The Non - League thread

[Royal Rother]

Superb stuff. I like both the kits and the car wraps look great as well. It'll be sneered at by some of course but it opens up excellent marketing and profile development opportunities for the club.

It'll certainly get noticed!

The feature in 442 magazine is very strong and if they can, as hoped, get on Soccer AM in due course it will achieve all of the above.

[Royal Rother]

I'm sorry. Is it April Fools day?!



Think Corinthian casuals pink and brown with light blue shorts used to be the worst kit in football but this one MIGHT be worse. The frankly bizarre bowler hats, shoes and umbrella look tops it off!

So you don't get it then. That's a surprise.

[Royalist]

Do you like it then?! The car looks better actually to be fair. Think its the lack of the faded white that makes it look better. Are Soccer AM over Ralf Little not playing in that game they hyped up for months and then didn't mention the result after Ralf didn't play then

Not a football kit buying person any more but when i used to wear the old W&E shirts in the town people used to think it was Wales or Portugal. Guess no chance of that now! See. I can do positives.

[Royal Rother]

I do like it, yes.

Unique and opens many possibilities. Some won't like it but it WILL draw attention and get people talking of that there's no doubt.

http://www.windsorfc.net/news/news.php?ID=N126

[Royalist]

So would playing in pink and yellow spots but doesn't mean anyones actually going to pay any money to see it! Feedback i've heard apart from you has been negative!

Wish it the best of luck and in 30 years time people will hopefully have a good old laugh about it all!!

[Ark Royal]

Sorry, but that Windsor kit is shocking. Reminds me of some of the appalling kits of the 80s and 90s.

[Royal Rother]

Thames Motor Group are main dealers for Fiat = Italian Connection = red white and green kit.

There are a lot of Italians moving into the Windsor area and hopefully the kit will create a connection with them. Plus of course we all know the massive interest in anything vaguely related to the royals which comes from the huge number of tourist visitors to Windsor so it gives the club opportunities to create revenues and further interest if marketed intelligently.

Not suggesting it will add big numbers onto the gates or result in massive shirt sales but it's all about creating interest and awareness. Part of the long-term vision to build a community club with an identity that is different from others in the area.

The intention is to roll the kit out to all 36 kids and youth teams over the next couple of years - I suspect most youngsters will love to wear them and they will inevitably gravitate to closer connection with what's going on at a Stag Meadow. All for the long term benefit!

Anyway, the sceptics will obviously have their say but I can see nothing but net benefits to the club, and hopefully, through whatever national coverage comes our way (Four Four Two magazine won't be the only ones to get on the case) to the Combined Counties League as well - for however long we remain there!

Laughing stock amongst some for a while? Quite probably. But it's quintessentially English and Windsor is probably the only team in the country who could hope to get away with it on any level.

I'm sure everyone involved knows there will be a lot of negative reaction to the shirts (they'd be naive to think otherwise!) but when your average gate is 150+ with no playing budget you've simply got to look beyond the normal confines of "acceptability" to generate publicity and attention.

At the end of the day, it's an initiative that is a bit different, and will get people talking and that's got to be good for a club like Windsor.

[Royalist]

Creating awareness is fine. But everyone is aware of the monster raving loony party doesn't mean they are taken seriously!

Quintessentially English whilst being the UNION jack ( but not actually) and aimed at Italians?

Rother put the party line down!!

It's embarrassing.

[Royal Rother]

We've already established you don't get it.

Do you have another idea on how to get full page coverage in FourFourTwo magazine?

[Royalist]

Play in the nude and you might get in the mainstream press!

Lets see if crowds go up. But embarrassing yourself for 3 years, or however long this kit is due to last, for a few pages in magazines doesn't seem worth it to me. Will gladly be proven wrong! Said my bit now. Lets see how it pans out!

[AthleticoSpizz]

(despite my own historical interest in W&EFC) I am really starting to think that you two should create your own W&E thread

[Royalist]

I'll move on to this one then...

I follow the non league show twitter account and according to them Maidenhead played a friendly on a 3g pitch at bisham abbey today after their match was called off. Surely with the waterlogging in some parts of the country that debate is about to come to the fore like it does every winter.

Personally i cannot see it happening until lifespans or costs come down a hell of a lot but surely its something the FA would want to push with funding especially as it could potentially get the participation rates up

[Barry the bird boggler]

I'll move on to this one then...

I follow the non league show twitter account and according to them Maidenhead played a friendly on a 3g pitch at bisham abbey today after their match was called off. Surely with the waterlogging in some parts of the country that debate is about to come to the fore like it does every winter.

Personally i cannot see it happening until lifespans or costs come down a hell of a lot but surely its something the FA would want to push with funding especially as it could potentially get the participation rates up

Wouldn't 3G pitches interfere with phone reception though?

[Terminal Boardom]

I'll move on to this one then...

I follow the non league show twitter account and according to them Maidenhead played a friendly on a 3g pitch at bisham abbey today after their match was called off. Surely with the waterlogging in some parts of the country that debate is about to come to the fore like it does every winter.

Personally i cannot see it happening until lifespans or costs come down a hell of a lot but surely its something the FA would want to push with funding especially as it could potentially get the participation rates up

All CCL premier games off and as of 5 minutes ago, only 2 CCL Div 1 games yet to fall. Looks like the need for 3G pitches at grass roots football is becoming more of a necessity.

Which is what I said yesterday. They are not cheap and how many local authorities are going to shell out when their budgets are being dicked by Central Government? Sure, the RBWM coughed up for maidenhead Rugby Club but that is RUGBY. As I mentioned previously, I went to Harlow Town's game on New Year's day and witnessed 3G for the first time. It really is the way forward and with the right infrastructure in place earn considerable revenue as a social facility / amenity. Fixtures will be pretty much guaranteed and ground sharing can become more attractive.

[Four Of Clubs]

I'll move on to this one then...

I follow the non league show twitter account and according to them Maidenhead played a friendly on a 3g pitch at bisham abbey today after their match was called off. Surely with the waterlogging in some parts of the country that debate is about to come to the fore like it does every winter.

Personally i cannot see it happening until lifespans or costs come down a hell of a lot but surely its something the FA would want to push with funding especially as it could potentially get the participation rates up

Which is what I said yesterday. They are not cheap and how many local authorities are going to shell out when their budgets are being dicked by Central Government? Sure, the RBWM coughed up for maidenhead Rugby Club but that is RUGBY. As I mentioned previously, I went to Harlow Town's game on New Year's day and witnessed 3G for the first time. It really is the way forward and with the right infrastructure in place earn considerable revenue as a social facility / amenity. Fixtures will be pretty much guaranteed and ground sharing can become more attractive.

... tried a comprehensive response to this yesterday eve but was on my lads' iPad and it evidently got fed up with me and wiped my post.

anyway - there is a lengthy debate ongoing on the 'nonleaguematters' forum (Anoraks' must be securely fastened at all times )

Reportedly there is an issue brewing relating to Maidstone - now in a shiny new stadium in the town centre after many nomadic years - but their surface IS 3G (NB Apparently the numbers before the 'G' don't actually mean that much - and there's no difference to speak of between 3 & 4G - probably just a marketing tag - or possibly the 4 indicates it is for sports other than Football?? I think '1G' refers to first generation Astroturf and 2 has something to do with sand?

...here's a techie explanation for those interested?

http://www.sportsandsafetysurfaces.co.u ... urf-carpet

- the key is that APT (Advanced Polymer Technology) is the matter up for debate.
The Conference is rumoured to have done a U-turn on policy accepting clubs with artificial surfaces. The change if there was one, brings them into line with the stance taken by both the Prem and FA.
However both the Ryman and Southern (ie Merthyr) have member clubs using APT and a fair few more are considering it.

- I've also been to Harlow this season as well as Maidstone and though the surface is obviously completely green all the time, there's very little difference otherwise ie in bounce/run off etc. There is some weight to an argument that players don't like them that much - there does also seem to be a correlation between an increase in calf-strains/ankle tears etc amongst groups that regularly train on 3G.

The biting point is that Maidstone are currently in the Play Off places in the Southern Premier but may be refused promotion to the Conference.

Significantly following and during yesterdays deluge, almost exclusively NL clubs with 3G surfaces, were the only one's with games on - locally there were actually a couple of N.Berks games played - I suspect (but haven't confirmed) that the matches in question were switched very late to on-site artificial pitches @ Hithercroft (Wallingford) and Westminster (College facility at Botley) - however Dorchester (on Thames) somehow hosted AFC Wallingford - they must have played in Waders - or found somewhere else?

[Royalist]

Ideal if conference don't let it in. Limiting smaller clubs ambitions and allowing them to get in extra income? Fantastic. The ambition of chairmen has killed or hurt many a club so anything that will lower the chances is fine by me!

[Terminal Boardom]

Alton Town v Windsor IS ON!!!

[Four Of Clubs]

... sorry Girls - left preview much later today to try and weed out the Postponements:

.... heres' a quick list of what's still on locally - that I'm considering a late dash for:

FA Trophy R3, Aldershot Town v Guiseley
FA Trophy R3, Hungerford Town v Gosport Borough

CONFS Farnborough v Staines Town
SOUTHP
Burnham v Bedford Town
Chesham United v Biggleswade Town
SOUTH1C
Beaconsfield SYCOB v Ashford Town (Middx)
Chalfont St Peter v AFC Hayes
Chertsey Town v Northwood
Marlow v Slough Town - could be a corker and the food's always great here!
Uxbridge v Royston Town
SOUTH1S&W
Guildford City v Clevedon Town
N.Leigh v Taunton
Swindon Supermarine v Mangotsfield United
- Fleet, Thatcham Town both away
CCLP
Alton Town v Windsor - saw the corresponding game at Stag Meadow - was a lot closer than expected
Badshot Lea v Cove
Camberley Town v Croydon
Colliers Wood United v Westfield
Epsom & Ewell v Farnham Town
Hanworth Villa v Raynes Park Vale
Horley Town v Hartley Wintney
Mole Valley SCR v South Park
Molesey v Chessington & Hook United
Wembley v Ash United

CCL1
Bedfont&Feltham v Farleigh Rovers
Dorking v Eversley& California (@ Eversley & C)
Epsom Athletic v Cobham
Sandhurst Town v South Kilburn
Staines Lammas v Knaphill


HELLP
Abingdon United v Newbury
Ascot United v Brimscombe & Thrupp
Flackwell Heath v Bracknell Town
Highmoor Ibis v Holyport
Kidlington v Ardley United
Shrivenham v Wootton Bassett Town
HELL1E
14:15 Finchampstead v AFC Hinksey
Milton United v Headington Amateurs
WESSP
Whitchurch United v Downton
Winchester City v Horndean
WESS1
Andover Town v Fleet Spurs

B&B Int R4, AFC Aldermaston v Amersham Town
B&B Int R4, 13:30 Wok & Emm v Reading YMCA @ Lowther Rd Winnersh

...sorry if I've missed any off in the rush!

[Terminal Boardom]

According to the programme yesterday, the referee was Andy Mawby. I hope we never, ever see him again. He is the worst, most incompetent, inept and utterly useless referee I have ever seen. Throughout the first half, challenges were being made by Alton players that were late, dangerous and reckless. Not once did I see the referee actually bother to speak to any of their players regarding the nature of their play. The number of times they went straight through the backs of our players without any reaction from the pathetic excuse of the referee gave Alton all the encouragement they needed to kick us off the park.

The assault on Gouldy by their keeper warranted a red card for the challenge alone. If it was anywhere else on the pitch and by an outfield player, it would have been a straight red. The referees excuse for giving a yellow was because Gouldy was going away from the goal. That is a total irrelevance and clearly illustrated the weak and inept performance of a referee not fit to officiate a game of Subbuteo. The challenge was, at best grotesque and at worst, career threatening.

As for the red card being shown in the second half, at that point I knew that we would never get anything from that clown. There was an assault on Kirbs in the bottom corner which had it occurred on a Friday night in Peascod Street would have resulted in a night in the cells and a visit in front of the magistrates in the morning. Not with that prick of a referee. Oh no. Let's caution both players and award a throw in.

There were just way too many disgraceful challenges out there. I would be very interested in learning how many times that useless twonk of a referee has handled Alton's home games. Perhaps he may even be on the Alton committee which would explain his bizarre and completely biased performance. Perhaps he is a major club sponsor. Perhaps he could have been handed a hell of a lot more than the perfunctory match fees at the end of the game. His performance was THAT bad that I would not have been at all surprised if he had been bribed.

Will Windsor FC have the balls to submit an official report to the CCL regarding the shambles that was Mr Andy Mawby? I hope I never, ever see him at any other game that I go to.

Personally, I doubt that Windsor FC will have the balls to do anything about it. That would be way too much for a certain Secretary to have to do.

On top of that, Windsor were gash and deserved to lose.

[Royalist]

Feel better now?