How could the NWCL be made better?

[Guest]

With stories continuing to persist about the restructuring of the Pyramid under Conference level, how would you like to see the NWCL restructured? What changes would you make to improve it?

[Guest]

Playoffs. I always thinks it's a bit harsh for only the champions to go up.

[Guest]

Well, I think that the NWCL is probably the only League at this level that isn't completely floodlit. Elsewhere in the country, Leagues below our level are totally floodlit. It's 12 years since Floodlights were made compulsory for Division One clubs, it's about time it was compulsory for membership of the League. To still be messing with early kick-offs in the 21st century does nothing for the Leagues image and that reflects on all member clubs.

[Guest]

Two up - the only way to keep the season going for most clubs

[Guest]

Unfortunately with teams from the Northern League and NECL in the equation, even though they often never put forward teams for promotion, we're never going to have two promotion spots. This means that the lower half of the Unibond 1st is awash with ambitionless teams with no threat of relegation. Some seasons it's very close to being a closed shop.

[Guest]

At least there is movement between NWCL and the Unibond, the problem is at the bottom part of NWCL Div 2.

There is little, if any interest from the feeder leagues to come up. There are 'trophy hunter' clubs who have no interest in ground upgrading and the players are on sufficient money to take the easy games.

There is sufficient evidence to suggest that feeder clubs are of a better/similar standard than NWCL Div 2, for example the Goldline Trophy for clubs in the Wigan/Bolton/Bury area, involving NWCL and feeder league clubs.

Do not raise the ground grading standard at Div 2 level, it will kill relegation/election up to Div 2.

There has to be a way of encouraging feeder clubs coming up, that is greater parity between the ground standards of NWCL Div 2 and the feeder leagues.

[Guest]

But you're talking about taking our League down to their level rather than clubs who have ambitions improving their standards. That happened in the 1970's with the Lancs Combination and left North West clubs way, way behind their Southern and Midlands counterparts when it came to facilities. If clubs want to move up the ladder, they need to improve their facilities as well as their teams. Can you see the Unibond League reducing their requirements to make it easier for our level clubs to join, or the Conference doing the same for their feeder Leagues? I agree that it means our League may become static, but if lower clubs don't have the ambition or the necessary money and support, then they shouldn't be joining the NWCL anyway.

[Guest]

I appreciate the issue about the league becoming static, I see it as a question at what league level should this risk be taken.

I would rather see this at the Div1/Div2 level of the NWCL, as I think it is less likely to occur, rather than for teams who may wish to come up into Div 2 being discouraged.

Raising Div 1 standards I would support. There has to be a way of developing competition towards the bottom of Div2, rather than teams of a similar standard being quite happy just to stay in their present feeder league. With Div 2 now down to 18 teams I will be interested to see how many teams apply to come up from the feeder leagues.

With this information in February I may change my position, alternatively encouraging higher grading in the feeder leagues between their top and 2nd level leagues would push up standards from the bottom.

[Enfield Turkey]

 

by movin down south away its grim up north

[mala_D]

How could the NWCL be made better?

 

More cheese rolling, me thinks. Always a good draw where audiences are concerned.