The Non - League thread

[Terminal Boardom]

Ultimately i guess the success of the free days is how many first timers return afterwards not the gate on the day. Would be interesting in a few years time to ask how many fans came down first time because of the free games.

6 quid for a match is fine but i have family who have season tickets at league one clubs only paying double that per game. It's a tricky one for sure but i'm not sure any more than a fiver is expected by most. And not just at this level but higher!

That's just my view!

When does the conference proper start? Games shown on BT Sport will most likely be the only non league football i see this side of christmas

Absolutely spot on. I also forgot to add that when we played Egham, there was no other football on that day above Step 5 nor anything in the Football League or Premier League.

[Royal Rother]

The thing is with these promotions, yes, it is all about how many enjoy the experience of the 1st day and keep coming back... BUT, it will always be about the hardcore.

Most will have enjoyed the games they've seen under free admission as they've all been good days in their own ways (yes, Windsor got hammered last year but Guernsey played some exceptional football which was a joy to watch at times) but the softcore will not keep coming back unless it is put in their face all the time. That takes marketing, which takes time, and, in one way or another, money.

The club choose to have the pitch as its major expenditure and for very good reasons, (it is a thing of beauty!) but they could spend more on marketing perhaps. Can't do everything though.

My advice to the club would be to find a way of getting more email addresses. Free Admission could be given with an attractive Prize Draw but only available to those who leave their email addresses with the club. That way the club can continue to communicate with that softcore and, inevitably, more will come down to future games.

It ain't going to double the gate, but it WILL have a positive effect.

[Four Of Clubs]

... here's the results from yesterday's 'local' NL fixtures - I've not bovvered to include Friendlies now the real stuff has commenced.

... but for info other pre-season results yesterday I've picked up on a brief run around:

Binfield bt Beaconsfield
Bracknell W @ Slimbridge
Ascot lost 0-1 to Hampton & R
RTFC bt Ashford Mx @ Scours
Flackwell bt neighbours Marlow
Sluff drew at Harrow
...and Burnham bt the Magpies

Results Sat 3rd August
CCLP
Alton Town 0-1 Epsom & Ewell
Badshot Lea 2-2 Raynes Park Vale
Bedfont Sports 1-2 Hartley Wintney - HW have slaughtered all and sundry in their pre-season - so good start & now host Baddy Lea on Tue 19:30 KO
Camberley Town 1-1 Mole Valley SCR
Colliers Wood United 0-1 Ash United
Cove 1-1 Horley Town
Frimley Green 1-4 Croydon - tough start Frimley G go to Hanworth midweek
South Park 3-1 Hanworth Villa
Wembley 1-3 Farnham Town
Westfield 1-0 Chessington & Hook United
Windsor 3-0 Molesey - Windsor travel to Raynes Park Vale on Tue eve
CCL1
AFC Croydon Athletic 0-2 Bedfont & Feltham
CB Hounslow United 1-2 Banstead Athletic
Cobham 0-4 Worcester Park
Dorking 1-2 Sheerwater
Epsom Athletic 1-3 South Kilburn
Farleigh Rovers 1-4 Knaphill
Spelthorne Sports 4-0 Sandhurst Town - not a great start for the 'Fizzers' at STEP06
Staines Lammas 3-1 Eversley & California

Wessex League Cup
Blackfield & Langley 3-0 Laverstock & Ford
New Milton Town 1-2 Andover Town
Romsey Town 3-1 Pewsey Vale
Stockbridge 2-3 Lymington Town
Verwood Town 0-2 Cowes Sports
Whitchurch United 3-0 Horndean
WESSP
Downton 3-3 Brockenhurst
Fareham Town 2-1 Bemerton Heath Harlequins
Hamworthy United 3-2 Totton & Eling
Newport (IOW) 4-0 Alresford Town
Winchester City 0-0 Moneyfields
WESS1
East Cowes Victoria 2-1 Fleet Spurs
Hayling United 2-5 Tadley Calleva
Petersfield Town 3-1 Hythe & Dibden

[Royalist]

Apparently there is a 2 hour Conference Premier preview show on BT sport tonight. Shall be watching if i get the time

[Alexander Litvinenko]

Apparently there is a 2 hour Conference Premier preview show on BT sport tonight. Shall be watching if i get the time

Featuring Caroline Barker. She's gr8 and loves non-league!

[Terminal Boardom]

Raynes Park Vale 0-3 Windsor
Rob Lazarczuk (2) and Kyle Lucas. Great result but will wait for RR to comment on the game if he was there.

[Royal Rother]

Unfortunately not. Family commitment blew me out.

In other news Windsor's groundstaff have received the FA Award for Groundman of the Year at Step 5/6. No mean feat and richly deserved.

[Four Of Clubs]

... here the list for tomorrow featuring our NL 'Local' sides and their leagues:

Saturday 10th August

CCLP
Ash United v Bedfont Sports
Chessington & Hook United v Alton Town
Croydon v Camberley Town
Farnham Town v Colliers Wood United
Hanworth Villa v Westfield
Hartley Wintney v Frimley Green
Horley Town v Wembley
Mole Valley SCR v Epsom & Ewell
Molesey v Badshot Lea
Raynes Park Vale v Cove
Windsor v South Park - early clash for a lot of people's two main contenders this season
CCL1
Banstead Athletic v Spelthorne Sports
Bedfont & Feltham v Cobham
Dorking v CB Hounslow United
Eversley & California v Worcester Park
Farleigh Rovers v Staines Lammas
Knaphill v South Kilburn
Sandhurst Town v AFC Croydon Athletic
Sheerwater v Epsom Athletic
HELLP
Abingdon United v Ascot United
Ardley United v Highworth Town
Binfield v Abingdon Town
Bracknell Town v Wootton Bassett Town
Brimscombe & Thrupp v Highmoor Ibis
Cheltenham Saracens v Oxford City Nomads
Flackwell Heath v Kidlington
Reading Town v Thame United
Shrivenham v Holyport
Wantage Town v Newbury
HELL1E
AFC Hinksey v Woodley Town
Chalfont Wasps v Maidenhead United Res
Chinnor v Rayners Lane
Didcot Town Res v Finchampstead
Headington Amateurs v Henley Town
Milton United v Burnham Res

WESSP
Whitchurch United v Lymington Town
Winchester City v AFC Portchester
WESS1
Tadley Calleva v Hythe & Dibden
Wessex League Cup
Fleet Spurs v Team Solent

..elsewhere Ryman-Isthmian, South Mids & Western leagues start this w/e - as indeed does the Conference National [Woking host Lincoln - Aldersh!t travel to Grimsby]

- CONF North & South start next w/e 17th as does the Southern league.

...my plan tomorrow is to 're-complete' the Hellenic Premier at Brimscomb & Thrupp vs Highmoor/IBIS.

... got two matches in this week -
Tue: saw Sandhurst scrape a draw out of Staines Lammas in CCL Div One - having gone behind and lost a man to a Red card.
Wed: popped just inside the M25 to Fat Fwank's back garden and saw Mole Valley bt Wembley 1-0 at Cobham FC's Leg O'Mutton ground in the CCL Premier.

[MSV Duisburg]

Glen Little was a second half substitute for Ryman League side Wealdstone tonight, in a friendly at Uxbridge, but as they lost 4-0 suspect this may turn out to be a one off.

Maidstone seem to think he could be playing against them tomorrow...

"Provided international clearance can be obtained in time, the visitors hope to give a debut to the highly experienced Glen Little who has played in the Premiership for Bolton Wanderers, Reading and Portsmouth"

http://www.maidstoneunited.co.uk/2013/0 ... wealdstone

[Royal Rother]

Windsor 3-1 South Park.

Well deserved win and with important players coming back into the team after injury things are looking rather ominous for the rest of the league, even at this early stage of the season.

[frimmers3]

good away point for the 'shots today. -9 and counting!

[Four Of Clubs]

...... fuller review tomorrow but some big scores today 50+ goals in the Hellenic Prem I believe : incl a 9 for Flackwell , a 7 for Binfield , 5s apiece for Wantage & Ascot ; Ardley & Highworth shared 8 and even The Robins bagged a 4-1 win over WBT.

I watched Highmoor/Ibis win comfortably enough against the other 'newbies' in this division - the wonderfully named Brimscomb & Thrupp - only 2-1 in the end but they were very clearly the better side all over the park - gave away a daft pen v. late on which made it far squeakier than it should have been.

one of the most picturesque grounds I've been to - tucked deep into the fold of the Gloucestershire hills along the Frome east of Stroud.

[Royalist]

One of the few games i'd have a chance of seeing this year but was in hospital after reading the pressure of playing at home gets to the players.

[Royal Rother]

Yeah, that WAS a very strange comment from our manager!

Playing in front of 150 fans puts them under pressure? Do me a favour!

[Four Of Clubs]

Results around our local NL sides yesterday:

CCLP
Ash United 3-0 Bedfont Sports
Chessington & Hook United 4-1 Alton Town
Croydon 0-1 Camberley Town
Farnham Town 1-2 Colliers Wood United
Hanworth Villa 3-1 Westfield
Hartley Wintney 3-2 Frimley Green
Horley Town 0-1 Wembley
Mole Valley SCR 0-3 Epsom & Ewell
Molesey 2-0 Badshot Lea
Raynes Park Vale 2-1 Cove
Windsor 3-1 South Park
CCL1
Banstead Athletic 2-2 Spelthorne Sports
Bedfont & Feltham 4-3 Cobham
Dorking 1-2 CB Hounslow United
Eversley & California 1-0 Worcester Park
Farleigh Rovers 1-5 Staines Lammas
Knaphill 5-0 South Kilburn
Sandhurst Town 4-2 AFC Croydon Athletic
Sheerwater 0-0 Epsom Athletic
HELLP
Abingdon United 0-5 Ascot United
Ardley United 4-4 Highworth Town
Binfield 7-0 Abingdon Town att 74
Bracknell Town 4-1 Wootton Bassett Town att 82
Brimscombe & Thrupp 1-2 Highmoor Ibis
Cheltenham Saracens 3-1 Oxford City Nomads
Flackwell Heath {NINE} 9-0 Kidlington
Reading Town 1-0 Thame United att 86
Shrivenham 0-3 Holyport
Wantage Town 5-1 Newbury
HELL1E
AFC Hinksey {NINE} 9-0 Woodley Town - bit of a stunning start here - three down at H/T sounds like they were overrun 2nd half by a very pacy outfit
Chalfont Wasps 1-3 Maidenhead United Res
Chinnor 0-2 Rayners Lane att 125 - highest of the day in the Hellenic
Didcot Town Res 2-6 Finchampstead
Headington Amateurs 2-0 Henley Town
Milton United 0-1 Burnham Reserves
Penn & Tylers Green 6-0 Wokingham & Emmbrook
WESSP
Whitchurch United 1-2 Lymington Town
Winchester City 2-0 AFC Portchester
WESS1
Tadley Calleva 2-2 Hythe & Dibden
Wessex League Cup
Fleet Spurs 1-8 {EIGHT} Team Solent

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Some good 'local' match-ups in the midweek ahead (Tuesday 13th):

CCL
Camberley v Epsom & E
Cove v Hartley W
Frimley Gn v Ash Utd
Windsor v Farnham
Hellenic
Ascot v RTFC
Holyport v Bracknell
Kidlington v Binfield
Newbury v Ab. Utd
Hellenic 1E
Henley v AFC Hinksey

... and next w/e sees the opening round of the FA Cup (Extra Preliminary Rnd) - full listing nearer the time BUT it all kicks off on Friday night (16th)
Flackwell H. v Binfield
Alresford Town v Winchester City

[Terminal Boardom]

Very impressive win for Windsor against a robust South Park. 3-1 was a fair scoreline but how SP ended the game with 11 players on the pitch was behond me. I thought that deliberate handball was a mandatory yellow card. If anyone knows otherwise, please let me know. Goals from Adam Kirby, Dan Hicks and Rob Lazarczuk made it three wins out of three. It's the first time that we have made SP look almost ordinary. Good crowd of 187 which included a number that came along for the first time when we let spectators in for free.

Next up is Farnham Town on Tuesday night which will present a totally different challenge.

[Royal Rother]

Different in what way?

Stay focused and get the job done after Saturday's big win I'm guessing.

[Royalist]

Farnborough FC players changing their names to legendary players by deed poll for some sponsorship deal apparently.....


Non league does have some odd stories doesn't it!?

[frimmers3]

the 'shots start the home league campaign with a comfortable win.

[Four Of Clubs]

Here's the first 'full' Preview of the season - all, bar a few local 'county' level, leagues get under way this w/e; it is also the first round of the FA Cup. Note there are ties being played on Friday night and Sunday PM. Usual convention of 'local' clubs in bold. Let me know if there are other's anyone would class as 'local' - in former season's I have exceptionally 'featured' Hampton & R as well as Falmouth for Tredder - but his interest seems to have tailed off slightly.
- for 'fullness' of experience just this once, I've included all matches in leagues containing our (what I deem) 'local' NL sides - apart from the Conference North of course as that's 'local' by a querk of the oddly shaped Pyramid!.
I've omitted Ryman again too - cos its got too many Essex teams in it! - though should people yearn for news of the progress of those closer at hand ie Leatherhead, Walton Guernsey (!) or Corinthian Casuals, I s'pose I could include them - would make my postings even more overweight than usual?

Fixtures w/e 17th August

CONF
Aldershot Town v Cambridge United
Alfreton Town v Salisbury City
Braintree Town v Kidderminster Harriers
Chester FC v Woking
FC Halifax Town v Dartford
Gateshead FC v Barnet
Hyde FC v Hereford United
Lincoln City FC v Forest Green Rovers
Luton Town v Macclesfield Town
Nuneaton Town v Southport
Tamworth v Wrexham
Welling United v Grimsby Town
CONFN
Barrow v Brackley
Oxford C v Harrogate
CONFS
Bishop's Stortford v Bath City
Concord Rangers v Basingstoke Town - Dragons visit Canvey Island's other club - delightful estuary-based ground, on an estate sandwiched between docks, sewage works/chemical silos and a Caravan site! Interesting mix of aromas.
Eastleigh v Sutton United
Ebbsfleet United v Havant & Waterlooville
Farnborough v Chelmsford City
Gosport Borough v Dover Athletic
Hayes & Yeading United v Bromley
Staines Town v Dorchester Town
Tonbridge Angels v Boreham Wood
Weston-super-Mare v Eastbourne Borough
Whitehawk v Maidenhead United - homesters are from the 'scummier' eastern end of Brighton - slightly to the south of the Amex nr the Racecourse - quite a picturesque ground in a coastal fold - they tried changing their name to Brighton City this season and have pondered moving over to the Withdean.

SOUTHP
AFC Totton v Stourbridge
Banbury United v Chippenham Town
Biggleswade Town v Bashley
Chesham United v Bideford
Corby Town v Burnham
Frome Town v Cambridge City
Hitchin Town v Hemel Hempstead Town
Hungerford Town v Hinckley United
Poole Town v St Albans City
Redditch United v Arlesey Town
St Neots Town v Weymouth
Truro City v Bedford Town
SOUTH1C
AFC Hayes v Aylesbury
Aylesbury United v Rugby Town
Barton Rovers v Uxbridge
Daventry Town v Ashford Town (Middx)
Dunstable Town v Beaconsfield SYCOB
Egham Town v Royston Town
Marlow v Leighton Town - would expect 'Barts' and his boys should get something against one of last years whipping boys - would have finished well adrift if it hadn't been for poor 'Pointless' Woodford Utd.
North Greenford United v Chalfont St Peter
Potters Bar Town v Kettering Town
Slough Town v Northwood
St Ives Town v Chertsey Town
SOUTH1S&W
Bridgwater Town v Bishops Cleeve
Cinderford Town v Fleet Town
Evesham United v Taunton Town
Godalming Town v Paulton Rovers
Mangotsfield United v Guildford City
North Leigh v Merthyr Town
Shortwood United v Didcot Town
Swindon Supermarine v Clevedon Town
Thatcham Town v Stratford Town
Tiverton Town v Cirencester Town
Yate Town v Wimborne Town

FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round
Friday 16th August (19:45 KOs)
123 Flackwell Heath v Binfield
162 Alresford Town v Winchester City

Saturday 17th August
94 Berkhamsted v AFC Dunstable
96 AFC Kempston Rovers v Wembley
97 Wellingborough Town v Greenhouse London
99 Kings Langley v Long Buckby
100 Newport Pagnell Town v Hatfield Town
101 Hillingdon Borough v Leverstock Green
102 Cogenhoe United v Tring Athletic
103 London Lions v Stotfold @ Hemel Hempstead FC
105 Harefield United v Woodford United
106 Codicote v Crawley Green
107 Holmer Green v Ampthill Town
108 Hertford Town v Colney Heath
109 Northampton Spencer v Bugbrooke St Michaels
110 Haringey Borough v Rushden & Higham United
112 Cockfosters v Hanwell Town
113 London Colney v AFC Rushden & Diamonds
114 Sandhurst Town v Farnham Town
115 Tadley Calleva v Ascot United - Tadley's first bow in the FA Cup
116 Bracknell Town v Fairford Town
117 Holyport v Hanworth Villa
118 Staines Lammas v Badshot Lea
119 Ardley United v Thame United
120 Camberley Town v Chinnor
121 Reading Town v Wantage Town - both sides started with 2 wins in the league - RTFC look stronger this term and may prevail if they can keep the 'Freds forwards quiet
122 Frimley Green v Ash United - these two met in the league only last Tue with FG prevailing 1-0
124 Bedfont Sports v Abingdon United
125 Westfield v Shrivenham
126 Cheltenham Saracens v Slimbridge AFC
127 Cove v Carterton
128 Newbury v Windsor
129 Kidlington v Hartley Wintney
130 Abingdon Town v Highmoor Ibis
131 Dorking v Shoreham
132 Alton Town v Selsey
134 East Preston v Crowborough Athletic
135 Ashford United_ v Worthing United
136 Sevenoaks Town v Horley Town @ Horley Town FC
138 Whyteleafe v Epsom & Ewell
139 Holmesdale v East Grinstead Town
140 Horsham YMCA v Hassocks
141 Molesey v Hailsham Town
143 Chichester City v Chessington & Hook United
144 Pagham v Tunbridge Wells
145 Mole Valley SCR v South Park
146 Cray Valley (PM) v Lancing
147 Arundel v Rye United
148 Beckenham Town v Corinthian
149 Epsom Athletic v Croydon
150 Lordswood v Eastbourne United
151 Raynes Park Vale v Lingfield
152 Greenwich Borough v Ringmer
153 Fisher v Deal Town
154 Colliers Wood United v AFC Croydon Athletic
155 Newport (IW) v Verwood Town
156 Bournemouth v Highworth Town
157 Team Solent v AFC Portchester
158 Bradford Town v Longwell Green Sports
159 Horndean v Calne Town
160 Cowes Sports v Fawley
161 Wootton Bassett Town v Totton & Eling - @ Cirencester Town FC
163 Downton v Sholing
164 Melksham Town v Hamworthy United
166 Bitton AFC v Pewsey Vale
167 Winterbourne United v Folland Sports @ Folland Sports FC - formerly known as GE Hamble
168 Moneyfields v Cadbury Heath
169 Hallen v Whitchurch United
170 Corsham Town v Gillingham Town
171 Petersfield Town v Blackfield & Langley
172 Bemerton Heath Harlequins v Fareham Town
173 Romsey Town v Brockenhurst
174 Bristol Manor Farm v Oldland Abbotonians
175 East Cowes Victoria Athletic v Lymington Town
176 Hengrove Athletic v Bridport
177 Willand Rovers v Larkhall Athletic
178 St Blazey v Tavistock AFC
179 Bishop Sutton v Odd Down
180 Shepton Mallet AFC v Street
181 AFC St Austell v Ilfracombe Town
182 Buckland Athletic v Wells City
183 Barnstaple Town v Brislington
184 Plymouth Parkway v Saltash United
185 Radstock Town v Bodmin Town

Sunday 18th August
133 Dorking Wanderers v Canterbury City - Wanderers play up at Westhumble PF and are in the Sussex League Div One - not to be confused with Dorking FC 'The Chicks' who now play in Combined Counties One
142 Littlehampton Town v St Francis Rangers

League Matches
CCL1
Banstead Athletic v Cobham
CB Hounslow United v Knaphill @ Bedfont & Feltham FC
Eversley & California v Farleigh Rovers
South Kilburn v Sheerwater
Spelthorne Sports v Worcester Park

HELLP
Brimscombe & Thrupp v Oxford City Nomads
HELL1E
Didcot Town Res v Wokingham & Emmbrook - 'Sumas' not started well at this level battered 6-0 by Penn & T last w/e.
Headington Amateurs v Woodley Town
Henley Town v Chalfont Wasps – excellent win midweek H 4-2 vs Hinskey – reportedly they have recruited many of last season’s Woodley Town squad
Milton United v Maidenhead United Res
Penn & Tylers Green v AFC Hinksey
HELL1W
Letcombe v Shortwood United Res
WESS1
Andover Town v Hythe & Dibden @ Hants FA Winklebury Football Complex (in Basingstoke nr Milestones Museum) – was some debate ongoing whether the pitch would be fit for play in time this w/e – pretty much tells you a lot about the capabilities of the Hants FA!
New Milton Town v Andover New Street
Stockbridge v United Services Portsmouth

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
...was plenty of action midweek - probably too much to digest but in brief: after very good starts Binfield, Flackwell and Windsor stumbled and drew on Tuesday @ Kidlington, Thame and H to Farnham respectively;
RTFC won @ Ascot ;
Bracknell top the Hellenic Premier after another 4-1 win this time away at Holyport - I was there - Robins looked mighty impressive but will be sorely tested by a tough set of games in September - come out the other end of those, still in contention, then they may well surprise a few people.
Highmoor/IBIS lost at Ardley
Hartley Wintney had a very impressive pre-season - and now have won 3 from 4 in the CCLP (as per Windsor) and are tucked in behind 100% Epsom & Ewell who challenged for a long period last season in the wake of Egham & Guernsey.
(Guernsey started life at STEP04 with an impressive 1-0 win at Herne Bay but fluffed their lines losing surprisingly perhaps, 0-1 in front of 1300 odd vs usual strugglers Horsham : they host Ramsgate tomorrow before a trip to Corinthian Casuals on Tue)
- usual suspects sitting at the bottom of CCLP & HELLP - Alton are finding life hard after the switch from the Wessex and the threat of no ground still very much a recent memory - seems they've had a stay of execution.
In the Hellenic both Abingdon Utd & Town prop up the rest with Wootton Bassett and Shrivenham also on no points - saw Shrivvy lose 2-4 @ at Oxford City Nomads on Wednesday and there are some 'green shoots' there - they are bigger and faster than last season's 'rock bottom no hopers' but can't defend yet!
Kidlington mauled 0-9 in their opener at Flackwell - hung on (with 9 men) against the Moles on Tuesday.

I'm hoping to sandwich the 'Udinese B's' visit to the MStad with trips to Flackwell tonight and Dorking W on Sunday - Phew! ... that's more than enuff for now......