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2006 ARCHIVE

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MAY 2006

JUNE 2006

JULY 2006  

AUGUST 2006

SEPTEMBER 2006

OCTOBER 2006   

NOVEMBER 2006
 

December 2006

On Boxing Day Oxford United broke a record that had stood since May 1988. It gave the Football Conference
its first five-figure attendance in its normal programme. 11,065 watched the goalless draw with Woking.
United's aggregate  attendance in their 12 Conference home games in 2006 exceeds 80,000. The county town
club should break Carlisle United's record in this respect. The Cumbrians presently are  the only Conference
club to be watched by a six-figures aggregate attendance in the 27-year history of the competition.

***

Lancaster City have announced they are unable to meet their debts as they fall due and have appointed
an administrator. They thus incur the ten point penalty and will almost certainly be relegated to the Unibond
League at the end of the season. A group of local businessmen have entered negotiations to acquire the
club.

***
 

74 clubs  have expressed an interest in gaining promotion to Step 4. 36 of whom are in leagues which

generally feed the Unibond League which is regionalising its First Division. They are:-

North West Counties League (12) Bacup Borough, Colne, Congleton Town, Curzon Ashton, FC United,
Flixton, Maine Road, Nantwich Town, Newcastle Town, Salford City, Squires Gate, Trafford.
Midland Football Alliance (9) Atherstone Town, Boldmere St Michaels, Barwell, Coalville Town,
Leamington, Quorn, Rocester, Romulus, Tipton Town.

Northern Counties East League (12) Armthorpe Welfare, Arnold Town, Carlton Town,
Garforth Town, Glapwell, Liversedge, Mickleover Sports, Pickering Town, Retford United, Selby Town,
Sheffield and Sutton Town

Northern League (3) Consett, Durham City and  Newcastle Blue Star

The FA's current view is that the First Division will be broadly 'northern' and 'midlands' as opposed to
'western' and 'eastern'. The latter option would assist the integration of the Northern League clubs into
the competition.

***

Henkel Ltd have agreed to extend their sponsorship of the Northern Premier League for a further two
seasons to June 2009. The competition will continue to be known as the UniBond League. When finished
the company would have sponsored the League for 15 years. In our view the League's web site is
one of, if not the best  of the National League System.

***

The proposed new stadium for Boston United (see November) also includes in the same area  a new
stadium for Boston Town.  Town were formed in 1964 (joining the Lincolnshire League) after  United's directors
had refused a cash injection from two local businessmen. United had resigned from the Southern League in 1961
then playing  in the Central Alliance and the Midland Counties League before opting to join the Boston
& District League. Probably the lowest level league that a future Football League has ever played in.

***

The Football Association's Leagues Committee are recommending that a sixth division at Step 4  should
commence in 2007/08. It will be administered by the UniBond League. All Step 4 divisions will comprise
of a minimum of 18clubs and a maximum of 22 clubs. Similar rules to those last summer, when 29 clubs
were elevated from Step 5 Leagues to apply.  An E grading (by 31 March 2007) is required.

Our ongoing concern for increased travel costs is negated by the FA Vase becoming as close
to an Amateur Cup as it is ever likely to be since its first three seasons of operation.
 

Discussions on how the Northern League can play a fuller role in the northern sector of National Game
System are being held. In 1980 the League felt it was entitled to feed directly into the Premier Division
of the Northern Premier League but the FA decided against. A travel equalisation fund, similar to that
operated in respect of refereeing costs,  could be made to work, but would have to apply to the south-west
as well as the north-east. If introduced it could also lead to Welsh clubs leaving the English system. 

***

November 2006

This month (4th) has seen the Football Conference achieve its fifth 8,000+ attendance in its 27 seasons
of operation. 8,185 watched Oxford United defeat Aldershot Town 2-0 to take 4th place in the table
of all-time attendances. The best ever was achieved in the second season after automatic promotion (1987/88)
was introduced when 9,432  watched the title decider between Lincoln City and Barnet. Carlisle United became
the most watched (and the first to achieve 100,000+) Conference team in 2004/05. Oxford United with two
extra home games are likely to join this exclusive club.

***
 

Having pleaded guilty to defrauding the Inland Revenue, Steve Evans (1 year) and Peter Malkinson,
(2 years) have been given suspended sentences.  They pertain to events at Boston United between
1997 and 2002 when players wages were disguised as expenses. The tax involved exceeded £300,000.

The club won the Unibond League and the Nationwide Conference in this period. They began their first
season in the Football League (2002/03) with a four points penalty for other irregularities. They finished
15th in the Third Division and have since maintained their status.

The club remain confident of relocating to the Broadsides area of the town believing that any planning
permission problems will be resolved early in 2007. The sale of York Street is an important element in
meeting the club's debts estimated at £1.25m. the majority of which is owed to the Inland Revenue.
***
 

Your Game Your Say - The FA are undertaking a consultation to build a vision for the development 
of the grassroots game to 2013. Feedback from the consultation will be included in the strategy to be
launched in the Spring of 2007. Click on the link above to visit the site.
***
 

The Guernsey FA have decided not to send teams to the Nat West Island Games to be held in Rhodes
in 2007. In the 2003 match (when Guernsey hosted the Games) between the two islands was abandoned
after Rhodes had a fifth player dismissed. The local Rhodes FA subsequently suspended these players
and the manager from a lifetime participation in subsequent games.

Unless the decision is reversed it ends a run of six successive appearances for the Channel Islands team
in the Football Competition, and eight in all. They have won two gold medals and added a silver in the 2005
event in the Shetlands.

October 2006
The Council of the Football Association has agreed to implement the Burns Report. The full
members (mainly Premiership and Football League clubs) now have to agree at the AGM, next
May. From a non league perspective the proposals introduce a Community Football Alliance and a
revamped Council ( a Parliament for Football). This includes representation from several organisations
previously without a 'direct voice.' This was first proposed in the Chester Report in 1968.

As envisaged the Professional Football Alliance encompasses the Premiership and Football League.
A case exists for the Conference to be included at this level. In recent years, within the existing
structure, successful  FA initiatives, such as Charter Standard clubs, and the development of the game for the
disabled have been implemented. 

The Chester Report also recommended the introduction of regional associations. There is  scope for the
Community Football Alliance t to be structured to remove the overlap between the county
associations and the National League System.

More than 100 years ago Nicholas Lane-Jackson was defeated in his attempt to divide the FA into autonomous
professional and amateur sections.
***

As readers of NLR are aware referee Mark Tweed is not the first to be suspended for 'not upholding
the laws of the game'.  In 1913 Arthur Adams, who then retitred from refeeering,  was suspended for
one month for not sending off two players in that season's FA Cup final.

On September 5th Tweed was refereeing a Spartan South Midlands League game between Edgware and
Harefield United. United won 1-0.  During the game Edgware were awarded a penalty which they
scored. The referee disallowed it as  an Edgware player infringed. Instead of ordering the penalty to be
retaken he awarded Harefield a free kick. Edgware appealed to the League, who within their powers,
have ordered the game to be replayed.

The referee being correct is no bar to a game being ordered to be replayed. In 1999 the 5th Round
FA Cup game between Arsenal and Sheffield United was replayed after Arsenal did not follow the convention
of returning the ball to their opponents after it was kicked out by United for an injured player.
***

Planning for the South West Peninsula League continues. The competition will encompass the Devon League
and the South Western League. It should kick off in August 2007 with a Premier Division (Step 6) of 18 clubs  and
two First Divisions (East and West) of at least 16 clubs each. The Premier Division will be on par with the First
Division of the Western League. An existing Grade G or the proven capacity to implement it by April 2009 is
required for the Premier Division, together with a certified balance sheet.
***

The Nationwide Building Society's sponsorship of the Football Conference, now in its ninth season, ends in May
2007.  The Conference's public relations image undoubtedly suffered from the last close season's promotion and
relegation issues.

This season, for the first time, four clubs will be promoted and relegated between its North and South divisions and
the National Division.  The change should in due course  pave the way for three-up three-down with the Football League.
***

The rights and liabilities between the existing and subsequent members of an unincorporated football club
were recently confirmed in the High Court. Membership ceases absolutely on death or one year after resignation.
In 1996 Horley Town resigned from the Combined Counties League after the sale of their ground known
as The Defence. They continued in junior football before returning to the Surrey County Senior League
in 2002. The following year this competition became the First Division of the Combined Counties League.

The Defence was developed from 1947 when  Horley FC were gifted 10.7 acres of land by a local landowner.
It was placed in a trust soon after. The unsuccessful claimants  sought to establish that a joint tenancy
existed between the members. If successful they would have been able to receive a share of the  proceeds.
*** 

Bootle, whose antecedent played in the Football League, have returned to the North West
Counties League.  Five seasons ago, after losing the use of the Kirby Sports Centre, the club dropped
into the Liverpool County Combination. Bootle Council having acquired land near the town centre
offered the football club a long lease. Development work has begun. The new ground is titled New
Bucks Park in recognition of the ground they played at from 1954 to 1997.

The club were formed in the early 1950s as Langton and joined the Liverpool Shipping League.
They adopted the town name in 1973 almost 20 years after the demise of the second Bootle.
They were a founder member of the North West Counties League in 1982 having also played
in the Lancashire Combination and Cheshire County League.
***

Unibond Premier League club Marine are continuing an impressive off the field programme.
At the turn of the new century, Rossett Park, with Football Foundation support, was significantly
improved. Following sponsorship, Rossett Park will be known as the Arriva Stadium until July
2011 with a grandstand sponsored by the Ascot Property Group, who are also sponsoring the shirts.
Recently the club's Supporters Association brought its fund raising since 1991 to more
than £50,000.

On the youth front, in May, the ground staged a seven-a-side competition for four age groups (under 7-
under-10). A  registered charity has now been established to initiate community activities
in the Crosby district around the ground.
***

Three years after the Exeter City Supporters Trust saved the football club, three of its former
directors will face a trail, on charges of theft and financial irregularities and attempting to
dishonestly obtain a pecuniary advantage in the running of the now Conference National club.
Their period in control ended in May 2003 with the club's relegation from the Football League.
The trail will commence in April 2007.
***

Crawley Town managed to erase their ten point penalty for entering administration by winning
four of their first seven Conference National matches. Off the field the club's owners  need to
raise £1m to to pay its debts and have until the end of this month to agree a CVA. Negotiations with
two different parties to sell the club have floundered.

Crawley Town won the Southern League in 2004. In their two completed seasons they have finished
12th and 17th (22-club division).
***

The never say die attitude that has seen Hendon through various crisis in its almost 100 years' history
continues with the Supporters Trust arranging fund raising events. On the field the club have yet to
win a Isthmian League Premier Division match (two draws in ten games). As the search for a ground share
continues the club is selling the seats, which once graced the old Wembley Stadium.
***

September 2006
Shinty’s pre-eminent historian, Hugh Dan MacLennan, presented a paper to the Society of Sports Historians. He outlined
that the Premiership football grounds of Stamford Bridge and Old Trafford once hosted Shinty. The respective
dates were 1898 and 1879. In 1898 Stamford Bridge was leased by the London Athletics Club. Likewise in 1879 the venue must have been Old Trafford Cricket Ground. The Victorian ethos of multi-use of sporting arenas, which survived into the late 1960s,has given way to a groundsman protecting 'his' pitch for its primary use.  In the 19th and early 20th century, many grounds now considered cathedrals of one sport, was used for many different sports. For example, in the The Soulless Stadium, we noted the Nursery Ground (Lord's), hosted Lacrosse before and after  the Great War.

The influx of Scotsmen, seeking work in England began in the 1850s and it is likely they brought their sports with them. Many historians now agree they were instrumental in the development of the association code, it is likely element of danger from rugby and Shinty played a part.
***

August 2006
Sheffield FC reinforced their claim as the oldest football club by staging a Football Heritage Tournament over the weekend of 22/23 July. The club celebrated the 150th anniversary of its founding in 1857.

Unfortunately the original idea of inviting the oldest football clubs from the other three nations of the United Kingdom were frustrated and only NEWI Cefn Druids (Wales) took part. Cliftonville (Ireland)  and Queen's Park (Scotland) declined their invitation. The competition comprised of two semi-finals and two play-offs was won by Druids.

Whether Sheffield FC are the 'oldest football club' is open to doubt. They are certainly the oldest survivor now playing association. At least two rugby union clubs claim earlier formation dates. Equally Sheffield FC are unlikely to have played the association code before 1866.
***
For 2006/07 the Lancit Haulage Lancashire League operates with East and West Divisions of ten clubs each.  It is a competition for reserve sides of National League System clubs but also draws member clubs from Yorkshire and Cumbria. A League Cup with four round robin pools of five clubs each is included in the programme.
***
Great Harwood Town, whose precedent were an early  member club of the Northern Premier League  have resigned from the Moore & Co Construction Solicitors North West Counties League Second Division for the coming season. The club retains hope of continuing at a lower level of the National League System. Eighteen months ago the dressing rooms at their Showground were destroyed by fire. The finance to repair them and obtain a new lease is not available. Last season the club ground shared at Accrington Stanley.
***
The 2006/07 kicks off with the Football Association hoping to complete its three-year plan to reorganise the National League System. It is likely the Northern Premier League will be given a second First Division, making six divisions at this level.

With Leek and Farnborough Town (in administration) joining the growing band of clubs with financial problems it supports our longstanding view that the balance between ambition and ongoing financial stability is not best served by changes since 2004.

***
Sixteen teams lined up  Appley Beach, Ryde on  22 /23 July for the first Beach Football competition to be run in conjunction with the Hampshire FA. Sandown Sociedad defeated their keen rivals The Bees after a penalty shoot out to become the first winners of the Hampshire Cup.  Wight Stripes defeated Wight Knuckle Ryde 5-2 in the Hampshire Trophy (Plate Competition). The runners-up hit the woodwork seven times. Created in 1992 the Isle of Wight is the main English centre of the variant alongside which is a Birmingham League.

Played worldwide; Tahiti is due to stage the Oceania play-off for the FIFA World Cup. It  has recently been launched in China. A Euro Beach Soccer League operates.

The game is played 5-a-side from a squad of 8-10 players with unlimited substitutions. The pitch is about one-fifth the size of a senior grass pitch. A match comprises of 3 periods of 12 minutes each with overtime if required of a further 3 minutes It comes complete with a golden goal, an optional kick-in and a sin bin (blue-card - 2 minutes).
***
Kingsbury Town emerged from Davis Sports in 1945. In 1967 they merged into a Hendon Sunday League side 584 Sports. This season the club were reallocated to the Spartan South Midlands League after the Isthmian Second Division closed. They have merged with Middlesex County League club London Tigers to became Kingsbury London Tigers. They continue at Silver Jubilee Park, their home since 1952.
***
The Wessex League have 're-numbered' their divisions. The First Division becomes the Premier Division with the other two divisions now Division 1 and Division 2. The Hampshire League formed by clubs unable to meet the Wessex grading in 2004 continues to act as a conduit between it and district leagues such as Aldershot and Southampton.
***
July 2006

Wakefield-Emley, relegated to the UniBond League Division One at the end of 2005/06 have changed their name to Wakefield also leaving Belle Vue where they have been tenants of Super League Trinity since making the decision to quit their village ground to climb the National League System. This season they will use the former home of Wakefield Rugby Club in  College Grove which has been brought up to the required grading. The club colours have also changed to a blue and yellow home strip.

Emley Athletic who play in the Wakefield Sunday League will be incorporated into the new set-up.
***

June 2006
Southall after their expulsion from the Combined Counties League have been accepted into the Premier Division of the Middlesex County League from which Crown & Manor depart having lost the use of the East London Stadium. The first three clubs from last season's First Division are promoted and Stonewall relegated. Southall are yet to confirm the ground they will be using. CB Hounslow United join the First Division of the Combined Counties League.

Beaumont, who will use the East London Stadium, have been accepted into the Essex Senior League as have FC Risden who will use the Harlow Greyhound Stadium. Another new club in this competition will be Barking who have been formed following the closure  of Barking & East Ham United who were reallocated from the Southern League First Division (East) to the Isthmian League First Division (North). Flackwell Heath, originally allocated to the Spartan South Midland League, will fill the vacancy thus created.
***

The Unibond League will operate with 46 clubs in 2006/07 with the Premier Division comprising of 22 clubs. Their dispute, with the FA over the reversal of plans from a 1-2-3-6 to 1-2-3-5, denying  the league a second First Division, went to mediation. The Unibond League wanted to re-arrange its First Division with North and Midlands sections which may have taken more clubs from the North West Counties League, the North East Counties League and the Midland Alliance.

The FA are endeavouring to provide the division for 2007/08 but the difficulties it faced in creating the Midland Alliance in 1994 and attempts to add a second division for 1995 still remain, and despite signalling their support for the extra division, the Midlands Alliance could provide one of the two leagues the FA seek to close to arrive at their twelve Step 5 leagues if the West Midlands Regional League and Midland Combination do not reach an accommodation. The Hellenic League and Western League could also be involved by providing replacements for West Midlands clubs who would be moved from the Southern League - South & Western First Division.
***

Negotiations which began in late 2003 have come to fruition with the formation of the Liverpool County Premier League beginning in August 2006. It had been hoped to include all clubs from the Liverpool FA area but in 2006/07 it will comprise of clubs from the Liverpool County Combination and I-Zingari League.

The new competition will be placed at Step 7 of the National League System and will feed into the North West Counties League. It is anticipated that four divisions of 16 clubs will be run with the top division being formed by the top nine of the Liverpool County Combination and the top seven of the I-Zingari League, of whom the champions Old Xaverians are best known.

The Liverpool County FA covers a boundary of 18 miles from Liverpool Town Hall on the Lancashire side and eight miles on the Cheshire side. This includes Southport, most of Wigan, St Helens, Warrington and the Wirral, an area not dissimilar to that in which the Lancashire Alliance operated to 1935.   While other leagues in the area declined to be involved it will provide an opportunity for individual clubs who wish to progress Meanwhile the South Wirral League which closed in 2005 is seeking to reform for 2006/07.
***

The Isthmian 2 allocations have now been agreed. Wembley are one of six clubs allocated to the Combined Counties League  who agreed to transfer AFC Wallingford to the Hellenic League. Hounslow Borough, as champions of the First Division (East) were had also asked to transfer. The Hellenic League had originally requested Flackwell Heath but they are one of five clubs allocated to the Spartan South Midlands League.

Clapton allocated to the Essex Senior League and Croydon to the Kent League complete the dispersal with the other three clubs elevated to Step 4. Overall it continues to suggest the need for an additional Step 5 league for Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Middlesex rather than the retraction to 12 that the Football Association, despite its financial implications,  continue to work towards  With problems at Crawley Town and Canvey Island it further suggests a different solution for Steps 1-3 is required!

Thame United will ground share at AFC Wallingford while Aylesbury United, following the loss of Buckingham Road.  will ground share at Aylesbury Vale. The two clubs have announced a long term plan to merge and are working with their District Council to identify a site for a new stadium.
***

The merger of the Devon League and South Western League as the South West Peninsula League will take effect
from August 2007. Its Premier Division of 18 clubs will be placed at Step 6 of the National League System.
***

The Hellenic League are absorbing the the Banbury District & Lord Jersey League. It comprises of a Premier
Division and First Division of 8 clubs each and is for players over 35. Games are scheduled fortnightly and are now
played on grass or an artificial surface. The League started back in 1998 with just five teams when  all matches
were played at Chipping Norton and Moreton. Prior to their merger both leagues were well established intermediate leagues in Oxfordshire. The Premier Division comprises of Bicester Town, Goring United, Kidlington, Moreton Rangers, Old Hooky, Stonesfield, Wantage Town and Watlington.
***

The Mid Cheshire League having created a Reserve Division in 2003 have invited applications for an  Under 19 division
from August 2006
***

The various decisions concerning promotion and relegation and other matters are gradually been resolved. Altrincham
were deducted 18 points for failing to obtain international clearance for a player and were relegated to the the
Conference North were reprieved when Scarborough (subject to appeal) were demoted. Earlier  Altrincham expressed their disappointment with the decision also noted that the Conference directors had used their discretion regarding the acceptance of Oxford United from the Football League noting their relatively new stadium did not comply with the Conference's regulations.
***

Carshalton Athletic have appealed against Leigh RMI retaining their Step 2 status after the demotion of Canvey Island, who as a new club were re-entered at Step 4. Athletic's appeal is based on Leigh obtaining less points per game, the basis on which Hendon, before their reprieve, were originally relegated.

***
May 2006
The Football Association has announced the allocations for Steps 1-4,for 2006/07 National League System which
introduces an additional division, under the auspices of the Ryman League. Their First Division will have north and
south sections. Other events ranging from a liquidation of a club to a penalty imposed for fielding an ineligible player
will  affect the allocations. The Unibond League's arbitration concerning its lack of two Step 4 divisions is due
to be heard shortly. The Midland Alliance indicated earlier it did not want to be considered 'northern' while the Northern
League remains in the National League System on the understanding that its clubs are unlikely to seek promotion.  

29 clubs have been elevated as a result with the majority of those due for relegation reprieved. Each of the Step 5
leagues have lost no more than 3 clubs. At Step 5 the former Division 2 of the Isthmian League is discontinued
and its clubs allocated to other leagues. These allocations are presently being negotiated and may involve up
to six leagues at this level and are likely to leave the Essex Senior League with 14 clubs and the Kent League with 15
possibly 16 clubs. The FA has asked both leagues to consider a merger, although if implemented is unlikely to take effect
until 2007/08, as it has an effect on Step 7 leagues wholly or partly in two counties.
***

The London Financial League, a 1993 merger of the London Banks League (founded 1900) and London Insurance
League (founded 1908), has agreed to merge with the Amateur Combination for 2006/07. Last season, its
First Division comprised of five teams playing a double home and home programme. Its clubs will be allocated to the
divisions on the basis of results in the AFA Cups between 2004 and 2006. The Combination was created in 2002 from
a merger of the Old Boys League (formed 1908) and the Southern Olympian League (formed 1911). In 1985 these
two leagues absorbed the Nemean League (formed 1926).

When National Westminster Bank resigned from the Southern Amateur League in 2002 they opted to join the
London Financial League but will now join the successor to the league, the Southern Olympian, which one of
its precedents, National Provincial Bank helped to reconstitute in 1922.

***
Oxford United became the second club to have played in the First Division to suffer automatic demotion from the
Football League. The first, Carlisle United returned immediately via the play-offs and then swept all before them
to win League Two. As has been widely noted Oxford United were elected to the Football League following the
resignation of the original Accrington Stanley in 1962.They were first promoted in 1965, won the old Third Division
in 1968 and the old Second Division in 1985 and had three seasons in the Old First Division, during with they won
the League Cup.

Hereford United, the first post war club elected to the Football League, to be automatically demoted, after ten
seasons, and several near misses, secured a return via the play-offs, denying Halifax Town their second return after
demotion in 1993 and 2002.

The reformed Stanley’ Conference gate increased 23% over 2004/05 with two of their three 3,000+ home gates
coming in their last two home games. They were promoted to the Conference as Unibond League champions
in 2003. Unsurprisingly after the Carlisle United’s departure, the first club to attract six figures’,  the  total
attendance in the National Division of the Conference fell, but only by 6%.

***
The Isle of Man won the second competition for the bi-annual National League System Cup and will represent England
in the fifth edition of the UEFA Regions Cup in 2006/07. They scored four goals between the 60th and 82nd minute of the final at the Abbey Stadium, Cambridge to defeat the Cambridgeshire County League 4-0. The beaten finalist had lost to the Mid Cheshire League in 2003.

Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland under the rules of the competition are allowed too enter a national side while Scotland are believed to organise a championship among its Under 21 Youth FA regions. Only the Republic of Ireland have ever progressed to the final round in 2001 where they finished last in their group.

***