Relegation Thread

[wybantam23]

Looking at the rules for ground regulation, are these actually enforced?

Ferriby were in the conf north for 3 years and never had enough for a grade B ground never mind a grade A.

Oxford City/ Whitehawk dont have a grade B and they have never been threatened with relegation and theyve been in the conf for 6 years and 4 years respectively

 

[DontBringBertie]

Pretty sure Ferrriby will go down anyway - can't see them winning 5/6 games out of 11.

 

[genesimmons]

Looking at the rules for ground regulation, are these actually enforced?

Ferriby were in the conf north for 3 years and never had enough for a grade B ground never mind a grade A.

Oxford City/ Whitehawk dont have a grade B and they have never been threatened with relegation and theyve been in the conf for 6 years and 4 years respectively

Im not sure. Cant recall a team been demoted out of division and ive been to some poor grounds which dont seem conference premier standard, infact little more than evo stick standard. As ive said before if ground aint good enough teams should not be allowed promotion in 1st place

 

[rudebwoyben]

Im not sure. Cant recall a team been demoted out of division and ive been to some poor grounds which dont seem conference premier standard, infact little more than evo stick standard. As ive said before if ground aint good enough teams should not be allowed promotion in 1st place

Oh really? Which grounds are these?
I remember Dover not being allowed to enter the Conference after winning the Southern League in 1990 due to their ground not being up to the required standard. The same was true of the late unlamented Colne Dynamoes from the Northern Premier that same year.
However, I don't recall any clubs being demoted because their ground didn't meet the required standards

 

[JaredSUFC]

Oh really? Which grounds are these?
I remember Dover not being allowed to enter the Conference after winning the Southern League in 1990 due to their ground not being up to the required standard. The same was true of the late unlamented Colne Dynamoes from the Northern Premier that same year.
However, I don't recall any clubs being demoted because their ground didn't meet the required standards

Weren't Margate demoted due to ground issues in 2004?

 

[genesimmons]

Oh really? Which grounds are these?
I remember Dover not being allowed to enter the Conference after winning the Southern League in 1990 due to their ground not being up to the required standard. The same was true of the late unlamented Colne Dynamoes from the Northern Premier that same year.
However, I don't recall any clubs being demoted because their ground didn't meet the required standards

Maybe years ago but things seem more relaxed now. Im only in my 30s so dont recollect goings on from early 90s. Dovers ground must have been improved alot since its not too bad. Macclesfield, stevenage and kidderminster were denied promotion to football league i recall that, odly enough all 3 now have decent stadiums. Remember bishop auckland flying high in the 90s were told there ground would not meet grade. If it had and evo stick had another promotion place back then who knows for where team would have been such a shame

 

[doveranddover]

In 1990 Crabble was ready by mid-July. but the rules said the ground had to be ready earlier.
Margate were sharing with us finished 16th the year they were demoted, Hartsdown wasn't ready, not sure if there was rules for how far you could go to groundshare?

 

[Sparrow]

The FA blazers will be out in force with their clipboards on March 31st ready to EXPEL North Ferriby from the National League.

 

[Harrier94]

We weren't allowed into the FL in 94 because our ground wasn't finished being made up to FL standard. But I'm sure I read by the time the 94/95 season came around the ground was finished in plenty of time.

 

[rudebwoyben]

Macclesfield being barred from promotion from the Football League was especially unjust seeing that Chester City had been playing at Moss Rose for a few seasons in the old Divisions 3 and 4!

 

[genesimmons]

Will sure be interesting if north getting finish outside bottom 4. Will the league threat of demotion actually be enforced or will they hastily carry out a ground upgrade (may well be already). It could also be a case of them going down and then straight up again would they get another years grace. Seems a right farce since I've been watching conference football I can recall a team getting demoted

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[Raymondo316]

The question is how were Ferriby even allowed to stay in the Conference North when their ground didn't even meet them standards.

 

[GuiseleySteve]

The question is how were Ferriby even allowed to stay in the Conference North when their ground didn't even meet them standards.

What did they contravene?

 

[Raymondo316]

What did they contravene?

As far as i know the ground doesn't have a capacity of 3000+

When we were promoted into the Conference South we had to get our ground up to 3000+ capacity, have a certain amount of turnstiles and exits etc etc.....just seems a bit unfair that some teams have to play by the rules, yet Ferriby have been allowed to get away with not meeting the standard

 

[wybantam23]

I think the club doesnt have enough seating or turnstiles either.

Theres no chance for upgrades to be done, I can't see them finding space to add another 1300 capacity and the owners are putting next to no money in so arent going to spend anything making the stadium any better.

 

[CrazyImp]

They've given it a superb go - but I just don't see Ferriby escaping the bottom four on paper, rendering this academic. They don't score enough.

 

[Swedes]

Slough were booted out of the Conference in 1998 because of ground issues, I think it may have been to do with the number of seats they had. I also remember Eastwood Town not being allowed to play in the Conference North play-offs in 2011 as their ground was not up to Conference National standards.

 

[GuiseleySteve]

Slough were booted out of the Conference in 1998 because of ground issues, I think it may have been to do with the number of seats they had. I also remember Eastwood Town not being allowed to play in the Conference North play-offs in 2011 as their ground was not up to Conference National standards.

We took Eastwoods place in the play offs losing to Telford late on in the final.

 

[Master D]

What about Solihull Motors place. Worst ground I've ever been to, makes Alfreton's £20 to stand on a concrete step seem like the Nou Camp.

 

[wybantam23]

Just saw this retweeted by the club on twitter, probably sheds a bit more light on the situation by someone in the know

"Against this backdrop sits the elephant in the room, the FA Ground Grading. Regardless of the players heroics on the field, the ultimate battle may well be one they simply cannot win. By the 31st of March, provision must be in place to increase capacity at the ground from it’s current 2300 to the league requirement of 4000 – a ridiculous figure for a club currently averaging around 500 for Home fixtures – and with little or no scope for building to take place. The Eon Vision Media Stadium – a company owned by Ferriby Chairman and benefactor Steve Forster – sits between a railway line, an allotment, and a Parish Council playing field. None of these allow for scope to build. With his hands tied, and mindful of losing more money – Owner Mr. Forster already budgeting for a 6-figure loss – the club has a month to put in place the impossible, namely 1700 extra spaces. It’s simply not going to happen. The club has all season long told fans to ” enjoy the ride “. It’s been with this scenario in mind that the phrase has been employed. Conspiracy theorists have cited this reason why the club was unable ( or unwilling ) to recruit a better calibre of player since promotion the previous season. That however, would be unfair on the players here and their commitment shown. Never once have they played like it was a foregone conclusion, to their immense credit.

In just over a month we will find out. It’s not like it’s a massive secret. The owner has never denied that despite all the good times – two promotions and a Trophy Final win – money simply wasn’t put aside by the previous regime in charge, instead invested into the playing side of things. Rumours of a purpose built 4000 seater stadium in the nearby village of Welton – thus passing ground grading requirements – were simply that, just rumours. In a way a demotion will be a sad day for the club and it’s small band of loyal fans – often mocked by the ignorant national media for their small travelling support – but for many it won’t be the end of the world. Even the most optimistic of fans realised that in essence, the club is more suited to a division a couple of levels down. If it is to be the National North next season, it’s a far more realistic place for the club to be operating, negating long journeys South of the Watford gap and competing against Full Time teams with £2 million budgets. For all it’s good to chase the dream, at some point it’s just good to realise what is in front of you, and what you have. No matter what division Ferriby are in next year, I’ll be there. For all sport is about chasing dreams and striving for success, following a club is about commitment, in good times and bad. At Ferriby we’ve certainly had the good times, certainly the last 6 or 7 years that I’ve been going. It’s given me memories that will last a lifetime, and friendships that will always be there. That is the very essence of Non-league football. Not even a relegation or demotion can take them away."

 

[Raymondo316]

This is what i dont understand, if Ferriby only have a 2300 capacity stadium, how were they allowed to stay in the Conference North for 3 seasons and even get promoted.

 

[genesimmons]

This is what i dont understand, if Ferriby only have a 2300 capacity stadium, how were they allowed to stay in the Conference North for 3 seasons and even get promoted.

Thats fa for you. One rule for one club and one for another. North ferriby should not have even been allowed in play offs of ground is nowhere near standard. The farce of the situation may change fa's thinking

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[genesimmons]

What about Solihull Motors place. Worst ground I've ever been to, makes Alfreton's £20 to stand on a concrete step seem like the Nou Camp.

Ive been too was not even fully enclosed and never had a proper seated stand. Patches of turf on one side. Dont grounds at conference have to be all hard standing for health and safety if nothing else

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[wybantam23]

Maybe after Eastwood Town they thought it was a bit of a pointless rule to enforce. What exactly is the issue if a clubs ground isnt certain size.

Why should a team like Guiseley or Solihull have to take an unnecessary financial hit to bring a stadium up to a certain capacity they wouldnt fill in league football never mind non league.

2 teams average over 4000 fans in non league, Tranmere and Lincoln, there is only no need for a minimum capacity in any division.

 

[genesimmons]

Maybe after Eastwood Town they thought it was a bit of a pointless rule to enforce. What exactly is the issue if a clubs ground isnt certain size.

Why should a team like Guiseley or Solihull have to take an unnecessary financial hit to bring a stadium up to a certain capacity they wouldnt fill in league football never mind non league.

2 teams average over 4000 fans in non league, Tranmere and Lincoln, there is only no need for a minimum capacity in any division.

Rules are rules thougth. The national league is a feeder to football league so grounds have to be veering towards league 2 standard. To be fair alot are and clubs have spent alot on stadium upgrades so why should others slip througth the net. Asking for a minimum of 500 seats for the top flight of non league to me seems reasonable. Nothing worse than been stud in pissy rain due to inadequate covered shelter not to mention slippy grass within a ground, very hazardous

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[wybantam23]

Rules are rules thougth. The national league is a feeder to football league so grounds have to be veering towards league 2 standard. To be fair alot are and clubs have spent alot on stadium upgrades so why should others slip througth the net. Asking for a minimum of 500 seats for the top flight of non league to me seems reasonable. Nothing worse than been stud in pissy rain due to inadequate covered shelter not to mention slippy grass within a ground, very hazardous

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I think because this league more than any shows that if you aren't going to spend the money to get into league football then you wont get league football. A part time club is not going to get promoted from this divison. (unless im wrong but I dont think a part time club has ever gotten promoted to the football league?)

I agree that to be come a league club and step into the professional game you should have a professional set up but for some semi pro clubs this is as far as it gets so why hold them to the same standard. If a club has the ambition to get into the league then by all means spend the money to achieve that.

Its a joke that a club like Borehamwood has 1700 seats and 4,500 capacity ground when the same fan base as Ferriby, each fan could lay down across 3 seats and there would still be hundreds of empty ones. Ferriby has enough covered seating for its support base.

 

[Raymondo316]

A part time club is not going to get promoted from this divison. (unless im wrong but I dont think a part time club has ever gotten promoted to the football league?)

Maidstone did it back in 1989.
Main reason we lost John Still as manager was due to him not wanting to go full-time in the Football League.

 

[Sparrow]

Maidstone weren't controlling the controllables to John Still's liking

 

[wybantam23]

Maidstone did it back in 1989.
Main reason we lost John Still as manager was due to him not wanting to go full-time in the Football League.

Fair enough, didnt know that, in the modern game as we know it though I'd say it was highly unlikely.

 

[genesimmons]

Didn't barnet, accrington and burton go up as part time teams? Maybe morr over years. Mind recently no one springs to mind

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