The non-league thread 2008/9

[Royal Rother]

Having had their Championship in the palm of their hand, now, after a loss on Saturday and a home draw last night, W&E are on the brink of cocking it up by the looks of it.

2 points behind Truro with a game in hand - next week's trip down there could be make or break.

[Four Of Clubs]

Well Bracknell and Andover both lost the chance to ease their relegation worries conceding late equalizers last (Tue) night - Andover in the last minute at home to Bps Cleeve, who are only one place above them, & Bracknell @ bottom club Winchester.
Better news for both, was that Taunton lost @ Uxbridge. Bracknell are now only two points behind them with three games in hand.

Elsewhere two clubs chasing the Play Offs, both lost, Thatcham surprisingly 1-3 at home to Abingdon and Beaconsfield at AFC Hayes.

This w/e's fixtures involving top and bottom are:-
Abingdon Utd v Didcot Town (5th)
AFC Totton (2nd) v Slough Town
Beaconsfield SYCOB (4th) v Paulton Rovers
Bishops Cleeve v Andover a very quick return match
Bracknell Town v North Leigh
Bridgwater Town v Thatcham Town (6th) 1 point behind Didcot
Winchester City v Truro City Bottom vs Top
Windsor & Eton (3rd) v Taunton Town

[Tredder]

Beavers have Chelmsford at home this week, followed by Havant at home, Maiders have a must win against Dorchester.

[Tony Le Mesmer]

It appears Maiders are playing 'only' for their highest placing in the non league pyramid.

Their ground does not meet the specifications required for the end of season play offs.

http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/maidenhea ... n=clubnews

[Tredder]

The same happened to Hampton last season, when it was obvious they would be in the play offs, they had to install a temp stand which seated 500 and also add another turnstile and on top of that, increase the size of the dugout so it could fit 7 people in it, but they did it and then lost in the final of the play offs.

[Compo's Hat]

It appears Maiders are playing 'only' for their highest placing in the non league pyramid.

Their ground does not meet the specifications required for the end of season play offs.

http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/maidenhea ... n=clubnews

Very dissapointing for the players as they have nothing to aim for now

[Tredder]

They are 9 points off 5th spot now, so it's an ask anyway, Dorchester are 13/8 and have something to play for, safety.

[Four Of Clubs]

... whole promotion/relegation/play-off process at the end of the season - like it has been for a few years now - could be a total farce again; from Conference down to STEP6, once clubs start getting 'demoted' - voluntarily or otherwise.

Last season, I believe there were a few clubs who finished in Play Off spots but weren't eligible for promotion - leading to Play Off byes!

There's possibly a whole clutch of clubs about to drop for financial reasons and at least as many again who will be forcibly 'dropped' after failing to make the necessary Ground Grading for the level they are currently at.

For example I've read there are SIX clubs in Reading Town's league who currently do NOT make the required grade for STEP05 and may be relegated if they haven't done something by the 31st March.
Rather begs the question, where their replacements would come from for 09/10 season - hardly going to get sides promoted on merit, if they wish to keep the leagues at the same number of teams per division.
The FA have even declared that leagues who do not enforce their strict grading rules may lose status - I think this particularly applies @ STEP05.

Does seem a bit excessive to demand things like 100-200 seats where the average crowd is regularly below 50!

[AthleticoSpizz]

Reading Town 1 Wantage Town 3 (HT 0-3) Crowd approx 50

In protest to watching non-English players playing for England RUFC, I took flight to Scours Lane.


Wantage, cut adrift from the upper reaches of the Hellenic (yet sporting many ex-Swindon Supermarine players) bossed the first half.

Reading were by far superior in the second half, yet only scored the once.

A bright sunny day, enjoyed watching the game whilst drinking a pint or two.

Highlight of the day was having a kick around with my lad at HT, with what turned out to be the matchball in the second half.

Home in time for the Royals kick-off.


Thats living

[eddiegrundy]

...and for what it's worth, here's the Reading Town goal.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSF8h_Q0DS8

[Four Of Clubs]

Mixed bag for our local sides yesterday:-

Magpies win big (3-0) at Dorchester - 'stoke held 2-2 at home by bottom club Fisher - could be in trouble should 'Furrock' win their games in hand.

At the top Beavers wallop Chelmsford 4-1 - now only 6 pts behind with a game in hand of the Wombles who lost 0-1 at home to Welling.

In Southern One South West top four all won - but at the bottom Robins lost to 'Nor Lye' 0-1 whilst Andover pulled clear with a 2-0 win at Bps Cleeve. Sluff (lost 2-4 @ Totton) now in real danger of being dragged into a relegation fight.
Bracknell are still 2nd bottom but only two points behind Taunton (lost 2-1 & W&E) with three games in hand.
In the challenge for the last Play Off spot - Diddy drew and Thatcham lost.

NB Two HUUGE matches this Tuesday: W&E down in Cornwall and Bracknell play host to Taunton @ Larges Lane - oh and Sluff probably have to 'travel' nearer to Slough than their current home ground with a 'derby' game @ Burnham.

In Reading Town's league, big shock as Hungerford beaten 2-1 @ Highworth : first defeat in the league for them since late Sept - still 8 pts clear - 2nd and 4th didn't play but wins for Almonds and Witney - Town now down to 7th - they must be missing a fair few players and there's a 'rumble' on the Evening P@st's forum that their manager could be on his way 'elsewhere'.

Tue night games in this division, see Town play another lower-mid table side @ Flackwell and Hungerford welcome the Blanket Boys in what could be a feisty affair at Bulpit lane

In Hellenic One East: game of the day saw Wokkers hand Binfield their first league defeat of the season, 1-0 in front of 220 (weird co-incidence they (Binfield) attracted 221 to their game last week at Ascot) ! Comfortably the biggest crowd throughout the Hellenic and a lot bigger than most in the Southern South West too. Leaders Ascot won @ South Kilburn - Newbury and Henley both got big wins away.

[Royal Rother]

A very late winner for W&E made for an exciting afternoon.

I can confirm that even W&E have a little gathering of shit-for-brains knuckle draggers who think directing the foulest language imaginable at players and officials being paid a pittance to help provide a decent sporting spectacle is a good way of spending a Saturday afternoon.

Shame.

[papereyes]

It appears Maiders are playing 'only' for their highest placing in the non league pyramid.

Their ground does not meet the specifications required for the end of season play offs.

http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/maidenhea ... n=clubnews

The first team of the club I play for are in the same position - top by miles but the next division up [where FCUM started off, fwiw] requires a higher stadium requirement than they could ever fit in.

[AthleticoSpizz]

Martin Butler scores again for BSP Champions elect Burton.

Paul Brayson added another goal (yesterday) to his hatrick that he scored midweek....IS ANY OF OUR SCOUTS WATCHING THIS GUY????.........no need for the winky smilie

Ex Royals Trainee Phil Hadland scores and wins the game for Warrington Town against Trafford

Basingstoke club (and ex Reading reserve team) captain Jason Bristow has retired due to severe arthritis of the knee.

For the "sadistic and revenge minded" out there .......Old adversary, Julian Alsop (Bishops Cleeve) suffered an horrific throat injury that held up their game for 30 minutes (during their 2-0 defeat to Andover) ....we wish him well.

Farnboro' still top of the BGB Premier thanks to a 3-3 draw against Corby, a game played out in front of over 2200..........watch out Shots!!

[AthleticoSpizz]

A very late winner for W&E made for an exciting afternoon.

I can confirm that even W&E have a little gathering of shit-for-brains knuckle draggers who think directing the foulest language imaginable at players and officials being paid a pittance to help provide a decent sporting spectacle is a good way of spending a Saturday afternoon.

Shame.

Very sad

I used to watch them in the early 1990's (when a mate played striker for them), always thought that they had a nice friendly environment (apart from when Slough visited).

Guess half of these c0cks weren't even born then tho'

[The whole year inn]

Martin Butler scores again for BSP Champions elect Burton.

They have been looking very shaky recently, 95th minute winner yesterday and a win over weymouth are all they have had to shout about in the last couple of months..

Plus they still have to play Histon and Torquay (twice)

[AthleticoSpizz]

Martin Butler scores again for BSP Champions elect Burton.

They have been looking very shaky recently, 95th minute winner yesterday and a win over weymouth are all they have had to shout about in the last couple of months..

Plus they still have to play Histon and Torquay (twice)

Yeah, since Cloughie jnr left, they have stumbled a bit, but cannot see any of the others getting anywhere near them

[Royal Rother]

A very late winner for W&E made for an exciting afternoon.

I can confirm that even W&E have a little gathering of shit-for-brains knuckle draggers who think directing the foulest language imaginable at players and officials being paid a pittance to help provide a decent sporting spectacle is a good way of spending a Saturday afternoon.

Shame.

Very sad

I used to watch them in the early 1990's (when a mate played striker for them), always thought that they had a nice friendly environment (apart from when Slough visited).

Guess half of these c0cks weren't even born then tho'

TBF it's only 2 or 3 idiots - apart from them the supporters are a very fair minded friendly bunch.

[Royalist]

I know what you mean about some windsor fans but they are actually geniune fans who just get caught up. No excuse i know however saturday was a very frustrating game. i kicked a bin in celebration when we scored and had a few choice words for the ref in the dying seconds! I tend not to stand behind the goal as much these days at home matches

It happens at every leauge ground but its more noticable in smaller crowds.

I'm on the funbus to Truro tommorow...it promises to be tense!

[Dirk Gently]

A very late winner for W&E made for an exciting afternoon.

I can confirm that even W&E have a little gathering of shit-for-brains knuckle draggers who think directing the foulest language imaginable at players and officials being paid a pittance to help provide a decent sporting spectacle is a good way of spending a Saturday afternoon.

Shame.

Very sad

I used to watch them in the early 1990's (when a mate played striker for them), always thought that they had a nice friendly environment (apart from when Slough visited).

Guess half of these c0cks weren't even born then tho'

TBF it's only 2 or 3 idiots - apart from them the supporters are a very fair minded friendly bunch.

One trend that is happening at lots of non-league clubs is that the knuckle-draggers who have had banning orders imposed on them are now attaching themselves to smaller clubs. Banning orders only apply at games in tiers 1-5.