Coronavirus

[B2TF]

I can't believe that the are some on here are questioning Barrow's right to be promoted.

I can see why some are arguing in favour but i can see why others don't agree too- 10 games still to go, they're only 4 ahead and let's remember they came somewhat late to the party too, it's not as though they were top from day one (remind me who that was, somebody....)

 

[B2TF]

The deck chairs likeness is very apt for the EFL and National, fannying around with regional restructuring is like bolting the stable door....

These Leagues need a salary cap first and foremost so clubs have a constant and sound financial footing as well as ensuring tin pot benefactors are not able to finish clubs when they lose interest. So too setting clubs grounds and facilities as ring fenced as part of their Stake in the League competition.

Potentially also mandatory positions on Boards to have fan representation, potentially using a membership model in order to raise funds post Covid restart.
Reet dreamer I am.

Shut up. You're Harrogate, nobody cares.

 

[Camborne Gills]

Are you telling me Dover, in their lonely isolation on the South Coast, wouldn't benefit from dropping the most Northerly clubs from their fixture list in exchange for more local matches. There's one thing i can tell you about Dover from a Yorkshire perspective- there's NOBODY licking their lips in eager anticipation and asking when are we playing DOVER. Meanwhile York, Chester, Stockport, Notts, Chesterfield, home AND away, are all games we look forward to...........

Dover is in France isn't it?

 

[chief]

Dover is in France isn't it?

They'd probably finish 2nd in their top league behind PSG.

 

[Soup Ladle]

Dover is in France isn't it?

And Gillingham isn't?

 

[Aberstone]

I don’t know how serious you are about this but these teams can’t be forced to move to the LOW. Merthyr also play in the English system.

If anything, bring those clubs back into the English pyramid. I'd quite like a return trip to Aberystwyth in the FA Trophy for example.

 

[AdamStag]

And Gillingham isn't?

They’re both grim as fuck.

Canterbury’s the place to go

 

[rudebwoyben]

If anything, bring those clubs back into the English pyramid. I'd quite like a return trip to Aberystwyth in the FA Trophy for example.

We almost got to play at Gretna in the FA Trophy in the 1980s but we managed to squeeze past them 1-0 at Underhill.
We played Bangor City in the early days of the Alliance Premier League and Merthyr between 1989-1991 but I don’t know if we met any other Welsh clubs in non-League (apart from the obvious)

 

[Optipez]

Actually travelling is fairly cheap these days and not a massive part of a budget, unless of course your doing the overnight thing.

We've been putting up a 25 man travelling party in 4 star hotels for long trips this season. Travel is a major expense, not sure why others think it isn't.
I don't mind a long day out, been to Ebbsfleet, Barrow and Dover this season but it's our first season down here. Not sure I'd be in a rush to go to Dover again unless it was a crunch match, nothing against Dover, went for a drink in the rugby club, very friendly and the ground is ok too but I'm happier going to the northern grounds for the most part.
We've had some decent sized teams come to us but if it's a long trek and you're out of form there's some very low travelling numbers especially midweek fixtures. So for all the talk about not wanting regional football, the footfall says fans don't travel in such large numbers to the furthest matches.

 

[Monkey Tennis]

We've been putting up a 25 man travelling party in 4 star hotels for long trips this season. Travel is a major expense, not sure why others think it isn't.
I don't mind a long day out, been to Ebbsfleet, Barrow and Dover this season but it's our first season down here. Not sure I'd be in a rush to go to Dover again unless it was a crunch match, nothing against Dover, went for a drink in the rugby club, very friendly and the ground is ok too but I'm happier going to the northern grounds for the most part.
We've had some decent sized teams come to us but if it's a long trek and you're out of form there's some very low travelling numbers especially midweek fixtures. So for all the talk about not wanting regional football, the footfall says fans don't travel in such large numbers to the furthest matches.

Your solution is to take 11 or 12 games against similar sized clubs and replace them with smaller clubs - why would any Football League team vote for that?

EDIT: Why not go down to 3 star hotels then to save a few quid...

 

[Camborne Gills]

And Gillingham isn't?

You think it's on the Cote du Medway?

 

[Camborne Gills]

They’re both grim as fuck.

Canterbury’s the place to go

Says someone from an 'obscure East Midlands coal mining village'

 

[JaredSUFC]

If anything, bring those clubs back into the English pyramid. I'd quite like a return trip to Aberystwyth in the FA Trophy for example.

As a resident of South Wales, I wouldn’t be against the idea of more Welsh teams playing English teams. I’m still waiting for my dream game of Swansea v Sutton

 

[AdamStag]

Says someone from an 'obscure East Midlands coal mining village'

Nice attempt at a deflection. That doesn’t detract from the truth of what I’ve said. And yeah Mansfield is also grim, which is why I don’t live there!

Least Dover has the sea!

 

[Camborne Gills]

There may possibly be a grain of truth in your argument.

Fwiw, i can see the sea from my house (just)

 

[rudebwoyben]

I also think regionalisation could also be used as a Trojan Horse to introduce Premier League B teams into the League system.

 

[chipmunx]

They’re both grim as fuck.

Canterbury’s the place to go

As that's where i went to University (1986-1989) i can say you're correct.

 

[TrinidadsNumberOne]

I also think regionalisation could also be used as a Trojan Horse to introduce Premier League B teams into the League system.

Yep. Just wait till a lot of non league clubs fail EFL ground standards and instead of replacing from below, in come the B teams...

Regionalisation won't happen, but it really is turkeys voting for Christmas if it did.

 

[BarraMatt]

If B teams were introduced denying places to community football clubs at this level it could well lead to many giving up on Football.

 

[B2TF]

Your solution is to take 11 or 12 games against similar sized clubs and replace them with smaller clubs - why would any Football League team vote for that?
.

That's not what he's talking about. It's about a redistribution of the clubs- there are similar sized clubs round and about but they're busy playing half their season against a DIFFERENT set of Southern clubs.

Also, If you're serious about competing, you HAVE to be professional- this DOES mean staying over and preparing properly for the longer away trips. Our club recently explained that there are 10 or so away trips that cost £3000 to £5000 a time to put up a match squad overnight and bring them home the next day. That is money that:

a) is leaving the game
b) a club like ours can ill afford and could be more productively spent elsewhere
c) has no good reason why it should be necessary to be spent, at all

 

[AdamStag]

If B teams were introduced denying places to community football clubs at this level it could well lead to many giving up on Football.

I think it would be the beginning of the end for a lot of clubs.

It’s why in the EFL club where there’s B teams fans stay away in droves and purposely take the piss by playing their own kids etc etc.

B teams should be vehemently opposed at every opportunity.

 

[B2TF]

I also think regionalisation could also be used as a Trojan Horse to introduce Premier League B teams into the League system.

Project Fear never ends, does it. Did you vote to Remain by any chance?

 

[#Beebot]

Project Fear never ends, does it. Did you vote to Remain by any chance?

I think you're underestimating how powerful the Premier League is, how vast their resources are, and the lengths they are prepared to go to get their own way. Just look at EPPP which was basically blackmail.

They have already gone much further than I thought they would in forcing B teams into the EFL Trophy. Playing three extra midweek games with fines for not playing youngsters is a big ask for EFL clubs, but the Premier League were happy to stuff their mouths with gold for doing so, when I don't even think that 3 extra games for their youngsters offers that much benefit.

A full league season for their U23s offers far more benefit. It's a real danger and I don't think people realise how little they care about lower league football. I'm not saying it will happen but there's no doubt they want it and when they really want something, they have the resources to get it.

 

[Luke Imp]

The U23 thing in the Trophy was also blackmail - they threatened to withdraw the funding for the £20k(?) involvement fee for as I recall.

 

[rudebwoyben]

Project Fear never ends, does it. Did you vote to Remain by any chance?

Still waiting for the glorious bright new future I see.
Actually, I shouldn’t be surprised that you’re a Tory seeing that footballwise you believe in an immutable natural order that must not ever be altered and which is based on a subjective idea of tradition rather than any sort of merit.
You also appear to be oblivious to the fact that the top clubs have used their muscle to rig the field in their favour and get their own way in the last 30 years.

 

[Railway Blue]

They’re both grim as fuck.

Canterbury’s the place to go

I love Canterbury. Trouble is my B & B has been sold to a Muslim and there's no Full English anymore.

 

[AdamStag]

The U23 thing in the Trophy was also blackmail - they threatened to withdraw the funding for the £20k(?) involvement fee for as I recall.

That’s the issue, plus some where wooed (don’t know why) by winning £10k a game, but given that no-one turned up to the games in the first place that money just covered the losses.

 

[MrGloverLover]

7 years ago today I was at Wembley watching us being promoted to The Championship. Today we're 4th in the National League and have no idea what the chuff is going to happen next. How times change.

 

[Monkey Tennis]

Fucking Brighton, faking positive test results to avoid playing football.

 

[EnglishRed]

I love Canterbury. Trouble is my B & B has been sold to a Muslim and there's no Full English anymore.

Wow