2019/20 National League North

[Darlo On Tour]

Can we even scrape together 11 players for tonight?

The injury situation is ridiculous and Basombe and Donowa are away on international duty.

Another one for the treatment room. Atkinson limped off tonight, on the bright side Blyth are heading for the trap door they we're dreadful.

 

[Soup Ladle]

Another one for the treatment room. Atkinson limped off tonight, on the bright side Blyth are heading for the trap door they we're dreadful.

So they stripped back their budget then thought it was a good idea to appoint Lee Clark? Only themselves to blame.

 

[Quakerz]

So they stripped back their budget then thought it was a good idea to appoint Lee Clark? Only themselves to blame.

How did Lee Clark have a 43 match unbeaten run at Huddersfield? Surely he must have had something about him?

 

[Quakerz]

Another one for the treatment room. Atkinson limped off tonight, on the bright side Blyth are heading for the trap door they we're dreadful.

Blyth along with Kettering IMO are not of the standard required for this league. Not sure why it's a good thing that Blyth look doomed to relegation though?

 

[Quakerz]

1300 will if you make good use of the loan market and go with the smallest squad size possible. We managed to get by like this in the Conference while our finances were on the mend. However it leaves next to no money left over for ground maintenance etc so wouldn't advise it as a long term solution.

Think you're being a bit deluded there. It's impossible to raise a budget of more than 250-300k on those gates, and although your budget was small, I bet it wasn't that small? Maybe you were charging £20 in?

 

[Soup Ladle]

How did Lee Clark have a 43 match unbeaten run at Huddersfield?

 

[Blue Lion]

Think you're being a bit deluded there. It's impossible to raise a budget of more than 250-300k on those gates, and although your budget was small, I bet it wasn't that small? Maybe you were charging £20 in?

The budget doesn't come from gate receipts alone. But a big factor is certainly being in the division above this one. From there you can get better money from player sales and it's easier to go on a good cup run. I think our admission was £18 seating and £15 standing at the time so slightly higher than you get at this level, plus in the NL there are two more teams to play. Admittedly we ran with a skeleton staff both on and off the pitch and neglected investing in the ground or youth teams or anything like that. So yeah, we just about managed to support a £350k-ish budget for a few seasons, but I agree that in this division it wouldn't last without some serious backing.

 

[Quakerz]

The budget doesn't come from gate receipts alone. But a big factor is certainly being in the division above this one. From there you can get better money from player sales and it's easier to go on a good cup run. I think our admission was £18 seating and £15 standing at the time so slightly higher than you get at this level, plus in the NL there are two more teams to play. Admittedly we ran with a skeleton staff both on and off the pitch and neglected investing in the ground or youth teams or anything like that. So yeah, we just about managed to support a £350k-ish budget for a few seasons, but I agree that in this division it wouldn't last without some serious backing.

Well if you really did not only get by, but get promoted on 350k then that is a phenomenal achievement, but didn't you then end up skint in L2 despite all of the extra league money? How did that happen?

 

[Blue Lion]

Well if you really did not only get by, but get promoted on 350k then that is a phenomenal achievement, but didn't you then end up skint in L2 despite all of the extra league money? How did that happen?

Yep we fluked the promotion in truth, taking advantage of a weak league that season, however to be fair I think the budget had increased a bit by then thanks to a 'boost the budget' campaign and some generous local sponsors.

Then in League 2 we ridiculously overspent in order to avoid relegation and ended up with a 32 man squad for half the season. And with no financial backer to bail us out we failed to pay the wages on time. Infuriating to see years of trying to stabilise our finances ruined in a single transfer window but at least all the negative publicity we got from it will make the club think more carefully next time before spending money we don't have, even if that means taking a relegation at some point.

 

[Luke Imp]

The 1300+ they got last night was more than than half a dozen National sides are pulling in.

But those 6 NL sides probably aren't FT (I haven't checked).

Not sure where that 1,300+ has come from because they hardly ever seemed to get above the 500-700 home fans mark.

 

[Quakerz]

But those 6 NL sides probably aren't FT (I haven't checked).

Not sure where that 1,300+ has come from because they hardly ever seemed to get above the 500-700 home fans mark.

Adam Campbell progress report just for you - 4 goals in 9. Hardly prolific but at the same time on course to break the magic 10 barrier.

 

[DarkSithLord]

Didnt make the trip to Kings Lynn on Tuesday night.

Apparently Kings Lynn were much the better side for large periods and we werent at our best but battled well. Almost grabbing a point against 10 men had we not got caught on the break.
Dissapointing to hear Amari Morgan Smith was racially abused. Hope the guilty party have the book thrown at them.

Time to dust ourselves down and go again. Big game coming up on Saturday v Curzon. A team we have lost a lot of points to over the last few seasons.

 

[Quakerz]

Are King's Lynn another massively bankrolled outfit, like yourselves DSL?

They must be I reckon, heard they have ambitions to make the league.

 

[Luke Imp]

Adam Campbell progress report just for you - 4 goals in 9. Hardly prolific but at the same time on course to break the magic 10 barrier.

Who's Adam Campbell?

 

[DarkSithLord]

Are King's Lynn another massively bankrolled outfit, like yourselves DSL?

They must be I reckon, heard they have ambitions to make the league.

No idea to be honest.

Ben Hedley who you have signed from Bradford PA was awful against us. Scored a OG and underhit a backpass. Awful

 

[Harrier94]

Didnt make the trip to Kings Lynn on Tuesday night.

Apparently Kings Lynn were much the better side for large periods and we werent at our best but battled well. Almost grabbing a point against 10 men had we not got caught on the break.
Dissapointing to hear Amari Morgan Smith was racially abused. Hope the guilty party have the book thrown at them.

Time to dust ourselves down and go again. Big game coming up on Saturday v Curzon. A team we have lost a lot of points to over the last few seasons.

Sad to hear AMS bring racially abused again. Remember he was abused here by 1 idiot Alfreton "fan" who was kicked out of Aggborough a few years ago. Like you said how the individual or individuals get the book thrown at them

 

[GuiseleySteve]

Time to dust ourselves down and go again. Big game coming up on Saturday v Curzon. A team we have lost a lot of points to over the last few seasons.

My experience of Curzon this season - they like to try and bully the opposition with their physicality but whenever they fail to do that and the opposition win the ball they immediately throw themselves on the floor and scream like school girls.
No time for those antics. Ref worked them out eventually but gave them lots of free kicks early on until he worked them out.

 

[Quakerz]

Who's Adam Campbell?

Might have got you mixed up with another Lincoln supporter who said Adam Campbell won't get 10 goals this season. Maybe it was Godsgift, I dunno I can't remember.

 

[Quakerz]

No idea to be honest.

Ben Hedley who you have signed from Bradford PA was awful against us. Scored a OG and underhit a backpass. Awful

Yes but the kudos of playing for a club such as Darlington rather than BPA will inspire him to play much better.

 

[GodsGift]

Might have got you mixed up with another Lincoln supporter who said Adam Campbell won't get 10 goals this season. Maybe it was Godsgift, I dunno I can't remember.

Yes, it was me. Thanks for the update, I did notice he scored the other night and was intrigued to see how he was getting on this season, so thanks for saving me the bother.

 

[Swedes]

Yes but the kudos of playing for a club such as Darlington rather than BPA will inspire him to play much better.

Both reformed Football League clubs playing in the 6th tier who play at grounds not meant for football. I'm not sure there's that much difference to be fair!

 

[Harrier94]

We play Blyth tomorrow, their only point coming from BPA.... Incoming 1-0 win for Blyth.

 

[GuiseleySteve]

We play Blyth tomorrow, their only point coming from BPA.... Incoming 1-0 win for Blyth.

Decent attack, not much else

 

[Quakerz]

Both reformed Football League clubs playing in the 6th tier who play at grounds not meant for football. I'm not sure there's that much difference to be fair!

1 We are not reformed, we are the same club.

2 Our ground is meant for football (though barely) because we have made it so.

 

[GuiseleySteve]

Away at Chester today, I can only hope that as a spectacle it comes close to Tuesdays game against York which was superb.

 

[Bluandwite]

Comfortably done, could have been more really. Hit the post, had one off the line and numerous more chances.

Great to see Scott Burton finally coming good, just hasn’t worked out for him up to now but looks to have turned a corner. Brad Jackson causing havoc again as well. Without Livesey today and Kevin Roberts limped off early so debuts for Jones and Morgan, was a bit nervous about how they would do but both were good.

Disappointed with Guiseley, expected more from them. Didn’t look up to much at all, perhaps just an off day.

 

[GuiseleySteve]

Comfortably done, could have been more really. Hit the post, had one off the line and numerous more chances.

Great to see Scott Burton finally coming good, just hasn’t worked out for him up to now but looks to have turned a corner. Brad Jackson causing havoc again as well. Without Livesey today and Kevin Roberts limped off early so debuts for Jones and Morgan, was a bit nervous about how they would do but both were good.

Disappointed with Guiseley, expected more from them. Didn’t look up to much at all, perhaps just an off day.

I wasn't there today but listening to Guiseley Radio they thought we were way under par today and not playing our usual high pressing game. Perhaps the York game sapped too much as it was 90mph the whole game.
Today was also the first for the keeper as up to now we have been playing a loanee from Bradford City whose now returned to them.
A very young team so we expect some hiccups along the way and they've done themselves proud so far.
Russ O'Neil said Chester looked excellent against Curzon so maybe this is your year?

Edit: I've just read that our left winger Arram Soleman was out ill today so that was a big loss. He's a great feed for Martin.

 

[DarkSithLord]

Alfreton 3-2 Curzon Ashton

Amari Morgan Smith has been an absolute revelation. A brilliant treble with a missed pen and its 10 goals in 10 games now. Only Aaron Martin of Guiseley (11) has more.
Curzon never got a chance to impress their physical approach. We completely dominated for 85 minutes. Then a complete ridiculous sending off for Danny Clarke for a harsh handball at close quarters which even the accessor said was not a second yellow gave them a sniff. Another in the final minute of added time made the scoreline flatter Curzon. Very similar to Tuesday night but with the roles reversed.


Well Ten games in and couldnt have asked for a better start. Morgan Smith has been magnificent. Defensively we look solid. Only concern is our squad is thin (could only name 4 subs today) Although Billy did hint at reinforcements this week.

 

[DarkSithLord]

Seems Spennymoor arent the force they were. Whats happened there?

 

[GuiseleySteve]

Seems Spennymoor arent the force they were. Whats happened there?

When we played them they just didn't work hard enough to compete.