The Non - League thread

[Hoop Blah]

It was the quality of football and attendance drop off that did for the previous manager. Attendances fell by 40%.

Not buying that attendance angle I’m afraid, that just sounds like an excuse to me.

[mx]

...
Cinderford Town 3-1 Winchester City - [i]City slump high up in the Forest of Dean to 3rd placed Larks – big winners Paulton sit 1 point behind them : chasing hard for PO spots and drawing ever nearer are Melksham & Ciren Town.

It is going to be gutting if we don't make the play offs. Our recent form is poor (though not as bad as Thatcham's).
We have players playing through injury, others unavailable, and we do have a history of slumping at this time of year as we tend to (try to) play neat, ball on the ground football, and the pitches (certainly our pitch) just aren't suited to that kind of football in winter.

(tbf, I'm not suited to football at this time of year - it's o*ford cold, and there is 6 Nations rugby on telly)

[Four Of Clubs]

...went nowhere else this week other than to watch that rather dispiriting effort on Wed (KTBOGF)

Fair number called off anyway and a combo of sh!££y days at work 'SAD' and general cba-ness for what was left.

Some matches already being called off around the country - though I think the worst of the weather is now set for Sat evening onwards - just a question of how wet the day is - some forecasts verging the torrential AM so lots may go?

Plan A is/was Hereford Lads Club v Malmesbury Vics in HELL1W

Preview Saturday 15th Feb

NAT
AFC Fylde P-P Maidenhead United
Aldershot Town P-P Boreham Wood
Notts County v Woking
NATN
Brackley Town P-P Boston United
NATS
Billericay Town P-P Dartford
Braintree Town v Hemel Hempstead Town
Chippenham Town v Maidstone United
Concord Rangers v Bath City
Dorking Wanderers v Chelmsford City
Dulwich Hamlet v Welling United
Eastbourne Borough P-P Wealdstone
Hampton & Richmond Borough v Weymouth
Slough Town v Havant & Waterlooville
St Albans City v Oxford City
Tonbridge Angels v Hungerford Town - think this one is in doubt as was reportedly waterlogged earlier in the week.

IL1-SC
Bedfont Sports v Hertford Town
Chertsey Town v Staines Town
Chipstead v Ashford Town (Middx)
Hanwell Town v Bracknell Town - 'Robins' reached the Semi-Final of the Velocity Trophy, with a win on pens over high-flying One North side Maldon & Tiptree
- visit current league leaders
Marlow P-P Northwood - 'Blues game at S.Park' washed out on Tuesday
Uxbridge P-P Barking
Waltham Abbey v Chalfont St Peter
Westfield P-P FC Romania - 'field pick up three points after a recent stutter, with a 4-0 win over Staines on Tue

SLP-C
Kings Langley P-P Banbury United
SLP-S
Gosport Borough v Walton Casuals
Harrow Borough v Chesham United -
Hartley Wintney P-P Beaconsfield Town
Hendon v Hayes & Yeading United
Swindon Supermarine P-P Metropolitan Police
Wimborne Town v Farnborough
SL1-C
Aylesbury United P-P AFC Dunstable
Corby Town P-P North Leigh
Didcot Town v Bedworth United
St Neots Town P-P Thame United
Wantage Town v Bedford Town - Freds picked up only their 4th point of the campaign with a battling 1-1 draw at home to PO chasing Yaxley
Yaxley v Kidlington - visitors registered a 2-1 win on Wed over AFC Dunstable
SL1-S
Frome Town P-P Larkhall Athletic
Highworth Town P-P Cinderford Town - Worthians beaten 1-2 by Totton midweek
Melksham Town P-P Basingstoke Town
Thatcham Town P-P AFC Totton
Winchester City P-P Barnstaple Town

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
UPDATE - sub-STEP04 These are the only Matches currently NOT declared OFF in the featured leagues

CCLP
Sheerwater v Hanworth Villa
Sutton Common Rovers v Molesey

CCL1
Jersey Bulls v Kensington & Ealing Boro
Tooting Bec v Dorking Wanderers Res
Walton & Hersham v Chessington & Hook United

HELL1E
Long Crendon v Abingdon United

WESSP
AFC Stoneham v [b]Tadley Calleva
Fleet Town v Solent University

[mx]

Winchester City v Barnstaple is off.

I guess a lot more will be.

[Four Of Clubs]

Winchester City v Barnstaple is off.

I guess a lot more will be.

...indeed might be easier if I post up what's still (potentially) ON.

[Sutekh]

Nearly all of the National League and National League North fixtures have been wiped out.

Only the one casualty in the PL/FL divisions so far though (at Rochdale).

Bound to me more though

[mx]

Winchester City v Barnstaple is off.

I guess a lot more will be.

...indeed might be easier if I post up what's still (potentially) ON.

At 10.00 Melksham posted on Twitter that there game v Basingstoke was on.
At 11.00 they were back on Twitter - it's off.

I'd be surprised if any games get played anywhere.

[Four Of Clubs]

OK ...so this is what is NOT OFF c. mid-day

Preview Saturday 15th Feb

NAT
Notts County v Woking
NATS
Braintree Town v Hemel Hempstead Town
Chippenham Town v Maidstone United
Concord Rangers v Bath City
Dorking Wanderers v Chelmsford City
Dulwich Hamlet v Welling United
Hampton & Richmond Borough v Weymouth
Slough Town v Havant & Waterlooville
St Albans City v Oxford City
Tonbridge Angels v Hungerford Town

IL1-SC
Bedfont Sports v Hertford Town
Chertsey Town v Staines Town reporting no problems with pitch game on - v.local so presumably minimal travel concerns?
Chipstead v Ashford Town (Middx)
Hanwell Town v Bracknell Town - 'Robins' tweeting game on - pitch passed inspection.
Waltham Abbey v Chalfont St Peter

SLP-S
Gosport Borough v Walton Casuals
Harrow Borough v Chesham United -
Hendon v Hayes & Yeading United
Wimborne Town v Farnborough
SL1-C
Didcot Town v Bedworth United
Wantage Town v Bedford Town - Freds tweeting passed inspection and Bedford have agreed to travel
Yaxley v Kidlington

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
UPDATE - sub-STEP04 These are the only Matches currently NOT declared OFF in the featured leagues

CCLP
Sheerwater v Hanworth Villa
Sutton Common Rovers v Molesey

CCL1
Jersey Bulls v Kensington & Ealing Boro
Walton & Hersham v Chessington & Hook United

HELL1E
Long Crendon v Abingdon United

WESSP
AFC Stoneham v Tadley Calleva
Fleet Town PP Solent University - Town Twitter report they are having another inspection about now.....

...and it's OFF.

[Four Of Clubs]

...and a brief NL round-up of what survived and those that didn't nearer KO......

Saturday 15th Feb

NAT
Notts County 1-1 Woking
NATS
Braintree Town 0-0 Hemel Hempstead Town
Chippenham Town 1-0 Maidstone United
Concord Rangers 0-1 Bath City
Dorking Wanderers 2-0 Chelmsford City
Dulwich Hamlet 0-1 Welling United
Hampton & Richmond Borough 2-3 Weymouth
Slough Town 1-1 Havant & Waterlooville 2nd & 3rd cancel each other out – ‘Rebels’ remain 6 pts adrift of leaders Wealdstone and have played 2 games more.
St Albans City 0-0 Oxford City
Tonbridge Angels 1-1 Hungerford Town - 'Crusaders' point here probably not good enough - they remain 7 pts behind their hosts and have played three games more.
- levelled early 2nd half direct from a corner

IL1-SC
Bedfont Sports 1-0 Hertford Town
Chertsey Town 6-3 Staines Town att 384 - 'Swans' took a shock 2 goal lead early on but were 4-2 down by the break
Chipstead P-P Ashford Town (Middx)
Hanwell Town P-P Bracknell Town – match referee deemed pitch unfit shortly before KO - Ware's win over Tooting & M sees them leap-frog Hanwell to 1st

Waltham Abbey {SEVEN} 7-3 Chalfont St Peter

SLP-S
Gosport Borough 2-1 Walton Casuals
Harrow Borough 2-2 Chesham United - 'Generals' three points clear but have played three more than Truro
Hendon P-P Hayes & Yeading United – postponed just before KO due to worsening conditions
Wimborne Town P-P Farnborough – called off 14:00 due to standing water on pitch
SL1-C
Didcot Town P-P Bedworth United – failed final inspection c. 14:00
Wantage Town P-P Bedford Town – game scratched by officials shortly before the start; was deemed too windy having passed a 14:00 inspection.
Yaxley 4-2 Kidlington

CCLP
Sheerwater 2-0 Hanworth Villa
Sutton Common Rovers 3-1 Molesey
CCL1
Jersey Bulls 4-0 Kensington & Ealing Boro
Walton & Hersham P-P Chessington & Hook United – 3G surface but ref deemed unplayable due to high winds at around 14:30

HELL1E
Long Crendon 2-0 Abingdon United – LC shock 2nd placed AbU.

WESSP
AFC Stoneham 4-3 Tadley Calleva – att 103 - was 3-3 at half-way; ‘Purples’ edged it in the last 10’ to re-take top spot

- Our Plans changed due to the weather - headed up to and along the M40/A40 to Rectory Park just south of Northolt Aerodrome to see:

SSM1 St Panteleimon 1-1 New Salamis - 1st vs 2nd - S.Mids league but strictly 'hellenic' in nature as Greeks hosted Cypriots.
- both clubs new in to this league for 19-20 and are both rather tearing up the league ....
- An understandably feisty encounter in testing conditions - boiled over during 10' of stoppage time during which the visitors grabbed a deserved equalizer
- the Greek side had brought the 'overtime' upon themselves by some ludicrous time-wasting
- coach/physios covered more ground than some players with the amount of times they were running on/off. Was one semi-serious injury tbf.
- young ref struggled to control the game a bit near the end.
- brand new Community built facility in a large open public area between Northolt and Yeading on the B455 parallel with the A40.
- not sure St P. have been here for much more than a month - had been lodging just over the A40 at North Greenford.
- is two side-by-side full-sized 3G floodlit caged pitches: one with a pair of small seated stands - as a consequence I'm not sure they'll be able to stay here should they go up to the S.Mids Prem as there are some fairly hefty grading 'ticks' missing with this layout - currently spectator viewing would be free from outside the cage for a start.
- decent Tea-Bar but utterly witless member of the counter-staff; who was driven by total panic and pointedly failing to listen properly to anyone at the point of request
- She struggled to co-ordinate any kind of workable ordering system: got EVERYTHING I heard asked for, wrong and gave up on anything more complex than hot drinks or bacon sarnies by H/T.
- fortunately I'd managed to get my 'Middlesex' Burger (eventually and at the fourth time of correcting her) before KO : even then a fellow hopper - actually from round here (N.Hants/Berks) - was made to wait for his Latte from the over complicated machine: not because it took long to prep but because she was making him wait for his chips - we he hadn't ordered anyway!
- club room was shut for a private function though and with many other facility users milling about it was all a bit cramped inside the building
- crowd might have been close to three figures or beyond difficult to tell. Officially given as 62 Lots of other 'occasionals' driven here due to widespread disruption in the fixtures elsewhere.
- on the way out saw a proper Eastern Med/North Western Lahnden 'vendetta' brawl developing - jackets off and all - lots of middle-aged men who really should know better pushing and shoving . Have only ever witnessed this sort of 'threatening' behaviour with such regularity at NL in this part of the world - Uxbridge/Hanwell/Boreham Wood and of course the infamously notorious individuals over at Wealdstone
- back home via the 'spoons at Beaconsfield Services - my mate insisted - we ordered 1 and a 1/2 pts Ruddles (for £2.99?? - go figure a pint listed as £2.39 - maybe a 'hidden deal' or maybe just another inattentive server)

[Old Man Andrews]

Lydney won't be having any football at home for a while.

https://twitter.com/LydneyTownAFC/statu ... 45889?s=19

[Royal Rother]

Lydney won't be having any football at home for a while.

https://twitter.com/LydneyTownAFC/statu ... 45889?s=19

Oh well, that’ll be yet another blank Saturday for Windsor next week!

[Tony Le Mesmer]

Beat the weather by heading to Rotherhithe for Fisher 1 -1 Crowborough in the Southern Counties East Premier.

Originally planned to go to Dulwich Hamlet, but was very wary of a late call off so went for the banker 3G option.

A mundane but smart and well looked after modern venue just a few hundred yards from the now demolished home of the defunct Fisher Athletic. Canary Wharf provides quite a spectacular backdrop which no doubt looks a lot better without the grey skies of a storm overhead.

Rotherhithe is a strange old place, I don't recall every visiting it before. I walked for about half an hour around the streets from Canada Water and saw about 3 people. I know a storm had arrived, but it wasn't that bad in East London. All very strange.

[John Smith]

Barrow's march to the Football League doesn't look like letting up any time soon. It will be a remarkable achievement if/when they finally get over the line when you look at other clubs in the division. I hope they make a fist of it in League 2 too - can't imagine many teams will enjoy going up there so they could make Holker Street a bit of a fortress.

[Tony Le Mesmer]

Interesting info here about the restructure of Step 5 and 6 next season.

https://resources.thefa.com/images/ftim ... /89140.pdf

For local football there is a noticeable projected shift west for the Hellenic League. Which essentially means that it will no longer be the local league for football at that level. Clubs like Reading City, Binfield, Windsor, and even possibly Tadley will be competing in the Combined Counties League. At this stage, Flackwell Heath will be in the Spartan League.

[Old Man Andrews]

Interesting info here about the restructure of Step 5 and 6 next season.

https://resources.thefa.com/images/ftim ... /89140.pdf

For local football there is a noticeable projected shift west for the Hellenic League. Which essentially means that it will no longer be the local league for football at that level. Clubs like Reading City, Binfield, Windsor, and even possibly Tadley will be competing in the Combined Counties League. At this stage, Flackwell Heath will be in the Spartan League.

Very interesting stuff. I am all for reducing costs and making things easier for the players. Some of the distances Binfield have to travel are crazy for what are essentially unpaid players.

[paultheroyal]

I tried out AFC Stoneham last week. An excellent facility down there. I would imagine if they want to progress however they need to do alot of work with regards to the actual playing facility i.e. enclosed fencing and turnstiles etc.

Basingstoke Town - that rumbles on. Dont think this found covenant is going to change things. Talk of the council giving them a significant loan so they can upgrade the facilities at Winklebury including a new stand, turnstiles and a club house. Winklebury has the potential to being a decent site actually and if they get their act together could certainly accommodate Conference South football once they climb the leagues again.

[Tony Le Mesmer]

I tried out AFC Stoneham last week. An excellent facility down there. I would imagine if they want to progress however they need to do alot of work with regards to the actual playing facility i.e. enclosed fencing and turnstiles etc.

Basingstoke Town - that rumbles on. Dont think this found covenant is going to change things. Talk of the council giving them a significant loan so they can upgrade the facilities at Winklebury including a new stand, turnstiles and a club house. Winklebury has the potential to being a decent site actually and if they get their act together could certainly accommodate Conference South football once they climb the leagues again.

I remember posting a few years ago that it was the beginning of the end for Basingstoke when they went "full time". A completely nuts decision that obviously wasn't going to work and designed to deflect attention away from the owner's real intentions.

I fear they will fold very soon, but hopefully back in a new guise.

[paultheroyal]

I tried out AFC Stoneham last week. An excellent facility down there. I would imagine if they want to progress however they need to do alot of work with regards to the actual playing facility i.e. enclosed fencing and turnstiles etc.

Basingstoke Town - that rumbles on. Dont think this found covenant is going to change things. Talk of the council giving them a significant loan so they can upgrade the facilities at Winklebury including a new stand, turnstiles and a club house. Winklebury has the potential to being a decent site actually and if they get their act together could certainly accommodate Conference South football once they climb the leagues again.

I remember posting a few years ago that it was the beginning of the end for Basingstoke when they went "full time". A completely nuts decision that obviously wasn't going to work and designed to deflect attention away from the owner's real intentions.

I fear they will fold very soon, but hopefully back in a new guise.

I actually remember that post Tony - good call. They are still dabbling with the academy / paid apprentice route but not sure its the answer. Have not quite got the structure yet of a Woking / Eastleigh etc.

A number of people are posting on forums about what you are suggesting. Fold it. Clear the debts. Get this money sorted from the Camrose debacle. Play in the Hampshire League for the time being and then come back in a new ground via the Wessex League.

Winklebury is the only option i can see, with a loan. Local press are now rallying behind them and has been some national support.

[Four Of Clubs]

Here's the (P)Review of tomorrow's NL games:

Possibly quite few still suffering from this weeks downfalls - so check if you're venturing out - I'll try and update on Sat AM
- might also be a few late venue changes - e.g. our Plan A for a new tick at Billinghurst has already been 'wiped' as they've decided to play safe and move it to Bognor!

…very few midweek games went ahead which is a real 'git' considering it was Half-term and I often take the week off work & try to pick up as many games as I can – in the end I only saw 20’ of action in total on Tue.
– all Wednesday’s games on my radar were off and by Thursday with all the wet and cold, I couldn’t even be be @rsed - to trundle over to a re-arranged game at Rayners Lane

Saturday 22nd February 2020

NAT
Maidenhead United v Aldershot Town
17:20 Sutton United v Barrow - leaders bt Dover in midweek - now 7 pts clear of Harrogate
Woking v Stockport County
NATN
Chester v Brackley Town – Saints held at home by Southport on Tue
NATS
Bath City v Dulwich Hamlet
Chelmsford City v Slough Town
Dartford v Eastbourne Borough
Havant & Waterlooville v St Albans City
Hemel Hempstead Town v Concord Rangers
Hungerford Town v Braintree Town
Maidstone United v Hampton & Richmond Borough
Oxford City v Tonbridge Angels – City grabbed a creditable 3 pts 2-1 vs Dorking W in midweek
Wealdstone v Dorking Wanderers
Welling United v Chippenham Town
Weymouth v Billericay Town

IL1-SC
Bedfont Sports v Ashford Town (Middx) – 'Tangerines' got a vital maximum with a 2-0 win over fellow strugglers, Staines and dropped the 'Swans' right back in the relegation mix
Bracknell Town v Staines Town
Chalfont St Peter v Uxbridge
FC Romania v Chertsey Town
Hanwell Town v Waltham Abbey
Marlow v South Park
Northwood v Ware bottom vs top
Westfield v Harlow Town

SLP-C
Banbury United v Stourbridge
Rushall Olympic v Kings Langley
SLP-S
Beaconsfield Town v Poole Town
Chesham United v Gosport Borough
Farnborough v Swindon Supermarine – ‘marine beaten 0-2 at Yate on Tuesday
Hayes & Yeading United v Taunton Town – H&Y hammered B&L 6-0 midweek and pushed their way past Taunton into the last PO spot
- Truro re-took top-spot from Chesham with a 3-0 canter at Salisbury
Walton Casuals v Hartley Wintney
SL1-C
Barton Rovers v Didcot Town
Biggleswade v Wantage Town
Kidlington v Corby Town
North Leigh v Aylesbury United
Thame United v Yaxley
SL1-S
AFC Totton v Highworth Town
Barnstaple Town v Thatcham Town
Basingstoke Town v Paulton Rovers
Larkhall Athletic v Winchester City
Sholing v Frome Town

CCLP
Ascot United v Cobham
Badshot Lea v Colliers Wood United
Balham v Abbey Rangers
Banstead Athletic v Egham Town
CB Hounslow United v Raynes Park Vale
Frimley Green v Camberley Town
Knaphill v Guildford City
Molesey v Sheerwater
Redhill v Spelthorne Sports
Southall v Sutton Common Rovers
CCL1
Bagshot v Cove
British Airways v AFC Hayes
Dorking Wanderers Res v Walton & Hersham
Epsom & Ewell v Chessington & Hook United
Eversley & California v FC Deportivo Galicia
Jersey Bulls v Bedfont & Feltham
Kensington & Ealing Boro v Farnham Town
Fleet Spurs v Sandhurst Town
Tooting Bec v Godalming Town
Westside v Ash United

HELLP
Bishops Cleeve v Easington Sports
Brackley Town Saints v Tuffley Rovers
Burnham v Westfields
Fairford Town v Reading City
- I tried to follow City up at Holmer Green on Tuesday but the worsening weather came to a head on about 20’ with the visitors 2-0 up.
- the Ref called things to an early close with a sudden strong Hailstorm breaking his resolve to re-start.
- I even tried a mad dash down through and up out of Wycombe, over to Magpie La for the 2nd half of Flackwell v Burnham …. but as I arrived opposite the little road in, I could see spectators dashing for their cars; so assumed the Ref had called it off short their too – they lasted until HT

Flackwell Heath v Brimscombe & Thrupp
Lydney Town v Windsor - home side now tweeting:

- It’s got amazingly better since Sunday’s drama, however with the surrounding area still rather damp draining completely is a struggle. Game (on) Saturday in serious doubt.

- Stag Meadow somehow beat the deluge on Tuesday evening and Windsor eased past RWBT 3-1

Royal Wootton Bassett Town v Ardley United
Shrivenham v Binfield
Virginia Water v Longlevens AFC
HELL1E
Abingdon Town v Marlow United
Didcot Town Development v Holyport – ‘port also benefitting from what must be a bit of a micro-climate shelter to complete their game on Tue and run out 3-0 winners vs Wallingford
Langley v Abingdon United
Risborough Rangers v Wallingford Town
Wokingham & Emmbrook v Penn & Tylers Green
Woodley United v Thame Rangers

WESSP
Alresford Town v Bashley
Christchurch v Tadley Calleva
Fleet Town v AFC Portchester
WESS1
Downton v Andover New Street
Fawley AFC v Andover Town
New Milton Town v Petersfield Town
Newport (IoW) v Whitchurch United

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
...and just to re-inforce that tomorrow's game for Windsor @ Lydney might be in some doubt here's another pic from earlier in the week - four sports clubs badly affected by the flooding: Football, Cricket, Rugby and Tennis - the Football ground is nearest to us in the piccy below with Rugby over beyond the Cricket ground.



...from the photos accompanying the tweets quoted above though - the pitch does now seem to be visible - so it has drained well but must be pretty sodden.

[Huckleberry Hound]

Martin Kuhl has left Staines Town “by mutual consent” after just 11 league games (W0, D2, L9).