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.

Update

Arsenal have just been beaten by Watford in the F.A.Cup.

Halifax and Grimsby are ahead in their semi-finals of the F.A.Trophy.

In the F.A.Vase Hereford beat Salisbury 1-0 while Bowers & Pitsea drew 2-2 with Morpeth.

Some of my selections are now firmly in the relegation zone.

When my real life slows down I will return here to analyse the situation.

Busy Busy

Southend United are taking on Burton Albion on Sky Sports.

Southend scored first with a well taken shot across the goal. Burton have equalised.

A lot else has happened since I last wrote but you can find out all about that somewhere else.

Arsenal failed to beat Hull at the weekend so must now endure a replay.

 

Liverpool v. Exeter

I contemplated a minute by minute blog for this one but I have decided to sit back and just enjoy the match. I hope you enjoy it too. Alternatively you could watch Leicester beat Tottenham.

My teams in December

ARSENAL

I have to be pleased as we are now sitting comfortably at the top of the league.
We beat Sunderland, Aston Villa, Manchester City and Bournemouth in the Premier League.
The best result of the month has to be beating Olympiacos 3-0 away. We maintain the record.
The one blip was being stuffed by Southampton but they fully deserved their win on the day.

BRENTFORD

A mixed bag. Beat MK Dons, drew with Fulham, lost to Cardiff. Beat Huddersfield, drew with Brighton and wait for it ...... no we beat Reading as well. We are now sat in 10th place looking comfortable but perhaps we should be challenging for a play off place.

SOUTHEND

Lost to Millwall in the Johnstone's Paints Trophy before beating Bury and Colchester in the League. Millwall then beat us once again in the League completing an unpalatable double. We are in 7th place just outside where we want to be.

EXETER

 16th place in the league is a drop from early season form. December seems to have been a very bad month for the Grecians. Should I disown them now? The team lost to Luton, Oxford and Wimbledon before starting the new year by losing to Dagenham & Redbridge.

TORQUAY

I can admit that our local rivals are only on my choice list because they are the nearest club. I am quite happy to see them second bottom in the National League although perhaps Helen Chamberlain is not so happy. Defeats to Wrexham, Chester and Cheltenham have not helped the league position and the victory over Forest Green was followed by defeat to the same team at the start of the new year. The one bright note is that following a 0-0 draw with Chesham we went on to beat them in the F.A.Trophy by the margin of 2-0.

WESTON-SUPER-MARE

The weather has caused some postponement recently but the month started with a win over Wealdstone. This was followed by draws with Bishop's Stortford and Hayes & Yeading. The team sit in 19th place just above the relegation zone and in serious danger unless the second half of the season is better than the first half.

BIDEFORD

My Southern League premier choice was also one of location and the team sit in 23rd place, firmly in the relegation zone. A draw with Hitchin Town was followed by defeats to Histon and Paulton Rovers. 2016 needs to be a completely new year if this group are to stay at their current level.

TIVERTON

Tiverton town lost in the Devon St. Luke's Challenge Cup but they were up against Plymouth Argyle who presumably had access to a better class of player. In addition the month started with defeat to Evesham United before victories against Wimborne Town and Wantage Town rescued the month. The month ended with a defeat to Marlow and a draw with Bridgwater Town. We sit 5th in the league in the last of the play off places.

BARNSTAPLE

Barnstaple sit 4th in the league which is comfortable. Bristol Manor Farm are top of the league with Odd Down and Street in between. It is looking like another year in the Western League. There have been a lot of postponements due to the weather but defeat to Odd Down and victory over Cadbury Heath are the two results that led up to christmas.

EXMOUTH TOWN

Exmouth sit safely in 6th place in the league and I now know where to go if I want to watch them as I was in town over christmas enjoying a pub lunch and visiting friends. A win over Witheridge and a defeat to Helston Athletic were followed by a series of postponements. The new year is going to be a busy time as fixtures are played in an attempt to catch up.

Arsenal are now 3-1 up against Sunderland.

DEAD Football Teams

Last night my love of the game returned as I watched my home town Exeter take on the mighty Liverpool in the F.A.Cup. Some of my friends went to get cold and wet but I stayed home and watched the television coverage. We drew 2-2 with young Tom Nicholls scoring the opening goal. He is earmarked for progression in the game but like all young hopefuls he will have to remain injury free.

Today I am listening to Arsenal on Arsenal Player while watching the scores pop up on Gillette Soccer Saturday from Sky Sports. The score is 0-0 and Sunderland have had the first chance but I have been compiling the Pyramid Tables (My Choice) and I thought I would mention some team names that we may never see again as they have dropped out of their respective leagues.

When league teams get into trouble there are usually enough supporters around to save the club with personal saving being put into a "save the club" fund. There are many reasons for lower level clubs disappearing from a mass player walkout to financial misappropriation by the directors. All I know is that football tables that started out with more teams now have less and I have decided to list the names from this season.

The National League (Conference) has seen no dropouts this season so we start looking at levels 7 & 8. I will admit that I am surprised that I can find no dropouts in the three regional leagues.

Level 9 was looking very secure but I have found the first team to fail. Winterbourne United are no longer competing in the Western League. I have found an internet article that indicates:

"Robyn Maggs is relieved that Winterbourne United's first team has been removed from the Western League."

Level 10 may show a few more teams dropping out so let us find out.

Mickleover Royals have dropped out of the East Midlands Counties League.

St Neots Town Saints have dropped out of the United Counties League.

Mickleover had won all four of their matches but dropped out for financial reasons.

St Neots Town Saints "have found it increasingly difficult to carry on for a number of reasons".

Level 11 teams dropping out from pyramid leagues are listed below:

Riccall United - Central Midlands League North

Thoresby Colliery - Central Midlands League North

Tintinhull - Dorset Premier League

Tiptree Jobserve - Essex & Suffolk Border League

Kings Stanley - Gloucestershire County League

Caterpillar - Leicestershire Senior League

Dunton & Broughton Rangers - Leicestershire Senior League

St Andrews Reserves - Leicestershire Senior League

Liver Academy - Liverpool County Premier League

Red Rum - Liverpool County Premier League

Kenilworth Town - Midland League

Aston - Midland League

Ringstead Rangers - Northamptonshire Combination

Gretton - Northamptonshire Combination

Welford Victoria - Northamptonshire Combination

Bletchingdon - Oxfordshire Senior League

Broughton & North Newington - Oxfordshire Senior League

Aylesbury United Reserves - Spartan South Midlands League

Dudley Hill Rangers - West Riding County Amateur League

Bardsey - West Yorkshire League

Andover New Street Swifts - Wiltshire League

Terrington Glory - York League

22 teams gone but there are plenty still going.

Arsenal v. Sunderland is 1-1 at half time.

December belongs to the wife

So, welcome back normality.

December starts with me having to contruct our christmas newsletter to send out with all the christmas cards. We then have to write all the cards and add any extra information on top of the news for selected persons. I am then expected to take the wife shopping and pay for all the presents although give her credit she is happy to choose all the items. We then have to go visiting all the people that we have ignored all year. I have to attend at least one christmas party with work and drink on many other occasions. All this means that you have heard nothing from me throughout December. What do you mean nobody noticed?

The new year has started with football on Friday 1st January. Torquay went away to Forest Green Rovers who beat them 3-1. That is a good place to start as all the matches at lower levels scheduled for Saturday 2nd January were called off due to waterlogged pitches or anticipated bad weather. My cousin's parents in law were flooded out and did not take extra flood insurance of £400 on the basis that for the past 48 years they have had no problems. This was now a costly mistake. Hindsight is a very valuable teacher.

So with just my league teams to tell you about we can start with Exeter who decided to lose to Dagenham & Redbridge at home, the score being 1-2.

Southend United were far more generous, losing 3-0 at home to Doncaster Rovers.

At least Brentford were away as they went down 2-1 to Birmingham City.

That leaves my top team Arsenal, and as I listened to the commentary we were definitely the second best team on the pitch but football is not all about performance, if it were we would win every match, it is about scoring goals and Lauren Koscielny scored the only goal of the game for a 1-0 win.

There. One of my resolutions is complete as I have updated my blog. Maybe I will do a team by team summary of December and the more I think about it that may be a better way to document this blog. It is early days, but now in addition to all my other "things" I have decided to take an open university course on football.

Bring on the new year.

TW3

That Was The Week That Was:

A great night for my picks on Tuesday night -

Arsenal beat Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League and can still qualify.

Southend travelled all the way up to Oldham and came away with a 5-2 victory.

Exeter travelled to Mansfield and were also victorious, this time the score was 2-0.

Finally Weston-super-Mare took on Havant & Waterlooville, winning 3-2 TYVM.


Come the weekend and we find that Arsenal are playing today (Sunday).

Brentford in the Championship are playing Monday night football this week.

Southend United drew 0-0 at home to Wigan.

Exeter City drew 1-1 at home to Bristol Rovers.

Torquay United drew 0-0 away to Braintree Town.

Weston came up trumps for the second time in a week, winning 3-2 at home to Hitchin Town.
This means qualification for the next round of the F.A.Trophy.

Bideford went away to Maidenhead United in the F.A.Trophy and are now out having lost 4-0.

Tiverton Town beat North Leigh 2-1 in the Southern League South & West Division.

Barnstaple beat Bradford Town 3-2 away in the Western League Premier Division.

Exmouth Town travelled to Torpoint Athletic in the South West Peninsula League and lost 2-1.

Now I can settle down and watch the Arsenal match.

Testing Times

I struggled with my open university course this week.

Many matches were postponed due to the weather in midweek and many F.A.Vase matches were postponed for the same reason on Saturday. The midweek match that survived was Tiverton Town's home match against Shortwood United. A 4-1 win sees Tiverton nicely placed near the top of the table in the Southern League South & West Division.

Tiverton followed this up with a 0-0 draw away at Winchester. A point away from home will do.

Barnstaple lost in the F.A.Vase 2-1 to Hengrove Athletic so that is their cup ambitions over for the season. Exmouth Town travelled to St. Blazey and came away with a remarkable 5-1 win. I must get to see this team before the season is out.

Bideford had a nightmare at home in the Southern League Premier Division. Kings Lynn Town turned up and went home happy with a 5-0 victory.

Exeter are very pleased with themselves as they won the local derby winning 2-1 away at Plymouth.

Southend won the battle of the seaside towns, beating Blackpool 1-0 at home.

Brentford produced a third league win in three beating Nottingham Forest 2-1. A good win.

The real failure of this week is Arsenal going to West Bromwich Albion and losing there for the first time since 2005 and to make matters worse Santi Cazorla missed a penalty. It would seem that he cannot score even if his life depends upon it. I would not have let him take that penalty.

Tomorrow is another day, this week sees some European action, and I got 22 out of 24 in my weekly test so the struggle was worthwhile.

F.A.Trophy weekend

With the internationals against Spain and France for the England team there is no football at the highest level this weekend. I shall therefore concentrate my focus on another competition, the F.A.Trophy competed for by teams from level 5 to level 8 (Step 1 to Step 4 of the non league game).

I had two teams in the competition at this stage as the Conference teams have not yet been required to play (just like Premier League teams do not enter the F.A.Cup until the third round). Bideford and Tiverton are up against opposition from levels 7 and 8 so I need to do some research to find out what happened.

Bideford managed to beat Brentwood Town 3-2 so continue their run in the F.A.Trophy. The information that I have been able to find one day after the match is ..... zilch. Interconnectedness on the internet does rely on the enthusiastic followers of football clubs updating the information early. Not every club has the right level of enthusiast attached.

Tiverton Town travelled to East Thurrock and managed to lose 5-0. Not surprisingly the information I have been able to find out online is .... zilch, but then who wants to write up a report about a bad defeat on the road. The enthusiasts are probably still drunk, trying to forget, and on their way home.

So much for the F.A.Trophy then. How about my other selected teams?

Southend and Exeter both drew 2-2. Southend were away at Sheffield United and Exeter were at home to Crawley. Torquay travelled to Barrow and lost 4-0 so relegation is a definite possibility. Weston-super-Mare had one of those days, losing 1-0 away at Gosport Borough. Bideford and Tiverton you know about, well all the information I could find anyway. Barnstaple Town followed last week's 2-0 over Bristol Manor Farm with a 6-0 win over Roman Glass St George. All teams with silly names should be given a damn good thrashing. Exmouth Town entertained Camelford in the South West Peninsula league and won 4-3. There does seem to be some good entertainment down there and I know the pubs are good.

Now, I have to put the bed back together after taking it apart. My Mrs has decided to move rooms.

Where are my teams at the start of November?

Everton have just beaten Sunderland 6-2 and Arsenal Ladies are leading Notts County ladies 2-0 with 5 minutes to go. I should be getting on with my university studies but I prefer to blog about football and at least it keeps me in active mode.

Pick 1) Arsenal are second behind Manchester City and in a good position to challenge for the title.

Pick 2) Brentford are in 11th place, 4 points off the playoff places and 10 points above relegation.

Pick 3) Southend are also in 11th place, 4 points off the playoff places and 8 points above relegation.

Pick 4) Exeter are in 14th place, 4 points off the playoff places and 13 points above relegation.

Pick 5) Torquay are at the top of the four teams occupying relegation places. The drop is possible.

Pick 6) Weston-super-Mare have been bottom but are now one point above the relegation places.

Pick 7) Bideford are firmly in a relegation place and are 7 points from safety at this early stage.

Pick 8) Tiverton are nicely placed in the playoff places and are 5 points from automatic promotion.

Pick 9) Barnstaple Town are in 6th place and 6 points off the only automatic promotion slot.

Pick 10) Exmouth Town are in 12th place, 20 points from promotion and 14 points from relegation.


N.B. Arsenal Ladies are winners of the Continental Cup so that is another chance to celebrate.