Welcome to the FL Sutton

[Luke Imp]

The London Borough of Sutton has a population of a little over 200,000 plus in theory we can reach into Surrey. However being a London Borough we are hemmed in some Premier League clubs, Chelsea historically draw a lot of support from the area and Crystal Palace and Fulham are easy to get to.

We’re not a big club, and our gates have jumped massively in the last few years from about 400-500 in 2015 to 1500-2000 just before lockdown. 2000 or so may be a realistic guess for League 2.

Comedian Tim Vine is our most famous fan. His brother Jeremy occasionally joins him at home games.

Local rivals is a tough one as historically our biggest rivals were carshalton athletic and maybe Kingstonian at a push. We haven’t played either club in a decade as they are Isthmian League sides. For the youngsters Bromley are very much disliked. In the last decade we’ve been at the same level for 9 seasons.

I've seen some shite from us down the years but a 0-0 home draw with Carshalton in the FA Trophy is up there with one of the worst games I've ever seen (a 3-0 defeat in the replay...). Their Owner/Chairman/Manager or whatever he was/called himself, was a weird one if I remember right.

 

[Chris FGR]

Wimbledon were originally Southern league but like Yeovil went to the Isthmian after later troubles.

Wycombe are Isthmian league though. Not that it actually matters. It just occurred to me so I thought I'd ask.

Casey

I think we can all agree that the Southern League is by far the superior league and always has been.

Just look at this tiddly little trophy. Got nothing on the Southern League shield.

 

[Trapdoor]

I'd take a few decades there if it meant we were getting the best new ground in the country, which is what they're gonna have a in a few years.

It's definitely gonna be in the country. Nearest inhabited village will be 5 miles away...

 

[Chris FGR]

It's definitely gonna be in the country. Nearest inhabited village will be 5 miles away...

Wrong actually, a lot of new housing being built fairly close by. https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-35292558.amp

Development of 1,350 nearly at halfway mark

MORE houses are on the way to the Great Oldbury development being built to the west of Stonehouse.

www.stroudnewsandjournal.co.uk

Plus the stadium itself will be pretty much on the M5 (junction 13), on a dual carriageway. Much easier access.

 

[Atavistic]

So I stumbled across an article in a local (to Sutton) newspaper in which Sutton's chairman states that the EFL only allows temporary groundshares for clubs who get promoted to League 2 via the play-offs, meaning that Sutton can't do what Harrogate did at the start of this season; either they get the 3G pitch ripped up and replaced with grass by August, or they presumably have to spend the entire season groundsharing instead.

What sense does it make for such an arbitrary distinction to exist in the EFL rules? I suppose Sutton have a little more time to get it sorted than Harrogate did last year, but that rule is genuinely ridiculous.

EDIT: The article in question: Link

 

[Son of Cod]

So I stumbled across an article in a local (to Sutton) newspaper in which Sutton's chairman states that the EFL only allows temporary groundshares for clubs who get promoted to League 2 via the play-offs, meaning that Sutton can't do what Harrogate did at the start of this season; either they get the 3G pitch ripped up and replaced with grass by August, or they presumably have to spend the entire season groundsharing instead.

What sense does it make for such an arbitrary distinction to exist in the EFL rules? I suppose Sutton have a little more time to get it sorted than Harrogate did last year, but that rule is genuinely ridiculous.

That can't be right, surely?!

 

[JaredSUFC]

I've seen some shite from us down the years but a 0-0 home draw with Carshalton in the FA Trophy is up there with one of the worst games I've ever seen (a 3-0 defeat in the replay...). Their Owner/Chairman/Manager or whatever he was/called himself, was a weird one if I remember right.

Still not forgiven Lincoln for that. Paul Dipre is still the supreme leader at carshalton. He’s taken to feuding with local councillors via the club Twitter account.

 

[JaredSUFC]

I think we can all agree that the Southern League is by far the superior league and always has been.

Just look at this tiddly little trophy. Got nothing on the Southern League shield.

View attachment 14413

Was that before or after that was damaged by drunken Sutton fans after our 2011 Isthmian title win?

 

[JaredSUFC]

That can't be right, surely?!

I’m guessing with the playoffs not finishing until mid June, they may have extra leeway in getting any work done by August 7th.

We have 10 weeks (11 if away in the first week) to get ready. Work on the pitch begins early next week.

 

[Son of Cod]

I’m guessing with the playoffs not finishing until mid June, they may have extra leeway in getting any work done by August 7th.

We have 10 weeks (11 if away in the first week) to get ready. Work on the pitch begins early next week.

It's an absolutely non-sensical rule...at least it's a baptism of fire regarding the EFL though, in case any of you had any ideas that you'd be over this kind of thing having got out of the National League.

Congratulations anyway, I went to your home match vs Barrow last season and had a great time. Glad I did that, as we obviously won't be playing you next season now which is disappointing.

 

[denzel ecfc]

Wrong actually, a lot of new housing being built fairly close by. https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-35292558.amp

Development of 1,350 nearly at halfway mark

MORE houses are on the way to the Great Oldbury development being built to the west of Stonehouse.

www.stroudnewsandjournal.co.uk

Plus the stadium itself will be pretty much on the M5 (junction 13), on a dual carriageway. Much easier access.

Sounds delightful....

 

[AdamStag]

Either way of there was a problem with the EFL insisting sutton rip up their pitch for a grass one (a ludicrous decision given england have played an international on an artificial pitch) they’ll be given time to ground share or whatever given harrogate were given the chance to do so playing at doncaster.

Either that or play first few games away

 

[chipmunx]

National League season now ended - Wrexham failed to make the play offs;-

semi finals will be;-

Torquay v winner of (Notts County v Chesterfield)
Stockport v winners of (Hartlepool v Bromley)

 

[Chris FGR]

What a ridiculously tinpot playoff system! When did that come in? Wouldn’t have happened on my watch.

What happened to two legs and a proper final at Wembley?

 

[chipmunx]

What a ridiculously tinpot playoff system! When did that come in? Wouldn’t have happened on my watch.

2 or 3 years ago.
all matches are over 1 leg - with the higher placed team being at home (apart from the final)

 

[Chris FGR]

How shit, so you can finish 7th and go up instead of 2nd? Down with this sort of thing.

 

[chipmunx]

How shit, so you can finish 7th and go up instead of 2nd? Down with this sort of thing.

yep

 

[denzel ecfc]

What a ridiculously tinpot playoff system! When did that come in? Wouldn’t have happened on my watch.

What happened to two legs and a proper final at Wembley?

Need to get Peaky back. He would have kicked Dover out too..

 

[Monkey Tennis]

How shit, so you can finish 7th and go up instead of 2nd? Down with this sort of thing.

In theory, it makes it easier for the 2nd and 3rd place teams because they play one game fewer and get home advantage. Also means you've got more teams with something to play for on the last day of the season. I imagine all the EFL divisions will adopt it eventually.

 

[Si Robin]

There is the risk of coming in cold though - when do second and third play their semi-finals? I know the quarter finals are next Saturday.

 

[Chief Rocka]

There is the risk of coming in cold though - when do second and third play their semi-finals? I know the quarter finals are next Saturday.

Two weeks today/tomorrow

 

[Jerry]

There is the risk of coming in cold though - when do second and third play their semi-finals? I know the quarter finals are next Saturday.

12th June. Could go either way I guess, either we're rusty after a 2 week break or they're knackered or have injuries/suspensions after an extra high stakes game.

Think last season 2nd and 3rd comfortably won though to the final.

 

[Boz]

I think the NL play-off system is great, giving the advantage to the teams finishing higher up the league. Though as it's how TRFC returned to the FL, I would think that...

 

[denzel ecfc]

Extending it by over three weeks and resulting in five clubs left in limbo at the end of the season is ridiculous. The FL system is far better. Or just keep it at four teams, with a one legged semi instead

 

[Chris FGR]

The other thing with the 2 leg system is everyone gets a home game, plus more income from 2 legs on TV. It also means everything is more equal, no one can complain about coming in cold/being more fatigued etc.

Been some cracking second legs down the years in the EFL playoffs (and NL before it changed). One legged games tend to be tight and nervy.

The reward for the higher placed team is to host the second leg, that’s enough imo. If it ain’t broke don’t fix it.

 

[Boz]

Everything shouldn’t be more equal though, the side finishing higher over the course of the season should have as much advantage as possible going into the play-off. The semi-final we played against Ebbsfleet under this system was a decent game where the visitors took the lead twice and went to extra time when we won 4-2.

While the play-offs are great for the neutral and a money-spinner for the FL, they seem inherently unfair to the team finishing in the top play-off spot, who in days gone by would have automatically gone up.

 

[Uncle Pastuzo]

If Bromley win - OK, unlikely from 7th - they will also need to reinstate grass.

 

[Bone Idle]

In theory, it makes it easier for the 2nd and 3rd place teams because they play one game fewer and get home advantage. Also means you've got more teams with something to play for on the last day of the season. I imagine all the EFL divisions will adopt it eventually.

Really there is no difference to the nl and l2 we both have 7 chances of promotion to play for at the start of the season, the problem with the nl is only one automatic spot.

 

[Laker]

The other thing with the 2 leg system is everyone gets a home game, plus more income from 2 legs on TV. It also means everything is more equal, no one can complain about coming in cold/being more fatigued etc.

Been some cracking second legs down the years in the EFL playoffs (and NL before it changed). One legged games tend to be tight and nervy.

The reward for the higher placed team is to host the second leg, that’s enough imo. If it ain’t broke don’t fix it.

I think any advantage for the highest ranked sides is better, I’d at least do away with them having to face two legs and one of them away. I like the fact the conference includes sides down to seventh as it keep more sides in contention for longer. If 7th want to get promoted, they’ve got to beat 4th away, then 3rd away then win a game at Wembley. That’s deserving enough of promotion to me.

 

[Monkey Tennis]

Really there is no difference to the nl and l2 we both have 7 chances of promotion to play for at the start of the season, the problem with the nl is only one automatic spot.

I'm not saying it's better or worse, and you're right, it's because there's only one automatic promotion spot.

But at some point the EFL are gonna notice how weird it is that four teams get promoted/relegated between L1 and L2 and even that up. And I'm sure they'll adopt the same play-off system as the National League because it means more crucial games and keeps more teams competitive to the end of the season.

That's the other thing; in the traditional play-offs some of the semi-finals are over after the first leg so you have a dead rubber second leg. When it's a straight knockout every game matters.