Ground Grading

[Silver Stone]

So I am guessing there are a lot of clubs in the National Premier who are way off having correct facilities for the football league? Seems a bit daft to get this close to the professional game and not have the correct facilities to progress

Not everyone in the league really wants to be a Football League club, there's a few who are happy to be at the pinnacle of the semi-pro game. The expenses of turning professional are too much for some. I know our board are mulling it over should we stay up.

Thanks Sliver Stone. I missed the post above. I'll be staying in a place called Harrietsham that week and will go to the Gallagher at the end of my stay. We have a larg-ish southern following and it's a new ground, so I would expect 200+ to make the journey.

Great, the more the better - as I said, apologies for the view and don't let it put you off for next season should we survive.

I'm guessing you know someone in Harrietsham? I used to live there and there's not an awful lot there, which is why I moved there in the first place but I digress.

 

[MJA]

Not everyone in the league really wants to be a Football League club, there's a few who are happy to be at the pinnacle of the semi-pro game. The expenses of turning professional are too much for some. I know our board are mulling it over should we stay up.

What's the point in existing then?
What if a club happy to sit in mid-table of the Premier are stopping an ambitious club from the North/South from progressing into the pro game?
If you ask me, any club unable to provide a plan and financial support to move into the EFL shouldn't be allowed beyond the level below the National Leagues

 

[Silver Stone]

What's the point in existing then?
What if a club happy to sit in mid-table of the Premier are stopping an ambitious club from the North/South from progressing into the pro game?
If you ask me, any club unable to provide a plan and financial support to move into the EFL shouldn't be allowed beyond the level below the National Leagues

I don't see the problem. If an ambitious club from the North/South was good enough to be in the National, they would be. Football in this country is a meritocracy and every club is where they should be. Should someone chuck millions into Port Vale in the hopes of getting them into the Champions' League despite pulling in crowds of 5-6 thousand a week?

 

[MJA]

I don't see the problem. If an ambitious club from the North/South was good enough to be in the National, they would be. Football in this country is a meritocracy and every club is where they should be. Should someone chuck millions into Port Vale in the hopes of getting them into the Champions' League despite pulling in crowds of 5-6 thousand a week?

I'm not talking about having a sugar daddy come in a splashing millions, I am talking about having a business plan to progress a club. Port Vale, if you wish to use these as an example, have the basic infrastructure (yes Vale Park is a little run down these days but could easily be rectified) in place to progress higher up the pyramid should we be wise enough to put a group of players together who are capable of doing this.

I've never known any club to just be happy where they are without wanting to progress but then I don't experience non-league much. If the thought process of clubs at this level is that they are happy to remain as glorified pub teams then they should be held back in the glorified pub leagues

 

[F Side Rat]

I answered this in the post above! If it does become all ticket you'll get around 250-300 though, which I'd imagine will be more than enough (Aldershot got 300 and are complaining it's not sufficient *shrug*).

Don't think they have sold out

 

[Sparrow]

In Woking's defence, these are not safety barriers, merely perimiter fences. Those Aldershot fans were in an area in front of the safety barriers (which are marked yellow), an area they are prohibited from entering unless they are walking to or from the terrace.
To point the finger at Woking over this is like saying a small perimiter fence failed to do it's job as someone got on the pitch. It's not what they are intended for.

That's a far too logical explanation that has been ignored by Aldershot fans many times.

 

[Silver Stone]

I'm not talking about having a sugar daddy come in a splashing millions, I am talking about having a business plan to progress a club. Port Vale, if you wish to use these as an example, have the basic infrastructure (yes Vale Park is a little run down these days but could easily be rectified) in place to progress higher up the pyramid should we be wise enough to put a group of players together who are capable of doing this.

I've never known any club to just be happy where they are without wanting to progress but then I don't experience non-league much. If the thought process of clubs at this level is that they are happy to remain as glorified pub teams then they should be held back in the glorified pub leagues

I don't mean to demean Vale, it was just an example of unrealistic expectations. The Conference is the border between pro and semi-pro, between the ambitious and the "as far as they can realistically go", and that's okay.

Don't think they have sold out

The way some talked it's as if we insulted them by the amount we gave them

 

[Spirederman]

I'm not talking about having a sugar daddy come in a splashing millions, I am talking about having a business plan to progress a club. Port Vale, if you wish to use these as an example, have the basic infrastructure (yes Vale Park is a little run down these days but could easily be rectified) in place to progress higher up the pyramid should we be wise enough to put a group of players together who are capable of doing this.

I've never known any club to just be happy where they are without wanting to progress but then I don't experience non-league much. If the thought process of clubs at this level is that they are happy to remain as glorified pub teams then they should be held back in the glorified pub leagues

Vale Park has the potential to be a PL stadium IMHO. Wembley of The North

 

[Spirederman]

I see Poole Town, the local club next to Bournemouth, are under pressure to improve their ground before the deadline or they'll be out of the National South (despite sitting 4th) and down to the Southern Premier. They've got planning permission for new 'terrace units' (?) and floodlights but they need to find 70k from somewhere imminently to pay for it.

Surely Mostyn and his Russian friend can stump up what is a drop in the ocean to them to help a local club?

 

[Spirederman]

Depends how you define always. Solihull Moors were formed about ten years ago via a merger between Solihull Borough and Moor Green.

Aye, I knew that LOTAL. I meant more along the lines of they've never been 'Motors' I know a few people that have thought they were called that though for whatever reason.

 

[Spirederman]

Just wanna say I'm enjoying my time in this part of the forum. You'll be seeing quite a bit more of me in here from now on. Always kept an eye on local non league clubs and you get good discussion in here with salt of the earth fans that don't involve themselves in too much cock waving.

 

[AFCB_Mark]

Surely Mostyn and his Russian friend can stump up what is a drop in the ocean to them to help a local club?

You'd think we'd do something at club level, especially considering PTFC's squad is made up of many ex Cherries youth who didn't quite make it plus usually a couple of teenage loanees at any particular time. It's pretty much in our interest for Poole to play at a good level. Instead it's fallen to us supporters working with Poole's to raise a few K amongst ourselves. Basically our club hierarchy live on cloud Premier League cuckoo land at the moment. Which given our own history of rattling buckets doesn't sit very well.

 

[Spirederman]

As much as I'd like to claim that I did cheat a little to answer the question - I just looked at the file name for the image and double checked with a quick google.

Ran in to this article for anyone who is interested in to how/why it exists surrounded by trains - https://peterrmiles.wordpress.com/2014/10/13/trainspotting/

Fantastic little article that. A shame IMO that the family have decided to relocate the carriages and all the rest of their fathers eccentric engine collection.Wonderful story though, and full of history. Jemfy

 

[Spirederman]

You'd think we'd do something at club level, especially considering PTFC's squad is made up of many ex Cherries youth who didn't quite make it plus usually a couple of teenage loanees at any particular time. It's pretty much in our interest for Poole to play at a good level. Instead it's fallen to us supporters working with Poole's to raise a few K amongst ourselves. Basically our club hierarchy live on cloud Premier League cuckoo land at the moment. Which given our own history of rattling buckets doesn't sit very well.

I can remember our fans going round with buckets for AFC when you were dying and throwing a fiver in for you. How time has changed things. Good that your fanbase isn't sitting back though Mark, really shouldn't be down to the fans though when as you say it's in Muffs interest to see Poole at a decent level.

The inaction from your hierarchy stinks tbh, that is no form a slur on your club though. AFCB will always hold a place in my heart due to the last game at Saltergate.

 

[yellow]

You'd think we'd do something at club level, especially considering PTFC's squad is made up of many ex Cherries youth who didn't quite make it plus usually a couple of teenage loanees at any particular time. It's pretty much in our interest for Poole to play at a good level. Instead it's fallen to us supporters working with Poole's to raise a few K amongst ourselves. Basically our club hierarchy live on cloud Premier League cuckoo land at the moment. Which given our own history of rattling buckets doesn't sit very well.

Yeh, we noticed that with the cheeky O'Kane deal you boys did with Leeds...

Also.. so if NFU and Solihull don't pull their finger out then they are immediately relegated? That seems incredibly stupid but typical of the Conference to allow them promotion in the first place...

Just wanna say I'm enjoying my time in this part of the forum. You'll be seeing quite a bit more of me in here from now on. Always kept an eye on local non league clubs and you get good discussion in here with salt of the earth fans that don't involve themselves in too much cock waving.

You haven't come across the FGR lot yet then..

 

[Spirederman]

Yeh, we noticed that with the cheeky O'Kane deal you boys did with Leeds...

Also.. so if NFU and Solihull don't pull their finger out then they are immediately relegated? That seems incredibly stupid but typical of the Conference to allow them promotion in the first place...



You haven't come across the FGR lot yet then..

Just Chris so far mate

 

[genesimmons]

Thing is ground gradeing seems to be in the spot light in non league but look at top 2 tiers. I always thought from mid 90s onwards premier league teams had to have all seater grounds (seats under cover) but Portsmouth got away with bolting seats onto a uncovered terrace. Then there's Peterborough united. Got to championship and don't bother makeing ground all seater cos they know they probably heading straight back down. I'm sure Brentford have been in championship more than 2 seasons yet still have terracing

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[Shotsfan1993]

In Woking's defence, these are not safety barriers, merely perimiter fences. Those Aldershot fans were in an area in front of the safety barriers (which are marked yellow), an area they are prohibited from entering unless they are walking to or from the terrace.
To point the finger at Woking over this is like saying a small perimiter fence failed to do it's job as someone got on the pitch. It's not what they are intended for.

I wasn't being serious, it was meant more as a wind up than anything else. Wasnt very good as I didnt catch anything!

 

[Reremnart]

Thing is ground gradeing seems to be in the spot light in non league but look at top 2 tiers. I always thought from mid 90s onwards premier league teams had to have all seater grounds (seats under cover) but Portsmouth got away with bolting seats onto a uncovered terrace. Then there's Peterborough united. Got to championship and don't bother makeing ground all seater cos they know they probably heading straight back down. I'm sure Brentford have been in championship more than 2 seasons yet still have terracing

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I think Brentford got a special deal as they are building a new ground which I think they are due to move into next season

 

[genesimmons]

I think Brentford got a special deal as they are building a new ground which I think they are due to move into next season

Not sure whats happenig with that has a shovel been put in ground yet? Typical fa thougth one rule for one club one for another

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