Middlesex Athenian League

[AbbeyMan]

Quote:

LgeChairman said:
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 .

Now WE'RE getting serious... club's talking with 'league' participation ... let's go for it!

The whole non-league system is changing - a quote(ish) I heard last season "there's the conference etc and everyone else".

Level 5 or whatever they want to call it must not be left behind.

Surely the clubs could map out a better future than the 'suits' at the FA and the hangers-on on ego trips who THINK they know what we want!

[Jim Cunneen]

Help!

 

First Abbeynut, then Steph, now Abbeyman.

 

I have now agreed with all of them in one week.

 

 

the world has gone mad.

[TB&G]

So where can we fit the Herts Senior and Kent Leagues into this equation then?

 

Answers on a postcard to PBT and LC.

 

Or below might be quicker!

[Mark (Flag) Braintree]

Quote:

Potters Bar Town FC said:
Staines Town

I don't think Staines who are in the Ryman Premier would want to give up that status local derbies with Windsor and Slough.

Looking at the Essex League - done by Mr Chairman, this looks very strong, and that is not going above Ryman 2 Witham level. The Ridgeons league teams of Halstead, Clacton, Tiptree with the existing Essex Senior league teams would make this league top quality. <img src="/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

[niftynigel]

I like the way this thread is going.

 

There is going to be some geographical realignment with the United Counties and Eastern Counties, so some of the Essex teams in the ECL would as LgeChairman rightly puts it, be better off in an enhanced ESL. There is also going to be some rationalisation between UCL and South Midlands, and I suspect the SML may disappear or at best be a feeder to the expanded UCL.

 

P.S. Clapton are traditionally Essex as the historic border between Essex and Middlesex was the River Lea!

 

However, as this thread is about Middlesex and Athenian too, then I would like to put my support behind the rebirth of the Athenian League, encompassing a Middlesex Senior Division and an Essex Senior Division.

 

As someone who was born in London (Westminster was historically Middlesex) and brought up in Essex, I have a strong affinity to both counties!

 

I now live and work in Surrey and my adopted local team, Epsom & Ewell had some great times in the Athenian League. It would be fitting all round if LgeChairman's ideas came to fruition.

 

South of the Thames, I think there is a good case for a Southern Counties Premier, above the Sussex County and Kent Leagues, possibly taking in some southern Surrey teams too. This would release some capacity on the full Combined Counties League.

[Southport - TOWNER]

Jim - better go see a doctor!!

[Southport - TOWNER]

Quote:

Poster Bill said:
So where can we fit the Herts Senior and Kent Leagues into this equation then?

Answers on a postcard to PBT and LC.

yip postcard would be about the right place for them!!

maybe a bit too big then try a postage stamp

[MbrunoB]

I can fit through a hole in a postcard,pointless info but I like it.

[Iron Webbo]

Mr LC, we all know that Mr Turvey & Mr Robinson will never allow the resurgence of a strong Athenian League.

 

Although, on reflection ...

 

Perhaps the answer is to dispense with Mr Turvey & Mr Robinson?

[Steph]

"P.S. Clapton are traditionally Essex as the historic border between Essex and Middlesex was the River Lea!"

 

Ehm if the River Lea is the historic boarder then Clapton is in Middlesex. Check out page 51 of the A to Z.

[Southport - TOWNER]

Steph - you need to get out more

 

 

anyway all a nice idea; but NL football is so disorganised, I can't see it happening unless the clubs have a mass revolt; and they/we are too porocial for that, so we keep with what we have becasue of ineptitude

 

 

[niftynigel]

Steph - It may well be that Clapton, the place is historically in Middlesex, but Clapton FC, is in the present day Newham (East of the River Lea) and as such it's roots are in Essex.

 

As this is a football related forum, then I would have thought that you would have thought of Clapton is that context?

 

Obviously not!

[Football Man]

Quote:

Southport - TOWNER said:
Steph - you need to get out more


anyway all a nice idea; but NL football is so disorganised, I can't see it happening unless the clubs have a mass revolt; and they/we are too porocial for that, so we keep with what we have becasue of ineptitude

As far as the Middlesex Athenian is concerned, every eligible club will be written to in the first few months of next season and, if enough of them agree it is a good idea, it will happen. It doesn't need the whole of NL football to organise itself, just 16+ Middlesex clubs.

[TB&G]

So nobody likes the idea of a four part Athenian League then consisting of Middlesex (West), Essex (East), Herts(North) and Kent (South) with a four team mini-league home & away play off at the end of the season for promotion to level 4.

[niftynigel]

The FA are likely to re-organise using the Thames as a natural boundary. The existing Combined Counties and proposed Southern Counties (Kent and Sussex) will be the main feeders to the Isthmian League and a reborn Athenian League will now if covering Essex, South Herts, Middlesex/North London will feed the Southern League Division One East.

There's likely to be some tie up with Isthmian Two and Essex Senior, so why not bring in the southern most South Midlands sides, who were in the London based Spartan League anyway.

This would pre-empt any FA re-organisation that maybe more detrimental to teams and leagues than this idea.

You have to look to the Wessex League for inspiration. They have extended from one to three divisions, so they have strengthened their position, when the review kicks in.

If everyone wants to see the Athenian League reborn, why not get the Middlesex County League, Essex Intermediate League and Herts Senior County Leagues involved as official feeder leagues and that would form a formidable setup.

It's got to be worth a try, otherwise we could all end up losing these league and get them replaced by a 'faceless numbered' league, like Step Five - Area Six Premier Division....

[Southport - TOWNER]

PBTFC - I will bow to your superior knowledge; but expereince says you have no hope

 

but good luck

[Southport - TOWNER]

Quote:

niftynigel said:
The FA are likely to re-organise using the Thames as a natural boundary.

says who ???

[Football Man]

Quote:

niftynigel said:
The FA are likely to re-organise using the Thames as a natural boundary.

Why not use the Dartford Bridge/Tunnel as a man-made connection between two Leagues? You could even get the people who make those TAG passes to sponsor it!

[Football Man]

Quote:

Southport - TOWNER said:
PBTFC - I will bow to your superior knowledge; but expereince says you have no hope

but good luck

Time will tell, ST.

[Southport - TOWNER]

yeah, right just like the invite into Ryman 2:

just like EFC winning Ryman Premier and being denied promotion: just like the re-organisation of NL football being smooth.....

 

 

This game is so corrupt, ask the guys in East London, i despair some times