Now the FA are sifting through their appeals against league allocations we’re still seeing the ramifications felt by some clubs whose position isn’t going to change.
The highest profile of course is Bishops Stortford, placed in Essex but in the National League North thanks to three of the four relegated from the National League heading to the South Division and creating the imbalance.
I’ve seen various scenarios suggested since they were placed there. They do appear the victim of being the best situated on a road network compared to a couple of other clubs also in Essex both unmoved.
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Their two furthest trips north are not a lot different married up with the two furthest in the south, granted they don’t have any local trips in that mix either, Peterborough Sports are probably the closest club to them.
Some out there seem to think they should be left in the South and we run with 25 clubs in that league and 23 in the other, sensible? Not in the slightest! Why should one club impact on 47 others, the game isn’t here to please one it’s here for all.
North clubs would then lose a home game each, whose paying that compensation? Stortford? The FA? No one is the answer so why should they all suffer? Clubs are here to play football, why would they want two weekends off and that goes for the South clubs too, it’s just unworkable however lovely it would be for Stortford to be where they really want.
It would also set a precedent for clubs going forward for the next however many years too. As pointed out a couple of weeks ago by the Northern Premier League chairman Mark Harris your contract as a club is with a specific league for one year and one year only, it’s not a written law where you need to be placed.
I remember in Sussex where I live Pagham just outside Bognor Regis shunted off laterally to the Wessex League in Hampshire last year. They were going to appeal, decided against it, sucked it up and got on with it.
They found it tough, possibly because the standard is better than in Sussex and finished in the relegation places, this summer they were laterally moved back to their home region, no doubt happy but did what they needed to.
The other suggestion I saw was to go back to the three regionalised leagues that existed before the National League North and South. In a perfect pyramid they fit at Step 3 and not Step 2.
I happen to think that Step 2 helps prepare for the full National League, jumping straight from regional football into the top non-league division is a step too far now for a huge majority, Step 2 allows them to grow and get a little used to more travel.
If we went back to those three leagues as a Step 2 do you really think National League clubs will be voting for six clubs to be relegated to allow promotion? Not a chance! Three champions and at best a three way play-off between the sides finishing second promoting stagnation where surely we’re trying to encourage clubs to keep moving.
We saw how badly those two years of uncompleted football that saw clubs stuck and not moving at the detriment to not only them but those in the same division who saw their own path blocked, it’s selfish.
Clubs are now understanding that to compete in the National League you have to go full time, it’s an unforgiving division for all and that’s not going to change so why not give everyone the opportunity to prepare, be aware of what it’s all about.
So, if we went back to the three regional leagues again we’re on a whim of one misplaced club to upset the apple cart for getting close to over 100 clubs, not very sensible is it.
I fully appreciate it’s unfortunate, but you can’t just mess around a huge number of clubs for the sake of one. If there are any sensible ways round it I’ve yet to see one suggested.
What do you think? Have the FA been too harsh and should a way round their placement have been found? If so, what is the solution? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.
