257 replies to this topic

[HighPressure]

The Non-League thread is dedicated to the memory of Tony Kempster whose knowledge and love of the game outside the league structure was unsurpassed.

Tony’s website contains a wealth of information for every step of the pyramid from Conference down to County level: http://www.tonykempster.co.uk/

Discuss anything non-league related from match reports to gossip from Blue Sq Conference to Sussex County Div 3. Whether you are a die hard supporter of a non-league team or just curious about your local side this thread is for you.

My team is Sutton United of the Ryman Premier who I have followed thick and thin over the past 30yrs. After suffering relegation in 2007/08 our attempt to bounce straight back to the Blue Sq Sth faltered at the playoff stage losing 3-0 to Staines Town the eventual winners who were promoted along with Dover athletic. We are expected to be one of the front runners next season along with our near neighbours Carshalton Athletic who also lost out in the playoffs with Dartford looking a threat. Main topics of conversation are our 6 new signings and just arranged pre-season friendly against Tottenham which should get a good crowd and help our coffers. anyone involved with non-league football will also know it can be somewhat of a soap opera with some of the things that go on behind the scenes and currently we have all eyes on just how AFC Hornchurch and Lewes are going to manage to pay their players this season and whether Weymouth will even make the start of the new season?

I will happily update you through the ups and downs of season 09/10 no doubt with the usual allocation of referees who's wives must just want them out of the house on Saturdays to annoy someone else

[Andy Bown]

Thanks for starting the thread High Pressure ( to your referee comment!).

Westbury United play in the Toolstation Western League First Division. Here's a link to our website, it's been relaunched towards the end of last season & some stages are still awaiting development (player profiles especially) : www.westburyunited.co.uk

On the website there's a section about our Club History so I won't post any of that here, the match reports are all written by me . I'm the Club's Media Contact as well as doing occasional (mainly away matchday) secretarial duties. It's great to be involved with the local club, rather than glory seeking with a professional club 100s of miles away, and be part of something which includes many people from the local community. I started going to games when aged 7/8 & became more involved about 10 years ago.

We've just been arranging pre-season friendlies, the highlight of which will be a home game versus a Yeovil Town XI at the end of July. Next season will see (another) attempt at promotion!

[saint]

This deserves to be a sticky.

Anyway, i'm a fan of St. Albans City who are in the Blue square South, we we're in the conference premier in the 06/07 season and that was my favourite time with the club and great memories.

But i have to say the up-coming season in the BSS will be one of the best im my oppinion, some big clubs are in it, like Woking, Weymouth, Chelmsford, Hampton and Richmond, who all get ofter over 1000 per game, there is also Dover, Lewes and Staines Town (Lewes we're relegated from the BSP)

We fought Weymouth for the BSS title in 05/06 but they won it and we won the play-off final.

I am really looking forward to next season, our 101st season as a club, last year was a centenary!

C'MON YOU SAINTS!!!!!!

Edited by saint, 18 June 2009 - 16:59 .

[Nick L]

Thanks for setting this up, could we have this pinned Mods please?

As you all know by now I am an Albion fan, but I also follow my local teams, especially Chasetown - who you will probably remember as the smallest team ever to reach the 3rd Round of the FA Cup - taking the lead against Cardiff for almost the entire first half, until finally being beaten 3-1. That run provided 2 of the best games I have ever been to. The original 2nd round tie at Port Vale was fantastic, there were nearly 3000 Chasetown fans and when the equaliser went in it was probably the most I have ever celebrated a goal...until 10 days later. I managed to get a ticket to the replay, on a bitterly cold December night, after Vale missed 2 penalties it seemed like luck was going our way, and super sub Danny Smith got an 89th minute winner - cue a massive pitch invasion.

Chasetown will also be the first ever team to visit Cardiff's new ground on July 19th. Unfortunately Chasetown lost their play-off final last season. They are now in the Unibond Northern League Division One, after being moved from the Southern League. Hopefully they will get that promotion this time next year.

[HighPressure]

Setanta's entry into administration means that all Conference clubs lose a min of 75k each with those in the Blue Sq Nrth&Sth divs losing a min 15k each.

It appears that there is now no TV deal to show non league matches and the Setanta shield will not go ahead without backing.

There will no doubt be clubs already committed to the expenditure for which the loss of income could be very painful.

[Nick L]

I am absolutely delighted to report that a new site will be set up to continue Tony Kempster's amazing work.

The members of Tony's messageboard are all teaming up to attempt to provide the masses of information that the great man himself once did. For the latest, here is the section on his messageboard:

http://www.nlpl.co.u...;guest=12976810

[HighPressure]

nick2702, on 25 Jun 2009, 09:33 PM, said:

I am absolutely delighted to report that a new site will be set up to continue Tony Kempster's amazing work.

The members of Tony's messageboard are all teaming up to attempt to provide the masses of information that the great man himself once did. For the latest, here is the section on his messageboard:

http://www.nlpl.co.u...;guest=12976810

Yep! When you see how many people are involved in continuing Tony's work you realise how much effort he had to put in day in day out to keep it updated.

[Nick L]

HighPressure, on 26 Jun 2009, 10:29 PM, said:

Yep! When you see how many people are involved in continuing Tony's work you realise how much effort he had to put in day in day out to keep it updated.

I know. It is taking dozens of volunteers by the looks of it just to do the work that was mostly done by one man. But it would be a shame to see Tony's work go to waste so it is great to see it being continued.

[Nick L]

Thanks for pinning this Mods.

[HighPressure]

nick2702, on 27 Jun 2009, 03:04 PM, said:

Thanks for pinning this Mods.

I will certainly be giving this thread a bashing over the following season

Looks like Folkestone are in admin:
http://www.NonLeague...p...L&nid=58774

Stafford Rangers from BSN are on the brink, they have to raise this money by July 7 to avoid the worst:
http://news.bbc.co.u...onf/8117493.stm

Newcastle Blue Star from the Unibond have gone:
http://www.nlpl.co.u....cgi?p....guest =12974202

AFC Hornchurch: Unclear as to who is actually in charge there or what is happening with the estimated 250k debts. they look set for enter admin or worse!

Lewes fans are unable to get any answers from their sole remaining director about the clubs estimated 400k debts and just how they intend to operate next season. Without a instalment agreement over their 100K tax bill with HRMC they could be wound up at any moment, its also unclear how they will meet any instalment plan if they get one?

I understand that NPL side Farsley Celtic are set to be wound up by HMRC.

The situation is not looking good for a number of non-league clubs, all a far cry from Ronaldo's 80 million transfer and 1mill a week wages

[Nick L]

With a dedicated non-league thread we might as well use it for the early rounds of the FA competitions. The draws for the preliminary rounds have been made in the FA Cup, FA Trophy and FA Vase:

http://www.thefa.com...ced_010709.aspx

[saint]

The fixtures have been announced for the BSP,BSS and BSN.

http://www.footballconference.co.uk/

[Nick L]

The new site to continue Tony's work is here:

www.nonleaguematters.co.uk

[HighPressure]

Farsley reprieved but start minus 10pts:
http://news.bbc.co.u...onf/8142178.stm

Lewes / AFC Hornchurch / Rushden & Diamonds / Sailsbury / Margate all remain on the brink of either admin or worse. Thst's just the ones I know about I am sure there are more to follow?

[Solar Sausage]

HighPressure, on 9 Jul 2009, 08:19 PM, said:

Farsley reprieved but start minus 10pts:
http://news.bbc.co.u...onf/8142178.stm

Lewes / AFC Hornchurch / Rushden & Diamonds / Sailsbury / Margate all remain on the brink of either admin or worse. Thst's just the ones I know about I am sure there are more to follow?

Why doesn't everyone just start the new season on -10 points??

[Andy Bown]

Just a moan about the fixtures in local leagues. I'd be interested to know what others' thoughts are about this or if similar happens for your teams.

IMO the leagues should do all they can to accommodate local derbies on Bank Holidays or midweeks, thus ensuring the largest possible attendance which not only helps atmosphere-wise but financially too.

But what has happened with Westbury United's fixtures for the coming season?... two of our local derbies are against Bradford on Avon (Bradford Town) & Devizes Town yet all 4 fixtures are arranged for Saturdays while we travel to Chard Town (120ish mile round trip with players/club officials all needing to work/college etc during the day) on a Tuesday evening !!

It's pointless contacting the league about this as it always falls on deaf ears.

Last season we were denied playing Bradford Town at home on a Friday when they'd agreed to the switch, the league saying no. So instead of a likely 300ish crowd on a Friday due to interest generated with supporters/players of other teams we got just over 100 on the Saturday!

Edited by Andy Bown, 14 July 2009 - 12:01 .

[saint]

St. Albans City's pre-season starts tonight at home to Championship side Peterborough Utd, Alex Ferguson's son Darren manages the side.

I shall be going with a kick off of 7:45pm, should be a good fixture and some fun to see a very good side.

We have Watford also from the Championship visiting in about 2 weeks for another pre-season fixture.

Edited by saint, 14 July 2009 - 16:35 .

[HighPressure]

We have lined up 3 cracking friendlies against Brentford / Crystal Palace and Tottenham 3 days before they visit Anfield on the opening day of the season. Then we come down to earth with bump with our first league match at Home to Margate to start our assault on the Ryman Premier league.

Edited by HighPressure, 15 July 2009 - 18:59 .

[HighPressure]

Fresh from beating Clive Allen's Spurs youngsters earlier in the week we kicked off our Ryman league campaign today at home to Margate. The opening 10 mins was quite even with Margate going closest but on 14mins we took the lead and never looked backed and run out comfortable 4-0 winners and tonight we sit proudly at the league summit. We may have unearthed a little gem in our 18yr old striker straight out of youth football and now with the leagues first hatrick under his belt. Showing the coolness the like of which I have not seen since a young Nick Bailey retook a penalty 3 times for us and scored all 3 who incidentally captained Charlton today and scored.

Sterner tests await us and we face Horsham away on Tuesday evening who will not rollover so easily I am sure!

Edited by HighPressure, 15 August 2009 - 23:25 .

[mackerel sky]

Rushden are doing pants. We had a great pre-season and I like Justin Edinburgh. I hate the 'Chairman' of the supporters trust who put his thug of a friend in charge last season. If Edinburgh had the resources that ham sandwich was given we'd be laughing. But i'm not laughing at all. The average gate will fall below 1,000 if we're not careful. The facilities are brilliant... they probably make more money at the Sunday morning car boot sale than match day now. Gone are the days of 6,000 crowds against QPR.

As I say 'Cousins' supported the bloke who was a thug. He basically did a GBH job on the Salisbury manager.

If the club is for the fans, i.e. a 'supporters trust' why is this man anywhere near the team.

Any fan of non-league football can't fail to admire the facilites at Nene Park, they rival a league one side.

I don't doubt will be playing a local derby against Corby next season, in Blue Square North or missing them entirely into Blue Square South, whoever decides the boundary. Whilst Kettering I suspect will go from strength to strength.