End of August

Well it is actually early September but here are a few leaders and strugglers:

In the National League Wrexham are leading with 17 points while Dagenham & Redbridge are at the foot of the table with 2 points.

In the National League North Chorley have a clear lead with 22 points gained after 8 matches. FC United of Manchester may have reached their level as they are firmly last with a paltry 3 points.

The lead in the National League South is greater with Woking on 21 points, 5 ahead of Billericay Town. At the bottom are one of my selections. They seem to struggle every year but this season they are last with 2 points. Can they stay at this level for another year?

At Step 3 Level 7 we have an extra division this season. The Southern League Premier Division has been divided into the Southern League Premier Central and the Southern League Premier South. This will be confusing for many as there can no longer be a winner of the Southern League unless they are planning a winner v. winner match at the end of the season.

Weymouth are top of the Premier South on 13 points, the same as Tiverton Town (one of mine) and Merthyr Town. Chesham United sit at the bottom on a single point. The Premier Central division is led by Kettering Town on 18 points, 5 ahead of Coalville Town, while Bedworth Town have only 2 points at the foot of the table.

I believe the intention of the F.A. is to link the Southern Central division with the National League North and link the Southern South division with the National League South but it will be very interesting to see how things play out at the end of this season.

The Northern Premier League is led by Gainsborough Trinity on 12 points with Lancaster City on ZERO at the bottom of the table.

Tonbridge Angels are the leaders in the Isthmian League ahead of Worthing by 3 points. Burgess Hill Town and Corinthian Casuals are at the foot of the table on 2 points apiece.

There is also an additional division at Step 4 Level 8. The Isthmian League now has three feeders but to be fair it has needed them for a while now. In the North division Maldon & Tiptree lead the way with 10 points. Soham Town Rangers and Tilbury are joint last with 1. The South Central division is led by Bracknell Town on 12 points. Molesey sit at the bottom also with 1 point. The Isthmian League South East division is where the F.A. have chosen to place Guernsey. I know there is a flight involved but is Kent the right place for the islanders to play? Hastings United and Cray Wanderers lead the table on 12 points with a goal difference of 9 but there are two other teams also on 12 points. Three clubs are on ZERO at the bottom but goal difference finds Three Bridges and East Grinstead Town in the most trouble.

The Northern Premier League has decided to change to an East / West split which is a change from its previous North / South split. I would like to read about how well this is working but I have not heard anything to date. Stamford are top of the East division on 10 points with Pickering Town at the foot of the table on ZERO. In the West division Radcliffe are top on 12 points alongside Colne and at the foot of the table is Skelmersdale United on ZERO.

When I first read about the Southern League reorganisation the division one level was supposed to be an East / West split and it still is but it is more like North East / South West so I think those that have ascribed the South One Central and South One South are doing the right thing in naming the leagues. Sometimes I think codenames like Bostik or Evostick would help but we would need a lot more sponsors willing to put money into the game.

Peterborough Sports are sitting top of the Southern League Division One Central and emulating their League One counterparts. At the bottom are Kidlington who come from that mysterious Hellenic League with the is it, is it not, division two east and west. In the Southern League Division One South Yate Town and Winchester City lead the way with Mangotsfield United and Barnstaple Town (another of MY picks) at the bottom on ZERO points.

Below this at Step 5 Level 9 we have until this season had a consistent 14 leagues with 17 leagues at Step 6 Level 10. The F.A. have seen fit to interfere here as well but that will be the subject of my next post.