New Non League Football show on BBC London

[Rhodes]

I expect you're all waiting with bated breath for Caroline's artice which should be posted by 10.30, I wonder what will be on her agenda this week.

[Rhodes]

Fill your boots folks, Nellie will have a particular interest this week:

 

From: Caroline Barker

Sent: 29 October 2008 09:25

Subject: Yours this week! Free article from the BBC Non League Show

 

Hello all

Please credit the BBC Non League Show, Many thanks:

 

I

[Greg_Dyke]

Originally Posted By: Horace

Originally Posted By: Greg_Dyke

I wanted Rhodesy to text Caroline

oooh this is like Jason and Kylie, or Bradley and Stacey all over again

Don't you mean Rodney and Cassandra ?

Rhodes,
Did Caroline supply any personal messages this week ?
I am aware that she has a soft spot for you, do you have a soft one for her ?

[Rhodes]

Greg Dyke - I don't think Caroline would appreciate it if I disclosed this information. Roll on Wednesday when I'm sure her article will be all about Chelmsford City's fine 3-2 win over AFC Wimbledon yesterday in front of a bumper 2,318 crowd.

[Rhodes]

It's your lucky day folks, I've just received this article from Caroline, either it's a day early this week or it's in addition to tomorrow's. Fill your boots:

 

From: Caroline Barker

Sent: 04 November 2008 14:44

Subject: RE: Yours this week! Free article from the BBC Non League Show

 

Four or five top Non League clubs are on the brink of going under, that's the stark warning this week from one Chairman involved in his own financial battle.

 

Whatever your love affair with Grays owner Mick Woodward, if he's right in his assertion, then a mighty black hole is about to rock up underneath the grassroots game.

 

I'm not going to name names, but I've a fair idea who those clubs might be, and I know my reaction to it, but how does it make you feel?

 

I wrote an open letter to the Chairman of the FA a couple of weeks ago with a similar message, how would he feel if one of the teams at the top of the pyramid went under, the likes of Manchester United, or Chelsea?

 

At the time I had vague idea of the dire situation facing Non League. Now in a week when at least two respected Chairmen have stepped forward backing up the rumours, is it time to fear the worst?

 

They're not my clubs, it's not my battle, but still it's one I want to fight.

 

If the rumours are true, five clubs, you've all heard of, five separate sets of fans, five histories spanning hundreds of years, supposedly near the pinnacle of the non league game could be about to disappear, then how many others?

 

From top to bottom we could be about to lose some big names, but do you care?

 

Sit down and have the same conversation with any fan at Scarborough or at Halifax and ask them how they felt, when debts spiralled out of control.

 

Personally, I've looked in my dad's eyes and seen that fear that he may never get to see his club play again, and it

[Jeff Hamnett TSF]

theres always sympathy for the fans, but its normally down to good old housekeeping. dont spend what you cant afford, keep a roof over your head.

 

hard to believe that the vatman might close a club down because of 50k whilst the same treasury hands out billions to banks and finance companies.

but I cant imagine these clubs being nationalised, and there will be another club ready to take the place of any going bust.

 

"get a fan on the board and dont let it happen" what tosh!

[Rhodes]

TheSpursFan - Once again Caroline has thrown up some great talking points hasn't she, it emphasises all the more that money should filter down to the Non League game from the Premiership even if each Club gave just 200k a season.

[Bitch]

Originally Posted By: thespursfan

theres always sympathy for the fans, but its normally down to good old housekeeping. dont spend what you cant afford, keep a roof over your head.

Sadly though, clubs all over the non league circuit are having to spend what they can't afford. It's an expensive business this footy game and the targets are becoming more and more unrealistic.

Do we know who the 5 are yet?

[Jeff Hamnett TSF]

I dont think any club HAS to spend what it cant afford, unless its to pay off old debts or taxes run up by a previous regime.

 

possible exception where greedy landlords (normally property companies) put rent up too high.

 

a possible 5?:

Leyton

Margate

Grays

Basildon utd

Ebbsfleet

[Rhodes]

Originally Posted By: thespursfan

possible exception where greedy landlords (normally property companies) put rent up too high.

TheSpursFan - You get that in all walks of life though and not only football, we're (my family) are currently paying

[Jeff Hamnett TSF]

my point being though that when clubs go skint its rarely because they cant afford the rent, its because they've overspent on players and forgot to pay the taxman or landlord.

 

Banks have gone skint because their business plans were not robust enough to deal with exceptional circumstances or because they gambled and lost.

 

the government think we need banks, probably thinks weve got enough football clubs.

 

So why should the premiership clubs trickle money down to failing non league clubs?

They can support the clubs in their area, Chelsea do well with Cobham FC where there training ground is, Arsenal helped KTFC. Should West Ham go and pay Leytons rent?

Or Newcastle pay Margates tax bill?

[Rhodes]

Originally Posted By: thespursfan

Arsenal helped KTFC

TheSpursFan - Yes that's right but I don't think the Club (Kentish Town) are doing enough to show Arsenal they mean business, take the pitch situation for example, Arsenal help run the Under 18's team who play in the Southern Counties Floodlit Youth League but I get the impression they are growing increasingly frustrated that they can never play home games at the Copthall Stadium.

[Polly]

Originally Posted By: Rhodes

Originally Posted By: thespursfan

possible exception where greedy landlords (normally property companies) put rent up too high.

TheSpursFan - You get that in all walks of life though and not only football, we're (my family) are currently paying

[Rhodes]

Folks - A bit later than normal but fill your boots:

 

From: Non League

Sent: 12 November 2008 13:27

Subject: This week's article

 

It was the front page of the Sun, of the Mirror, even the Telegraph got in on the act with a mention or two; Laura White booted off the X Factor and the baying masses weren't happy.

 

Now, I have been known to watch the reincarnation of "Search For A Star" and yes Laura shouldn't have been voted off. Mariah Carey was a more likely candidate but, is it really front page news?

 

How's about this for a headline? "Fleetwood super-mac?" after the story of the electrician who fixed the lights at Leiston so the game could go on (Grays could have done with him mid-week when their floodlights failed) or how about "Bird helps Robins fly" after Carshalton's boss Hayden gets to grips with his new squad?

 

Now, bar getting voted off the X Factor, some inappropriate phone

messages, or even the cure for the old credit crunchy apple, there's not much from the world of Non League that would make it on Fleet Street, and more's the pity.

 

Every week now I hear tales of heroic deeds at Non League level, from the 90-year-old fan still mowing the grass, to the tea lady, which further down the job description reads; kitman, boot boy, programme seller, secretary and washer-up-er. No, definitely not news worthy.

 

Quick shufty at the sports pages of the major tabloids and it's about Respect again this week. Joe Kinnear and his "Mickey Mouse" comments and Sir Alex ranting about one man or another. So here's the deal. Unfortunately trash sells. We like salacious gossip, we like scurilous headlines and we like big time Charlies giving it the big I am. Non League is never going to be like that.

 

This week of all weeks there has been one exception. The story of AFC Wimbledon capturing so many national headlines. Here's a club trying to do it the right way and trying to approach the game with a true professional club attitude. Terry Brown, interviewed live on TV, made no reference to the officials, and their Chief Executive Erik Samuelson refused to be drawn into a 'spend the TV money and gamble' debate. All Dons feet are firmly rooted.

 

Perhaps it takes a spell at the very bottom to realise what you had. Perhaps the majority of Non League clubs realise their moment in the sun may not come round too often, so choose to use it wisely.

 

As Laura White, booted off the X Factor probably realised, the show is just a programme for our entertainment, with four human beings judging, playing the game and acting up. Maybe Joe Kinnear has a touch of the Louis Walsh's about him, playing up for the cameras. Maybe that's what makes Non League refreshing, it's not quaint, jumpers for goalposts, the image bandied around every time the FA Cup pops up. Perhaps though on the whole it's just a little more honest about what it is. Football.

 

 

[Greg_Dyke]

Wise words from Caroline, but I still don't feel Laura should have been booted out...I suspect jiggery-pokery

[Polly]

Originally Posted By: Rhodes

Folks - A bit later than normal but fill your boots:

From: Non League
Sent: 12 November 2008 13:27
Subject: This week's article

It was the front page of the Sun, of the Mirror, even the Telegraph got in on the act with a mention or two; Laura White booted off the X Factor and the baying masses weren't happy.

Now, I have been known to watch the reincarnation of "Search For A Star" and yes Laura shouldn't have been voted off. Mariah Carey was a more likely candidate but, is it really front page news?

How's about this for a headline? "Fleetwood super-mac?" after the story of the electrician who fixed the lights at Leiston so the game could go on (Grays could have done with him mid-week when their floodlights failed) or how about "Bird helps Robins fly" after Carshalton's boss Hayden gets to grips with his new squad?

Now, bar getting voted off the X Factor, some inappropriate phone
messages, or even the cure for the old credit crunchy apple, there's not much from the world of Non League that would make it on Fleet Street, and more's the pity.

Every week now I hear tales of heroic deeds at Non League level, from the 90-year-old fan still mowing the grass, to the tea lady, which further down the job description reads; kitman, boot boy, programme seller, secretary and washer-up-er. No, definitely not news worthy.

Quick shufty at the sports pages of the major tabloids and it's about Respect again this week. Joe Kinnear and his "Mickey Mouse" comments and Sir Alex ranting about one man or another. So here's the deal. Unfortunately trash sells. We like salacious gossip, we like scurilous headlines and we like big time Charlies giving it the big I am. Non League is never going to be like that.

This week of all weeks there has been one exception. The story of AFC Wimbledon capturing so many national headlines. Here's a club trying to do it the right way and trying to approach the game with a true professional club attitude. Terry Brown, interviewed live on TV, made no reference to the officials, and their Chief Executive Erik Samuelson refused to be drawn into a 'spend the TV money and gamble' debate. All Dons feet are firmly rooted.

Perhaps it takes a spell at the very bottom to realise what you had. Perhaps the majority of Non League clubs realise their moment in the sun may not come round too often, so choose to use it wisely.

As Laura White, booted off the X Factor probably realised, the show is just a programme for our entertainment, with four human beings judging, playing the game and acting up. Maybe Joe Kinnear has a touch of the Louis Walsh's about him, playing up for the cameras. Maybe that's what makes Non League refreshing, it's not quaint, jumpers for goalposts, the image bandied around every time the FA Cup pops up. Perhaps though on the whole it's just a little more honest about what it is. Football.

Nellie got a mention this week then? - Nice one Caroline!

[Rhodes]

Originally Posted By: Rhodes

Laura White booted off the X Factor and the baying masses weren't happy.

This was actually the highlight of Caroline's article for me this week, the demise of Laura was bordering on the criminal when clearly it should have been either Rachel or Daniel.

[Tiger007]

TheSpursFan - Yes that's right but I don't think the Club (Kentish Town) are doing enough to show Arsenal they mean business, take the pitch situation for example, Arsenal help run the Under 18's team who play in the Southern Counties Floodlit Youth League but I get the impression they are growing increasingly frustrated that they can never play home games at the Copthall Stadium.

 

Can you explain your ASSUMPTION rhodsey or is this a FACT

 

We want FACTS, FACTS and more FACTS

[Rhodes]

Er, it's just the impression the Coach Alan Sefton has given me that's all.

[Greg_Dyke]

Originally Posted By: Rhodes

Er, it's just the impression the Coach Alan Sefton has given me that's all.

Does he do Tommy Cooper as well ?