League Allocations 2018/2019

[andy]

I still think 3 regions at our level is the way to go, 4 is too many. Were already at as poor a standard as I have seen since the Banks's days and an extra division will only make it worse.

[AwayDayYeltz]

I still think 3 regions at our level is the way to go, 4 is too many. Were already at as poor a standard as I have seen since the Banks's days and an extra division will only make it worse.

I think this is accurate. I liked the away days at NPL level, but having so many long trips like Whitby, Spennymore, Blyth, Workington, Lancaster, is a bit ott. It’s a difficult balance for the relevant organisations to get right.

I like the idea of a Midland league in terms of travel times, but as you rightly point out the quality already seems lower than NPL, which was already a poor level.

[andy]

Correct. The quality HAS to be lower. Over the whole level another 22 teams have to come on board, thus diluting the 'pool' of talent that is currently playing at that level. There has to be a level in non league football where regionalisation becomes far less otherwise it ceases to be a pyramid. Let's not forget the NPL, SPL & IPL were the Feeder leagues for non leagues top division not so very long ago. We, and all the other teams at this level are just been forced further and further backwards. I know we are lucky to still be at this level after last season, but thank God we are. Parks football ain't great.

[andy]

By the way, before anyone mentions it. I know if there was no extra regionalisation we would have been relegated to the lower standard of football anyway. Our reprieve makes US one of the makeweight teams I know. But we weren't relegated and now I want to have my cake and eat it.

[andy]

Another interesting (or totally boring) aside. Were we to finish in the same position next season there would be more teams above us in the pyramid than when we won the Banks's league in 1986! And it doesn't get much more regionalised than that. Well over 150!! When we finished 2nd in the SPL in 96 there were just 25 teams above us! Quite a difference.

[AwayDayYeltz]

What's talking to yourself a sign of?

[juanillo]

It's a good job we didn't go down, as in Cenral League One, strangely we'd have had even fewer local matches, 4 fewer matches overall, and lots of trips south and east. Check out the map in the link below and expand to show the purple markers.

http://goo.gl/V2YxhA

[andy]

What's talking to yourself a sign of?

Who else is going to listen?

[AwayDayYeltz]

It’s official now;

AFC Rushden & Diamonds
Alvechurch
Barwell
Bedworth United
Biggleswade Town
Coalville Town
Halesowen Town
Hednesford Town
Hitchin Town
Kettering Town
King's Lynn Town
Leiston
Lowestoft Town
Needham Market
Redditch United
Royston Town
Rushall Olympic
St Ives Town
St Neots Town
Stourbr*dge
Stratford Town
Tamworth

Hardly sets the pulse racing but it does represent a good chance to get out this level. It’s more Southern Division One than NPL level.

[juanillo]

Hardly sets the pulse racing but it does represent a good chance to get out this level. It’s more Southern Division One than NPL level.

I'm not sure that being in the NPL set the pulse racing. That will only come if the team is playing well. Whether it necessarily represents a good chance to get promoted remains to be seen, particularly until we know what the team looks like.

Anyway, I'm guessing that the other teams aren't going to be quaking at the prospect of playing us, though I hope that I'm proved wrong.

I would expect Tamworth, King's Lynn, Kettering, Leiston, R&D and our neighbours to be up there pitching.