Projections for next season

[Paulisi]

Geographically, the Christmas local games should be:

Chorley & Southport
Chester & Warrington
Buxton & Curzon for NW

Blyth & South Shields
Spennymoor & Darlington for NE

Scarborough & Farsley for Yorkshire

Gloucester & Hereford
Tamworth & Rushall for Midlands

Kings Lynn & Peterborough
Brackley & Banbury for S Mid and East Anglia

Boston & Scunthorpe for East

Bishops Stortford & Alfreton are the anomalies.

[PortInTheSouth]

I had Scarborough with Scunthorpe (trying to reduce the anomalies to as small as possible) with Buxton and Alfreton, Farsley and Curzon, Boston and Kings Lynn, Peterborough Sports and Bishops Stortford, Hereford and Gloucester, Rushall and Tamworth, Banbury and Brackley, Chester and Warrington, Southport and Chorley, Blyth and South Shields and finally Spennymoor and Darlington

[Gloucester man]

Bishops Stortford in the NLN which is frankly farcical

[PortInTheSouth]

farcical: "relating to or resembling farce, especially because of absurd or ridiculous aspects."

Wouldn't say putting the 25th most Northerly side in Step 2 football in the National League North is particularly farcical or ridiculous - especially when the only side further North in the NLS is Braintree and that would require every club to drive past Bishops Stortford.

The names North and South are just for clarity and are a relative measure - just so happens that a number of sides relatively South in the country were relegated.

They have the option to appeal, so it will be interesting to see the outcome of that (which may then upset Braintree, St. Albans or Hemel Hempstead)

[Big Mac 1985]

Bishops Stortford in the NLN which is frankly farcical

Looks slightly more north than Gloucester City on the map.

[Exiled Port Fan]

Bishops Stortford in the NLN which is frankly farcical

Looks slightly more north than Gloucester City on the map.

My London based mates always say the North begins at the Watford Gap and it seems the National League agrees!

[Unibond Awakes]

On a similar vein in the NWCFL Northwich Victoria ,Winsford Utd & Congleton have been shunted into the Midland Alliance League (Burscough have been reprieved from relegation)....24 teams in the NWCFL Premier & 18 in the Midland...an odd set up which is bound to have financial implications particularly for Northwich who still share at Witton & Winsford who both intend to appeal.

[Ralphy Rylance]

Bishops Stortford in the NLN which is frankly farcical

You can't draw fixed lines on a map when smaller regional leagues feed into wider regional leagues. Unless you're going to refuse promotion to some clubs because of where they're located.

The south is geographically bigger than the north of England but the north is more crowded with clubs in the PL and FL. The 4 regional leagues feeding into NLN and NLS are weighted towards the south so it's inevitable more southern clubs will qualify for this level. However the situation has been made worse by, in the mid 80s, giving the historically weaker Isthmian League parity with the Southern League.

A 3rd central division would make sense at this level but would make the promotion play offs to the National division rather convoluted.

[Sam]

A 3rd central division would make sense at this level but would make the promotion play offs to the National division rather convoluted.

I think convoluted is the only thing that will stop club costs running away. But it can't be much more convoluted than what we've got. We've got 4 leagues feeding into the two at our level. And below that we've 8 feeding into 4.

I think its time for a NL-Midlands

[PortInTheSouth]

Step 1 - 1 league
Step 2 - 2 leagues
Step 3 - 4 leagues
Step 4 - 8 leagues
Step 5 - 16 leagues

It works as well as it can - it's never going to be perfect. Adding a third league in this division would cause more problems than solutions not to mention risk widening the quality gap within the same step

[Ralphy Rylance]

Step 1 - 1 league
Step 2 - 2 leagues
Step 3 - 4 leagues
Step 4 - 8 leagues
Step 5 - 16 leagues

It works as well as it can - it's never going to be perfect. Adding a third league in this division would cause more problems than solutions not to mention risk widening the quality gap within the same step

I'd make all divisions 20 clubs including the EFL so the quality issue would be addressed by moving some clubs down from above rather than more up from below. Turkeys don't vote for xmas though so it'd never happen.

The 1,2,4,8,16 pyramid sounds perfect on paper but you'll never have an equal number of the same standard teams in each logically geographic region hence the imbalance we have now but i suppose if you solve the imbalance at this level you just increase it at another level.

[PortInTheSouth]

Confirmation Bishops Stortford have appealed, but will respect the decision made post this appeal. The wording is "most geographically appropriate" which rules out Braintree, but it'll be concerning for Hemel Hempstead and St Albans

https://twitter.com/BSFCTheBlues/status ... Z6qXA&s=19

I can't see this changing anything, but most geographically appropriate may be to move Hemel and St Albans up and Gloucester down - I suspect they would want to keep movement to a minimum however

[Seano]

Don’t get why they’re wasting their time. It’s a known thing appealing to them clowns is pretty pointless.

They’re better off just accepting it. Start researching the league and available players to them.

Feel sorry for clubs in that borderline, don’t get how they could even think of any long term plans.

[Gloucester man]

The division overall looks fairly strong it will be an interesting season ahead.

[Paulisi]

The division overall looks fairly strong it will be an interesting season ahead.

Should be a bit more even, but expect Scunthorpe to bounce straight back.

Expect the likes of Brackley, Chester and Darlington to be there or thereabouts and Boston if they recruit well.
Buxton were the form team and have a big budget, so could be outsiders.

Some clubs might have to cut their spending like Chorley, Kings Lynn and Peterborough.

Very difficult to call Southport - depends on these experienced players we intend to sign.

[portexileinbath]

Just a thought on Bishops S. What would happen if they entered into a ground share with a team a few miles further south and played their home games there, would they then be more southern in geographical terms ?.

[Ralphy Rylance]

Just a thought on Bishops S. What would happen if they entered into a ground share with a team a few miles further south and played their home games there, would they then be more southern in geographical terms ?.

Are clubs allowed to groundshare if their own is up to standard?
Would the cost of groundsharing outweigh savings on travel?
Would not playing at their home ground have a detrimental effect on form?

[portexileinbath]

Good answer RR.... but,
1 - what if they had a long term boiler failure ().
2 - they may have good relations with another "local club" that may be willing to help with their situation, to keep them in NLS.
3 - maybe, but having fewer long distance trips may help their "away" form.

TBF. I am just clutching at straws because I was hoping that Chippenham, Oxford or Bath would be in NLN. Plus a bit miffed having lost Leamington & Kiddy which were reasonably local for me.... At a pinch I would be happy to Chester demoted due to the awful events there and have one of the 3 above teams added to NLN to replace them.

[Ralphy Rylance]

2 - they may have good relations with another "local club" that may be willing to help with their situation, to keep them in NLS.
.

I doubt good relations would extend to using the ground free of charge. Crowds would no doubt be lower and who would get the food and drink revenue?

[portexileinbath]

I have a cunning plan for that, which would be best discussed over a glass or two, but here goes.
Bearing in mind that most fans don't travel to away games. BS could pay for a coach or 2 for the donor clubs fans when they play there, this would probably increase their away support, as they would be able to offer their fans heavily subsidised away travel. 104 seats @ £5 would generate £500 for the donor club. It would cost BS about £2300 per game but this could be offset by offering entry to the donor clubs fans @£5 (a way of doing that would need negotiating). I would imagine a lot of fans who wouldn't travel (even at a fiver) may well think going to watch a game at their ground for a fiver regardless of what team it is, is good value, thus generating income for both clubs. Overall gates could rise.