GRS67 Posted May 27, 2007 Share Posted May 27, 2007 Having read the link that Rhodes gave me re Kentish Town moving to Copthall Stadium for next season, here are my thoughts. I used to go the 'stadium' regulary when the London Crusaders Rugby League team were based there in the early 90's before moving on and becoming London Broncos. The stadium was ok with a tea bar inside the main stand which is pretty large. The main minus is the fact it has a large running track around it as its used by an athletics club, but for football in the SSML div 1 it would be more then suitable as you can stand right on the touchlines to get a closer view of the action. Transport links are very good, speciallly as most teams in the SSML are based in Herts/Beds, they should find it easy to arrive at Copthall. Public transport links are not so good as you have to take a long walk no matter what bus service you take and on a wet afternoon/evening you would get drenched of course if you go by car this is not a problem, but I seem to remember Rhodes saying that he does not drive. Kentish Town will be pretty local to me now, as Copthall is only a bus ride away, and is nearer to Edgware, practically making us neighbours with them, they may even get reports in the local Hendon Times, Rhodes should look into sending match reports to the Hendon / Finchley times, because if Potters Bar Town get match reports I dont see why Kentish Town should not,as its far more local then PBT. Good luck to Kentish Town, I will try and make a match (I know I said I would last season) maybe Edgware could play Kentish Town at Copthall in a pre season match, that would be good. Where this leaves Hendon I dont know, I doubt they will move to Copthall as the stadium needs too much money spent on it to bring it up to Isthman Prem standard, but for step 6 football its fine I would imagine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhodes Posted May 27, 2007 Share Posted May 27, 2007 Gavin - Many thanks for this insight and your interesting overview although I suppose you could have used one of the existing threads. Yes I agree with most of that and I'm sure we will be happy at the stadium next season without the worry of constantly being dictated to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GRS67 Posted May 27, 2007 Author Share Posted May 27, 2007 I only found a thread with a mention of your move after I had posted. It was the thread re that Benfica team, why not allow Porton and Sporting Lisbon in as well and be done with it LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiger007 Posted May 28, 2007 Share Posted May 28, 2007 KTFC will be very happy to play ay COPTHALL next season, let the good times roll, hehehehehehehehehehehe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhodes Posted May 28, 2007 Share Posted May 28, 2007 Originally Posted By: Gavin I only found a thread with a mention of your move after I had posted. It was the thread re that Benfica team, why not allow Porton and Sporting Lisbon in as well and be done with it LOL Gavin - In the latest Minutes from the SSML Management Committee Meeting there is an item that states 'Correspondence was received from Sport London e Benfica FC regarding potential promotion through the pyramid system'. That's all it says so that doesn't mean they will be joining our league next season, I still think that they have ideas above their station and are trying to run before they can walk, the transition from park football, Hackney Marshes style, in the Middlesex County League to the SSML is huge and I feel that they would be found wanting and left floundering like someone who can't swim thrown into the deep end of a swimming pool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Football Man Posted May 28, 2007 Share Posted May 28, 2007 another expects Sport London e Benfica to be in SSML Div 1 next season on his website. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhodes Posted May 28, 2007 Share Posted May 28, 2007 Football Man - Yes I saw that however even the great man has been known to be wrong. I also see that he expects Cockfosters to be in the Premier Division! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Football Man Posted May 28, 2007 Share Posted May 28, 2007 Originally Posted By: Rhodes I also see that he expects Cockfosters to be in the Premier Division! As do I. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horace Posted May 28, 2007 Share Posted May 28, 2007 And me! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhodes Posted May 28, 2007 Share Posted May 28, 2007 Well that's hardly surprising however we'll wait and see, I still have that gut feeling they won't be but will happily hold my hands up if I'm proved wrong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jayjay Posted May 28, 2007 Share Posted May 28, 2007 Originally Posted By: Rhodes I still think that they have ideas above their station and are trying to run before they can walk, the transition from park football, Hackney Marshes style, in the Middlesex County League to the SSML is huge and I feel that they would be found wanting and left floundering like someone who can't swim thrown into the deep end of a swimming pool. your a fine one to talk you got no history Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Football Man Posted May 28, 2007 Share Posted May 28, 2007 Originally Posted By: Rhodes but will happily hold my hands up if I'm proved wrong. There's a first time for everything, I suppose! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhodes Posted May 28, 2007 Share Posted May 28, 2007 Originally Posted By: jayjay your a fine one to talk you got no history Jayjay - Didn't you see our history that was posted recently on another thread. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AWK Posted May 29, 2007 Share Posted May 29, 2007 Rhodes, I mean't to ask earlier but is Barnet Copthall Stadium seen as a long term ground for Kentish Town and how long are you signed up for? Plus also how far is it from Kentish Town itself? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhodes Posted May 29, 2007 Share Posted May 29, 2007 Yes we are very much hoping that it will be a long term thing, i's are still being dotted and t's crossed 'as we speak'. It's not actually that far from Kentish Town as the crow flies, put it this way it's a lot closer than Haringey and Potters Bar and roughly the same distance as Hendon so I think we've fallen on our feet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AWK Posted May 30, 2007 Share Posted May 30, 2007 Is it all ready for SSML football Rhodes, or does it need work to it. I have also found another site for arial pictures and it looks impressive, I take it you will be able to stand close to the pitch, rather than way back in the stands? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeutralFan Posted May 31, 2007 Share Posted May 31, 2007 From a players point of view I don't like grounds that have running tracks around. Not so bad if they are fenced off and with advertising boards, but if open you lose the sense of width and length of the pitch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spidermanor Posted May 31, 2007 Share Posted May 31, 2007 Originally Posted By: NeutralFan From a players point of view I don't like grounds that have running tracks around. Not so bad if they are fenced off and with advertising boards, but if open you lose the sense of width and length of the pitch. Actually looking at that pic NF the ground certainly wouldn't get a grading as its shown there. Of course the pic may not be up to date, but I believe for SSML Premier, FA Cup/FA Vase grading the pitch needs to be enclosed as well as the ground. There also needs to be a protected, covered walkway from the changing rooms to the pitch. Not a 100% sure on div one requirements though, maybe someone with access to a handbook can check. Neither of these requirements are apparent from that pic, whats the timetable for getting this work done rhodes and do you have the landlords permission for these works? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horace Posted May 31, 2007 Share Posted May 31, 2007 Well, KTFC have entered the Vase, so they must have confirmed on their application form that they had an enclosed pitch! Presumably if they keep the masses of supporters behind the barrier on the outside of the running track, they're ok? Oops, there isn't one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GRS67 Posted May 31, 2007 Author Share Posted May 31, 2007 but I believe for SSML Premier, FA Cup/FA Vase grading the pitch needs to be enclosed as well as the ground. There also needs to be a protected, covered walkway from the changing rooms to the pitch. Not a 100% sure on div one requirements though, maybe someone with access to a handbook can check . I doubt that is the case is the majority of grounds in the SSML Prem DONT have a protected covered walkway from changing rooms to pitch, maybe just a handfull do. The pic of Cophtall looks pretty good from the air, though I have not been there for a number of years so cant comment on the current state of the 'stadium' Its a shame that Barnet were not allowed to play there, as they would have re vamped the whole site but due to some residents and crappy Barnet council they were turned down. It looks like one of those eastern european grounds with a running track, still compared to most of the grounds in the SSML it will be imressive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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