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The Top 13

Rob_the_Saint

By Rob_the_Saint
in St. Albans City Forum

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Hi Laz.

 

Excellent work. If only the sole criteria for acceptance into the Conference North/South was the League placings at the end of this season.

 

You couldn't do another sheet taking account of ground grading, attendances and financial status by any chance?

 

Incidentally. I heard that 18 of the 24 Ryman Premier Division clubs have applied to join the Conference next season, rather than all of them. You could plot the remaining 6 out, if you see what I mean.

 

One more thing. The northernmost clubs in 'your' Division 1 South are Bedford, then us, then, presumably, Newport County[?]. Who is south of us, geographically and outside of your reckoning? Chelmsford? Braintree? Billericay? Lewes? Woood?

 

Just a thought.

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Hi Rob.

 

I don't know everything, you know! I've met John Moules, but I wouldn't say that we were close friends [!].

 

My guess would be much the same as yours but as with all things in football, I have no doubt that there is a lot going on behind the scenes. I wouldn't rely upon it being a top 20 either.

 

Let's get into the top 10, fulfil the other criteria, and hope that there are others North of us who can be persuaded to join the whippet club.

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The one & only BigRon,EFM Newbie

The one & only BigRon,EFM

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The six clubs that have not applied are: Bognor, Harrow, Hitchin, Heybridge, Northwood, and Bishop's Stortford.

Five of these clubs (coincidentally I'm sure) are represented on the Isthmian League management committee.

Basingstoke were represented on the said committee but fancied the new set up and their representative (coincidentally) resigned.

Always happy to help.

PS, depending on league placings (especially in the Doc Martens) City could yet be the southern most club in the Alliance North Division (see previous message about Blyth on a Tuesday night - I've done that and, believe me, you wouldn't want to.)

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Laz Newbie

Laz

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Ron, do you know which clubs from the other two leagues haven't applied? This affects my spreadsheet. For instance, one of the midlands DM clubs may not enter therefore leaving one of the more southerly to take their place and thus pushing City further up the list.

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The one & only BigRon,EFM Newbie

The one & only BigRon,EFM

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Laz, I'm not gonna be a lot of help with this one.

 

My understanding from the Doc Martens is that they voted 65-1 in favour of the new structure at a recent general meeting. Plus, from what I'm hearing about club playing budgets in the Doc Martens Premier this season, I think that they're all up for it.

 

For example, it is very unusual, as we approach the half-way mark of the season, that the entire Doc Martens Premier table is separated by just sixteen points. I understand that every club in that division believe they're still in with a shout.

 

Going back to the playing budgets, what is more worrying for some is the effect this top 13 go/stay-up promotion battle is having on club finances. Many of those clubs are spending thousands of pounds a week more than they can afford on players, etc., in a desperate effort not to be left behind. At least eight of them will be in serious financial trouble come next summer. (And I'm told three or four of them already are!)

 

As to the North, I understand that the support has been just as good, but there are some clubs wondering about the travelling time & cost implications of a Northern Alliance that could dip as far south as Bedford, Braintree or even St. Albans. For Blyth Spartans, St. Albans on a Tuesday night is just as grim!

 

Aside from all the above, the Isthmian League's legal challenge has also thrown another spanner in the works, with some clubs questioning the continued financial outlay on a revised structure that may be either held up or cancelled by arbitration.

 

Like you, I am keeping an interested eye on the developments with a simple spreadsheet, etc. Perhaps we should keep in touch on this one with news, etc.

 

Copyright BIG RON News International!

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Laz Newbie

Laz

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Thanks for that Ron. The northern clubs don't really affect St Albans as none of them overlap our area. (Obvious really, but my spreadsheet doesn't know that.)

 

I'm going to flag the six quitters as not interested and add the next six. That takes us down to 20th place with 21st and the Div 1 clubs fighting for the play-off.

 

I'll have an updated table later, although St Albans position won't have changed becuase neither Hitchin or Stortford are above us in the table at the moment.

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The one & only BigRon,EFM Newbie

The one & only BigRon,EFM

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Laz, be careful not to forget the North. The last list I saw read like this and made my eyes water!

 

NORTH (22)

Alfreton Town

Altrincham

Barrow

Bedford Town

Blyth Spartans

Braintree Town

Droylsden

Gainsborough Trinity

Grantham Town

Hednesford Town

Kettering Town

Leigh RMI

Marine

Northwich Victoria

Radcliffe Borough

Runcorn FC Halton

Southport

Spennymoor United

St Albans City

Stafford Rangers

Worcester City

Worksop Town

 

SOUTH (22)

Basingstoke Town

Bath City

Carshalton Athletic

Chelmsford City

Crawley Town

Dorchester Town

Dover Athletic

Eastbourne Borough

Farnborough Town

Ford United

Grays Athletic

Havant & Waterlooville

Hayes

Hendon

Hornchurch

Kingstonian

Maidenhead United

Newport County

Thurrock FC

Tiverton Town

Welling United

Weston-super-Mare

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Laz Newbie

Laz

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Okay, not sure if it's changed too much, only the clubs listed by Big Ron have been replaced.

 

It's sorted by North->South.

 

NORTH

 

Blyth Spartans

Spennymoor United

Barrow

Southport

Radcliffe Borough

Droylsden

Leigh RMI

Marine

Altrincham

Gainsborough Trinity

Runcorn FC Halton

Worksop Town

Northwich Victoria

Alfreton Town

Hucknall Town

Grantham Town

Stafford Rangers

Hednesford Town

Hinckley United

Nuneaton Borough

Kettering Town

Worcester City

 

SOUTH

 

Bedford Town

St Albans City

Hendon

Newport County

Ford United

Hornchurch

Hayes

Maidenhead United

Thurrock FC

Grays Athletic

Kingstonian

Carshalton Athletic

Sutton United

Weston-super-Mare

Farnborough Town

Basingstoke Town

Crawley Town

Dover Athletic

Tiverton Town

Havant & Waterlooville

Eastbourne Borough

Dorchester Town

 

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Hi Laz.

 

Sory to further complicate matters, Laz, but just because 'The 6' haven't applied to join the Conference yet, that doesn't mean that they won't if the Ryman application for arbitration is rejected.

 

Should be a a straightforward sheet, Laz. What's the delay?

 

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Laz Newbie

Laz

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In which case I just remove the column that says "Interested" and then they jump back in.

 

I thought they had to apply by a certain date?

 

Rob, I had a look at the suggested site. I notice it's a bit out of date. There still aren't any dates for any of the playoff games.

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There is nothing wrong with Croft Park in the middle of winter. In fact, it would be ideal for me to watch the Saints at Blyth Spartans on Tuesday night, stay at my parents house and watch Newcastle the following night. Paradise - and no doubt most of you think I should stay there and not bother coming back !!

Regards Geordie Gibson

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