The Non - League thread

[Royal Rother]

Am sure the tenner is in line with other clubs. It's still not going to convert many to non league. How do we fix that? Not sure. It's one of many frustrations i have with non league!

I really struggle to believe there are too many adults thinking of going to a non-league game who'd say £8 was fine, but £10 is just too much.

It's more of a mental barrier than a financial one! I know for a fact in a wealthy town like Windsor people don't think what windsor charge is value for money.

You're unbelievable. Yes of course there's always going to be some people who want to get in for nothing but I've never heard anyone in full possession of their mental faculties complaining about the cost of getting in to Stag Meadow, whether home or away supporters.

Some of the old codgers complain about the music, the team, the Chairman on the PA and a few other things EVERY BLOODY GAME but never about the money they pay to watch the games.

No other club in the CCL charges less than Windsor's £6 and a couple charge £8 with lesser facilities and poorer pitches.

[glass half full]

May I add my thanks for all your hard work, FOC?

Through your contributions, I have learnt a lot more about local and not so local non-league teams.

Keep up the good work!

[Four Of Clubs]

May I add my thanks for all your hard work, FOC?

Through your contributions, I have learnt a lot more about local and not so local non-league teams.

Keep up the good work!

thanks for thanks ... its nice to have a platform to indulge my interest (or 'obsession' ?) .... will be hanging my 'anorak' up for a few weeks airing after this weekend (probably ) ...the pre-season friendlies within range, start very early in July!

Fortunately a susceptibility to Hay Fever keeps me out of the missus' 'grand designs' to sort out the garden in June! Will give me an opportunity to sort out my records in preparation for visits in 15/16 to the Basingstoke Senior League and the Herts County Premier

UPDATE from tonights' Ryman Premier Play Offs

Hendon 2-1 Met Police
Margate 2-1 Dulwich Hamlet

Final Sunday 17th May KO 15:00 @ Earlsmead (Harrow Borough FC)

Hendon v Margate

.... though there is some minor doubt about the venue as allegedly Harrow B have had the pitch booked for some event or other for several weeks - naturally they would have expected the Play Offs to have been resolved by now?

[Royalist]

Some of the old codgers complain about the music, the team, the Chairman on the PA and a few other things EVERY BLOODY GAME but never about the money they pay to watch the games.

No other club in the CCL charges less than Windsor's £6 and a couple charge £8 with lesser facilities and poorer pitches.

You are talking about the converted. I am not.

And my days of going to away games, at this level at least, are pretty much over. Some charge £8?!

[AthleticoSpizz]

BRovers exit non-league after another Wembley penalty shoot out.

Gromsby remain after their third play-off final defeat

[Sutekh]

Apparently that makes only 5 teams in 28 years that have bounced straight back to the FL at the first attempt.

When will there be 3 or 4 up and down between the FL and Conference.

[AthleticoSpizz]

With the gulf between the Conf. and Div 2 shrinking each season, maybe sooner rather than later........and deservedly so imo

[tmesis]

Some of the old codgers complain about the music, the team, the Chairman on the PA and a few other things EVERY BLOODY GAME but never about the money they pay to watch the games.

No other club in the CCL charges less than Windsor's £6 and a couple charge £8 with lesser facilities and poorer pitches.

You are talking about the converted. I am not.

And my days of going to away games, at this level at least, are pretty much over. Some charge £8?!

Do you know of people thinking of going to non-league games who don't go because they think £10 is far too much?

I'd suggest the biggest hurdle by far is persuading them that it won't be a load of crap.

[AthleticoSpizz]

Lol and like league games aren't often crap.

[tmesis]

Lol and like league games aren't often crap.

they are indeed, but getting people used to professional football to believe that games in the 6th division down or lower, in front of 400 people, aren't crap (let alone ones with two-figure crowds) is not an easy sell.


I was at Boreham Wood last week for their play-off final, and there was a Chelsea fan in the queue for the tea bar, talking about how he loved going to Boreham Wood games, because it was cheaper, more "real", more personal, he didn't feel like he was getting ripped off etc.

A supporter used to watching league football is not going to find £10 expensive. If they don't go, price is unlikely to be the reason. It'll be more about not seeing the appeal of going.

[KC Royal]

Forgot to post in here, Margate won their playoff final

Hope I can make the Margate-Maidenhead game, Maidenhead haven't had a closer game to me in the 8 years they've been in Conf South and I've thought about going to Margate in the past anyway, so it would be ideal.

Anyone know when the fixtures usually come out?

[dizzynewheights]

Due for publication on 1st July

[Yellowcoat]

Now rumoured to be July 3rd.

[Four Of Clubs]

Assuming we don't want a completely new thread for Season 15/16 - just a bit of a pain having to correct the thread title each time - hint, hint, mods?

Anyone know when the fixtures usually come out?

...as a rough guide here's last seasons' NL fixture publication dates:

Levels 1-4: 18 June - so that's Prem, Chumps & FL1+2 - in newer 'old money'!
Conference: 4 July

...apparently the date for this coming season of the 1st July - was picked up came from Southport's forum - not sure where they got it from.
As for the title "NATIONAL League" as it will be known, I'm not sure how long before the CONFERENCE tag will be dropped - probably be around a long time informally. Is bit of a strange thing to cope with - at STEPS1 & 2 we may have to refer to the NATIONAL NATIONAL; NATIONAL NORTH & NATIONAL SOUTH )

Southern League should be on or around 13th July - probably close to the Ryman/Isthmian (Lewes have proffered this same date as likely) - though there are still a few unresolved reprieves at STEP04 and another couple of fairly local clubs very close to extinction.
Leighton Town being the latest focus of attention - usual tale; manager and entire squad rumoured to have walked and no more income from the club from Aylesbury Utd - who have upped sticks and moved in with Thame for next season.

- this would of course impact on constitutional line ups of the CCL, HELLENIC & South Mids and there are several proposed 'switches' that might need revisiting, should Leighton 'go under'.

I might throw the known line-ups out in a week or two should anything get decided in the meantime - there are a couple of 'draft' line-ups about but a few relegation issues at STEP04 remain uncertain. There are also a some surprising constitutional club Transfers in the offing - mostly involving Southern League clubs - e.g. reportedly Burnham, Marlow (and Flackwell) have been switched to/placed in SL Div One South & West for 15/16.

There are also unexpected enforced 'grading' demotions which may change things still further :
- one example :reportedly Clevedon Town (down nr Brizzle) have had the lights at their Hand Stadium de-classified and face demotion or extinction (the current 'lux' rating or whatever they go by - would not even meet Western League entry standards)
Hallen similarly face expulsion/closure - though I think that may be due to 'falling out with the Social Club/Local Authority' syndrome. - shame nice ground round the Western side of Brizzle - tricky to get to and they couldn't find anyone to run the bar at H/T when I visited a few years back.... They could always move in with Cribbs who are about a mile down the road.

[Hoop Blah]

Some of the old codgers complain about the music, the team, the Chairman on the PA and a few other things EVERY BLOODY GAME but never about the money they pay to watch the games.

No other club in the CCL charges less than Windsor's £6 and a couple charge £8 with lesser facilities and poorer pitches.

You are talking about the converted. I am not.

And my days of going to away games, at this level at least, are pretty much over. Some charge £8?!

As a casual, turn up on the day, kind of supporter its only £4 cheaper for me to visit Basingstoke Town than my ticket at Madejski.

I am put off at paying more than a fiver to watch players in the Hellenic and CCL that I can watch for free on a Sunday too. It's a different level of football and a lot less organised and 'professional' of course but it has stopped me going along at times.

[double d]

Seriously considering getting a Bromley FC season ticket for the National league. Moved upto Croydon so is almost the local team (bar Crystal Palace)

[Sutekh]

Please can somebody update the dates in the thread title....

[Four Of Clubs]

Please can somebody update the dates in the thread title....

....whistling in the wind there .... if LAST season is anything to go by ...

... anywhose latest rumblings round 'ere are that Farnborough are in bother ... yet again

... will try and get more on this possible story later - big set of financial reviews/checks going on and news relating to the CVA (Company Voluntary Agreement) may not be too far away. Meeting in Leeds tomorrow (Friday) apparently, where the club are seeking to re-negotiate their previous insolvency agreement terms.

• £10,000 to be paid 7 days from the approval date of the variation meeting; and
• £10,000 to be paid in 10 equal instalments commencing 30 days after the approval date of the variation meeting; and
• The CVA to be concluded within 30 days of the final instalment being received.

...in the extreme CASE they may STILL be forced to 're-form/re-brand' (for the nth time in 20 yrs) - many locals keeping an eye on an imminent CCL AGM, for the possible appearance of a late application to join from the Cherrywood outfit - assuming that's where they'll be able to play.

... according to their official site they still have a friendly booked vs Sluff on Sat 11th July 14:00 KO - double header with a WSL match: Reading Women playing Durham Women at 18:00.

[Sutekh]

Please can somebody update the dates in the thread title....

See you only had to ask nicely

Thankyou to whoever updated that for us.

[Royalist]

Flackwell Heath refuse promotion due to travelling costs. It really is a huge difference between the central and the south and west in this area and clubs are right on the cusp around here. Shame but financially sensible.