days if grounds are close enough to community hubs and transport links.

Yeah Clapton can't have it all to themselves!

 

[Red Deserato]

Worthing have signed Strikers Ollie Pearce and Callum Kealy. Opinions on the two strikers and are they good enough for this level?

https://worthingfc.com/2018/06/26/worthing-sign-strike-duo/

 

[Pink Panther]

Worthing have signed Strikers Ollie Pearce and Callum Kealy. Opinions on the two strikers and are they good enough for this level?

https://worthingfc.com/2018/06/26/worthing-sign-strike-duo/

Pearce was a regular in a very good Bognor side that were Premier Division runners-up twice in a row and scored the decisive goal in the play-off final when they were promoted, so he looks like a great addition.

 

[Paddy]

Heard through the grapevine that the step 3 playoffs are a bastardisation involving random inter-divisional games. Anyone else heard that? Not seen it on an official source though.

 

[Ian_Wrexham]

Heard through the grapevine that the step 3 playoffs are a bastardisation involving random inter-divisional games. Anyone else heard that? Not seen it on an official source though.

Yeah, bring on the Super Playoffs.

https://www.thenonleaguefootballpap...he-new-step-3-and-4-play-off-structure-works/

 

[Pink Panther]

Heard through the grapevine that the step 3 playoffs are a bastardisation involving random inter-divisional games. Anyone else heard that? Not seen it on an official source though.

Yeah, bring on the Super Playoffs.

https://www.thenonleaguefootballpap...he-new-step-3-and-4-play-off-structure-works/

It's a joke. I've just seen Dulwich promoted as play-off winners following a string of near misses. It was a great day for the club. Under the new system our victory over Hendon would only have earned us another play-off against Slough.

There's only a 1 in 8 chance of winning the play-offs instead of a 1 in 4 chance. There should be a fourth club relegated from National North & South so two teams can go up from every division below.

 

[Ian_Wrexham]

It's a joke. I've just seen Dulwich promoted as play-off winners following a string of near misses. It was a great day for the club. Under the new system our victory over Hendon would only have earned us another play-off against Slough.

There's only a 1 in 8 chance of winning the play-offs instead of a 1 in 4 chance. There should be a fourth club relegated from National North & South so two teams can go up from every division below.

IMO, they should have the super playoff, then have a playoff between the super playoff loser and the fourth from bottom team in the National North/South.

 

[Paddy]

IMO, they should have the super playoff, then have a playoff between the super playoff loser and the fourth from bottom team in the National North/South.

& then a grand final winner takes all challenge match best of 5 series against the FA Trophy winners with multiball in the 5th game if the series is tied at this point.

 

[Red Deserato]

Pearce was a regular in a very good Bognor side that were Premier Division runners-up twice in a row and scored the decisive goal in the play-off final when they were promoted, so he looks like a great addition.

That's a good sign. hopefully he'll do the business in worthing