| National League title race 12:59 - Apr 3 with 5881 views | SuffolkHoop |
Absurd race for the conference title and promotion to league 2 this season.
Both Wrexham and Notts County are going to break the records but one will have to contend with the playoffs! Notts are on 97 points with 5 games left and look unlikely to win the league. |  | | |  |
| National League title race on 13:05 - Apr 3 with 4833 views | QPRConor2000 |
Madness isnt it.
I think it should be 3 up, 3 down in the National League or Conference National as I still call it. |  | | |
| National League title race on 13:05 - Apr 3 with 4831 views | Northernr |
A couple of issues coming home to roost here.
Conference, no restrictions, spend what you like, as opposed to League Two, where you can't.
Also one up one down, recently replaced by two up two down, is completely inadequate.
What it's done is create a log jam of clubs at the top of the Conference good enough, well backed and supported enough, to not only play League Two but also probably League One - Wrexham and Notts County are both already League One clubs and teams really.
Meanwhile, there's a whole catalogue of teams at the bottom of League Two who should have been relegated years ago.
Got this in a quiz the other week - since automatic promotion between Conference and Football League was established, how many promoted teams have gone straight back down the next season? Answer - zero. |  | | |
| National League title race on 13:17 - Apr 3 with 4766 views | CamberleyR |
It'll be a travesty if Notts County don't go up this season, they're 25 points ahead of 3rd and 4th and 33 points ahead of 7th.
I'm not overly familiar with the NL play offs but I'm guessing that 2nd and 3rd go straight through to the semis with the others playing off in quarter finals first to meet them. I think it would be fairer if the runner up in the NL went straight into the final. |  |
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| National League title race on 13:26 - Apr 3 with 4739 views | terryb |
I'm definitely in favour of three up, three down from the NL, but I can't agree with anyone that thinks that league is hard done by! Not once have they considered three up from the NL north & south, let alone from the NPL, Southerrn & Isthmian. And below those leagues there is only one guarenteed promotion place!
They also get far more coverage than EFL Division Two & half of Division one & not just due to Wrexham's owners. [Post edited 3 Apr 2023 13:41]
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| National League title race on 13:30 - Apr 3 with 4721 views | slmrstid |
| National League title race on 13:17 - Apr 3 by CamberleyR |
It'll be a travesty if Notts County don't go up this season, they're 25 points ahead of 3rd and 4th and 33 points ahead of 7th.
I'm not overly familiar with the NL play offs but I'm guessing that 2nd and 3rd go straight through to the semis with the others playing off in quarter finals first to meet them. I think it would be fairer if the runner up in the NL went straight into the final. |
I'm not sure if its still the case, it may well not be, but when they first introduced play-offs in Serie B in Italy they put in a rule that if the 3rd place side was 10 or more points ahead of 4th, there'd be no play-offs and the top 3 would go up automatically.
In the final game of 2006/07 Genoa and Napoli played out a very convenient 0-0 draw in Naples that saw them both go up automatically in 2nd and 3rd under this rule.
It would be actually a bit fairer to have this sort of rule in our play-offs for something like the Notts County situation - although of course the leagues would miss out on their big TV/money day at Wembley. |  | | |
| National League title race on 14:19 - Apr 3 with 4614 views | Hayesender |
I think we'll be playing one or both of these teams within the next two years |  |
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| National League title race on 14:40 - Apr 3 with 4576 views | Watford_Ranger |
| National League title race on 13:30 - Apr 3 by slmrstid |
I'm not sure if its still the case, it may well not be, but when they first introduced play-offs in Serie B in Italy they put in a rule that if the 3rd place side was 10 or more points ahead of 4th, there'd be no play-offs and the top 3 would go up automatically.
In the final game of 2006/07 Genoa and Napoli played out a very convenient 0-0 draw in Naples that saw them both go up automatically in 2nd and 3rd under this rule.
It would be actually a bit fairer to have this sort of rule in our play-offs for something like the Notts County situation - although of course the leagues would miss out on their big TV/money day at Wembley. |
Fairer but effectively kills the season and probably the crowds and TV figures. It should be two up automatically plus a third but I like the playoff format they have which gives the higher teams a better chance.
Forza Borehamwood. | | | |
| National League title race on 15:05 - Apr 3 with 4490 views | ozranger |
| National League title race on 13:17 - Apr 3 by CamberleyR |
It'll be a travesty if Notts County don't go up this season, they're 25 points ahead of 3rd and 4th and 33 points ahead of 7th.
I'm not overly familiar with the NL play offs but I'm guessing that 2nd and 3rd go straight through to the semis with the others playing off in quarter finals first to meet them. I think it would be fairer if the runner up in the NL went straight into the final. |
The clubs that finish second and third go straight through to the play-off semi-finals where they play the two winners of the quarter-finals, which the teams from fourth to seventh contest; the winners of those semis meet in a final at Wembley, with the victor being promoted. All ties consist of a single leg.
Eliminator A — Tuesday 2 May - 5th place vs 6th place
Eliminator B — Wednesday 3 May - 4th place vs 7th place
Semi-Final 1 — Sunday 7 May - 2nd place vs Eliminator A Winner
Semi-Final 2 — Sunday 7 May - 3rd place vs Eliminator B Winner
Promotion Final — Saturday 13 May
While the NL is a two-horse race, the two leagues just below - NL North & South - are almost done for the top position. In the NLN AFC Fylde is a good five points clear with a game in hand on 2nd. In the NLS Ebbsfleet will promote on Friday if they get a single point v Oxford at Stonebridge Rd. Fleet have a big backer and a German manager who has got them currently 21 clear of second. |  | | |
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| National League title race on 15:13 - Apr 3 with 4446 views | CamberleyR |
| National League title race on 15:05 - Apr 3 by ozranger |
The clubs that finish second and third go straight through to the play-off semi-finals where they play the two winners of the quarter-finals, which the teams from fourth to seventh contest; the winners of those semis meet in a final at Wembley, with the victor being promoted. All ties consist of a single leg.
Eliminator A — Tuesday 2 May - 5th place vs 6th place
Eliminator B — Wednesday 3 May - 4th place vs 7th place
Semi-Final 1 — Sunday 7 May - 2nd place vs Eliminator A Winner
Semi-Final 2 — Sunday 7 May - 3rd place vs Eliminator B Winner
Promotion Final — Saturday 13 May
While the NL is a two-horse race, the two leagues just below - NL North & South - are almost done for the top position. In the NLN AFC Fylde is a good five points clear with a game in hand on 2nd. In the NLS Ebbsfleet will promote on Friday if they get a single point v Oxford at Stonebridge Rd. Fleet have a big backer and a German manager who has got them currently 21 clear of second. |
Thanks for that mate, so the teams finishing 2nd and 3rd do get some slight advantage then in getting a home tie for their semi finals. | |
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| National League title race on 15:37 - Apr 3 with 4364 views | WokingR |
Squeaky bum time for Woking now after losing to their closest rival, Chesterfield, last weekend. |  | | |
| National League title race on 15:40 - Apr 3 with 4355 views | toboboly |
Considering Wrexham have the wage of a League One club they should have pi$$ed the league last year. |  |
| Sexy Asian dwarves wanted. |
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| National League title race on 16:16 - Apr 3 with 4272 views | stevec |
First league I look at after the Championship.
Fascinating what’s going on between the top two but the attendance figures are also excellent in the National league. I’ve been meaning to get down to watch Dorking who are getting crowds of over 2000 in their first year at this level. It’s got to be better than that drivel against Birmingham. |  | | |
| National League title race on 16:19 - Apr 3 with 4269 views | Konk |
Went to Barnet v Notts a couple of weeks ago when I was visiting my Dad, and given the number of points they’ve got, I was really surprised by how average they were. Might have caught them on an off day, but they could have lost if Barnet’s decision-making hadn’t been so poor.
Really should be 3-up/3-down in that division. Can’t see any argument for it not to be. |  |
| Fulham FC: It's the taking part that counts |
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| National League title race on 16:37 - Apr 3 with 4188 views | Antti_Heinola |
| National League title race on 13:26 - Apr 3 by terryb |
I'm definitely in favour of three up, three down from the NL, but I can't agree with anyone that thinks that league is hard done by! Not once have they considered three up from the NL north & south, let alone from the NPL, Southerrn & Isthmian. And below those leagues there is only one guarenteed promotion place!
They also get far more coverage than EFL Division Two & half of Division one & not just due to Wrexham's owners. [Post edited 3 Apr 2023 13:41]
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Don't the bottom 4 go down from the NL? They can't relegate more than that, surely? Or am i misunderstanding what you mean? |  |
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| National League title race on 16:50 - Apr 3 with 4132 views | BazzaInTheLoft |
I’ve always thought it should go regional after League Two to save costs. It’s mad that Truro were going to Blythe Spartans not so long ago.
Good luck to Notts County. The snob and xenophobe in me finds the Wrexham circus a bit much. Ben Foster will be doing a live Podcast during a match soon I reckon. |  | | |
| National League title race on 16:52 - Apr 3 with 4133 views | terryb |
| National League title race on 16:37 - Apr 3 by Antti_Heinola |
Don't the bottom 4 go down from the NL? They can't relegate more than that, surely? Or am i misunderstanding what you mean? |
This, of course, is the problem Antti. As it is between steps 2 & 3. Even more so between steps 4&5. However, if you want more clubs promoted, you must expect pressure from the leagues below you wanting the same.
I don't know how to resolve it (neither does the FA!), but perhaps two guarented promotion places from NLS & NLN plus a relegation play off between the third place clubs & those that finish 19th & 20th in the NL might help.
There is not a chance of that happening though when the clubs in the south & north divisions have little say in the rules of the NL (unless that has changed in the past two years).
The bottleneck in the pyramid is massive & isn't helped by clubs like Macclesfield already spending more money than when they were a FL & NL club. That may apply to AFC Bury as well provided that the two organisations vote to amalgamate. [Post edited 3 Apr 2023 17:05]
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| National League title race on 17:16 - Apr 3 with 4087 views | terryb |
| National League title race on 16:50 - Apr 3 by BazzaInTheLoft |
I’ve always thought it should go regional after League Two to save costs. It’s mad that Truro were going to Blythe Spartans not so long ago.
Good luck to Notts County. The snob and xenophobe in me finds the Wrexham circus a bit much. Ben Foster will be doing a live Podcast during a match soon I reckon. |
Truro have not played a league match against Blyth Baz, as neither side have risen above the second tier of the NL. That dosn't mean that it won't happen at some time though!
It did come very close a few years back that Truro & Kings Lynn would both be in the Southern League Premier Division, but thankfully the committee that decides the league allocations thought that was a bit too much for step three!
I won't be surprised if Oxford Ciry are moved back to the NL North next season, although Bishops Stortford might have that privilege if they are promoted! | | | |
| National League title race on 17:30 - Apr 3 with 4067 views | BazzaInTheLoft |
| National League title race on 17:16 - Apr 3 by terryb |
Truro have not played a league match against Blyth Baz, as neither side have risen above the second tier of the NL. That dosn't mean that it won't happen at some time though!
It did come very close a few years back that Truro & Kings Lynn would both be in the Southern League Premier Division, but thankfully the committee that decides the league allocations thought that was a bit too much for step three!
I won't be surprised if Oxford Ciry are moved back to the NL North next season, although Bishops Stortford might have that privilege if they are promoted! |
Eastleigh are playing Gateshead next week I notice! That’s got to be a pricy trip! | | | |
| National League title race on 18:05 - Apr 3 with 3994 views | Watford_Ranger |
| National League title race on 17:30 - Apr 3 by BazzaInTheLoft |
Eastleigh are playing Gateshead next week I notice! That’s got to be a pricy trip! |
Yeovil are there midweek. Huge relegation six pointer. | | | |
| National League title race on 18:40 - Apr 3 with 3930 views | Northernr |
| National League title race on 16:50 - Apr 3 by BazzaInTheLoft |
I’ve always thought it should go regional after League Two to save costs. It’s mad that Truro were going to Blythe Spartans not so long ago.
Good luck to Notts County. The snob and xenophobe in me finds the Wrexham circus a bit much. Ben Foster will be doing a live Podcast during a match soon I reckon. |
An ongoing issue for a club like Dartford whose facilities/ground are absolutely excellent, easily Football League standard, but as soon as they step above Conference South they struggle with the budget required to not only compete at that level but also deal with things like Gateshead away on a Tuesday night. | | | |
| National League title race on 19:34 - Apr 3 with 3859 views | ozranger |
| National League title race on 18:40 - Apr 3 by Northernr |
An ongoing issue for a club like Dartford whose facilities/ground are absolutely excellent, easily Football League standard, but as soon as they step above Conference South they struggle with the budget required to not only compete at that level but also deal with things like Gateshead away on a Tuesday night. |
Actually Princes Park only has a stand on one side (west) and thus I'd say probably not good enough for League standard. Stonebridge Rd now has three stands and is working on improving those. But, your point is right. The money required to play such as Gateshead and others up north is quite something that they would struggle with. Still, they could promote via the playoffs anyway and then would be in that exact situation. | | | |
| National League title race on 19:44 - Apr 3 with 3830 views | ozranger |
| National League title race on 16:52 - Apr 3 by terryb |
This, of course, is the problem Antti. As it is between steps 2 & 3. Even more so between steps 4&5. However, if you want more clubs promoted, you must expect pressure from the leagues below you wanting the same.
I don't know how to resolve it (neither does the FA!), but perhaps two guarented promotion places from NLS & NLN plus a relegation play off between the third place clubs & those that finish 19th & 20th in the NL might help.
There is not a chance of that happening though when the clubs in the south & north divisions have little say in the rules of the NL (unless that has changed in the past two years).
The bottleneck in the pyramid is massive & isn't helped by clubs like Macclesfield already spending more money than when they were a FL & NL club. That may apply to AFC Bury as well provided that the two organisations vote to amalgamate. [Post edited 3 Apr 2023 17:05]
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it is also the problem of having a "pyramid" system. You have more leagues feeding into a smaller number. So, there are two (NLS and NLN) feeding into NL and then four (Northern, Isthmian, Southern Central and Southern South) feeding into the NLN and NLS. Then it gets even more strange and what you are suggesting actually does take place whereby there is some playoff between teams just missing out, though from Step 5 only one is guaranteed promotion, by one place against the next to bottom teams in the step above. However, that is generally only the case between Steps 5 & 4 and 7 & 6 as Steps 5 & 6 are, shall we say, internal within the League that each belong. So, here in the SE/Kent there is the SCEFL Premier and Division 1 (steps 5 & 6) with the Kent League Premier feeding into Division 1 while the SCEFL feeds to the Isthmian SE.
Of course, it also gets a bit further messy in that the FA has a set of rules about the quality of the grounds so that if a ground is not good enough for the next step then the club playing there cannot promote until they improve the ground or have an alternate to move to. In some cases, clubs have had to drop out owing to grounds not good enough, but that is rare - see Worcester Park. | | | |
| National League title race on 21:28 - Apr 3 with 3688 views | stowmarketrange |
I don’t understand why there’s still 4 teams relegated/promoted between leagues 1 and 2.It was different when they were the only leagues with 24 teams,while there was 22 in divisions 1 and 2,but now the bottom 3 leagues have 24 each. |  | | |
| National League title race on 09:46 - Apr 4 with 3501 views | terryb |
| National League title race on 21:28 - Apr 3 by stowmarketrange |
I don’t understand why there’s still 4 teams relegated/promoted between leagues 1 and 2.It was different when they were the only leagues with 24 teams,while there was 22 in divisions 1 and 2,but now the bottom 3 leagues have 24 each. |
This is another one that I don't understand either.
I can only sugest that they "forgot" to change it when it moved to 20-24-24-24 | | | |
| National League title race on 13:01 - Apr 4 with 3431 views | YorkRanger |
Seen quite a bit of York this season. Generally they have struggled so it hasn't provided much relief from watching Rangers, but the atmosphere is good and the football generally has been fairly decent. Some fairly "big" clubs in that league with many bringing over 1,000 away fans, including Scunthorpe, Oldham, Chesterfield as well as Notts County and Wrexham. I cant see any reason why there shouldn't be 2 automatic promotion places and 1 via a play off system. |  | | |
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