Just as a matter of interest Mr LC

[TB&G]

As the 2005-06 season develops into a pattern for those ESL clubs who will not be attaining or wanting promotion do you have any idea when the FA will be announcing their decision on the reformatting of level 5?

 

If the powers that be are looking for a new league name for one that will include the ESL may I suggest that they could do no worse than to resurrect the old 'Athenian League'.

 

In the old days before being submerged by the Isthmian the Athenian included famous named clubs clubs both north east and south east of the river.

 

This included Bromley who beat Romford in the first Wembley Amateur Cup Final and the Boro also played in this league in the 30s.

 

Anybody else got any ideas?

[Mr Manor]

How about The Home Counties League, The Greater London League or The London Suburban League?

 

Its something like you Borofan that interests me. One problem with the new step 4 is that because step 5 teams are not necessarily promoted then teams may be put in leagues that are not local to them to make numbers even. Look at Sittingbourne. Why are they in the Southern league when they should be in the ryman league. I think the new step 5 should have 8 league with a div 1 and 2. All the div 1 should have the right facilities and then teams promoted can be put in the right leagues.

[coupwotcoup]

I agree to a point, but at least they are in a localised (ish) conurbation. How about Egham and Ashford (Mdx)? Midweek trips to Yate, Paulton, Evesham and Bromsgrove..Now what is that all about?

[TB&G]

Quote:

Mr Manor said:
How about The Home Counties League, The Greater London League or The London Suburban League?

Its something like you Borofan that interests me. One problem with the new step 4 is that because step 5 teams are not necessarily promoted then teams may be put in leagues that are not local to them to make numbers even. Look at Sittingbourne. Why are they in the Southern league when they should be in the ryman league. I think the new step 5 should have 8 league with a div 1 and 2. All the div 1 should have the right facilities and then teams promoted can be put in the right leagues.

Are you saying that because a club either do not have the right facilities or wish to be promoted to level 4 for any reason they should play in div 2 of these step 5 leagues irrespective of their playing quality.

Seems unfair to me.

As for a name, what ever is chosen it has to reflect the geographic connurbation it covers which could cause problems which is why I suggested 'Athenian' because it is a catch-all name.

[Tom S]

I'm sure 'Greek Adonis' Nickynoc would like to see the 'Athenian' name revived.

[Mr Manor]

Boro Fan if teams do not want to be promoted then whats the point??? For as long as I can remember this happens all the time. A team win promotion and don't wish to go up. Fair enough you may find it too much but you can then come back down. I don't see the point in not wanting to go further. If you have two divisions you can separate these into who want to go up and those who wish to stay where they are. Look at Concord last year and this. All their good players left because they had better offers. And regards the name. How far is the league going to go geographically? London and the home Counties league sums it up I think??

[TB&G]

Quote:

Mr Manor said:
Boro Fan if teams do not want to be promoted then whats the point??? For as long as I can remember this happens all the time. A team win promotion and don't wish to go up. Fair enough you may find it too much but you can then come back down. I don't see the point in not wanting to go further. If you have two divisions you can separate these into who want to go up and those who wish to stay where they are. Look at Concord last year and this. All their good players left because they had better offers. And regards the name. How far is the league going to go geographically? London and the home Counties league sums it up I think??

So you're saying that teams in both Divs 1 and 2 could be of equal quality only separated by the wants and don't wants

[Mr Manor]

Well surely it would prevent the usual farce come the end of the season. Teams in Div 2 could then get promoted if they felt they wanted to go for promotion higher up the pyramid.

[The Invisible Man]

League winners should always be promoted if their grounds are up to grading and they want to be promoted. If the league champions decline promotion, the runners-up should be offered it, subject to ground grading. My only reservation is that at present the ground standards required are absurdly high in the lower levels.

 

Runners-up should be offered promotion under the above circumstances to prevent promotion-blockers (like Sudbury) constantly preventing more ambitious clubs progressing, which is most unfair. It also prevents an unfair reprieve from relegation from the step above!

 

Maybe promotion should be compulsory. At least a club declining promotin should be called to account.

[JordanB]

i totally agree IM what a joke that certain clubs are able to decline promotion and possibly stop more ambitious clubs progressing up the pyramid.

[coupwotcoup]

Yeah that is okay on paper, but there would be plenty of finger pointing if say a table-topping team at Easter suddenly decided promotion woulddn't cost effective and began deliberately losing. Could happen and accusations re contrived matches would be rife.

[Mr Manor]

Quote:

The Invisible Man said:
League winners should always be promoted if their grounds are up to grading and they want to be promoted. If the league champions decline promotion, the runners-up should be offered it, subject to ground grading. My only reservation is that at present the ground standards required are absurdly high in the lower levels.

Runners-up should be offered promotion under the above circumstances to prevent promotion-blockers (like Sudbury) constantly preventing more ambitious clubs progressing, which is most unfair. It also prevents an unfair reprieve from relegation from the step above!

Maybe promotion should be compulsory. At least a club declining promotin should be called to account.

Totally agree and this was the point I was making. When step 5 is restuctured have a div 1 and 2. Ask teams to state if they were wanting and could accept promotion. Grade grounds etc at beginning of the season then do the div 1 and 2 based on who wants and who can get promoted. If there were too many for 1 of the divisions then there would have to be a way to sort it out. But at least then we wouldn't have the promotion/relegation farce every year. If teams stated that they wanted promotion and then declined they could be fined or relegated.