Chris Clapham Posted August 7, 2013 Share Posted August 7, 2013 I heard this morning that entry to the FA Cup may be removed for division 1 clubs next season. I think that is so wrong but if it happens, what can be done to expand division 1 to, say, 20 teams to give sufficient fixtures for the season. Could we import 4 clubs without lights? Could the ground criteria goalposts be moved for step 6, especially if no FA Cup involvement is implemented? Would it be feasible for all local step 6 divisions to get together to discuss this ahead of any proposals to the leagues? We lost our reserve division this season for various reasons and I would hate to think that our 1st division might disband as well! Any opinions? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nosher Posted August 7, 2013 Share Posted August 7, 2013 Was any reason given in the report for dropping all step 6 sides? It's already very restricted with clubs having to finish in the top four, plus some other exceptions. On the face of it, this seems like another ridiculous proposal by the FA but I'd like to find out more before accusing them of further efforts to kill grassroots football completely! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big J R Posted August 7, 2013 Share Posted August 7, 2013 I agree with Nosher. S'pose we'd better wait and see if it's true. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VPCTFC Posted August 7, 2013 Share Posted August 7, 2013 Was any reason given in the report for dropping all step 6 sides? It's already very restricted with clubs having to finish in the top four, plus some other exceptions. On the face of it, this seems like another ridiculous proposal by the FA but I'd like to find out more before accusing them of further efforts to kill grassroots football completely! They're not dropping step 6 sides. At the moment clubs have to have a 'G' grade to get into the FA Cup. From 2015-16 clubs will have to have an 'F' grade to get in. This was first announced in November 2011 and mentioned again in the applications blurb in 2012 and 2013. http://www.thefa.com/thefacup/more/clubadmin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lazarus Posted August 7, 2013 Share Posted August 7, 2013 There were less Step 6 clubs in the competition this season as a result of the expansion of leagues at Steps 3 and 4. Clubs at that level do not enter the FA Cup until the Preliminary or 1st Qualifying Round. That meant there could be less qualifiers getting through from the Extra-Preliminary Round. We have raised this issue with the Football Association recently (at the recent Steps 5/6 Annual Conference) because the League's view is that if the ground meets the requirements, Step 6 clubs should most certainly be allowed into the FA Cup. It is fair to say that being accepted into the FA Cup is a pinnacle for smaller senior clubs and that needs to be understood by those who make these decisions. It may mean a further qualifying round, which in turn could mean starting the competition in July, but that is surely preferable to being excluded. We seemed to have the backing of most if not all of the other Step 5 Leagues whose Step 6 divisions have suffered in this way and we have been promised that the matter will be raised with the FA Cup Committee of the FA. Whether or not it will bring any change I don't know, and I remain fairly cynical but we are doing our best to make an issue of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
@BedfontFeltham Posted August 13, 2013 Share Posted August 13, 2013 Heard that only 2 promotion places are available this season from Div1. Gonna be a hard season Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Clapham Posted August 13, 2013 Author Share Posted August 13, 2013 Heard that only 2 promotion places are available this season from Div1. Gonna be a hard season Where did you hear that? See Rule 13 - 4 - ii Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Windsor_Sec Posted August 13, 2013 Share Posted August 13, 2013 Heard that only 2 promotion places are available this season from Div1. Gonna be a hard season You heard wrong then ! The Div1 promotion places will be based on how many clubs are relegated from Step 4 into the CCL Premier Div which could mean only 2 promotion places from Div1 but could also mean there are still 3. As usual the FA have in place a 'moving-goalposts' scenario which I think is unfair on competing clubs as you should start the season knowing full well that if you achieve a certain league position and have the requisite ground-grading etc that you will go up regardless of other matters. I also believe that it's high time we had a definite rule in place that stops habitual near-bottom finishers constantly escaping relegation and I would propose that if you finish in the bottom 3 in whatever league you are relegated without exception. If clubs voluntarily drop a level or fold up then a 2nd, 3rd, 4th or whatever placed club should be promoted from below to take that space instead of reprieving a club at that level as has happened many times in recent years. I'm certain that at least a minimum of half-a-dozen CCL clubs could more than hold there own facilities wise and football wise at Step 4 yet there's only one promotion place guaranteed and their progression is held up by clubs at Step 4 who just can't or won't compete at that level. A pathway to progression is why the non-league pyramid system was set up in the first place yet the FA won't implement the rules that would benefit the clubs who can or would like to progress ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
@BedfontFeltham Posted August 13, 2013 Share Posted August 13, 2013 Like I said. "I just heard". So thx for clearing that up for me. Probably the "Moving goalpost" bit is spot on Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lazarus Posted August 13, 2013 Share Posted August 13, 2013 This came from a memo recently sent to Club Secretaries pointing out now (rather than at the end of the season) that were more clubs to be relegated to us from Step 4 at the end of the season, than are promoted, and there are no other factors, it could affect the number of clubs to be promoted from Division One. I do not expect it to happen, as I am fairly certain the FA would manipulate the situation but it is better for clubs to be aware of the possibility at this stage, even though unlikely, rather than at the end of the season. The FA have said this season that every club finishing bottom in each Step 4 division at the end of the season WILL be relegated. They said that last year of course, following the Step 5/6 re-structure (which only re-structured Steps 3/4!) and it didn't happen but the difference this time is that is is enshrined in the "Regulations for the Operation of the Non-League System" which can be found on pages 149-156 of the handbook. I do expect it to happen this time, especially with three due to come down from both the Ryman Step 4 divisions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
@BedfontFeltham Posted August 13, 2013 Share Posted August 13, 2013 Right so it's a possibility then. Thx Lazarus. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smudge Posted August 13, 2013 Share Posted August 13, 2013 So if Tooting and Mitcham,Walton Casuals,Walton and Hersham,happened to all be relegated,only 1 Div 1 side would be promoted.Unless of course the CCL Premier is extended to 24 Clubs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krooner Posted August 13, 2013 Share Posted August 13, 2013 No Smudge Alton would move to the Wessex Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Clapham Posted August 13, 2013 Author Share Posted August 13, 2013 No Smudge Alton would move to the Wessex and Camberley to Kent and CWUFC to the Hellenic! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E&E Rich Posted August 13, 2013 Share Posted August 13, 2013 Re: Alton. Isn't there something in the FA guidelines that says a team can't be transferred two years in a row, or something similar. It would be a real pain for any club in that area not knowing whether they need a squad of eastern based players or western based players each season and places them at a clear disadvantage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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