What goes up (and other stories)

[Steve T]

May 11, 2023 20:04:06 GMT 1 Steve T said:

(From last year: banburyunitedfc.proboards.com/thread/3518/play-offs)

From the Harriers forum after winning last season's play-off final at Brackley:

"It's clear their facilities aren't geared up enough to deal with a game of this magnitude and to reduce it to 3000 is a joke...National League will need to take a look at this and remedy for future seasons to ensure this fiasco with allocations do not happen. Should be played at a decent stadium minimum 20k."

"Brackley's ground meets the requirements for the league we are in (min 3000 capacity). Perhaps the FA/National League need to be stricter on ground grading (might stop clubs getting promoted though…). The only thing that does get me is the reduced capacity (irrespective of how many actually attend). They wish to be in a league where they need 4000 capacity so if they have security concerns about us then what about bigger clubs? You can either hold 4000 or you can't."

"Simple solution...let's get the **** out of this league!"

Some Kidderminster supporters are a bit full of themselves...

Can we enjoy a bit of schadenfreude? It wasn't just Brackley that some Harriers fans were rude about. Up they went, thanks to that sudden late burst of form at the end of last season, and down they came. They made a terrible start to the season but it looked like Phil Brown of Hull City 'Mr. Angry' repute might rescue them when he came in. Harriers won 6 of their first 8 under him but just one of their next 10 and were relegated before the last day. Their fans will enjoy days out at the grand arenas of Rushall, Radcliffe and Warrington (quite possibly two of them if Rylands win the play-offs).

22-23 champions AFC Fylde started as badly as Kidderminster but recovered with a slow and steady improvement.

Taunton's season ended as badly as Banbury's. They also had to make economies and then were badly hit by the weather, with two long spells without a home game of 35 and 39 days (Banbury had one of 31 and three of 28). After winning 6 of their first 11 and topping the table, they won just 4 more.

Nevertheless, their attendances held up. Their season's average was 940. Take out the 3,000 and 2,500 for the visits of Yeovil and Torquay and the 126 for the match they played at Gloucester and the figure is a fraction under 800. Total 21,637, Banbury 14,199.

Was Oxford City's relegation a surprise? Perhaps only the margin. Still, the treasurer will be reasonably happy with a final average of 947 of which about 260-280 were visitors. Southend brought 1,200, Aldershot, Oldham and Chesterfield 600, Hartlepool and Barnet 450.

[Steve T]

Of the eight clubs promoted to Step 2 in 2022, five remain. Cheshunt went down last season and could drop another level this week. Worthing have qualified for the play-offs for the second season in a row.

Of the four clubs relegated from NL North last season, Telford have qualified for the play-offs and Leamington should join them, Kettering hung on after a poor start and Bradford PA have gone down again. Let's hope Banbury don't emulate them.

[Steve T]

AFC R&D supporters had a day out with a difference on Saturday. They went to Walsall Wood needing a better result than Rugby to stay up. Both teams won but Rushden couldn't overhaul Rugby's superior goal difference. On their way home, supporters heard that Loughborough Dynamo had resigned, putting Rushden in line for a reprieve. If it happens, there ought to be a revival of derby matches with Wellingborough, who won the UCL and return to 'big league' football for the first time since their relegation from the Southern League in 1989.

[Steve T]

Brackley's 7th Step 2 play-off failure and 9th overall.

[Sparky]

Oh dear, never mind,what a shame😂😂

[Steve T]

At least Boston scored in normal time after two goalless matches won on penalties. It would have been some record to have won promotion with another victory like that – and all away from home.

[diggy]

May 4, 2024 17:42:07 GMT 1 Steve T said:

At least Boston scored in normal time after two goalless matches won on penalties. It would have been some record to have won promotion with another victory like that – and all away from home.

But about 30k richer 🤔

[didier]

Oh dear !