Results

[Hookey]

Play nicely children or I'll confiscate your keyboards...

[Grounhopper Mark.]

Play nicely children or I'll confiscate your keyboards...

 

:cheesy (2):

[coupwotcoup]

Play nicely children or I'll confiscate your keyboards...

 

 

At least they can reach their keyboards without the aid of a cushion...

[Hookey]

Play nicely children or I'll confiscate your keyboards...

 

 

At least they can reach their keyboards without the aid of a cushion...

 

Ooh, I never saw that one coming Stretch. I think you need a new script writer.

[coupwotcoup]

Hookey and Blanchflower enter the weird world that is Bowers' bar....

[essex]

I went to Mauritius v Hullbridge this weekend. Chris Woods former Clapton and Ilford has taken the Mauritius job until the end of the season and they won the game courtesy of a stunning goal at the end of the first half.

 

Have to say though overall the wrong team won. Hullbridge just look a bit lacking in cutting edge to me, they played the second half camped in the Mauritius half but couldn't score...... not even when the old man Portway came on.....

 

That was the first time I'd seen Hullbridge all season and I've now seen everyone in the Senior league at least once. As Waltham Forest are at Concord on Wednesday I'll probably go and watch Eton Manor, who ironically play Hullbridge...... so after going until February without seeing them I'll now see them twice in a week.

 

But a more general point, I think this is the strongest Senior League I've seen in years. Okay, there isn't one outstanding team who could match Hornchurch or Brentwood, or possibly even Concord, but there everyone is pretty competitive right throughout the division. Everytime you go to a Senior League game it's really difficult to know which team will win and the games are competitive and there is some good football. I actually think Lowestoft apart, there is more football played in the ESL than in the Ryman One North. It bodes well for the league. I just hope that the ground grading issues can be resolved, because if the FA come down as threatened then there will be as many as 5 or 6 I'd imagine who'll struggle to meet the requirements. It would be such a shame to see clubs have to drop down at the end of the season because of ground issues.

 

I can't believe it, what's Chris Woods doing there?

can't he get anything that match his experience?

He did a good job at Clapton, a good and down to earth guy.

Surely he must be getting paid something there, as the club should not be playing at this level, Woody this is an impossible job !!

Good Luck mate.

[Football Director]

Y'all can say whatever you want about clapton, it truth of the matter is we play much better than alot of teams up there on the table. Maybe we are treat to alot of teams out there that is why we are getting all the attention. Obviously everyone knows only winning counts in football and it doesn't matter how it comes or how bad you play but we play much better than our result is saying really...... Hopefully its a begining of many wins to come..........................................................

 

.......

Lets see how good you are, after your next 2 games,they are tough?

 

let see what will happen in your second season in the league

Thats if were still here mate?

[T.A.F.K.A.M 9]

I just wanna know what attention they are getting.................lol

[clapton]

Y'all can say whatever you want about clapton, it truth of the matter is we play much better than alot of teams up there on the table. Maybe we are treat to alot of teams out there that is why we are getting all the attention. Obviously everyone knows only winning counts in football and it doesn't matter how it comes or how bad you play but we play much better than our result is saying really...... Hopefully its a begining of many wins to come..........................................................

 

.......

Lets see how good you are, after your next 2 games,they are tough?

 

let see what will happen in your second season in the league

Thats if were still here mate?

 

i really rate your team as i know quite few people there and play against you last season. i was really hoping you win this league this season but oh well it all change now. i am sure you gonna be here next season

[Football Director]

Y'all can say whatever you want about clapton, it truth of the matter is we play much better than alot of teams up there on the table. Maybe we are treat to alot of teams out there that is why we are getting all the attention. Obviously everyone knows only winning counts in football and it doesn't matter how it comes or how bad you play but we play much better than our result is saying really...... Hopefully its a begining of many wins to come..........................................................

 

.......

Lets see how good you are, after your next 2 games,they are tough?

 

let see what will happen in your second season in the league

Thats if were still here mate?

Well all change now? whats changed were still the same 2nd in the league in both cups lol ps the loss of you supporting us ha ha ha ha ha

i really rate your team as i know quite few people there and play against you last season. i was really hoping you win this league this season but oh well it all change now. i am sure you gonna be here next season

[FCFAN]

With the threatened FA clampdown on Ground Grading Rules I can't possibly see how the Mile End Stadium will meet the required grading for Ryman One North. I suppose we'll soon see when the inspections are carried out . I still think there's a good chance BGU could win the league, but not sure they'll be able to be promoted.

[Grounhopper Mark.]

I just hope that the ground grading issues can be resolved, because if the FA come down as threatened then there will be as many as 5 or 6 I'd imagine who'll struggle to meet the requirements. It would be such a shame to see clubs have to drop down at the end of the season because of ground issues.

 

Please can you tell us who you think the 6 maybe, if this does not put you in awkward position. I have seen nearly all the grounds in this league, i can think of 2, maybe 4 at a push. (still to visit two)

 

At the risk of causing World war 45 i am trying to put this delicately. There is obviously Hullbridge and that other team, with two sides.The only probables i can think of are Apsa probably need some turnstyles, nice ground. Clapton probably just a tidy up. Both sides though are 4 sides and fenced in with seating. Sawbo have there new stand now which looks good, still to go to Eton Manor and Enfield (new ground) so cant comment.

 

I could come under attack here, but feel that apart from teams like Takeley & Bethnal Green who are relatively new to this step up, and may i add, what great work Takeley & Bethnal Green have done to their grounds. That all other teams would have been at step.5 or above for more than 2 years and maybe it is time the F.A forced the teams who's ground are not upto scratch to get their act together. Now put your tin hats on.

 

Edit: great new stands at Southend Manor, Takeley & Sawbo in the last season.

Edited February 16, 2010 by WA WTFC

[FCFAN]

Hullbridge and Stansted are the obvious ones with the two sides, lack of hard standing issue. Eton Manor, Barking and Takeley all fail to meet the criteria of having a useable clubhouse on or adjacent to the ground, APSA for definite fail on the lack of a turnstile...... there is also a whisper about the size of the playing surface at the Mile End Stadium, although that may be a totally untrue rumour.

 

They were the ones that immediately jumped out to me. Prior to living in East London I've lived in the North East and the North West and I guarentee that those grounds wouldn't meet grading for the step 5 leagues up there. The Senior League, because it doesn't have as many members or a step 6 league with clubs ready to step in, has really had to get by, but the FA are threatening to come down hard and it could seriously damage the league if they do.

[Grounhopper Mark.]

Hullbridge and Stansted are the obvious ones with the two sides, lack of hard standing issue. Eton Manor, Barking and Takeley all fail to meet the criteria of having a useable clubhouse on or adjacent to the ground, APSA for definite fail on the lack of a turnstile...... there is also a whisper about the size of the playing surface at the Mile End Stadium, although that may be a totally untrue rumour.

 

They were the ones that immediately jumped out to me. Prior to living in East London I've lived in the North East and the North West and I guarentee that those grounds wouldn't meet grading for the step 5 leagues up there. The Senior League, because it doesn't have as many members or a step 6 league with clubs ready to step in, has really had to get by, but the FA are threatening to come down hard and it could seriously damage the league if they do.

 

Apsa, Takeley both have a tea hut but yes no clubhouse. Bethnal Green as well, had to walk up the high street as no clubhouse, but i would give Takeley and Bethnal Green 2 years grace like they did with Colchester Utd when they went into what is now the Championship. Both clubs have made brilliant efforts to improve what they have. Takeley especially that new stand was up in about a year and the two covered standing areas too. I feel once a team has been at a step for over two years (sorry coachie.. ) they really know what is required at this level.

[T.A.F.K.A.M 9]

we are not to concerned with ground grading issues, we plan to move into the olympic stadium.........lol

[Hookey]

I just hope that the ground grading issues can be resolved, because if the FA come down as threatened then there will be as many as 5 or 6 I'd imagine who'll struggle to meet the requirements. It would be such a shame to see clubs have to drop down at the end of the season because of ground issues.

 

Please can you tell us who you think the 6 maybe, if this does not put you in awkward position. I have seen nearly all the grounds in this league, i can think of 2, maybe 4 at a push. (still to visit two)

 

At the risk of causing World war 45 i am trying to put this delicately. There is obviously Hullbridge and that other team, with two sides.The only probables i can think of are Apsa probably need some turnstyles, nice ground. Clapton probably just a tidy up. Both sides though are 4 sides and fenced in with seating. Sawbo have there new stand now which looks good, still to go to Eton Manor and Enfield (new ground) so cant comment.

 

I could come under attack here, but feel that apart from teams like Takeley & Bethnal Green who are relatively new to this step up, and may i add, what great work Takeley & Bethnal Green have done to their grounds. That all other teams would have been at step.5 or above for more than 2 years and maybe it is time the F.A forced the teams who's ground are not upto scratch to get their act together. Now put your tin hats on.

 

Edit: great new stands at Southend Manor, Takeley & Sawbo in the last season.

 

Sorry if you already know this Mark, but Eton Manor play at Barking FC, so maybe you have been there.

[coupwotcoup]

Hullbridge and Stansted are the obvious ones with the two sides, lack of hard standing issue. Eton Manor, Barking and Takeley all fail to meet the criteria of having a useable clubhouse on or adjacent to the ground, APSA for definite fail on the lack of a turnstile...... there is also a whisper about the size of the playing surface at the Mile End Stadium, although that may be a totally untrue rumour.

 

They were the ones that immediately jumped out to me. Prior to living in East London I've lived in the North East and the North West and I guarentee that those grounds wouldn't meet grading for the step 5 leagues up there. The Senior League, because it doesn't have as many members or a step 6 league with clubs ready to step in, has really had to get by, but the FA are threatening to come down hard and it could seriously damage the league if they do.

 

Maybe the powers that be view this as an easy get out to whittling down the Step 5 leagues. I have always been of the belief that below Step 4, ground grading should be totally flexible.

Clubs being forced to spend thousands for average gates of 40ish is a total nonsense.

If those with grounds that don't meet the criteria for promotion do have a chance of going up then by all means let them. But they should be given two years' grace and if the work is not done, then back down they go - no excuses.

All Step 5's problems could have been alleviated years ago. It doesn't take somebody from Ordnance Survey to redraw the footballing map of England and devise a 12-league Step 5 tier.

Sooner or later - could be this season judging by the applicants with 13 out of 14 possibles all in the frame- that play-off(s) will be needed to decide as to who comes up.

Then the fun shall begin. I blame the FA...they could and should have sorted this out five or six years ago when the other Steps were finally given some kind of order (Worcester and Gloucester notwithstanding).

[FCFAN]

I couldn't agree more Coup with all of that.

 

- They ARE trying to use ground grading issues as a way of cutting step 5 leagues to 12.

 

- They SHOULD have sorted this when they introduced their "National League Structure" in the first place.

 

- Ground grading IS ridiculously restrictive at Step 5.

 

As I mentioned earlier in the thread I went to Mauritius v Hullbridge on Sat, and I did think, what is the point of the facilities that are pretty good at Wadham Lodge for the sake of the players who just want to enjoy a game of footall and the 20 or so people who were there? A game such as that at Hullbridge or Stansted wouldn't be any less worthwhile. Club's are struggling for money as it is without making them spend money on in most cases, unnecessary improvements.

[Grounhopper Mark.]

Out of the more shall we say traditional ESL grounds, so ignoring these four...Tiptree (Maldon's ground) Mauritius (Waltham Forest old groujnd) Witham (only relegated last season) & Barkingside (Redbridge)

 

Which of the following has impressed you the most. I have also taken out the Hullbridge, Stansted, Apsa, Clapton ones too for the reason's highlighted above.

 

The options.

1. Bowers & Pitsea

2. Southend Manor

3. Basildon United

4. Enfield 1893

5. Sawbo

6, Burnham Ramblers

 

Anyone (FcFan / Coup) got any thoughts on these places?

 

My vote has to go to Southend Manor, it wasn't that long ago that they built the first seating area and now have another new stand.

[FCFAN]

Burnham is by far my favourite. Don't get out there too foten, bit of a drive for me - but when I do go always enjoy it over there. I hope to go to the semi final there against Eton Manor. The Brasted Semi Final between them two was my game of the season last season.

 

I like Sawbo, not been since the stand's gone up, but I think it's always very welcoming over there. My least favourite grounds are Hullbridge and Basildon. Nothing personal against the people there, I just find both places quite depressing. I know you discounted it - but I like Barkingside as well.