On the subject of your blog I have just looked at Gateshead's schedule for the next 13 days. Next week starting on Tuesday a game every other day and total of 5 in all to the end of the season. As a Barnet supporter I am not exactly crying buckets but I would be spitting feathers if I was a Gateshed supporter at this could result in them winning nothing, hope they have a large squad. One reason I was not sorry to see us exit the trophy looking at the bigger picture as we would now have one more game in the next two weeks. On another note and looking forward to Tuesday I feel a lot of the pressure is on Bromley as if they loose they would be 8 points behind us whilst a draw for us would not be a disaster as we would retain our 5 point lead. Anyway hope for a win in what has been a magnificent season what ever the outcome. COYBs
Theirs and Wealdstone's are long, Heed's through cup progress the latter through waterlogged pitches. Simply sorted by front loading, if leagues fail to follow that next season we end up in the same situation again if the weather patterns are similar.
A lot on Bromley David, they have Solihull and Gateshead to play after Tuesday night at The Hive, the latter the only side likely to still cause one of us a problem.
I cant add a link to the interview, or copy still photos of the pitch, but its awful.
Storm Kathleen is swirling its way towards the North West and Barnoldswick, Colne, Irlam & Padiham are all at home tomorrow - in theory.
(As an aside, despite the issues with pitches weather etc, the NWCFL is choc full of very good, genuine, enthusiastic staff, volunteers, supporters. Absolutely love it & has rekindled my love of football)
My first ‘love’ was (still is really) Hull City. Watched & followed them for decades, thru near liquidation, several administrations (before points were docked for it) and then unbelievably we found ourselves in the Premier League, the FA Cup Final and competitively Europe.
Very quickly in our first Premier League season the excitment & thrill rubbed off. Ticket prices, kick off times, perceived ‘bias’ of refs / officialdom / media towards smaller clubs, plus spending money on journeymen to try & keep us up.
It didnt feel as honest as NWCFL where every penny counts.
Paradoxically whilst I loved the new PL stadiums, i think some of the ramshackle grounds visited now just feel more ‘right’.
Very similar to a lot of people no doubt. Spurs are mine, not been in such a long time, it's unaffordable for me and I detest so much of what goes on at that level now too.
Not considered a number in non-league whether you follow one particular club or venture around a few like I do. I've watched non-league football since I was 8, league football at the same time, no competition for me now!
It gets worse … if they dont fulfil their fixtures by 20/4/24 the FA have threatened Colne with relegation! Yes, really.
Theres been an item on BBC North West tv tonight including Paul Weller the manager. A drone shot if the pitch has shoen its totally wrecked.
Beggars belief that the FA have made the initial decision and would like to think they may reconsider after the furore Bens original piece has created.
As a footnote, i support FCIOM and travel to all the away games, which has included 6 postponements 🙄 Our re-arranged league game with Colne will now be played at Ilkleys ground 3G 20 miles away!!!
Ian, appreciate your comment and great to have you here! I think Ben said what most of us think or have never yet put on paper, really good interview on the Non League Show today as well.
Yes, I had seen they've been threatened with relegation, I think one or two others in different leagues have been given the same ultimatum, makes you wonder if the the FA operate behind closed curtains and have missed the rain....
Kudos to you travelling away, I bet that's something to savour similar to Guernsey and Jersey.
Lower league clubs seem to be treated like professional ones when it comes to fixtures and distances to travel.
It’s not realistic as you quite rightly point out for clubs to be treated this way.
On the subject of your blog I have just looked at Gateshead's schedule for the next 13 days. Next week starting on Tuesday a game every other day and total of 5 in all to the end of the season. As a Barnet supporter I am not exactly crying buckets but I would be spitting feathers if I was a Gateshed supporter at this could result in them winning nothing, hope they have a large squad. One reason I was not sorry to see us exit the trophy looking at the bigger picture as we would now have one more game in the next two weeks. On another note and looking forward to Tuesday I feel a lot of the pressure is on Bromley as if they loose they would be 8 points behind us whilst a draw for us would not be a disaster as we would retain our 5 point lead. Anyway hope for a win in what has been a magnificent season what ever the outcome. COYBs
Theirs and Wealdstone's are long, Heed's through cup progress the latter through waterlogged pitches. Simply sorted by front loading, if leagues fail to follow that next season we end up in the same situation again if the weather patterns are similar.
A lot on Bromley David, they have Solihull and Gateshead to play after Tuesday night at The Hive, the latter the only side likely to still cause one of us a problem.
Great article as ever Trev. Totally agree on this issue.
Cheers Matt!
I cant add a link to the interview, or copy still photos of the pitch, but its awful.
Storm Kathleen is swirling its way towards the North West and Barnoldswick, Colne, Irlam & Padiham are all at home tomorrow - in theory.
(As an aside, despite the issues with pitches weather etc, the NWCFL is choc full of very good, genuine, enthusiastic staff, volunteers, supporters. Absolutely love it & has rekindled my love of football)
Glad to hear that Ian, what made you fall out of love with football?
Non-league is full of superb stories and people, long may that continue!
My first ‘love’ was (still is really) Hull City. Watched & followed them for decades, thru near liquidation, several administrations (before points were docked for it) and then unbelievably we found ourselves in the Premier League, the FA Cup Final and competitively Europe.
Very quickly in our first Premier League season the excitment & thrill rubbed off. Ticket prices, kick off times, perceived ‘bias’ of refs / officialdom / media towards smaller clubs, plus spending money on journeymen to try & keep us up.
It didnt feel as honest as NWCFL where every penny counts.
Paradoxically whilst I loved the new PL stadiums, i think some of the ramshackle grounds visited now just feel more ‘right’.
Tbh i cant get enough if it now!!
Very similar to a lot of people no doubt. Spurs are mine, not been in such a long time, it's unaffordable for me and I detest so much of what goes on at that level now too.
Not considered a number in non-league whether you follow one particular club or venture around a few like I do. I've watched non-league football since I was 8, league football at the same time, no competition for me now!
It gets worse … if they dont fulfil their fixtures by 20/4/24 the FA have threatened Colne with relegation! Yes, really.
Theres been an item on BBC North West tv tonight including Paul Weller the manager. A drone shot if the pitch has shoen its totally wrecked.
Beggars belief that the FA have made the initial decision and would like to think they may reconsider after the furore Bens original piece has created.
As a footnote, i support FCIOM and travel to all the away games, which has included 6 postponements 🙄 Our re-arranged league game with Colne will now be played at Ilkleys ground 3G 20 miles away!!!
Ian, appreciate your comment and great to have you here! I think Ben said what most of us think or have never yet put on paper, really good interview on the Non League Show today as well.
Yes, I had seen they've been threatened with relegation, I think one or two others in different leagues have been given the same ultimatum, makes you wonder if the the FA operate behind closed curtains and have missed the rain....
Kudos to you travelling away, I bet that's something to savour similar to Guernsey and Jersey.
Nail on head Trevor
Shambles is not enough to describe this
state of affairs
Cheers Bruce! It's unbelievable when you read some of this stuff and clubs are having to do this, just plain disbelief sometimes!
My view exactly, pity we do not play football on paper we could all get our predictions right all the time.