Middlesex Athenian League

[Football Man]

This would seem to be a good time to remind my Enfield Town & Waltham Abbey friends that the Middlesex County FA and Middlesex County Football League are hoping to start a Middlesex Athenian League in 2005/6.

 

Clubs will be written to in the first half of the season so that, if enough are interested, they can all resign from their current leagues in good time ready to join the new league next summer.

 

Mike Appleby at the FA has been kept informed of the proposed League and is in favour of it as it meets the ideals of playing within a geographical area. It would sit at the same level as Ryman 2 and the ESL, has a sponsorship lined up with a national bookmaker and has a ready and willing management committee already working for the MCFL.

 

Imagine playing in 2005/6 in the following 22 team division:

Ashford Town (Middlesex)

Beaconsfield SYCOB

Bedfont

Brook House

Clapton

Edgware Town

Enfield

Enfield Town

Feltham

Hanwell Town

Harefield United

Haringey Borough

Hillingdon Borough

Hounslow Borough

Kingsbury Town

North Greenford United

Potters Bar Town

Ruislip Manor

Southall

Staines Town

Waltham Abbey

Wembley

 

If any of the above were not interested, there are the likes of Brimsdown Rovers, Cockfosters, Crown & Manor and Kentish Town, amongst others, that could take their places.

 

The Middlesex Athenian League could well offer a 42 match league season, new opponents and places to visit, several local derbies, the longest distance match no more than an hour away and retention of status within the pyramid.

 

Worth thinking about, wouldn't you think?

[Mr Happy]

Blood y right it is. Only problem is that we'll be in the Southern League by then!!

 

Seriously though, that is a great idea and should Town not win promotion a move into this new league (as long as there are enough other takers) should be considered by the members.

[PORTENCROSS]

Now that hurts, squire, .... hands off Essex Based Waltham Abbey cos, if Middx are allowed to do this then how about the following Essex League :-

Basildon United

Bowers & Pitsea

Barkingside

Hullbridge Sports,

Clacton Town,

Witham Town,

Romford,

Concord Rangers

Harwich & Parkeston

Southend Manor

Sawbridgeworth Town

Stansted

Stanway Rovers

Tiptree United

Brentwood Town

London APSA

Eton Manor

St Margaretsbury

Waltham Abbey

Halstead Town.

 

and Enfield Town if they don't want your offer or miss promotion in which case we will take a relegated club as it is sure to be from the great county of Essex area. The two "over the border" would be acceptable for historical reasons ! So there, as you can see, we also would have 22 clubs for a brilliant League and something I have envisaged for years but I am getting extremely frustrated at others not seeing sense in order for it to progress . The F A need to act big time to make this come about... and . by the way don't anyone dare have a go at me for suggesting clubs from other leagues as after the farce of the last few weeks , I am not worried about being accused of "poaching" as this is a forum for thought and ideas and Potters Bar always has good ones, so well done in churning up this one !!

 

[Gonzo]

Quote:

LgeChairman said:
and Enfield Town if they don't want your offer or miss promotion

I like this - they're all fighting over us now!

[JordanB]

mr chairman the only problem i have with the esl is the number of teams in it!

 

it would be great to have teams like clacton etc in our league.

 

also we are in the middlesex millenium cup!

[Football Man]

LgeChairman, unless my maths deceive me you only have a 20 team League there! I suppose the eventual inclusion of the likes of White Notley and White Ensign would help.

 

This sounds like an excellent idea too and, with the pyramid changes that are in progress and planned, now is the time to bang some sense into those heads at Mildmay Road, Chelmsford. If they don't get on your side now and clubs start drifting off to the Middlesex Athenian and/or Ryman 2, the future for the ESL doesn't look too good.

[The Invisible Man]

Clapton must be more Essex than Middlesex?

 

I still can't get over the absurdity of a county league for a non-existent county!

[PORTENCROSS]

Hence the reason why I am in favour of any talks, anywhere , to discuss my thoughts and ideas and to get "change" going for 2005/2006 and will inform our clubs of progress accordingly. I respect your interest in the Middx Cup, no problem there but "Essex" is first and foremost my priority

[Gonzo]

I think you'll find it does exist!

 

Look here - Middlesex

 

[PORTENCROSS]

And its a great County - having been born in Southgate just a few years ago . Russell Grant will confirm its genuine too !

[PORTENCROSS]

Oh, so sorry but my wicked sense of humour allowed me to temporarily forget Ilford, coming over with Witham Town. The 22nd team was Enfield Town or the Relegated club but if situations change at Eastwoodbury Lane, then White Ensign would be nore than acceptable.

[Colin, Germany]

The name 'Middlesex Athenian League' does not have the word county in it. So those of us who realise that Middlesex is a county can regard it as a county league, and those like The Invisible Man who do not regard Middlesex as being a county can regard it as being a league with the geographical borders of the area generally regarded as being Middlesex.

[Mr Happy]

Invis is just a commie g*t who hates the past and wants a marxist state with no interior borders and where all people look only to his government and be totally subservient!

[Football Man]

Quote:

The Invisible Man said:
Clapton must be more Essex than Middlesex?

I still can't get over the absurdity of a county league for a non-existent county!

Clapton, the place, is well within the old Middlesex boundary although Clapton, the football club, isn't. One could say the same about Enfield these days.

[Southport - TOWNER]

which county is Potters Bar in?

[Football Man]

A good question, ST. It is in Hertsmere Borough, which would indicate it is in Hertfordshire. However, the ground's postcode is EN6, which would suggest it is in Middlesex.

 

The Club's parent county is Hertfordshire but also takes out secondary affiliation with Middlesex and enter the county cup competitions of both.

 

Maps of Middlesex at the time of its formation in 704AD include Potters Bar within their boundaries. Modern day maps of Hertfordshire also have Potters Bar within their boundaries. Take your pick, really.

[PORTENCROSS]

Ok, the banter and debate has already started on boundaries so, why not join them both together for a 44 team league with Div 1 West and Div 1 East and call it the Athenian League , Johnny Bays will be whooping with delight ... the Isthmians will get even more upset than they already are at the thought of that grand old name being resurrected and I will just have to swallow my "Essex" pride but at the end of the day, whatever we say or discuss MUST have the interests of the Non League club system rather than individual clubs wishes .

[Southport - TOWNER]

If I get to choose, can it be Aberdeenshire! (eldest daughters boyfreind lives in PB)

[Football Man]

LgeChairman, I will put your suggestion to the powers that be in Middlesex and see what they say.

[AbbeyMan]

Quote:

Potters Bar Town FC said:

Quote:

The Invisible Man said:
Clapton must be more Essex than Middlesex?

I still can't get over the absurdity of a county league for a non-existent county!

Clapton, the place, is well within the old Middlesex boundary although Clapton, the football club, isn't. One could say the same about Enfield these days.

Ouch!