A couple of non league snippets

[Nathan]

2 hours ago, Curtis said:

It doesn’t look like many of the National League clubs are taking the FA Trophy seriously

1 hour ago, Reading Rebel said:

certainly Aldershot and Chesterfield have bigger fish to fry.

The FA Trophy is going the same way as the FA Cup is for the big Premier League teams. This isn't limited to just teams in the National League Premier however; when was the last time we had a decent Trophy run? 2004/05? Would any of us really miss it if it wasn't played at all?

A sad indictment of what used to be a serious and prestigious competition.

[Reading Rebel]

3 hours ago, Nathan said:

The FA Trophy is going the same way as the FA Cup is for the big Premier League teams. This isn't limited to just teams in the National League Premier however; when was the last time we had a decent Trophy run? 2004/05? Would any of us really miss it if it wasn't played at all?

A sad indictment of what used to be a serious and prestigious competition.

It's all to do with the lack of decent money on offer.

NL Premier teams who are either going for the play-offs or are battling against relegation will do whats best for them. 

If that means fielding much weakened sides and risk going out of the Trophy I'm not sure they'll lose any sleep over it.

I'm not sure it's to that extent with NLN/NLS clubs who will in general put out their strongest sides and want to do well.

As for missing it, I think most supporters and clubs at our level would miss it.

It's still the possibility of a big day out at Wembley, the chance to play a big NL side and some money in the bank. 

[Irishadrian]

Chesterfield had 6 academy players at KO and 2 more were subs later in the game so yes no interest in Trophy

[Nathan]

3 hours ago, Reading Rebel said:

It's still the possibility of a big day out at Wembley, the chance to play a big NL side and some money in the bank. 

I disagree: I think these days it's seen more as a joke unless your team happens to muddle through to the latter stages, and it's been 26 years and counting since we've managed that. After Bromley, how many of us were genuinely disappointed that we no longer had the distraction of the Trophy, and could now concentrate on the league? It's getting more and more like the B&B Cup every year (thank heavens the National League don't run a League Cup!).

A Trophy run simply doesn't make up for being in a relegation scrap (not that it ever did), or for missing out on promotion to the NLP or Football League.

[Reading Rebel]

4 hours ago, Nathan said:

I disagree: I think these days it's seen more as a joke unless your team happens to muddle through to the latter stages, and it's been 26 years and counting since we've managed that. After Bromley, how many of us were genuinely disappointed that we no longer had the distraction of the Trophy, and could now concentrate on the league? It's getting more and more like the B&B Cup every year (thank heavens the National League don't run a League Cup!).

A Trophy run simply doesn't make up for being in a relegation scrap (not that it ever did), or for missing out on promotion to the NLP or Football League.

We'll have to disagree here Nathan.

Although nowhere near what can be gained from an FA Cup run there's still some good money to be had from a decent run in the Trophy.

Maybe some NL premier clubs might treat the competition with disdain but I'm pretty sure most clubs below step 1 would still love to have a Trophy run and the prospect of at least drawing a big NL club and have the remote possibility of reaching Wembley. 

As for losing to Bromley, again I'm pretty sure our management and the majority of supporters were disappointed to lose and wanted to go further in the competition. 

The B&B is worth nothing in prize money so there's no comparison to be had with the Trophy. 

[Curtis]

7 hours ago, Reading Rebel said:

Maybe some NL premier clubs might treat the competition with disdain but I'm pretty sure most clubs below step 1 would still love to have a Trophy run and the prospect of at least drawing a big NL club and have the remote possibility of reaching Wembley.

Aveley v AFC Fylde attendance 319

Welling v Chesterfield attendance 452

Chelmsford v Wealdstone attendance 865 (and that’s a fairly local match)

Clubs like Hartlepool, Oldham & Gateshead had attendances around half of an average league match.

As Nathan says there is very limited interest until the later stages, probably quarter-finals, the FA might need to look at regionalising the competition through to the final to reduce fans having to travel long distances & maybe creating some interesting local derbies.

[Reading Rebel]

5 hours ago, Curtis said:

Aveley v AFC Fylde attendance 319

Welling v Chesterfield attendance 452

Chelmsford v Wealdstone attendance 865 (and that’s a fairly local match)

Clubs like Hartlepool, Oldham & Gateshead had attendances around half of an average league match.

As Nathan says there is very limited interest until the later stages, probably quarter-finals, the FA might need to look at regionalising the competition through to the final to reduce fans having to travel long distances & maybe creating some interesting local derbies.

I'd say it's more down to affordability for supporters and prioritizing the league than lack of interest in the Trophy.

Of course like any cup competition the further a club goes the more the interest grows. 

Not sure you'd class Chelmsford v Wealdstone as fairly local. 

Edited January 15 by Reading Rebel

[Curtis]

2 hours ago, Reading Rebel said:

Not sure you'd class Chelmsford v Wealdstone as fairly local. 

What is it, about an hour? Similar to Slough to Oxford which was our Xmas/New Year ‘local derby’ for a few seasons.

And no comparison with Chesterfield to Welling 3+ hours & AFC Fylde to Aveley 4+ hours.

[Reading Rebel]

35 minutes ago, Curtis said:

What is it, about an hour? Similar to Slough to Oxford which was our Xmas/New Year ‘local derby’ for a few seasons.

And no comparison with Chesterfield to Welling 3+ hours & AFC Fylde to Aveley 4+ hours.

I'd say about 1.10 hour without traffic or 1.15 to 1.30 with traffic.

'Fairly local' i'd say is under an hour.

Just heard the Chippenham manager feeling gutted after losing their FA Trophy game at Bromley.

No sense of relief being out of the cup.

[Nathan]

6 hours ago, Reading Rebel said:

Just heard the Chippenham manager feeling gutted after losing their FA Trophy game at Bromley.

No sense of relief being out of the cup.

I wouldn't set too much store by what managers say after a match; they're hardly likely to decry the competition publicly!

The lack of prize money, coupled with the introduction of end-of-season play-offs and/or emphasis on league survival, all mean that the FA Trophy simply isn't what it used to be. I'm not sure if it has anything to do with travel.

Btw, am I right in thinking that winning the FA Trophy used to result in automatic bye into the FA Cup 1st round for the following season?

[cufcgeneral]

https://www.beaconsfieldtownfc.co.uk/news/squad-update/bp916/

Sean Fraser and two former A23 lads join Unders at Beaconsfield 

[Curtis]

23 minutes ago, cufcgeneral said:

https://www.beaconsfieldtownfc.co.uk/news/squad-update/bp916/

Sean Fraser and two former A23 lads join Unders at Beaconsfield 

And Jefferson Louis moves on to Thame United.

It looks like 49 transfers in 28 years now…. he must be in the Guinness Book of World Records.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jefferson_Louis

[grandad]

14 hours ago, Nathan said:

I wouldn't set too much store by what managers say after a match; they're hardly likely to decry the competition publicly!

The lack of prize money, coupled with the introduction of end-of-season play-offs and/or emphasis on league survival, all mean that the FA Trophy simply isn't what it used to be. I'm not sure if it has anything to do with travel.

Btw, am I right in thinking that winning the FA Trophy used to result in automatic bye into the FA Cup 1st round for the following season?

Back in the day the finalists of both the Trophy and the Amateur Cup got byes to the first round proper the next season. It didn't extend to the Vase I don't think.  Not sure when Trophy exemption stopped,  probably when Conference got involved?

[Reading Rebel]

1 hour ago, Curtis said:

And Jefferson Louis moves on to Thame United.

It looks like 49 transfers in 28 years now…. he must be in the Guinness Book of World Records.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jefferson_Louis

Don't remember Dan Roth but Ada Okorogheye was a promising young striker from our A23 who was on the verge of the 1st team squad a couple of seasons ago but he doesn't seem to have progressed as expected.

 

Edited January 16 by Reading Rebel

[Reading Rebel]

Taking a closer look at our A23 EDS team.

They are sitting in mid table having played 10 won 5 lost 5 and were beaten 6-1 at top of the table Hertford last week. 

Does look as though they are going through a bit of a transitional period with the quality of young players being recruited.

[Curtis]

I’m encouraged by the number of under 23’s that have been involved with our squad since Scott’s appointment.

We have George, Allsopp & Lucey out on loan, Dandy, Dyce, Ogbonna, Parillon & Spasov playing regularly,  and Spicer who is in the England U18 Schoolboys squad.

I know a few of those were with us before Scott’s appointment, & I’ve possibly missed somebody, but isn’t that a good number of U23’s?

[Reading Rebel]

47 minutes ago, Curtis said:

I’m encouraged by the number of under 23’s that have been involved with our squad since Scott’s appointment.

We have George, Allsopp & Lucey out on loan, Dandy, Dyce, Ogbonna, Parillon & Spasov playing regularly,  and Spicer who is in the England U18 Schoolboys squad.

I know a few of those were with us before Scott’s appointment, & I’ve possibly missed somebody, but isn’t that a good number of U23’s?

4 of those are from our A23 set up and as yet none have managed to nail down a place in our match day squad.

It's early days in their career so hopefully after gaining senior football experience at lower level clubs they will eventually be good enough to push for a first team place. 

 

 

[Reading Rebel]

Truro report game 'definitely on'

Dartford and their supporters make the 9 hour round trip to Plymouth.

Ref calls game off 1 hour before ko due to parts of the pitch being frozen.

What a scandalous disregard and a lack of concern for Dartford and their supporters.

Edited January 17 by Reading Rebel

[Reading Rebel]

Despite Spencer Day always pleading skint Farnborough have signed 3 players.

They've paid a fee for Striker Harvey Bradbury from Dartford and also signed two players on loan from Luton and AFC Wimbledon.  

Day has also said they have another exciting player coming through the door which they will announce shortly. 

[SloughFlyer]

With Alfie Rutherford leaving Weymouth (presumably at the end of his loan) and Spencers relationship with Marc White, I wouldnt be shocked to see Rutherford be their "exciting" loan signing.

As for the other 3, RB/RWB on loan, youngster from a prem club as a "gamble/punt" (Spencers words not mine) and a striker from Dartford who the Dartford fans don't rate and don't think is as good a Folivi. He also said in his interview that 4 in, 4 out so that'll be interesting to see who leaves.

1 hour ago, Reading Rebel said:

Truro report game 'definitely on'

Dartford and their supporters make the 9 hour round trip to Plymouth.

Ref calls game off 1 hour before ko due parts of the pitch  being frozen.

What a scandalous disregard and a lack of concern for Dartford and their supporters.

Just seen some twitter footage of the Dartford players in 1 corner of the pitch stamping on it. Sounded like concrete and the caption asked "who said this was ever playable".