Football

[DarloRich]

In what other major British sports are there similar needs for club owners to meet a suitability of ownership stricture?

None as afar as I am aware but Football has much more cash swilling through it making it attractive to all manner of chancers!

 

[Haywain]

None as afar as I am aware

Although Rugby Union has been more of a sh*tshow than football over the last few years, with far less protection got the players.

 

[DarloRich]

The MK Dongs manager, Mike Williamson, has left the franchised outfit and move to Carlise. ahahahahaha!

Carlisle United have appointed Mike Williamson as their permanent head coach after sacking Paul Simpson last month.

Williamson arrives from MK Dons after Carlisle met a release clause in his contract with the Buckinghamshire club.

Mike Williamson: Carlisle United appoint MK Dons boss as head coach

League Two side Carlisle United appoint MK Dons boss Mike Williamson as their new permanent head coach.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Cross City]

I love how much MK Dons still wind everyone up, I quite like them because of it.

 

[SuspectUsual]

Happy with that as a draw. Radcliffe have the Salford chuckle brothers as managers so they will be a rugged team

You might be surprised. We played them pre-season and they’re a decent footballing side. The left winger the night we played them was really, really good.

The downside is they have the objectionable, gobby former Alty striker Jordan Hulme playing for them

 

[DarloRich]

You might be surprised. We played them pre-season and they’re a decent footballing side. The left winger the night we played them was really, really good.

The downside is they have the objectionable, gobby former Alty striker Jordan Hulme playing for them

They also have Declan Howe playing for them who was awful for us. Guaranteed last-minute winner there!

A lower league side at home is about the best you can ask

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

A lower league side at home is about the best you can ask

I wonder if South Shields thought that before the match against Bury?

 

[Haywain]

They also have Declan Howe playing for them who was awful for us. Guaranteed last-minute winner there!

A lower league side at home is about the best you can ask

I'm confused, I thought you were drawn at home to Gainsborough.

 

[DarloRich]

I'm confused, I thought you were drawn at home to Gainsborough.

yes - didn't read that post correctly!

 

[Cletus]

The board of the National League sell their soul for money from the Premier League in the form of the National League Cup.

At least Eastleigh (not everyone's favourite club) has shown some class by refusing to enter. Their statement as follows:-

Statement: The National League Cup

Eastleigh Football Club would like to confirm that we will not be competing in The National League Cup competition.

eastleighfc.com

Eastleigh Football Club would like to confirm that the club will not be competing in The National League Cup competition.

Following yesterday’s announcement by the National League regarding the new National League Cup competition incorporating the Premier League U21 teams, Eastleigh Football Club can confirm for our fans that whilst we qualified for the competition we, like numerous other National league teams, declined to enter the competition.

Our rational for this decision was based on numerous factors some of which we have listed below:

1. National League teams currently receive no compensation or protection for our young players, some of whom would feature in this competition. Premier League and EFL clubs simply take these players that have often had many years development at our clubs, something they cannot do to each other. Providing these clubs with competitive games to then play these players or showcase more of them to be taken under these circumstances is completely illogical.
2. The financial reward for playing in the competition is negligible and is likely to cost the club some much-needed funds.
3. We don’t believe there is a huge demand for the competition from our supporters or any other National League club.
4. The fixtures are to be played between October and April which is a time in the season where the club would hope to be competing in the FA Trophy, FA Cup and mounting a challenge for the Play-offs/Promotion and to add more fixtures to this already busy schedule would be counter productive.
5. To fulfil these extra fixtures, the club would need to increase the size of its first team squad which would come at considerable cost to cover games that would provide no revenue to support this.
6. National League clubs were not consulted before the decision had been made by the National League in the same way that we were not involved in the removal of FA Cup replays recently. Both of these decisions have potentially huge financial implications for National League clubs and also for our supporters.

A number of other clubs have made the decision to not participate. If we truly value our football pyramid, which is often held up as something we should be proud of and unique then it is incumbent on the clubs to push back against developments that devalue our national sport something which we believe this cup competition does.

Lower league football provides huge enjoyment all over the country for thousands of fans, is a large employer, and providing vital experience along the way to thousands of people connected to the game many of whom subsequently achieve well paid, hugely rewarding jobs higher up the football pyramid.

Our clubs are being under-valued, and far too many have not survived in the game when there is more money than ever flowing into it. This needs addressing and this competition increases the huge divide which currently exists.

This competition which we feel benefits the richest in the game at the expense of the poorest, many of whom are fighting to survive so on balance we feel the right decision for clubs and fans at this level is to withdraw from the competition.

 

[youngiecj]

The board of the National League sell their soul for money from the Premier League in the form of the National League Cup.

At least Eastleigh (not everyone's favourite club) has shown some class by refusing to enter. Their statement as follows:-

Statement: The National League Cup

Eastleigh Football Club would like to confirm that we will not be competing in The National League Cup competition.

eastleighfc.com

Disappointed my club are involved. Part time team (Hybrid model) one of the smallest budgets in the league and the squad reflects that. Look forward to the inevitable injuries from the extra games!

 

[dangie]

Stoke City 1-3 Hull City

First game for Stoke’s new manager Narcis Pelach. Going to be a tough season.

 

[Lewisham2221]

Stoke City 1-3 Hull City

First game for Stoke’s new manager Narcis Pelach. Going to be a tough season.

No effort or enthusiasm from the players. Dreadful defending. Basic stuff that a professional footballer should be capable of, regardless of how long the manager has been in post. Somehow Hull managed to play worse than us in the first half, but the writing was on the wall as soon as they came out after half time

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Northern Premier League...Premier Division

Morpeth Town 2 ... Hyde United 2

A goal-less first half, then Morpeth opened the scoring in the 53rd minute. Hyde then scored a brace in the 61st and 71st minutes, but in the last minute of play, Morpeth equalised. Hyde now down to 6th place in the league.

 

[SuspectUsual]

Maidenhead 0-1 FC Halifax Town

A solid away performance against a team likely to struggle this season. We struggled to break them down until midway through the second half when Flo Hoti produced a good finish from the edge of the box

 

[PauloDavesi]

Plymouth lost again and continue their rapid decent to the relegation places. I wonder if their owners are regretting their decision to appoint Wayne Rooney?

Meanwhile, Birmingham City had a comfortable victory at Rotherham to move to the top of league 1.

 

[Haywain]

I wonder if their owners are regretting their decision to appoint Wayne Rooney?

Hope they keep him for another week.

 

[youngiecj]

Altrincham 2 Boston 2. Keeper sent off 2-0 down with ten minutes to go. Somehow rescue a point! Another week outside of the bottom 4!

 

[DarloRich]

Darlington 3 v Southport 0

A great home win. A brace on debut for loan signing Will McGowan who arrived from Gateshead on Friday afternoon. 6th successive league clean sheet. Remarkable.

 

[Haywain]

In south west London the River Wandle has spread after the heavy rainfall of the last 24 hours and has now taken in the Plough Lane stadium. As a result the Carabao Cup tie between Wimbledon and Newcastle, scheduled for tomorrow evening, has been postponed due to flooding. It’s not clear how badly the pitch is affected* but areas around the stands are currently underwater.


*Edit: It is clear, the pitch has been very badly affected in one corner where the truf appears to have lifted. This TwiX post has a video of the area.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Hyde United have been drawn away at Congleton Town in the 3rd qualifying round of the FA Trophy. Whist both teams play the the Northen Premier League, Congleton are currently mid-table in Division One West, whereas Hyde are currently 6th in the Premier Division. Looking up ground information, Congleton's ground is 1,450 capacity of which 250 are seated.

This match has all the makings of a "banana skin" for Hyde.

 

[Loppylugs]

In south west London the River Wandle has spread after the heavy rainfall of the last 24 hours and has now taken in the Plough Lane stadium. As a result the Carabao Cup tie between Wimbledon and Newcastle, scheduled for tomorrow evening, has been postponed due to flooding. It’s not clear how badly the pitch is affected* but areas around the stands are currently underwater.


*Edit: It is clear, the pitch has been very badly affected in one corner where the truf appears to have lifted. This TwiX post has a video of the area.

Sadly, it's not only the pitch that has been affected. The offices, shop, lifts, everything at ground level is under water. Not only that, the museum which houses a lot of old Wimbledon memorabilia donated by fans also kopped it.

The Newcastle match will now take place at St. James' Park next Tuesday.

 

[Haywain]

Sadly, it's not only the pitch that has been affected. The offices, shop, lifts, everything at ground level is under water. Not only that, the museum which houses a lot of old Wimbledon memorabilia donated by fans also kopped it.

The Newcastle match will now take place at St. James' Park next Tuesday.

And Saturday's home match against Accrington has been postponed due to being unable to secure an alternative venue.

 

[youngiecj]

Gateshead 2 Boston 0. Our dismal form continues in the North East.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Northern Premier League...Premier Division

Macclesfield 2 ... Gainsborough Trinity 0

This Tuesday night match consolidated Macclesfield's hold on the top spot of the league. From 11 games played, they have won 9 and drawn 2. Good attendance of 2,472 for a Tuesday night match.

People may not like the manager, but he is certainly getting good results.

 

[AlterEgo]

And Saturday's home match against Accrington has been postponed due to being unable to secure an alternative venue.

Selhurst Park isn't being used on Saturday

 

[Haywain]

Selhurst Park isn't being used on Saturday

I suspect the problem is more about arranging all the additional stuff (police, catering, ticketing etc) at short notice than actually finding a ground that's free.

 

[Loppylugs]

Selhurst Park isn't being used on Saturday

Crikey, that would bring a few memories back, a Wimbledon side playing at Selhurst Park !! Probably get a better attendance as AFC than we ever did in the Premiership.

 

[Old Yard Dog]

Farsley Celtic were not allowed to play their home match with Leamington at Bradford as Horsfall Stadium was deemed not to meet NLN grading requirements - despite Bradford having been in NLN for most of the last 12 years. They had to switch it to Alfreton. Throstle Nest is OOU while the Celts install a plastic pitch.

TNS's games in the UEFA Conference League group stage have had to be switched to Shrewsbury. This is despite Park Hall being used for earlier rounds for donkey's years and just having a new stand built. Park Hall also played host to a number of LoW clubs whose ground didn't meet UEFA requirements.

I suspect that the majority of ties in the earlier rounds of European competitions are switched to bigger stadia as club grounds in smaller countries tend to be very small.

 

[Haywain]

TNS's games in the UEFA Conference League group stage have had to be switched to Shrewsbury. This is despite Park Hall being used for earlier rounds for donkey's years and just having a new stand built. Park Hall also played host to a number of LoW clubs whose ground didn't meet UEFA requirements.

I gather that the change is due to the Conference League having a minimum capacity requirement of 8,000 in the group stage, which Park Hall could not come close to achieving.