Old Conference foes

[les@donr]

See Chester has reformed from the old Chester City whom we played at Conference level, the "new" Chester has had succesive promotions from the minor league to the Conf Prem after being promoted from Conf North with 107 points. They could be in a shout next season for a further promotion.

FC Halifax Town are too reformed from the ashes of Halifax Town FC, have too risen through from the minor leagues to the Play Off final against Brackley for a place in Conf Prem, wishing them the very best for them in the final. Would be good to see another Yorkshire team in the Conf Prem.

[BobG]

Yes Les. I've been watching the results of both sides for a while this season. Chester have been phenomenal!

Where's Guiseley? I had a daft idea it's a part of Leeds. probably isn't then. If it were to be, then there'd be another  Yorky club in the Prem anyway. Lol.

BobG

[coventryrover]

i used to live in guiseley.  ten miles north of leeds, close to the airport.

used to watch the lions and they did well again in the normal season but fell at the play off hurdle once again

[BobG]

Yee haa!! Thank you Cov! So, we're quids in then. A Yorky club is going up. Speaking irrationally, I hope it's Halifax.

BobG

[Belle-Vue-Ghost]

Do the new Chester play at the Diva Stadium?

[wilts rover]

Well done to Darlington too, champions of their league with 122 points and a goal difference of plus 110. I always enjoyed our trips up there.

[BobG]

Brill! I didn't know that Wilts. I always liked Darlo too. I was quite upset when they went under.

Wonder what's happened to, happening with, their silly monster stadium? Someone, somewhere, has a bloody big expensive beast to maintain there.....

BobG

[les@donr]

BobG, the final is between Halifax and Brackley which is in Northamptonshire, so Halifax would obviously need to win to get a Yorks team into the Conf Prem.
The final is at Brackley and Halifax were only given 1,000 tickets.

BVG, yes, though the name is now the Exacta Stadium.

[BobG]

Ah. That shows just how much I know then doesn't it? Thank you Les.  I bow to your infinitely greater, and more accurate!, knowledge. Thanks.

BobG

[StocktonRover]

Brill! I didn't know that Wilts. I always liked Darlo too. I was quite upset when they went under.

Wonder what's happened to, happening with, their silly monster stadium? Someone, somewhere, has a bloody big expensive beast to maintain there.....

BobG

The stadium previously known as the George Reynolds Arena is now home to Darlington Mowden Rugby club.  I've no idea what sort of crowds they get though.

[BobG]

Thanks Stockton. Must be a monster of a white elephant though...... Somebody has to be subsidising it somewhere surely?!

Pity we can't buy the thing shift it 90 miles down the A1 like. The Yanks could do it for us p'raps. Ha ha! It'd still be a white elephant!

BobG

[Rios]

Having watched both Halifax and Chester in the Conf North this season I can confirm that their fans are every bit as "enthusiastic" as they were during our clashes with them in the league and conference.

Stockport will be at that level next season and the feeling I get from the clubs who have inhabited that natural level is that bigger teams in hard times are more trouble than their worth - ie stewarding, segregation, police, etc far outweigh the extra gate receipts and lack of competition when they run away with the title like Chester have.

[The Red Baron]

Brill! I didn't know that Wilts. I always liked Darlo too. I was quite upset when they went under.

Wonder what's happened to, happening with, their silly monster stadium? Someone, somewhere, has a bloody big expensive beast to maintain there.....

BobG

The stadium previously known as the George Reynolds Arena is now home to Darlington Mowden Rugby club.  I've no idea what sort of crowds they get though.

Latest crowd was 1000, which to be fair is not much less than Darlo were getting in their final days:

http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/darlingtonmowdenparkrfc/s/match-report-11810.html?official=1&fixture_id=508782

[VivaRovers]

Looking at the teams coming down from the Conference Premier and those set to come up from the Northern and Southern Premier Leagues at least the Conference North next season should actually be 'North', as Oxford City, Brackley (if they don't beat Halifax) and Bishop Stortford should surely be nudged across to the Conference South.

[Pintolager]

Looking at the teams coming down from the Conference Premier and those set to come up from the Northern and Southern Premier Leagues at least the Conference North next season should actually be 'North', as Oxford City, Brackley (if they don't beat Halifax) and Bishop Stortford should surely be nudged across to the Conference South.

I think you can add Gloucester City and Worcester to that list too

[Mr Brightside]

Hednesford Town are in the Evo-stick play off final this afternoon against FCUM.

On another thread Les was on about 3 up 3 down from the Conference, this season Hednesford finished with 93 points and still didn't go up automatically  they lost out on goal difference.

The Dave Degg Disco roadshow anyone?

[les@donr]

Mr Brightside, there  is a lot unfairness throughout the non-league structure. Would the Conference, increase the promotion and relegation between its regional divisions to the feeder divisions, can't see it happening.

[Dagenham Rover]

Try again,           the original Gravesend

[les@donr]

Congrats to FC Halifax Town who won their playoff final to secure a place in next seasons Conf Prem.

[les@donr]

Another promotion for Darlo, now in National North.

[wilts rover]

Hereford FC also won their league and are taking 19000 fans, and one bull, to the FA Vase Final next weekend.

[les@donr]

Congrats to Hereford.

[stuey]

Well done to Darlington too, champions of their league with 122 points and a goal difference of plus 110. I always enjoyed our trips up there.

Not sure where you've got yoyr info from, but Darlo have won the Northern Premier with 104 pts and a GD of +64 (my dad's a Frickley fan), still good to see them climbing back through the leagues though

[Sammy Chung was King]

Frickley had a good season, what has caused the upturn?. Is it a new manager?, or better standard players?. The ground looks a lot better than years ago, it would be nice if they could push upto the conference!.

[stuey]

Frickley had a good season, what has caused the upturn?. Is it a new manager?, or better standard players?. The ground looks a lot better than years ago, it would be nice if they could push upto the conference!.

I only managed half a dozen or so games, due to DRFC game clashes, but they seemed to gell as a team the 2nd half of the season, beating both Blyth and Darlo away!

Unfortunately they've just lost their top goal scorer (a chap called Hazell) to Gainsborough. They have a player on the wing called Tyler Williams, cracking little player, and I reckon could be worth a look, I know it's a big step up, but a few weeks on trial pre season couldn't hurt

[les@donr]

I think Darlo will do well in National North, might make play-offs. There are some decent ex-FL teams in that division Boston and Stockport being among others, next season joined by Kidderminster and Halifax.

[wilts rover]

Well done to Darlington too, champions of their league with 122 points and a goal difference of plus 110. I always enjoyed our trips up there.

Not sure where you've got yoyr info from, but Darlo have won the Northern Premier with 104 pts and a GD of +64 (my dad's a Frickley fan), still good to see them climbing back through the leagues though

In May 2013 - when my post is from - they won the Northern Leauge Division 1 with that total and that goal difference. Good to see them being promoted twice more since then - and moving back to Darlington next season too I understand.

[les@donr]

wilts, thanks for your updates on Hereford and Darlo, good to see the latter rising back through the leagues. I like to keep an eye on the non-league scene and see how old foes are doing.

[Sammy Chung was King]

Frickley had a good season, what has caused the upturn?. Is it a new manager?, or better standard players?. The ground looks a lot better than years ago, it would be nice if they could push upto the conference!.

I only managed half a dozen or so games, due to DRFC game clashes, but they seemed to gell as a team the 2nd half of the season, beating both Blyth and Darlo away!

Unfortunately they've just lost their top goal scorer (a chap called Hazell) to Gainsborough. They have a player on the wing called Tyler Williams, cracking little player, and I reckon could be worth a look, I know it's a big step up, but a few weeks on trial pre season couldn't hurt

Could be worth trailling him in pre season if he is that good!. Frickley seem to have been struggling for years now, just as they get a few good players they always lose them, i would think the money aspect, always causes problems, even at that level some have money, some not so much!.
A bloke i know who goes to games, says the southern non league scene seem to have more money than the northern teams on average.