Alliance ( Conference ) Founder Members

[ronin]

I saw this posted on Confguide and thought it was interesting to see where the teams who started off this league have ended up.

 

I wonder where we will be in 25 years?

 

" With all the ups and downs over the years and the varying fortunes of the teams we all love to follow I thought it would be interesting to see what had happened to the 20 teams who made up the original "Football Alliance" in the 1979-80 season.

 

1st: Altrincham Back in the conference after a second spell below. 17th and exceeding the expectation of many of their fans by all accounts.

 

2nd: Weymouth Top of Conference South and looking for a return to the elite of non-league.

 

3rd: Worcester City Found themselves in Conference North when the reorganisation took place due to the geographical bias of the southern teams. Not having the best of seasons and find themselves in 19th place and a relegation battle.

 

4th: Boston United Won promotion to the league on the last day of the 2001/02 season and now find themselves mid table in League Two - 14th position in fact.

 

5th: Gravesend and Northfleet Having spent various spells in and below the Conference their current spell here is into its 4th season. After a first season relegation battle they have now more than found their feet and sit in 10th place.

 

6th: Maidstone United One of the strongest non-league teams of the 80s they finally won promotion to the league but the dream turned to a nightmare when they folded around the same time as Aldershot. Reformed and now ply their trade in the Kent League Premier Division.

 

7th: Kettering Town A strong fixture in the conference until the start of this century when they became something of a yo-yo club. With the Gazza hype now a thing of the past they sit in 12th place in Conference North.

 

8th: Northwich Victoria Remained in the Conference for 26 consecutive years. Avoided relegation on a technicality 2 seasons ago, before ironically being relegated on a technicallity last season. 3rd in Conference North and doing well in the cup competitions to boot!

 

9th: Bangor City With all the jokes about "welsh" clubs in the Conference Bangor were as Welsh as you could get - and not surprisingly now play in the League of Wales where they sit in 9th place.

 

10th: Nuneaton BoroughSeveral spells in and below the conference, their most recent spell ending in 2003. when they were relegated on the last day. 2nd in Conference North with games in hand, and with a replay against Middlesbrough to look forward to.

 

11th: Scarborough 1st team to be promoted to the league in the "open shop" era, spent 12 years in the league before being relegated on the last day in 1999. Currently in a tense conference relegation battle in 20th place.

 

12th: Yeovil Town A famous name in non league particularly for their frequent cup "giant killings", they stormed the conference in 2003 with a record points total. They are now in League One and find themselves in a very healthy 10th place.

 

13th: Telford United Spent 25 years in the conference but in 2004 despite very successful Cup and Trophy runs they folded. Reformed as AFC Telford Utd in the Unibond Division One. Currently 16th in the Unibond Premier.

 

14th: BarrowRelegated in controversial circumstances in 1999 when Welling got a reprieve. Have blown hot and cold in Unibond/Conference North and now lie 14th.

 

15th: Wealdstone They won the conference in 1985 but have long since been relegated from the Conference, and they find themselves in 14th place in the Ryman Premier.

 

16th: Bath City Have not been seen in the Conference since 1997. Residing in the Southern League premier division and they are in 7th place.

 

17th: Barnet A strong conference team throughout the 80s they finally made it to the football league in 1991 and spent ten seasons there. They are now in their second spell in the league after convincingly winning the conference last season. Sit in a slightly uncomfortable 19th place in League Two.

 

18th: AP Leamington. For some years held the embarrassing record of the worst ever season in the conference in 81/82. Reformed simply as Leamington in 1983. Langushing in the Midland Alliance in 13th place.

 

19th: Stafford Rangers A regular conference fixture for many years before their relegation. Having their best season for years and are top of Conference North albeit having played more games than their nearest challengers.

 

20th: Redditch United The only founder members to go down that season and never return. Currently in Conference North and in a relegation dogfight, being as they are in 20th spot

[Leo]

Most interesting read that is for sure Ronin.

 

Wonder what they will say when they look at this years Conference table in 25 years time?

 

"Canvey Island - firmly now established as a Football League team, playing at their Waterside Farm Stadium to a regular 5,000 fans in Division 1. 70 year old Manager Jeff King continues to lead his side onto further glory after almost 35 years in charge of the former Essex League team"

 

"Grays Athletic - after two years in the Conference, between 2005/06 and 2006/07 the Grays story is a sad one. After almost being promoted to the football league in their 1st season, the club steadily declined on the playing front to the point that they were relegated the following season, prompting benefactor Mick Woodward to withdraw his investment leading to an alarming slide back into the Essex Leagues from which they came and eventual bankruptcy, prompting the demolition of The Rec, it's sale and the building of the gypsy camp that stands on the site of the former ground today."

 

<img src="/forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

[Staying-up]

Interesting article. I never realized that bangor were in the Conference. I know they were forced to join the League of Wales when it first started.

 

Bet the standard of the Conference is far better now than it was then with all the ex-League teams in it now and with most of the clubs being full-time.

Maybe there should be a follow up article to find where the present conference sides were 25 years ago. I know where Canvey were the same league that Hornchurch are in now!

[Ribbit]

I don't know much about 25 years, but I can see us struggling over the next couple of seasons - especially with the likes of Kettering and Weymouth coming up - and I wouldn't really be surprised to see us slip down a level.

 

However, on a more positive note, I'd like to see us competing in the football league within the next five years, as a professional team with a professional ground.

 

Actually, does anyone know if being a professional team is actually a requirement of the league? I'd imagine it is and it'd be one hell of a cheeky club who stayed part-time after promotion, but I'm not positive.

[Ribbit]

I don't know much about 25 years, but I can see us struggling over the next couple of seasons - especially with the likes of Kettering and Weymouth coming up - and I wouldn't really be surprised to see us slip down a level.

 

However, on a more positive note, I'd like to see us competing in the football league within the next five years. As a professional team with a professional ground.

 

Actually, does anyone know if being a professional team is actually a requirement of the league? I'd imagine it is and it'd be one hell of a cheeky club who stayed part-time after promotion, but I'm not positive.

[Eastside Urchin]

Quote:

Staying-up said:
Interesting article. I never realized that bangor were in the Conference. I know they were forced to join the League of Wales when it first started.

Bet the standard of the Conference is far better now than it was then with all the ex-League teams in it now and with most of the clubs being full-time.
Maybe there should be a follow up article to find where the present conference sides were 25 years ago. I know where Canvey were the same league that Hornchurch are in now!

don't worry about us,the mighty urchins are back on the way up!! <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

[South Mouth]

Well i cant see us struggling Ribbit. I can only see us consolidating a bit more every season until we go full-time. Now that might be a while off yet, but we will not go down, i am confident of that and i am also confident that once we go full-time, we will challenge for promotion.

[ronin]

Quote:

Staying-up said:

Maybe there should be a follow up article to find where the present conference sides were 25 years ago. I know where Canvey were the same league that Hornchurch are in now!

Well i`ve tried, not saying this is 100% accurate but this is what i found for season 79/80

Accrington -Cheshire League 2
Exeter - Old Division 3
Stevenage - Wallspan Southern Combination
Grays - Athenian League
Morecambe - Northern Premier League
Halifax - Old Division 4
Hereford - Old Division 4
York - Old Division 4
Woking - Isthmian League
Gravesend - Alliance
Cambridge - Old Division 2
Dagenham & Redbridge - Did Not Exist Until 1992
Canvey - Essex Senior League
Burton - Northern Premier League
Aldershot - Did Not Exist Until 1992
Kidderminster - Southern League North
Altrincham - Alliance
FGR - Hellenic League Premier
Crawley - Southern League
Scarborough - Alliance
Tamworth - Southern League
Southport - Northern Premier League

[A Non E Mouse]

Slightly off topic - but took this from the Salisbury Forum.

 

I think sometimes people on the Island forget what a great club they have on their doorstep.... <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> Means a little bit more when the supporter of another club writes it down.

 

 

 

If i was to write a history of a club like CANVEY ISLAND FC , from small time essex side to conferance big boys, i would be all day writing about it. but the fact is it can happen to non leage clubs to live a dream. And CANVEY ISLAND arrr. The last 15 or so years for this club is ONE of the most successful saga's in any non leage team to have done. ryman champion's leages from the 3rd to the 1st, fa trophys final's, good fa cup runs, it does go on, & on, too much to fit in. And if the management & the supporters of this great non leage football club can continue to live the dream, who nose, the football leage next, in the future perhaps. Live the dream CANVEY ISLAND FC, YOU'VE EARNED IT.

« Last Edit: Jan 11th, 2006, 2:07pm by Train Dave »

[YELLOW]

Some very positive words there. Makes you think.

[Ribbit]

Quote:

chalky boy said:
Well i cant see us struggling Ribbit. I can only see us consolidating a bit more every season until we go full-time. Now that might be a while off yet, but we will not go down, i am confident of that and i am also confident that once we go full-time, we will challenge for promotion.

I don't know, I'm just not convinced that a part-time club can compete and progress at this level.
Saying that though, if any part-time club can do it, we can.

[Yellow Bungle]

said it before and say it again. we need a clear strategy - if we want to go we must have bigger crowds, if we are to have bigger crowds we need to market ourselves.

[Ribbit]

Which makes you wonder why we don't. Why do we settle for these frankly pathetic attendances?

[Yellow Bungle]

I refer you to my other posts tonight...