Relegation and Champions

[sparky100]

AFC Croydon Athletic who finished 2nd in Division One will be promoted with Chessington & Hook who were 3rd. Frimley should be relegated which will give you 22 in the Premier Division as Redhill will replace Molesey. Abbey Rangers and South Park Reserves will be new teams in Division One which would make 17. However if the Premier Division was redcuced to 20 clubs with the 2nd and 3rd bottom being relegated Division One would have 19 teams.

Edited May 21, 2015 by sparky100

[E&E Rich]

As far as I was aware AFC CA were going into the Southern Counties East League? It would certainly make sense instead of travelling to Alton and Eversley with so many Kent / SE London sides on their doorstep. 

[VPCTFC]

As far as I was aware AFC CA were going into the Southern Counties East League? It would certainly make sense instead of travelling to Alton and Eversley with so many Kent / SE London sides on their doorstep. 

 

No one's ever said they were going to the SCEL. It's just been mooted as a possibility due to their location and the fact the FA can move clubs if they like.

I've never known a case where the FA have moved a side who get internal league promotions at our level unless the club wants to move. According to their official blurb these days the FA notify clubs that they might be getting moved so that those clubs can at least argue their case if they don't want to switch.

The SCEL say on their website "There are no step 4 clubs being relegated into SCEFL so, at best, we will have 19 teams next season if Lingfield stay and Rochester are replaced by Woodstock Sports as bottom side." so it looks like AFC CA are staying in the CCL. Of course, I'm unaware of anything that's going on behind the scenes so could be wrong.

[Smudge]

Should of all been sorted by now surely,maybe the bomb in Wembley last week delayed any news.How can a Club arrange things for 15/16,friendlies/players etc? When there is a doubt as to which League or division they will be in.

[lazarus]

The Board is well aware that all our clubs urgently need to know where they stand, especially those subject to possible relegation but until the FA confirm that they have completed their deliberations, we cannot release a draft constitution for obvious reasons.  It will most certainly be done as quickly as possible once we know the final situation.

[Smudge]

Think this is disgraceful,the Enfield debacle,Bomb,Bank Holiday,certainly has not helped.Step 4 Constitutions were known 2 weeks ago.Do the FA give a monkeys about this level,obviously not.

Edited May 25, 2015 by Smudge

[Big J R]

The Board is well aware that all our clubs urgently need to know where they stand, especially those subject to possible relegation but until the FA confirm that they have completed their deliberations, we cannot release a draft constitution for obvious reasons.  It will most certainly be done as quickly as possible once we know the final situation.

 

 

So lets all hope that everyone has been practising holding their breath, Alan !!

 

[E&E Rich]

Think this is disgraceful,the Enfield debacle,Bomb,Bank Holiday,certainly has not helped.Step 4 Constitutions were known 2 weeks ago.Do the FA give a monkeys about this level,obviously not.

 

Clearly not Smudge. Step Five is very much the poor relation despite actually having more players than any other step in English football.

 

One question here though. Seeing as we all appear to know Redhill are joining us, why are we in the dark about AFCCA?

 

Also while I take on board VP's comments, the SCEL website seemed a bit out of date and I am also expecting AFC Uckfield, another promotee, to get moved over too. Both make geographical sense if you look at the maps and it would be pointless the FA saying that any club could be moved laterally but then exempting clubs from that situation just because they have moved up a step. The FA "pool" clubs at each step from 1-4 now and I see no reason for that to change.

 

Then again, I've been wrong before. I still have £15 riding on Jurgen Klopp to be the next West Ham manager at very attractive odds! 

[chairman_afcca]

One question here though. Seeing as we all appear to know Redhill are joining us, why are we in the dark about AFCCA?

 

 

I am really getting the feeling you want us to move, E&E!!!

[chairman_afcca]

The Rams have now been informed that we will indeed ply our trade in the Southern Counties East Football League next season. We wish all in the Combined Counties League well in the season ahead and thanks to those who have shown us great hospitality over the last three years.

[Smudge]

Presume this will be a National 1st,a team winning promotion from Step 6 to Step 5,then being transferred to another Step 5 League.

 

Such a shame,but it may be a blessing in disguise for Chertsey Town who could be reprieved,the FA Work in mysterious ways.

 

Wish all at AFC Croydon Athletic all the best in the future,Nice Club,Nice People.

[lazarus]

To keep everyone informed, I have just sent the following email to all Club Secretaries:

 

"Earlier this evening, I received a number of emails from Mike Appleby at the FA, which together with the earlier ones, finalise this season's movements as far as the CCL is concerned.

In summary, this is the situation:

Leaving the League
Molesey - promoted to the Ryman League, Division One South
AFC Croydon - promoted to the Southern Counties East (ex Kent) League, Premier Division
Alton Town - switched back to the Wessex League

Joining the League
Redhill - relegated from the Ryman League, Division One South
AFC Hayes - relegated from the Southern League, Central Division
Abbey Rangers - promoted from the Surrey Elite League
South Park Reserves - switched from the Suburban League

As required by the rules, the Board will now prepare next season's proposed constitution, which will be advised to all concerned just as quickly as possible."

[CHUFC]

To keep everyone informed, I have just sent the following email to all Club Secretaries:

 

"Earlier this evening, I received a number of emails from Mike Appleby at the FA, which together with the earlier ones, finalise this season's movements as far as the CCL is concerned.

 

In summary, this is the situation:

 

Leaving the League

Molesey - promoted to the Ryman League, Division One South

AFC Croydon - promoted to the Southern Counties East (ex Kent) League, Premier Division

Alton Town - switched back to the Wessex League

 

Joining the League

Redhill - relegated from the Ryman League, Division One South

AFC Hayes - relegated from the Southern League, Central Division

Abbey Rangers - promoted from the Surrey Elite League

South Park Reserves - switched from the Suburban League

 

As required by the rules, the Board will now prepare next season's proposed constitution, which will be advised to all concerned just as quickly as possible."

You forgot us?

 

And what is the fate of Frimley Green & Chertsey Town?

Edited May 28, 2015 by CHUFC

[Krooner]

No he didnt CHUFC.  He was only talking about teams moving in and out of the CCL.

 

So the big question is do we have 20 sides or 22 next season.

 

20 I am guessing means that Chertsey and Hanworth get relegated as well and Div 1 has 18 and 22 means only Frimley Green get relegated leaving Div 1 with 16 again.

 

Have I got that right ?

[E&E Rich]

Essentially Chertsey still finished in a relegation position and the League still has to make a decision on whether they run with 22 clubs, which would include Chertsey, or 20 clubs which would relegate Chertsey and Hanworth Villa.

 

Seeing as turkeys don't vote for Christmas we'll be running with 22 next season and both will join the promoted Chessington & Hook who weren't forgotten by lazarus, as everyone else on that list is either joining or leaving the league. CHU are just moving divisions with no switch across leagues which is why neither they nor Frimley or Chertsey or Hanworth were mentioned in the FA memo.

 

The only way that would change is if the CCL decide that 16 clubs is not large enough for a Division One and they want 18 which would mean the Premier having 20. Whilst Chertsey and Hanworth may not like that, it would save on four midweek trips for all Premier clubs and is logistically the best outcome for both divisions in my opinion.

 

AFCCA - nothing personal. In fact it would have been a more local trip for us and would have been nice to see the updated Mayfields again. We'll probably draw you in Cup and Vase now!

 

I'm also pleased for Alton Town who have had a torrid two seasons since being transferred over to our league at short notice. Good luck back in the Wessex again chaps!

[CHUFC]

No he didnt CHUFC. He was only talking about teams moving in and out of the CCL.

 

So the big question is do we have 20 sides or 22 next season.

 

20 I am guessing means that Chertsey and Hanworth get relegated as well and Div 1 has 18 and 22 means only Frimley Green get relegated leaving Div 1 with 16 again.

 

Have I got that right ?

Ah ok, that makes sense then, I misread the post.

 

Personally 16 teams in division one is not enough, only playing 30 league games last year for us meant the boys were having to train twice a week, especially at the start of the season as we had no mid week fixtures.

 

Surely everyone involved at clubs would rather have a game mid week than train?

 

So 20 in the prem and 18 in division one would make more sense to me.

[Smudge]

Crikey marvels me that CHUFC want more teams in Div 1,now of course they are a Premier side.When they struggle year on year to complete any fixtures due to their Playing surface.Personally think that there should be 22 teams in the Premier Division,just to keep it strong,why should the likes of Chertsey Town and Hanworth Villa be relegated,because of the FA's decision to move 2 teams in,that are on either end of the CCL Catchment area.Will be an interesting AGM for sure,then certain clubs will know who their Friends are 

[Beano_ATMFC]

Personally think that there should be 22 teams in the Premier Division,just to keep it strong,why should the likes of Chertsey Town and Hanworth Villa be relegated,because of the FA's decision to move 2 teams in,that are on either end of the CCL Catchment area.

 

Well, they did finish in relegation positions and therefore shouldn't expect to remain in the division. That said, both clubs are local to Ashford and it is always good to have local fixtures.

 

To me, a 20/18 split makes sense simply because having 22 teams in one division and 16 in the other seems illogical.

[E&E Rich]

Smudge, I'm intrigued by the quote about 22 teams "just to keep it strong". The number of teams in the league carry no relevance to the strength of the league. Mathematically you could say it does the opposite, by retaining two clubs that qualified for relegation. We have a very competitive league but someone has to finish down there and hard decisions sometimes need to be taken.

 

Additionally, as Beano implies, this has nothing to do with the FA decisions. This is purely and simply down to that little black line that you need to stay above. I wouldn't change my view even if Epsom were down there.

 

However, I will concede that it would be harsh for the League to drop to 20 this season as there has never been any indication throughout the season that they intend to do so.

 

Now, for 2016/17 I'd like to propose a reduction to twenty clubs in the Premier, unless of course we have a mass influx of new clubs into our Division One, but this seems highly unlikely if Farleigh, Sheerwater, Worcester Park (and presumably Staines Lammas?)  will presumably be without floodlights at the end of the next season and will remain vulnerable to a F.A. demotion.

 

If the league make it clear that we will drop to 20 for the start of the 2016/17 season I am certain it would still be able to be worked out without anyone above the black line being vulnerable anyway. Only at the end of 2013/14 in recent years have we had the full complement of three teams relegated and although I don't know about Abbey Rangers and obviously have little idea of player personnel at each team this early, I would have thought Farleigh and possibly Lammas as they return home, would be very likely to be in the top three next season, as would Worcester Park, presumably blocking a promotion space or two. 

 

So my proposal would be something like: "For 2016/17 the Premier Division is intended to comprise of 20 clubs should it be possible to do so without relegating any club that finishes above 20th place and assuming also that this does not leave us with an odd number of clubs in the Premier Division following F.A. allocations."

 

This way, once we know the FA allocations from above around this time next year, the League could sit here and work it out. Using this year as an example it would be simple to do as Chertsey and Hanworth would drop. Everyone would have had a season's notice and no cause for complaint because they finished below the line.

 

One more thing. If this proposal or something similar does come in, watch out for next year's relegation battle. This year's was mad enough but might not be a patch on the one we might get!

Edited May 28, 2015 by E&E Rich

[Smudge]

Numbers in Division 1,will never drop the reason more Reserve sides from Step 4 Clubs will be put in to bolster the numbers if needed.

 

20 Teams in the Premier will help Epsom and Ewell financially as they Groundshare.Plus 2 home games less saves the prefered Clubs £300 minimum in Officials Fees for starters.Where as the Division 1 sides will have to pay £250 minimum extra,is that fair.

 

Is there anything in the league constitution regarding specified numbers if not why not.I feel sorry for Chertsey Town and Hanworth Villa,put yourself in their shoes,do they prepare for Step 5 or Step 6.In my opinion the League should post their proposals for the proposed Constitution immediately.No one moaned about 21 teams last year,in fact many welcomed it.

 

Beano and E&E Rich would of course back 20 teams as it does not affect them.