The Non - League thread

[Royal Rother]

Impossible without significant funding.

Guernsey had (still has I assume?) backing from Bet365 (or whoever) who paid all travel costs for both them to come mainland and the away teams to get there.

They were an excellent team when in the CCL. Streets above most opposition.

[Stranded]

Impossible without significant funding.

Guernsey had (still has I assume?) backing from Bet365 (or whoever) who paid all travel costs for both them to come mainland and the away teams to get there.

They were an excellent team when in the CCL. Streets above most opposition.

What is a realistic celing for the Channel Island sides - Guernsey seem to have hit theirs at Step 4. Would say Step 3 feels about as high as they could go without a massive upscale in financing as would be near impossible to attract players without essentially making them professional players.

[Royal Rother]

I think that’s about right.

[Sutekh]

But if Jersey/Guernsey did make it to the FL would the FL still insist on those clubs paying the expenses of their visitors for league games?

[Royalist]

Windsor manager quits ( again)

The football season is truly back now.

[Royal Rother]

Windsor manager quits ( again)

The football season is truly back now.

Nothing to do with the Chairman this time! More health related. It’s a stressful life being self-employed and having to build a new squad every couple of years with no budget.

He has done an amazing job over the last 7 years and is a really nice guy. I have stood chatting with him at U18 games on many occasions and he’s always taking calls from players, giving them pep talks, checking on fitness and availability for the upcoming games. He said it’s like that pretty much 7 days a week.

He will be missed and a hard act to follow that’s for sure.

Last night Binfield 2-0 Windsor. A number of players back from holiday but didn’t make a lot of difference as we only had 1 or 2 shots on target and they would barely have crossed the line if the ‘keeper hadn’t been in the way.

We always had confidence that Mick would be able to pull some rabbits out of the hat (he did it every season after all) but the question is - will there be anybody else around willing and able to put in all those hours for nothing getting a competitive squad together with no money to pay them.

It’s a little worrying. I fear Mick’s true achievements may become very apparent in the next few months.

[Royalist]

Yep the commitment and hard work ( even from those who get paid and have a budget) at non league is something else. I have a family member who works in the data side of the pro game and its left me wondering just how nl managers spot players! Not like there's TV clips or stats etc!

Its quite remarkable a well off town like Windsor can't find a model to support a budget when other places find money for it somehow. I don't even think the current chairman is a local is he?

[Sutekh]

Not too good for Slough last night losing 1-0 at Hungerford but good god for Hungerford.

Maidenhead got another point after a 1-1 at home to Chesterfield.

[Four Of Clubs]

Not too good for Slough last night losing 1-0 at Hungerford but good god for Hungerford.

Maidenhead got another point after a 1-1 at home to Chesterfield.

...was at Bulpit La - Hungerford edged it having led after 5', when the 'Rebels' keeper was undone by a howler - raced out to claim a through ball and totally misjudged the bounce in torrential conditions - leaving James Constable with an empty net.

Liam Ferdinand played up front for the Crusaders - think he'll be OK up at this level - will get sharper.

'Sluff' were terrible going forward - mostly long-diagonal balls - which was hardly the best way of getting Harris in the game - Roberts wasn't in the squad and the returning Lench normally so prolific, was anonymous - played quite a withdrawn role. Scott Davies came on as a sub in fact Slough had to change three of the back four through injury first half, so that can't have helped their offensive cause.

Hungerford defended deep for almost the whole of the 2nd half and other than a few scrambles from corners, just about deserved to hang on for three vital points.

Previous night (Monday) saw me at 'Stalag' Scours - though the pitch is looking good and all the lights are now new.

Reading City edged a spirited but limited Burnham 1-0 and stay at the top, alongside three other clubs with 2 from 2 (Binfield, Fairford and Westfields who got another big win - this time over Longlevens.)

Results elsewhere this midweek - Windsor's defeat at Binfield on Monday already mentioned - att 271 !!

Aldersh!t won 1-0 at Kingfield v Woking in front of almost 4k; Brackley lost 0-2 at Leamington and in the same division as Slough/Hungerford - Oxford City picked up their first point at Chipp'num.
In the Hellenic, 'Lodgers' VW beat Easington at Stag Meadow; Flackwell won their derby game vs Holmer Gn 2-0 & Wootton Bassett lost 2-3 to Shrivenham in front of 158.

In Div One Aldermaston drew 1-1 at Wallingford

Down in the Wessex: Tadley were held 2-2 by Amesbury - in the division below mixed fortunes for the Andovers : Town succumbed 3-4 at home to Romsey whilst New Street won 2-0 at Verwood.

[AthleticoSpizz]

Constable is a decent acquisition for the Crusaders, expect him to assure their survival.

Decent crowd at ‘city’ too 171

[Royal Rother]

FOC - Dan Roberts not in Slough squad as he’s suspended for 3 games having been sent off in the Windsor v Ascot Cup Final.

[Royalist]

Awful news from Burnham as a young player and kid of the chairman died in a road accident. Correctly meaning games will be rescheduled. RIP

https://www.bucksfreepress.co.uk/news/1 ... ootballer/

[Four Of Clubs]

Awful news from Burnham as a young player and kid of the chairman died in a road accident. Correctly meaning games will be rescheduled. RIP

....was already aware that Burnham's cup tie vs Tring Athletic had been moved to Tue eve and displaced the previously scheduled league game v Windsor ... but had no idea of the tragic circumstances behind the change.

Will try and get the weekend fixture preview up tomorrow - a lot of FA Cup Ties have been shifting times and moving to Fri/Sun so has taken a while to track - hence how I'd noticed the recent shift of the 'Blues' game.

[Four Of Clubs]

Here's the Preview of th NL w/e - incl Fri/Sat/Sun & Tue eve FA Cup Ties:

Saturday 10th August

FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round

(Full draw available via thefa,com)

99 Fairford Town v Enfield 1893
100 AFC Hayes v Wembley
101 Clanfield 85 v Shortwood United
102 Dunstable Town v Chipping Sodbury Town
103 Slimbridge v Edgware Town
104 Tuffley Rovers v North Greenford United
105 Royal Wotton Bassett Town v Aylesbury Vale Dynamos
16:00 106 Abingdon United v Brimscombe & Thrupp
107 London Tigers v Thame Rangers
108 Newport Pagnell Town v Cheltenham Saracens
109 Leverstock Green v Ardley United
110 Oxhey Jets v Flackwell Heath
Tue 13/08 19:45 111 Burnham v Tring Athletic
112 Bishop’s Cleeve v Easington Sports
113 Wantage Town v Brackley Town Saints
114 Leighton Town v Thornbury Town
115 Shrivenham v Holmer Green
116 Harefield United v Lydney Town
117 Longlevens v Malmesbury Victoria
Sun 11/08 14:00 118 Winslow United v Roman Glass St George
- might head out for this one - been once before but the game was washed off at H/T - is a closer option than 'new ticks' at Redbridge (which is a bit far inside M25) or Northampton
119 AFC Croydon Athletic v Virginia Water
120 Loxwood v Abbey Rangers
Fri 09/08 121 Balham v Rusthall
122 Crawley Down Gatwick v Newhaven
123 Cray Valley (PM) v Chatham Town
Sun 11/08 124 Erith & Belvedere v Peacehaven & Telscombe @ Welling Utd
125 Bridon Ropes v Broadfields United
126 Tunbridge Wells v Pagham
127 Corinthian v Little Common
128 Walton & Hersham v Southall
129 Horley Town v Bearsted
130 Egham Town v Lancing
131 Lordswood v Steyning Town Community
132 CB Hounslow United v Sheerwater
133 Horsham YMCA v Croydon
134 Saltdean United v Eastbourne United
135 Chertsey Town v Cobham
136 Tower Hamlets v Selsey
137 Chichester City v Erith Town
Fri 09/08 138 Bexhill United v Eastbourne Town @ Eastbourne Town
139 Hassocks v Langney Wanderers
140 Arundel v Banstead Athletic
141 Redhill v K Sports
142 Glebe v Hollands & Blair
143 Colliers Wood United v Shoreham
144 Sheppey United v East Preston
145 Guildford City v Tooting Bec @ Westfield FC (Woking)
12:30 146 Punjab United v Broadbridge Heath live on BBC Sport
147 Sutton Athletic v Deal Town
Fri 09/08 148 Sutton Common Rovers v Molesey
149 Spelthorne Sports v Lingfield
150 Greenwich Borough v Canterbury City
151 Crowborough Athletic v AFC Vardeanians
152 Welling Town v AFC Uckfield Town
153 Hanworth Villa v Fisher
154 Beckenham Town v Raynes Park Vale
- and this is our Plan A for Sat PM
155 Solent University v Portland United
156 Shaftesbury v Knaphill
157 Cowes Sports v Lymington Town
158 Fleet Town v Farnham Town
159 Brockenhurst v AFC Stoneham
160 Bournemouth v Frimley Green
161 Windsor v Reading City
162 Bemerton Heath Harlequins v Andover New Street
20:00 163 Sholing v Tadley Calleva
164 Ascot United v Badshot Lea – @ Badshot Lea
165 Binfield v United Services Portsmouth
166 Romsey Town v Hamble Club
167 Amesbury Town v Christchurch
168 Westbury United v Fareham Town
169 Hamworthy United v Bashley
170 AFC Portchester v Hythe & Dibden
171 Horndean v Camberley Town
172 Alresford Town v Baffins Milton Rovers
173 Cheddar v Bradford Town
174 Bitton v Bridport
175 Wellington AFC v Cribbs
176 Keynsham Town v Brislington
177 Exmouth Town v Barnstable Town
178 Saltash United v Clevedon Town
Fri 09/08 179 Plymouth Parkway v Buckland Athletic
180 Willand Rovers v AFC St Austell
181 Tavistock v Hengrove Athletic
14:00 182 Street v Odd Down
183 Shepton Mallet v Cadbury Heath
184 Bridgwater Town v Hallen

NAT
Maidenhead United v Hartlepool United
Solihull Moors v Aldershot Town
Woking v Harrogate Town
NATS
Braintree Town v Wealdstone
Chippenham Town v Billericay Town
Concord Rangers v Slough Town
Dartford v Havant & Waterlooville
Dorking Wanderers v Tonbridge Angels
Dulwich Hamlet v St Albans City
Eastbourne Borough v Oxford City
Hampton & Richmond Borough v Hemel Hempstead Town
Hungerford Town v Maidstone United
Welling United v Bath City
Weymouth v Chelmsford City
NATN
York City v Brackley Town

SLP-C
Redditch United v Banbury United
SLP-S
Chesham United v Salisbury
Dorchester Town v Beaconsfield Town
Farnborough v Poole Town
Tiverton Town v Hayes & Yeading United
Wimborne Town v Hartley Wintney

CCL1
Ash United v Dorking Wanderers Res
Bagshot v Epsom & Ewell @ Camberley Town FC
British Airways v Cove @ Bedfont & Feltham FC
Chessington & Hook United v Bedfont & Feltham
Eversley & California v Westside
Fleet Spurs v Godalming Town
Kensington & Ealing Boro v Sandhurst Town @ Leatherhead FC

HELL1E
Chalvey Sports v Wallingford Town @ Slough FC
Didcot Town Development v Long Crendon
Milton United v Risborough Rangers
Penn & Tylers Green v Kidlington Development - @ Beaconsfield Town FC
Woodley United v Abingdon Town @ Rivermoor (Readng City FC)

WESS1
Andover Town v Newport (IoW)
Downton v Alton
Petersfield Town v East Cowes Victoria
Pewsey Vale v Ringwood Town
Whitchurch United v Fawley AFC

[AthleticoSpizz]

mmmm could be a decent crowd at the Bulpit tomorrow, one-time league club, Maidstone (ave. home crowd 2000).

[Royal Rother]

Windsor 0-3 Reading City

Finished with 9 men as our 2 senior players were red carded. Just what you need.... Lazarczuk got 2 yellows both for trying to take quick free kicks before the ref was ready. Harsh is hardly an adequate word. And Gould for a bad tackle (no arguments).

Still got some players to come back next week but this team would likely take us down. We did have 4 clear cut chances (more than Reading had in the game) but we don’t have a striker at the moment. And the number of times we gave the ball away was almost criminal.

Without Mick Woodham to pull rabbits out of the hat as he has done for the last 7 years this is rather concerning.

The new manager (whoever he might be) better have some good contacts!

[AthleticoSpizz]

That’s 3 out of 3 for ‘city’ isn’t it?.....a bit like last season.

No Mitch Parker etc. to desert them this time, but how long until the implosion and another ensuing relegation scrap?

[Royal Rother]

Whenever the money runs out I suppose.

[AthleticoSpizz]

Well quite...or until heads get turned for an extra tenner a week.

[stealthpapes]

Picked a random midlands FA Cup game out of the hat, setting a £20 train fare as my limit.

So I present:

Dunkirk FC vs Gresley

The Boatmen

currently playing in the East Midlands Counties Football League. Colours - red shirts, black shorts

vs

The Moatmen

currently playing in the Midland Football League Premier Division. Colours - two tone blue shirts, red shorts. yuck.
I think one level higher than Dunkirk, but you wouldn't have known it. Proper village team.

Fairly dire game, all told, livened up by some of the worst refereeing I have ever seen. One minute in, the Gresley centre mid wafts a pass back towards his goalkeeper, not noticing the lurking Dunkirk number 10 who tucks home. Linesman flags, ref blows his whistle, goal disallowed. Wat.

Later on, Gresley keeper gets a rush of blood, leaving the goal open for Dunkirk to take the lead.

Just before the end of the first half, its the turn of the Dunkirk keeper to go AWOL, misjudging a long ball and being turned by the Gresley forward. One body slam later and the striker is through but massively off balance. The ball trickles out for a goal kick. OK, so the ref played advantage there, guess we pull it back and have a direct free kick outside the box. Red card? Right?

Well, no, not according to the rules of the game

If the referee plays the advantage for an offence for which a caution / sending-off would have been issued had play been stopped, this caution / sending-off must be issued when the ball is next out of play, except for the denial of an obvious goal-scoring opportunity when the player is cautioned for unsporting behaviour.

I guess he could have pulled up for serious foul play, but yeah, I think that's another black mark in his copy book.

On the other hand, we are treated to the substitute utility player in the original goalkeeper's shirt. LOVELY.

Second half was attritional, Gresley getting more and more half chances before in the last, last, last minutes, the replacement keeper flaps and the loose ball is turned in.

1-1 and a reply Tuesday for the honour of playing Sutton Coldfield Town.