Isthmian 2014/15

[rudebwoyben]

I haven't heard any mention of Burgess Hill being monied. Has anyone else?

 

[Aberstone]

Not in the know then because I hadn't heard anything about bankrolling either.

 

[The Paranoid Pineapple]

It's kinda awful that my first response to a club doing well is "do they have great stacks of cash?" but I guess it's kinda indicative of how the game is these days. Good on them if not - losing just once in 40 games is a terrific feat.

 

[Jemfy]

Southern League Div 1 Central looks like it's going to promote two of it's most northern teams, coupled with the Isthmian D1 North it really starts to look like some serious thought needs to be put in to boundary re-drawing across step 4. It will be an interesting hypothetical if Needham Market and Wroxham go up from I1N first where they would be allocated, but also how many shifts would take place between I1N and S1C. Could also see a sideways move for Kings Lynn in to one of the other two step 3 leagues with some nearer clubs for them!

 

[Aberstone]

I've heard that King's Lynn have been campaigning for a move to the Isthmian for a while now. Geographically it does make sense, the Isthmian League should really cover Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire as an absolute minimum. Those in West London could then be sent to the Southern League with easy access to the M4.

 

[The Paranoid Pineapple]

Beat Billericay 2-0 tonight despite playing most of the match with 10 men. Up to the heady heights of 7th we go!

 

[Aberstone]

Excellent win for K's tonight, I see Nathan Webb was on the bench for you this evening. Hopefully Tommy Williams can get more out of him than Gordon Bartlett did during his time with us, awful.

 

[Grays1890or1888?]

Great 0-0 draw for us tonight, it was truly a game that either side could have won! The point puts us above East Thurrock in the battle to be the boroughs highest ranked team! Well for now!

 

[Paddy]

I'd love it if the boundaries were redrawn & we get shifted to the Southern League (oon the basis we don't go up)! The away days in that league are immense in comparison to the Kent & Essex extravaganza we currently have.

I think the best course of action though would be to establish a 4th league at this level & arrange it north, midlands, South East & south west. North & Midlands feeding conference north & the other two in to the conference south. </broken record>

 

[Jemfy]

I'd love it if the boundaries were redrawn & we get shifted to the Southern League (oon the basis we don't go up)! The away days in that league are immense in comparison to the Kent & Essex extravaganza we currently have.

I think the best course of action though would be to establish a 4th league at this level & arrange it north, midlands, South East & south west. North & Midlands feeding conference north & the other two in to the conference south. </broken record>

It wouldn't be taken well by existing clubs, but what about designing it to be essentially 2 Northern and 2 Southern leagues at step 4, each with their own associated 2 sub-divisions. But in order to create the clubs at step 4 & 3 geographically it would involve promoting extra clubs only from the north (i.e. all the big clubs from the Northern League). If you just do it on the basis of clubs on current step standings then the problem of northern and southern clubs for the conference north and south won't get solved.

It would solve problems long term, but southern clubs who don't get a chance at a free promotion would definitely feel hard done by. At least you would deal with problems of the likes of Bishop Stortford and Gloucester playing in the Conference North (over time hopefully!).

Presuming 2 relegated from each of the 8 step 4 leagues this would create would be a 16 each way system in to currently 14 leagues at step 5. Obviously could be solved by a best 4 eligible extra teams being promoted on a PPG basis, or try and up the step 5 leagues to 16 (which would go down well with the clubs who complain about travelling costs at least...).

This would be a ridiculously mammoth task, and I think you'd have to re-draw each league blind to the history to minimise total travel distance for all clubs. Maybe you could reduce the extra promotions initially, or spread them out at least by running 4 step 3 leagues as 20 team divisions rather than 24 (giving 8 extra promotions/reprieves). If you ever did such a thing, I'd like to see the extra promotion candidates play off against the reprieve candidates for the chance to go up!

 

[Paddy]

I'm not a fan of reprieves. I think the National League System committee should hand out promotions to other teams (play off runners up as an example) if for whatever reason a team gets demoted or can not be awarded promotion up to the division.

There's no honour in winning the AGM Cup... Most of these reprieved teams end up getting relegated the next season anyway (a la Carshalton)

 

[Lurchin Urchin]

I'm not a fan of reprieves. I think the National League System committee should hand out promotions to other teams (play off runners up as an example) if for whatever reason a team gets demoted or can not be awarded promotion up to the division.

There's no honour in winning the AGM Cup... Most of these reprieved teams end up getting relegated the next season anyway (a la Carshalton)

Indeed. Hornchurch are PROUD to be the only team ever relegated from Conf South from 20th position (i.e. no reprieve). I think we include it on our honours board.

Meanwhile more good work I see from Grays - look like a good bet to hit the playoffs with some serious momentum

 

[Grays1890or1888?]

Indeed. Hornchurch are PROUD to be the only team ever relegated from Conf South from 20th position (i.e. no reprieve). I think we include it on our honours board.

Meanwhile more good work I see from Grays - look like a good bet to hit the playoffs with some serious momentum

Unfortunately we have got to play East Thurrock, you know full well that we are rubbish at local derby games!

 

[Rocky 11]

Will the Easter weekend games make the Ryman Premier play off and relegation situation any clearer?

I suspect there may be one or two less play off contenders come Monday evening, but who ?

Looking forward to Mondays derby with a resurgent Grays. .. Lucky beggars have managed to wangle Saturday off !!!
(I know it's not their fault, Wingate wanted the game switched to mid week, and Grays agreed.)

 

[Grays1890or1888?]

Will the Easter weekend games make the Ryman Premier play off and relegation situation any clearer?

I suspect there may be one or two less play off contenders come Monday evening, but who ?

Looking forward to Mondays derby with a resurgent Grays. .. Lucky beggars have managed to wangle Saturday off !!!
(I know it's not their fault, Wingate wanted the game switched to mid week, and Grays agreed.)

I'm not looking forward to it!

 

[Paddy]

http://m.wimbledonguardian.co.uk/sp..._ex_Leicester_City_keeper_as_cover_for_Tolfs/

The suspension is imminent! Good thing we've gone & got ourself some GK cover though otherwise it would have been an Academy player in goal!

 

[Jemfy]

I'm not a fan of reprieves. I think the National League System committee should hand out promotions to other teams (play off runners up as an example) if for whatever reason a team gets demoted or can not be awarded promotion up to the division.

There's no honour in winning the AGM Cup... Most of these reprieved teams end up getting relegated the next season anyway (a la Carshalton)

In an ideal system the team vying for the reprieve should have to play the team that would get the extra promotion spot.

Make an actual AGM cup out of it! Play several games in a day in regionally sensible larger stadiums.

I think teams finishing 2nd should have the chance first - play off against the relegation side, and if they win, replace them, and 6th place gets put in to the playoffs. Fairest way. Obviously this game would have to be played first. It then also helps to reward a 2nd placed finish - giving that side 2 bites at the cherry, and they will be supported by most of the other sides in their division playoffs who would presumably rather have the 3rd-6th playoffs instead of 2nd-5th.

 

[Jemfy]

http://m.wimbledonguardian.co.uk/sp..._ex_Leicester_City_keeper_as_cover_for_Tolfs/

The suspension is imminent! Good thing we've gone & got ourself some GK cover though otherwise it would have been an Academy player in goal!

Silly question, but that did go through before the registration deadline of 5pm on 31st right...? Just because that article doesn't specify!

 

[townsendaround]

It's kinda awful that my first response to a club doing well is "do they have great stacks of cash?" but I guess it's kinda indicative of how the game is these days. Good on them if not - losing just once in 40 games is a terrific feat.

Not much in the way of money around the Green Elephants Stadium (they're a local company that makes, rather bizarrely, teepees), although there is far more commercial sponsorship coming in from the local community than ever before. Also, they managed to sell Greg Luer to Hull City (he's scoring regularly now for their development squad), and have had some fabulous cup runs this season. The success has been built on a thriving youth set up and some exceptional coaching. It all started to come together last season, and I've seen them a dozen times this- believe me, the success isn't a fluke. Great team spirit, well organised, good blend of youth and experience- there's a real confidence about the place.

You might find this interesting: http://www.townsendaround.co.uk/football/little-league-love-affair/lets-play-darts-8/

And I shall share some pics from Carshalton tomorrow- if indeed they do win the League today!

 

[rudebwoyben]

Hendon are definitely in this championship race now. Sounded like a rollicking match.

 

[Raymondo316]

Starting to get that choking feeling

 

[Silver Stone]

We lost one game, narrowly, against the form team in second place. The sky is not falling.

If Hendon win out with their run in, they frankly deserve to be champions.

 

[Raymondo316]

Its just annoying that after being at the top for most of season we could end up having to go the playoff route

A potential playoff game against Enfield doesnt feel me with confidence what so ever

 

[rudebwoyben]

I'd still put Maidstone as favourites as Hendon have to maintain this run. Their Monday match at Fingate won't be easy.

 

[DarkSithLord]

Whats happened to Cray in the North? A run of 5 straight wins including a 2-0 success away at 2nd placed Harlow and they have given their survival hopes a real lift!

 

[The Paranoid Pineapple]

Not much in the way of money around the Green Elephants Stadium (they're a local company that makes, rather bizarrely, teepees), although there is far more commercial sponsorship coming in from the local community than ever before. Also, they managed to sell Greg Luer to Hull City (he's scoring regularly now for their development squad), and have had some fabulous cup runs this season. The success has been built on a thriving youth set up and some exceptional coaching. It all started to come together last season, and I've seen them a dozen times this- believe me, the success isn't a fluke. Great team spirit, well organised, good blend of youth and experience- there's a real confidence about the place.

You might find this interesting: http://www.townsendaround.co.uk/football/little-league-love-affair/lets-play-darts-8/

And I shall share some pics from Carshalton tomorrow- if indeed they do win the League today!

That was interesting, thank you

 

[Kim Mitten]

with regard to Burgess Hill they have had a superb season, what makes it more remarkable is that they have been going since 1882 and this is the first honour they have won above county level. Last season was, till now, their best ever season - finishing 6th In Isthmian 1 South.
Similar stories in the North where Needham Market and Harlow (again don't believe they are massively backed money wise) are having fantastic seasons, scoring and winning for fun, a shame that one of them has to settle for a playoff spot and possibly not go up.

 

[The Paranoid Pineapple]

We, rather frustratingly, could only manage a 1-1 draw at home to Canvey today, conceding a leveller in the last 10 minutes. Also have a few current and upcoming suspensions to key players which isn't great news.

Tremendous effort by Hendon but if I'm being entirely honest I'd rather Maidstone, with their massive fanbase and great potential, and Margate, with their financial clout, went up (assuming that we don't, of course).

 

[publeaguelegend]

Ugh. Looks like it will be going down to the wire. Given current form its hard to imagine Hendon dropping more points than us even with their hectic schedule. Still, we go again Monday.

Welcome Raymondo!

 

[Grays1890or1888?]

Yeaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh, football is a funny old game, 2 shots,2 goals hahahahaha ha, hope we can reach the play offs now, would be frustrating not to now. League cup win would be good also! Not sure we are gonna win again this season looking at the games though, even so more than we could hope for in our Groundsharing state. On that note fair play to Hendon as well. As Maidstone fans have said, if they can keep it going with their run in then they deserve it!