The End of April

Premier League:

The fairy tale is complete if Leicester can beat Manchester United at Old Trafford.
It could also be complete if Tottenham lose to Chelsea on Monday.


Championship:

Middlesbrough could only draw with Birmingham last night so it is up to Burnley and Brighton now.
Middlesbrough are still in control, though, as they still have to play Brighton in their final match.


League One:

Wigan on 84, Burton on 81, Walsall on 78, Millwall on 75. Two matches to go with three points between each team.
Plenty of other teams could be part of the playoffs if the results go in their favour.


League Two:

Northampton are champions by some margin. Accrington, Oxford and Bristol Rovers are next in line.
Plymouth, Portsmouth and Wimbledon are vying for playoff places with Cambridge having an outside chance.


National League:

Cheltenham Town are back in the League and I expect Braintree to remain ahead of Eastleigh and Tranmere.
They will then join Forest Green, Grimsby Town and Dover Athletic in the playoffs.


That concludes the tower at the top of the pyramid.

STEP FIVE PROMOTIONS

Step Five is Level Nine and I thought I would do a post on which teams may be progressing from Step Five to Step Four. If past seasons are anything to go by some teams will refuse promotion while others will be refused promotion due to ground grading or breaking one of the millennia of rules that govern the sport. Last year I heard that the only reason for refusal was the lack of a concrete walkway from the entrance gate to the stand although I cannot recall which team that affected.

So I shall start in alphabetical order by league .....

Combined Counties League:

Hartley Wintney are the current leaders and I have always loved the name partly because I do not like the T in Wintney being surrounded by two Ns. Surely one N is enough. Hartley Witney would be better and probably better than Hartley Wintey but Hartley Wintney it is. Only Camberley Town can prevent them winning the league by producing three straight wins while HW must lose all three.


Eastern Counties League:

Norwich United are the second best team in Norwich and have some way to go before they catch Norwich City who look like they are on their way back down to meet somewhere in the middle. Look in the Isthmian League North next season to follow the progress of this team.


Essex Senior League:

Basildon United are a team I remember from my days growing up in Essex. They were always a team to be feared and it seems that their progress has gone on to the point where they should be seen in the Isthmian League next season. That is provided they are not overtaken by either Bowers & Pitsea (their very near neighbours) or FC Romania.


Hellenic League:

Kidlington finished top of the league but last season it was Flackwell Heath and they seem to be still in the Hellenic League so we will have to wait and see if Kidlington make the step up. It might be that the Hellenic League is a nice and cosy one. Kidlington may not want to enter the big bad big boys world.


Midland League:

No doubts here. Hereford under the new administration are on their way back up to find their own level and will not want another season in the Midland League. It is not fair on the other teams in this league that they had no chance but I do agree that there must be a severe punishment for financial mismanagement and relegation or demotion is sufficiently embarrassing.


North West Counties League:

Runcorn Linnets are leading the league but they are closely followed by Colne who have a game in hand. These are the only two with a chance of promotion in this league and I would expect to see one of them in the Northern Premier League next season.


Northern Counties East League:

Tadcaster Albion and Handsworth Parramore are the two teams in contention here with Tadcaster favourites at the moment. I am not sure how the upper echelons would feel having a team with a name synonymous with a lover (although spelt differently) in their league.


Northern League:

You have to admire the Northern League for their lack of bringing the modern world to their region. Safe at the top of Division One because their is no Premier Division are Shildon. They had no luck in the F.A.Cup and went out of the F.A.Vase to Handsworth Parramore. I do hope they join the Northern Premier League but I understand the huge increase in travelling costs.


Southern Counties East League:

This league was renamed to pull additional teams from London in and Greenwich Borough have won the league. We should be able to watch them in the Isthmian League South next season.


South Midlands League:

The clear winners here are AFC Dunstable although I would love it if (recognise that forlorn phrase of Kevin Keegan's?) Dunstable lose their last two matches and London Colney win all four of their remaining matches by sufficient margins to take the league on goal difference. It will not happen.


Southern Combination:

No more Kent and now no more Sussex. The country did need to rename the leagues to bring a sense of good structure to the country. Horsham are the winners of this league and I expect to see them in the Isthmian South next season.


United Counties League:

Leicester is the place to be this year. Leicester City are top of the Premier League and Leicester Nirvana are top in the United Counties League. For any of you who have been asleep for a season or two this is the old Thurnby Nirvana newly named and newly reborn it seems.


Wessex League:

Salisbury are in a similar category to Hereford in that they are making their way back up to find a natural position in the hierarchy. I picked out Salisbury as the place to be on the basis of the size of the city and the surrounding catchment area with no other football teams but perhaps that is why the team are not at the top of the tree. Not enough local rivalry to spark the embers of fan baiting passion.


Western League:

My personal favourite because I really want a team with a really odd name to progress up through the ranks and get people taking. The odd name is Odd Down who are Bristol based. Imagine the matches between City, Rovers and Odd Down. The Western League is a bit of a poor relation though and they may not be ready or want to get themselves into the Southern League South and West Division.


That gets me thinking. There must be a better and more simple name than South and West. It is like those teams with two towns in their name. Two divisions called "Central" and "South and West" had to be used as the league restructured downwards from its heyday as THE league outside the Football League but surely now we can use EAST and WEST.


I want to go into the Level 10 Leagues but I will make that another post.

Southern League : The final analysis

Southern League Premier:

Poole Town have done what their speedway team often do and have walked the league.

Playoffs: Redditch United, Hitchin Town, Hungerford Town and Leamington.

Relegation: Bedworth United, Histon, Bideford (one of mine) and Paulton Rovers.


Southern League Central:

Kings Langley have taken the title without me ever really reading about them.

Playoffs: Royston Town, Egham Town, St. Ives Town and AFC Rushden & Diamonds.

Relegation: Leighton Town and North Greenford United

I really must pay more attention to this little division in the middle of nowhere the country.


Southern League South & West:

Cinderford Town have taken the title in this division and probably deserve it.

Playoffs: Banbury United, Taunton Town, Swindon Supermarine and Winchester City.

Relegation: Burnham and Bashley.


That concludes levels 7 and 8.

Who wants more?

After the final weekend: Northern Premier League

Northern Premier League

Premier Division:

Darlington 1883 are champions and head on up to the National League North.

Playoffs: Blyth Spartans, Salford City, Ashton United and Workington.
(Stourbridge fell out of contention at the finish).

Relegation: Stamford, Hyde United, Colwyn Bay and Ramsbottom United.


Division One North:

Warrington Town are still on the up after beating Exeter City and will be promoted.

Playoffs: Spennymoor Town, Northwich Victoria, Glossop North End and Burscough.

Relegation: Harrogate Railway Athletic and New Mills who never got started.


Division One South:

Stafford Rangers finish one point ahead of Shaw Lane Aquaforce to take the title.

Playoffs: Shaw Lane Aquaforce, Coalville Town, Basford United and Lincoln United.

Relegation: Daventry Town and Tividale who change leagues yet again.

One Day Later : Isthmian League

Isthmian League Premier:

Hampton & Richmond Borough finish top and are promoted.

Play-offs: Bognor Regis Town, East Thurrock United, Tonbridge Angels and Dulwich Hamlet.

Relegated: Burgess Hill Town, Brentwood Town, Lewes and VCD Athletic.
(Needham Market did manage to escape on the last day of the season).


Isthmian League North:

AFC Sudbury are promoted as champions.

Play-offs: Thurrock, Harlow Town, Cray Wanderers and AFC Hornchurch.

Relegated: Wroxham, Barkingside and Redbridge.


Isthmian League South:

Folkestone Invicta are promoted as champions.

Play-offs: Dorking Wanderers, Worthing, Hythe Town and Faversham Town.

Relegated: Walton & Hersham, Whitstable Town and Peacehaven & Telcombe (another two towner).

Level Seven Thinking

Isthmian League Premier:

Hampton & Richmond (Let's start where we left off, can we have one town not two please), sit in prime position with one match to play. They are three points ahead of Bognor Regis Town who are the only team capable of stealing the title. East Thurrock United, Tonbridge Angels and Dulwich Hamlet occupy the remaining playoff places with only Enfield Town capable of dislodging Dulwich.

At the bottom Brentwood Town, Lewes and VCD Athletic are all relegated and Needham Market need to win and hope that either Burgess Hill Town or Farnborough lose if they are to stay at this level of the pyramid.


Northern Premier League Premier:

I thought Blyth Spartans were certain to win this but Darlington 1883 have taken the title. Blyth along with Salford City, the Manchester United players owned club, are in the playoffs already with Ashton United and Stourbridge having to stay ahead of Workington to remain in the playoffs.

At the bottom things are already decided and this division will lose Stamford, Hyde United, Colwyn Bay and Ramsbottom United who lost their winning management team to Salford.


Southern League Premier:

Poole Town have been promoted as champions and three teams are already qualified for the playoffs. Redditch United, Hungerford Town and Hitchin Town will vie for that second promotion place with Leamington if Leamington can stay the three points ahead of Kettering Town and Weymouth, both having a better goal difference than Leamington. Come on Weymouth!

At the bottom the situation is once again certain with Bedworth United, Histon, Paulton Rovers and Bideford heading for Level 8 which is where I will resume this blog after helping the daughter out with some drilling and screwing.

National League Thoughts

National League Premier:

Cheltenham are the first team to be promoted back to the Football League at the first attempt. The playoff places look to be secure for Forest Green who led the league for much of the season, Grimsby and Dover. Braintree and Eastleigh fight for the final place with Tranmere having an outside chance.

Welling United and Kidderminster Harriers are both relegated. Altrincham seem doomed but Halifax and Boreham Wood are battling for the last with Guisley and Chester in the danger zone.


National League North:

Solihull Moors are promoted with North Ferriby United already qualified for the playoffs. Fylde, Harrogate Town and Boston United currently occupy the other playoff places but Nuneaton Town and Tamworth will be fighting for a place until the last match.

At the bottom Corby Town and Hednesford Town are already relegated and Brackley Town are in danger although they could overtake Lowestoft Town and Telford United. There are other teams that could be dragged into the depths but that is unlikely.


National League South:

Sutton United lead the way having overtaken Ebbsfleet United who led the way for so much of the season. Both of these teams are guaranteed at least a playoff place as are Maidstone United. Truro City and Hemel Hempstead Town occupy the remaining two places with Maidenhead United and Dartford next in line. I shall call Whitehawk as an outside chance as I would love to see them progress.

At the bottom Basingstoke Town drop into the Southern League but Havant & Waterlooville (please pick one not two towns people) along with Hayes & Yeading United (ditto) have to overhaul Margate and St Albans City to escape their own drops.


The more I look at these situations the more I realise that there are other teams who could get involved in the promotion and relegation battles but it would require all team above to fail or all teams below to succeed for them to be involved and that would be extremely unlucky. Such is football, though, and that it why we love the game.

Just before the final curtain

I used to love taking risks and predicting football is certainly a risk. The certainty produces a shock result or the team that have never lost at home suddenly lose that record. Today I want to look at the pyramid and guess what might happen. I am certain to be wrong somewhere along the line.

Premier League:

I refuse to call it. My assessment is that if Spurs lose at Chelsea it goes to Leicester but Leicester themselves can win it by getting Vardy back after a single match out. Only time will tell.

100-1 for Crystal Palace to go down to let us assume they are safe. With Aston Villa relegated that leaves two from three. Sunderland have a game in hand but at the bottom a draw can be a huge result. Norwich 31, Sunderland 30, Newcastle 29. Norwich have to play Arsenal and Manchester United then Watford and Everton so they may have to make a late jump to safety. Sunderland have to play Arsenal, Stoke, Chelsea, Everton and Watford. All those teams are beatable and Sunderland have a long history of escaping relegation very late on in the season. Newcastle have to play Liverpool, Crystal Palace, Aston Villa and Tottenham. The guaranteed three points against Villa may yet play a large part.


Championship:

Burnley 87, Middlesbrough 86, Brighton 84 with the last two having a game in hand after Burnley won last night. Burnley have it in their own hands and I can see Middlesbrough joining them in the automatic slots. Brighton then have to contend with Hull, Derby and Sheffield Wednesday in the playoffs. I like the idea of Sheffield Wednesday, 17 points off top slot, being promoted.

At the bottom Bolton, Charlton and Milton Keynes Dons are doomed. Too many other teams are vying for the chance to go down with them so I have to plump for one and I shall pick Fulham.


League One:

Wigan and Burton are in the promotion places but Walsall have a game in hand. I think Walsall will remain in the playoff places with Millwall, Bradford and Barnsley but one of those three will be replaced by seventh placed Gillingham. It may prove interesting to look back at this in the summer.

Crewe Alexandra and Colchester are down I think. Doncaster and Blackpool could escape the drop but somehow I do not think they will. Look for these four in League Two next season.


League Two:

Northampton Town are already promoted as we have seen the celebrations already. The other two automatic places are being fought out by Accrington "Who are they?" Stanley, Oxford United, Plymouth Argyle and Bristol Rovers. I choose Accrington and Bristol Rovers leaving the other two to battle out the playoffs with Portsmouth and AFC Wimbledon.

At the bottom York City leave the Football League along with Dagenham & Redbridge. I think we need a break here before I start the "Non League" stuff.

Bottom Base Grass Roots

Saturday 16th April and I have already talked about the top six level of English football. Level Seven for me is the Southern League where Bideford are my local pick. I will visit them one day but I may have to get a better job to be able to justify the cost. I am on West Country wages. It took a little time to find out why Bideford were missing from the Sky Sports site but the Southern League site has let me know that Kettering Town have a waterlogged pitch.

The Southern League site also tells me that Tiverton Town travelled away to Didcot Town and won 2-1. The information is that Landricombe scored in the 19th minute and Howe in the 85th after Reid had opened the scoring for Didcot in the 6th minute. I guess that Didcot sat back to defend the lead.

In the Western League Barnstaple Town were at home to Gillingham Town and won 2-1. This must put us in a good position. Let me check the table. It seems that we are three points behind the leaders Odd Down but they have a game in hand. I wonder if they will want promotion or whether the option will be passed to Barnstaple. I can enjoy the promotion and relegation issues once the summer comes. Some decisions amaze me every year.

In the South West Peninsula League Exmouth Town were at home to Falmouth Town but lost 3-1. I think the mid table position is firm.

That concludes the results for the top 10 levels in the English pyramid system.

I, of course, have an interest in the full pyramid so I will continue just this once to check on my lower league selections.

Exwick Villa (Level 11) travelled to Teignmouth in the South West Peninsula League Division One East and managed to lose 5-0. I am sure that the home fans will have enjoyed that one.

Exwick Villa II (Level 12) took on Hatherleigh Town in the Premier Division of the Devon and Exeter League and drew 2-2. This match took place less than 15 minutes walk away from me but I will make the excuse that I have not fully got over my cold. I like the fact that a club can have two teams a single level apart but I have been told that if the Devon and Exeter League applied for the next status that this would not be allowed. Don't apply just yet. Let the Villa get to Level 10 first.

West Exe Rovers (Level 13) were at home to Sidmouth Town 2nds and lost 2-1 in Division One.

Exmouth Town II (Level 14) travelled away to Dawlish United and won 4-1 in Division Two.

Tedburn St May (Level 15) were at home to Exmouth Amateurs 2nds in Division Three and the match finished in a 2-2 draw.

Lord's XI (Level 16) travelled to Sampford Peverel in Division Four and earned a victory by 4 goals to 2. I keep meaning to watch this lot.

Ottery St Mary (Level 17) won their match 2-0 at home to Alphington 3rds.

Exwick Village (Level 18) travelled to Winchester (I presume NOT that place in Hampshire) and managed to lose the game 4-1. Better luck to my home village in their next match.

My team at Level 19 were not playing today and I would have to go into history to explain them but go back to where this blog started and you can work it out.

My team at Level 20 were also missing from action.

Ditto at Level 21 (Division Nine of the Devon and Exeter League).

Now - I have an episode of Outlander to watch and two episodes of Vikings.

Saturday Evening

It is Saturday evening, 16th April in the year of our Lord 2016. Maybe we should start counting again from the start of the Premier League, when football first started according to the media. When I was a lad we would come home and know by around 5 O'Clock how the football league tables would look for the next week. Today the matches continue into Sunday and even Monday.

Now I learn that Arsenal are going to play West Bromwich Albion on a Thursday night, an evening I remember as suitable for band practice as there was never any football on. Today the Europa League matches take place on a Thursday and I am beginning to wonder how soon it is before we have 24 hour football with some matches starting at 3:00 am just to get the TV money. It is the logical end given the direction we are travelling.

So to my selections. Arsenal are playing Crystal Palace tomorrow at 4:00pm so we will know what position in the league will result from our score on the day. We need Leicester and Tottenham to lose and the pervading attitudes seem to be that Leicester should win the league but everyone hates Spurs, particularly supporters of West Ham and Chelsea. It comes naturally to me.

Brentford managed a 1-1 draw with Bristol City and now sit in 13th place (unlucky for some) on 53 points. Even winning all 5 remaining matches would leave the team short of the play-offs so another season in the Championship is in line.

Southend United lost 1-0 away at Walsall. This puts the Shrimpers in 13th place also. Four wins from the remaining games WOULD put the team into the play-offs but I expect a mid table finish.

Exeter City drew 0-0 at home to Northampton and as they are top of the league it is not the worst result in the world. The team are now on 63 points and are one win away from the play-off places. These play-offs DO keep the leagues alive for a few more weeks than used to be the case when I was growing up. Overall I think they are a good thing. The chance of a match at Wembley is a huge deal.

Torquay United seem to have completed their redemption. A 2-0 win away to Bromley sees them on 50 points. Halifax Town, Boreham Wood, Guiseley and Chester would have to perform well to see Torquay down so I think another season in the National League is the future for the gulls.

Weston-super-Mare were at home to Whitehawk, who seem to have reverted to their traditional name having tried to rebrand themselves as Brighton City. Whitehawk won the match 2-1 which leaves the seagulls in 17th place on 47 points. We have to hope that the teams below them keep losing.

The curry is ready.

Back soon.

Return from the abyss

I now realise how difficult it is to run a popular and well visited blog. You need the discipline to post every day nomatter what else is going on. I am returning from a number of family matters, visiting, holiday and a bad bout of flu that has lasted more than three days. Six weeks of phlegm is unpleasant and I am very glad that I am nearly through it.

As I write, the Masters golf is on TV after both Leicester and Tottenham won their matches at the top of the Premier League. My boys Arsenal drew 3-3 away at West Ham in a match that had so many chances the score could have been much higher and it could have gone either way. The chances of us winning the league diminish week by week but fans never stop believing until the mathematics leaves proof.

Brentford beat Ipswich Town 3-1 away and now sit firmly mid table in 13th place.

Southend United drew 2-2 at home to Fleetwood and still harbour play-off dreams. Yesterday saw those dreams fade somewhat as 59 points is a long way off the current requirement of 68 points.

Exeter won 2-0 away at Yeovil and sit 9th on 62 points. 69 points is the current requirement for a play-off place but that rises each week.

That concludes my football league selections and we move on now to the non league teams that somehow hold a greater fascination for me.

Torquay united lost 1-0 at home to Tranmere Rovers but sit safely in 18th place having flirted with relegation earlier in the season. 44 points is only 3 above the relegation places so there is still a chance that Helen Chamberlain's team could drop to the National League South.

Ebbsfleet sit top of the National League South with my pick Weston-super-Mare sitting in 17th place on 44 points. A 2-2 draw with bottom placed Basingstoke Town is not convincing me that relegation has been avoided. The relegation places start from 42 points down.

In the Southern League Premier Division Bideford were involved in a relegation clash with Bedworth and managed to come out 2-1 winners on the day. It looks like a lost cause though as 36 points have to become over 47 points to avoid the inevitable.

Tiverton Town are in 7th place in the Southern League South & West division. 67 points would have to become 80 points to reach the play-off places so I think they are safely in situe for another season.
A 9-0 drubbing of Bashley will not have done their spirits any harm though.

In the Western League Barnstaple Town are in 2nd place on 72 points behind leaders Odd Down who play in bath and are on 75 points having played one game fewer. I would love to see a name like Odd Down make progress up through the leagues. Barnstaple beat Cribbs 2-1 away to keep up the challenge.

In the South West Peninsula League Exmouth Town lost 2-0 away at St. Austell and now sit mid table in 11th on 42 points while St. Austell are run away leaders of the division.

I have not attended nearly enough football. Even my local team Exwick Villa, who are about 15 minutes walk away, have not had the pleasure of my presence.