2019-20 National League South

[joethegill]

There's a reason the EFL wont allow it, Clubs outside the league cannot dictate to a competition they want to join about anything. 3G is shit, always has been, whatever variation you have its just a shiny, slippery shitshow

We've got two players who don't play on it at all due to knee injuries

I tore my ACL on a grass pitch, does that mean that the pitch was to blame? Horrible, bobbly surfaces will cause far more injuries than a smoother (albeit slicker) surface.

The EFL as an organisation make terrible decisions on behalf of their members all the time - not that I'm suggesting 3G is one of them necessarily. Plus, asking a league to review their rulebook isn't quite the same as dictating to them. It's a fair question to ask, and the fact that it's allowed in non-league means that it's a perfectly reasonable thing to suggest that the EFL might well be of the same mindset one day.

 

[#Beebot]

I don't want to go all Daily Mail here but the links between rubber 3G and cancer need a lot more investigation.

You can use cork as infill instead which apparently is a lot safer but very rarely used as it is costlier.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artificial_turf–cancer_hypothesis

 

[Farleigh]

This is from a few years ago so things have likely changed, but the plan for the town end is a 2 tier stand

Looking around yesterday, something occurred to me. If the stadium is ever completed, the four stands will not just be different sizes, but perhaps uniquely for a modern stadium, will be four completely different styles to each other. It won't be a dull identikit design.

 

[Aberstone]

Back to winning ways, this sounds ridiculous (despite being 6 points clear) but that was desperately needed after going 5 weeks without a win. I've got to give credit to Concord, that was a really entertaining fixture with both sides trying to "play football". Michael Phillips' goal in stoppage time to put us 3 up is special - sorry again Raymondo316

The crowd before 3pm was a total shambles, I was wondering where everybody was. Thankfully it filled out and we had a few squadies from RAF Northolt to generate a really good atmosphere for the second half. That was the best singing from the Bulla in a long while.

Onto Bath, the last away game before christmas which means a mass away turnout.

Edit: Northy getting dropped is all the range on Stonesnet and Twitter, the bloke's a club legend and is absolutely deserving of a testimonial next summer. I get the feeling he's done at the club but it's a ruthless business, he's been unfairly compared to a guy who's going to inevitably play in the pro game in Aston Oxborough (and he's going far). Now Harry Isted has come in and he's really highly rated - correct me if I'm wrong That Fat Centre Half

 

[Pinner Stones]

Back to winning ways, this sounds ridiculous (despite being 6 points clear) but that was desperately needed after going 5 weeks without a win. I've got to give credit to Concord, that was a really entertaining fixture with both sides trying to "play football". Michael Phillips' goal in stoppage time to put us 3 up is special - sorry again Raymondo316

The crowd before 3pm was a total shambles, I was wondering where everybody was. Thankfully it filled out and we had a few squadies from RAF Northolt to generate a really good atmosphere for the second half. That was the best singing from the Bulla in a long while.

Onto Bath, the last away game before christmas which means a mass away turnout.

Edit: Northy getting dropped is all the range on Stonesnet and Twitter, the bloke's a club legend and is absolutely deserving of a testimonial next summer. I get the feeling he's done at the club but it's a ruthless business, he's been unfairly compared to a guy who's going to inevitably play in the pro game in Aston Oxborough (and he's going far). Now Harry Isted has come in and he's really highly rated - correct me if I'm wrong That Fat Centre Half

not sure it’s going to be the mass turnout we normally have Down there. Couch struggling for numbers and quite a few regulars not going due to usual Xmas excuses.

 

[iron4ever]

Having a poor run ATM but with ex manager George Borg returning to assist player/manager Jake Hutchings l fully expect us to up our performance v Slough on Saturday.

 

[DarkSithLord]

Jake Hutchings has stood down at Braintree as player manager. Borg now in charge

 

[Raymondo316]

Back to winning ways, this sounds ridiculous (despite being 6 points clear) but that was desperately needed after going 5 weeks without a win. I've got to give credit to Concord, that was a really entertaining fixture with both sides trying to "play football". Michael Phillips' goal in stoppage time to put us 3 up is special - sorry again Raymondo316

Still annoys me that he offered to take a pay cut to re-sign & we turned him down

Other than Saidou Khan (looks a great find) & Dan Wishart, our midfield has been chopped & changed so much because no one is consistent enough. Our latest random signing is a 20 year old Turkish Cypriot midfielder who was last playing for Göztepe in Turkey.

I really wonder where John Still finds some of these players.

 

[#Beebot]

Still annoys me that he offered to take a pay cut to re-sign & we turned him down

Other than Saidou Khan (looks a great find) & Dan Wishart, our midfield has been chopped & changed so much because no one is consistent enough. Our latest random signing is a 20 year old Turkish Cypriot midfielder who was last playing for Göztepe in Turkey.

I really wonder where John Still finds some of these players.

I have no idea why he signed up three of our ex-academy players, none of whom showed much while they were here.

At least he's left enough slack in the budget to make signings, which he didn't do here!

 

[Raymondo316]

I have no idea why he signed up three of our ex-academy players, none of whom showed much while they were here.

At least he's left enough slack in the budget to make signings, which he didn't do here!

Nana Kyei, Iffy Allen and Justin Amaluzor??

 

[Aberstone]

2-0 win against Eastbourne this evening, so glad to finally beat them at the Vale after all the shithousing that they've performed here over the years. As already referenced on Twitter, a very Jekyll and Hyde performance with some excellent flowing football in the first half (and two goals to boot) but the second half just lacked any tempo.

I'm not going to complain, 44 points from 19 games is an incredible return.

 

[#Beebot]

Nana Kyei, Iffy Allen and Justin Amaluzor??

Yep. None of them looked up to scratch here.

 

[DarkSithLord]

Former Wealdstone manager Bobby Wilkinson has taken the job at Bracknell Town FC

 

[chipmunx]

2-0 win against Eastbourne this evening, so glad to finally beat them at the Vale after all the shithousing that they've performed here over the years. As already referenced on Twitter, a very Jekyll and Hyde performance with some excellent flowing football in the first half (and two goals to boot) but the second half just lacked any tempo.

I'm not going to complain, 44 points from 19 games is an incredible return.

It would be nice to see Wealdstone back if they are a passing side now. I remember their team of the early 1980's... lets just say Stuart Pierce was probably one of the softer players in the side back then...

 

[#Beebot]

Former Wealdstone manager Bobby Wilkinson has taken the job at Bracknell Town FC

They are pretty heavily bankrolled and probably have the highest budget in their division by some distance. Have massively underperformed this season. Wilkinson's experience and contacts should push them up the table.

 

[Aberstone]

Former Wealdstone manager Bobby Wilkinson has taken the job at Bracknell Town FC

I wish Bobby well. I know he antagonised some of our support base (probably due to success being against our budget) but he did get us to a Trophy semi-final back in 2017-18 and minutes away from a promotion play-off final last season. Yes his cliches and 110% comments did grow tiresome but I think he wanted best for the club and some of the signings for the club back in 2018 were mustard, Godfrey Poku in particular.

It would be nice to see Wealdstone back if they are a passing side now. I remember their team of the early 1980's... lets just say Stuart Pierce was probably one of the softer players in the side back then...

I hope it happens, I want all the trips up north knowing it would only be for a season (unless things changed drastically). Ourselves, Bath and Weymouth in particular are really technical, passing sides in the south. The game at Weymouth I've posted earlier in the thread but that was honestly the best Wealdstone game I've ever seen (for atmosphere, ability and the result).

Stuart Pearce, Vinnie Jones and the '85 double are before my time sadly but I just want us to get back to that level.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Back to winning ways, this sounds ridiculous (despite being 6 points clear) but that was desperately needed after going 5 weeks without a win. I've got to give credit to Concord, that was a really entertaining fixture with both sides trying to "play football". Michael Phillips' goal in stoppage time to put us 3 up is special - sorry again Raymondo316

The crowd before 3pm was a total shambles, I was wondering where everybody was. Thankfully it filled out and we had a few squadies from RAF Northolt to generate a really good atmosphere for the second half. That was the best singing from the Bulla in a long while.

Onto Bath, the last away game before christmas which means a mass away turnout.

Edit: Northy getting dropped is all the range on Stonesnet and Twitter, the bloke's a club legend and is absolutely deserving of a testimonial next summer. I get the feeling he's done at the club but it's a ruthless business, he's been unfairly compared to a guy who's going to inevitably play in the pro game in Aston Oxborough (and he's going far). Now Harry Isted has come in and he's really highly rated - correct me if I'm wrong That Fat Centre Half

Apologies Aberstone been MIA for a little while. How has Isted been for you? You’re right he is well thought of, and with the keeping situation at the club, you get the feeling he might not be too far off appearing somewhere along the line.

 

[Aberstone]

Apologies Aberstone been MIA for a little while. How has Isted been for you? You’re right he is well thought of, and with the keeping situation at the club, you get the feeling he might not be too far off appearing somewhere along the line.

3 clean sheets in 3 games with us, including a really important one-on-one stop against Eastbourne last Tuesday. He's been excellent so far and I believe we have him for another 4 league games (ending against Slough on NYD).

 

[Aberstone]

Glad I went down to Ruislip tonight to attend the fans forum, good to get clarity on a couple of points and ideas for how we want to progress moving forward.

One thing I do regret not mentioning was having far better engagement with the youth side of the club given we supposedly want to be getting 1,200-1,500 through the gates. There were four under-13s there tonight and they asked 75% of the questions so clearly have a passion for the club, three of them play for Wealdstone Youth so there's the quick hit, get marketing to the parents of the kids who play for the youth teams and encourage them down to the Vale on matchdays.

Edit: Chippenham fans thinking Ryan Case is a good signing is hilarious, one of the worst players I've seen in a Wealdstone shirt (at all levels).

Hemel getting Freddie Grant on loan however is a better bit of business, can only assume Craig Braham-Barrett is injured...

 

[Aberstone]

He's not somebody I met in person but RIP Mishi Morath and I pass on my condolences to his family, friends and everybody involved at Dulwich Hamlet.

All of the non-league clubs and supporters who have commented since his passing speaks for the profound effect that he's had on non-league football and the wider football community.

 

[Aberstone]

Without us playing yesterday, that was a reasonably good Saturday with Havant, Weymouth and Hemel dropping points.

Boxing Day is huge, 2nd vs. 1st, we need to have an absolute shed load down there (should be 500+ minimum) to give the team our backing.

 

[Pink Panther]

Edit: Chippenham fans thinking Ryan Case is a good signing is hilarious, one of the worst players I've seen in a Wealdstone shirt (at all levels).

He seemed a strange signing for Dulwich in the summer. One of those utility players who appears equally mediocre in a variety of positions. We all need someone like that in our squad but he lives at Basingstoke and there must be countless similar players on our doorstep who could have dome the same job, especially as we were in a position to sttract a few better quality players this season. Incredibly, given our overall results, his four appearances for the club resulted in three wins and a draw. He fell out with the manager after failing to adhere to a fitness and recovery plan given to following a minor injury.

He's not somebody I met in person but RIP Mishi Morath and I pass on my condolences to his family, friends and everybody involved at Dulwich Hamlet.

All of the non-league clubs and supporters who have commented since his passing speaks for the profound effect that he's had on non-league football and the wider football community.

Mishi was the same age a me. I'd been loosely acquainted with him since the late 70's when each of us were schoolboys watching the Hamlet with our own mates. He became a friend around thirty years ago and I must have watched more matches with him than with anyone else. He could be totally infuriating at times, and if he took a dislike to someone he had an uncontrollable urge to tell them exactly what he thought of them, which could be both hilarious and embarrassing. Two things he certainly wasn't were dull or boring! We had a our differences occasionally but he was a very generous man, towards strangers as well as his many friends of whom I was grateful to be one.

 

[Pinner Stones]

Without us playing yesterday, that was a reasonably good Saturday with Havant, Weymouth and Hemel dropping points.

Boxing Day is huge, 2nd vs. 1st, we need to have an absolute shed load down there (should be 500+ minimum) to give the team our backing.

Boxing Day crowds - away support - is difficult to judge. Had it been a Saturday, then 500 was likely. Boxing Day I reckon no more than 250.

 

[Pinner Stones]

Mishi was a quintessentially unique non league football supporter. I first came across him through the fanzine world - don't think he was a great fan of ours - and to outsiders he was Mr Dulwich. There was the odd supporters' team tournament that we met at, but thinking about it now, I am not sure I ever actually spoke to him. My other editor of the fanzine knew him far better. He used to live in Camberwell and their politics were much more aligned.

Mishi was incredibly magnanimous when we won the play off final. I reckon I would have been bitter for years, but he mentioned it quite often in articles on how our supporters behaved that night and how his view on us had changed from that night.

I also remember when Dulwich drew 2-2 at the Vale in our Ryman League championship season and there was a great camaraderie between both sets of supporters and he again wrote in a post match article, how much it meant to have Wealdstone supporters (an old school club) acknowledge what was happening at Dulwich as something that was good.

To me, as an outsider, that Mishi embraced, loved and was a central part of the new Dulwich, being a cantankerous old school Dulwich man, was validation of what was happening at Champion Hill.

I hooked up with him on Twitter and his tweets would have me chuckling away at times as well have concern for his health. He acknowledged how lucky he was with his first heart attack where it happened and then problems with his toe as well. You couldn't help but feel that postings of his unhealthy meals on twitter weren't a good sign post his initial attack. I am not sure he embraced healthy living as the doctors would have wished.

There is an overused work of legend in football where every Tom, Dick and Harry is labelled with it, but Mishi was one of Dulwich Hamlet. He was Dulwich Hamlet and non league football in general have lost a great champion. I am glad he got to see Hamlet in the first round for the first time and had his moment of fame on TV.

The out-pouring of messages for him is something I have never seen for a supporter of non-league football. RIP Mishi.

 

[Raymondo316]

Boxing Day crowds - away support - is difficult to judge. Had it been a Saturday, then 500 was likely. Boxing Day I reckon no more than 250.

Likewise with our game against Tonbridge tomorrow.

Any other day we would take loads to Tonbridge, yet with it being a boxing day game the lack of public transport & people having family commitments will lower the figure quite a bit.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Decided to go to the Wealdstone game tomorrow in abscence of any Luton or Hitchin match to attend (as well as desperately needing to get away from family who won’t leave!). Very impressed with the online ticketing system, far better than the Town have on offer!

I see they are absolutely flying at the moment but lost on Boxing Day to second in the league. Was this an expected promotion challenge this season or something of a surprise?

I see a sprinkling of ex (and even 1 current) Luton players could be making an appearance with Isted, Lafayette, Cotter in the Wealdstone ranks and Banton a regular at St Albans.

 

[Stoney Ground]

Decided to go to the Wealdstone game tomorrow in abscence of any Luton or Hitchin match to attend (as well as desperately needing to get away from family who won’t leave!). Very impressed with the online ticketing system, far better than the Town have on offer!

I see they are absolutely flying at the moment but lost on Boxing Day to second in the league. Was this an expected promotion challenge this season or something of a surprise?

I see a sprinkling of ex (and even 1 current) Luton players could be making an appearance with Isted, Lafayette, Cotter in the Wealdstone ranks and Banton a regular at St Albans.

Cotter hasn’t featured yet due to injury, he is currently on loan at Bedford. Ross is top scorer and us having a good season and Isted has kept 3 clean sheets since coming on loan and only let in his firs league goals on Boxing Day.

Hoped to be in playoff, but had a flying start need to keep pushing on.

 

[Aberstone]

Yesterday was pure frustration and for a team away at 2nd in the league, my god were we flat on the terraces (I did get two or three chants going) but as soon as we conceded the knives were out, I couldn't believe how fickle our supporters were.

DB's post-match interview was largely spot on, Slough put it more effort than us and we did look exposed at times at the back but for a good 20-25 minutes in that second half we had Slough on the back foot big time, Dennon Lewis I am adamant is never offside when through one-on-one and Slough's shithousery has to be applauded really, multiple head injuries and players rolling on the ground. This was topped off by their keeper Jack Turner rolling on the ground after Michee Efete had supposedly fouled him, Efete was booked and then Turner seemed to think all would be forgiven after saying "it wasn't even a foul", that however doesn't absolve a supporter spitting in his goalmouth which was disgraceful.

Decided to go to the Wealdstone game tomorrow in abscence of any Luton or Hitchin match to attend (as well as desperately needing to get away from family who won’t leave!). Very impressed with the online ticketing system, far better than the Town have on offer!

I see they are absolutely flying at the moment but lost on Boxing Day to second in the league. Was this an expected promotion challenge this season or something of a surprise?

I see a sprinkling of ex (and even 1 current) Luton players could be making an appearance with Isted, Lafayette, Cotter in the Wealdstone ranks and Banton a regular at St Albans.

I believe Frankie Musonda is on loan at St. Albans at the moment so 2 vs. 2 with the Luton connections tomorrow. Couple of things to add, if you're driving absolutely DO NOT park on the kerbs because Hillingdon Council's traffic enforcement officers know it's a goldmine and are on it like a flash. Second thing, the clubhouse is outside of the ground (similar to Top Field), the difference is that you can't bring your drink into the ground.

Hopefully you enjoy the Vale, it's truly one of a kind - the only ground in the country with a WWII gun turret within its perimeters and a total mismatch of seating and stands. Personally I'm hoping we can generate a decent atmosphere tomorrow in front of what should be a four figure crowd.

On this season, no I didn't expect this. The board have to take a lot of credit for the shrewd interviewing process and it's no hidden secret that manager Dean Brennan and assistant Stuart Maynard scout a ridiculous number of players on a weekly basis, their ethos over the summer was to recruit technical players who had performed poorly the season prior so could fit within our wage structure. Granted the football hasn't been as fluid recently but for that first month or two, we were unbelievable and that's put us in good stead for these tough winter months.

Edit: Zane Banton always seems to assist or score against us, so I'm calling that ahead of tomorrow.

 

[Super_horns]

St Albans seem to have picked up a couple of wins in recent weeks which has helped them.

A few new players and change in assistant too.

I presume you guys are ok for promotion if you win the league?

 

[Aberstone]

St Albans seem to have picked up a couple of wins in recent weeks which has helped them.

A few new players and change in assistant too.

I presume you guys are ok for promotion if you win the league?

It's their new assistant coming in which has coincided with their 6 match unbeaten run. There are a few ex-Hemel players within their ranks who would have worked under DB so will know our style of play and our likely tactical setup.

On us, we'll need to do a fair bit of work to get the ground up to scratch for the level above but the board do have it in hand - it's work on the changing rooms, a new toilet block plus a new set of turnstiles that I believe are required. The upgraded floodlights are going in shortly irrespective of promotion or not.