August 14th to August 21st

 There were several matches on Tuesday night and here are the results:

I watched the Exeter match and it just happened to be Jack Sparkes who made the Portsmouth goal.

Wrexham have started the season well.

Southend lost for the first time.

Worthing have started the season very well.

Tiverton have started the season badly.

Exmouth seem to be specialising in the draw, but lost in the F.A.Cup so have no fixture this weekend.

Buckland Athletic are showing signs of promise.

The weekend fixtures are as follows:

Saturday August 5th Results

 

Pre Season Fixtures

 I have had an exceptionally busy summer and it is set to continue.

I shall quickly summarise the pre season fixtures:

New Season Begins

 

A great start for my championship pick last night.

The other matches are listed and the season is off to a great start including the F.A.Cup.

I think I have brought the men up to date now so the women need some work next.

End of June, Beginning of July

 Provisional Selections in the middle of summer:

MEN

0) Arsenal

1) Brentford

2) Southampton

3) Exeter City

4) Wrexham

5) Southend United

6) Worthing

7) Tiverton

8) Exmouth Town

9) Buckland Athletic

10) Bovey Tracey

11) Elmore

12) Buckfastleigh Rangers

13) Buckfastleigh Rangers II

14) Bovey Tracey II

15) Liverton United

16) Liverton United II

WOMEN

0) Arsenal

1) Bristol City

2) Southampton

3) Plymouth Argyle

4) Exeter City

5) Sherborne

6) Juventus Devon

7) Shaldon Villa

 It remains to be seen whether all teams start in the divisions that they have been allocated to.

Level 9 Provisional Selections

 Combined Counties Premier League North: One name pops out.

9CPN=Wembley

I guess they do not play at Wembley stadium.

Combined Counties Premier League South: Another name pops out.

9CPS=Jersey Bulls

If I can get out to watch a home game I will do.

Eastern Counties League Premier Division: Not an obvious choice but I once drove past the city wanting to visit the cathedral but I was late for an appointment so I never did. If I ever go back I can watch the team and maybe visit the cathedral.

9ECP=Ely City

Essex Senior League: Still the sore thumb in the F.A.'s plan to get all county leagues at level 11. My birth county holds lots of memories and there are some lovely villages. Are there any that I would like to go back to?

9ESL=Saffron Walden Town

On the basis that this is a very picturesque village.

The Hellenic League has always been a mystery particularly the four divisions two which do not seem to promote clubs. I think I shall just have to pick a team on the basis that I like the name.

9HLP=Slimbridge

I want to go there and see how slim the bridge actually is.

The Midland League always held a fascination for me as teams headed in and out from all around but I have settled on a team that changed divisions a lot when I first started my blog.

9MLP=Tividale

I looked at the list of names in the North West Counties League and my focus hit Bury AFC but I have read that they recently merged with Bury FC and are headed back to Gigg Lane so they are favourites.

I then saw another name that, based on previous selections, I really ought to add to my list. FC Isle of Man are a team from "not the mainland" and the appeal of watching a match over there is strong. Then there is Kendal Town and a trip to the Lake District. Finally Ramsbottom United which is where I have some relatives so that clinches it.

9NWP=Ramsbottom United

The Northern Counties East League contains a few names that mean nothing but I know a place in that region that I have visited several times and which also contains Mother Shipton's Cave.

9NEP=Knaresborough Town

The Northern League is another headache for the F.A. that seems to be gradually working itself out. There are no obvious choices here so I got to the end of the akphabetical list without a selection, consequently I have chosen.

9NL1=Whitley Bay

The Southern Combination League has some familiar names in it but probably just because I have driven through at some point in time. I do like the sea, though, so I am going for:

9SCP=Shoreham

The Southern Counties East League which was converted from the Kent League during the time of my blogging has a few names that are possible selections: Fisher, Glebe, Kennington, Lordswood, Snodland Town, I once had a mate that lived in Faversham so:

9SEP=Faversham Town

The Spartan South Midlands League caused me a few problems early on until I understood the merger.

I think I will go for the advertisement here. The answer is "Drink it warm mate" so what is the question? What is the best way to Cockfosters?

9SMP=Cockfosters

We venture further away from me for the United Counties Premier League North. Having been through the list I ended up at the end but then I remembered a long lost friend who was brought up there.

9UPN=Wisbech Town

Once again I checked the list of names and ended up with the last one.

9UPS=Yaxley

The Wessex League presented few obvious choices but I once spent a nice weekend in

9WXP=Sherborne Town

The Western League has been part of my pyramid since the project started and I know the ground well. I hope to visit there early in the season for an F.A.Cup match. I usually do.

9WLP=Buckland Athletic

That concludes the sixteen picks at level nine.

My provisional selections

 My selections usually do change somewhere along the line during the summer.

I had a workman decorating my house last week and he has persuaded me to follow Southampton next season. So Plymouth, and I was not really happy supporting Plymouth, are out and Southampton are in.

The list (provisional) is now as follows:

0=Arsenal

1=Brentford

2=Southampton

3=Exeter City

4=Wrexham

5=Southend United

6N=Tamworth

6S=Worthing

7IL=Hashtag United

7NP=Macclesfield

7SC=Bromsgrove Sporting

7SS=Tiverton Town

There is still plenty of time to change the level 7 picks but I think 1 through 6 are pretty firmed up.

There is a prior post for all my level 8 picks and I will just run through the allocations to see if I want to make any changes at this early stage.

8I1N=Brentwood Town

8ISC=Guernsey

8ISE=Lancing

8NPE=North Ferriby

8NPW=Vauxhall Motors

8NPM=Quorn

8S1C=Hadley

8S1S=Exmouth Town

So NO changes yet.

I have a lot more teams to follow next season and we have not even started on levels 9 and 10.

Level 8 Step 4

 At level 8 we have a 3 and a 3 and a 2. The F.A. insists on running eight divisions at this level because it works in their limited imaginations and in spite of the shape of the country and the number of teams in each area. In a perfect world this would work perfectly but guess what? The world is not perfect and the country is shaped like a triangle.

Boost the higher levels by making the system a 1-3-9-27 league system which is ready made for some swerves east, west, north and south. Sorry, I know that is too complicated for the tiny minds at the F.A.

So we start with the Isthmian League North where I have many childhood memories. Basildon United, Bowers & Pitsea, Grays Athletic and even Enfield. Malden & Tiptree was the area for a childhood coach trip every year. I have decided on the easy access from the M25

8IN=Brentwood Town

The Isthmian League South Central division shouted out a couple of choices. Since I have run this blog I have always loved the name Badshot Lea. One day I hope to watch them when they have a player called Leigh or Lee in the team and when he hits a skyer out of the ground I can shout "Bad Shot Leigh". The team I have gone for, though, as I would like a trip out there to watch them is Guernsey.

8ISC=Guernsey

The Isthmian League South East immediately threw up a team that I have driven through countless times when visiting my mother in Worthing. The only choice is Lancing.

8ISE=Lancing

The Northern Premier League is a long way from home here but I have watched a few You Tube videos over the years and have picked a few favourites. The Northern Premier League West was probably the hardest one to pick from and I chose Vauxhall Motors as I have driven a Vauxhall for many years now.

8NPW=Vauxhall Motors

The Northern Premier League East was tricky until I spotted an old favourite thar made a meteoric rise up the leagues and then disappeared. They are back again and moving on up again so my choice is North Ferriby.

8NPE=North Ferriby

My Northern Premier League Midlands pick is completely arbitrary as I am told it is good for me. I have chosen Quorn.

8NPM=Quorn

Six down and two to go. The Southern League only has two divisions at this level and you have to ask how that works when the Southern League has two divisions at level 7. The Southern League Central division One caused me problems but I found a team called Hadley and I remember my cricket team playing their cricket team many years ago when we enjoyed an overly good evening after the match before driving home.

8S1C=Hadley

My local division at this level is the Southern League Division One South and I have a favourite team in the local area that I will not change. They are on the up and that team is Exmouth Town.

8S1S=Exmouth Town

Eight teams to follow at level 8 but with the focus on Exmouth Town.

Level 7 Step 3

 The last few posts have shown the final 2022-23 tables with a brief explanation of my choices for the 2023-24 season. From hereon in (apart from the WOMEN which have not been covered yet) I shall concentrate on the coming season.

My Level 7, Step 3 pick for 2023-24 will come from the Southern League Premier South Division but as my original idea was to pick a team from every league in the country let me nominate a team from each of the Level Seven leagues.

In the Northern Premier League Premier Division it was between two clubs that have received a lot of publicity and it is publicity that I need to follow them online.

FC United of Manchester have been progressing since they were formed as a reaction against the ownership of Manchester United. They came clos but I am going with newly promoted Macclesfield as Robbie Savage will make sure I hear all about them.

7NP=Macclesfield

In the Isthmian League Premier Division I know so many teams from my youth. Canvey and Concord came into the reckoning and Billericay received my support when I suggested a firm that employed me sponsor them. I settled, though, on Hashtag United as they had a great online presence when I looked them up originally.

7IP=Hashtag United

The Southern League has two divisions at this level which is part of the F.A. attempt to squeeze a triangular peg into a square hole of their own design. For the Premier Central I looked at Coalville Town and Nuneaton Borough  that are both close to my National League North pick of Tamworth. In the end I have gone for club nearest to me which is just off the M5.

7SC=Bromsgrove Sporting

I have been following the Southern League Premier South for a few seasons now and although I have considered many other clubs I keep coming back to Tiverton Town who have improved their online presence. I will stick with them for another season.

7SS=Tiverton Town

I can monitor the results of all these teams but reports may be restricted due to me stretching myself thin.

National League South 2022-23

 I have so many choices at this level. I was following Worthing during the past season.

Worthing are in the playoff places and I see no reason to change for the coming season.

I think a key player here is Harrison Male, the goalkeeper. He trained as a junior at Leeds United and has played for the England C team. I am sure he is a key player in the results Worthing have achieved.

6S=Worthing

National League South from Non League Matters

This coming season I will follow a team from the National North and one from the National South.

The top five levels of the PYRAMID and National League North 2022-23

 It would be so much easier if I restricted myself to following just the top five levels of football and my decisions for next season are now unlikely to change:

0=Arsenal

1=Brentford

2=Plymouth Argyle

3=Exeter City

4=Wrexham

5=Southend United

BUT that is not why I started this blog as I wanted to learn about the rest of the football pyramid but when I started I found that there is so much more than I could include but I have to stop somewhere. Since I started this blog the Women's Pyramid has firmed up and I now watch various women's teams as well. I have excluded Wales and Scotland although I may have to follow Wrexham women through the Welcome to Wrexham shows.

I once considered following a team from every single league in the country but that would be far too many and would take up way too much time. I do have a valid reason for adding another team to my list for the coming season. Tamworth came back to the National League North and I have a cousin who lives in the town. I did once promise to accompany her husband to the football sometime and this seems like a good season so I should get to know about the lambs.

6N=Tamworth

National League North from Non League Matters

Tamworth join this league as a newly promoted club.

National League 2022-23

 I was following Torquay United at this level and noticed one Dean Moxey was playing for the Gulls. I used to watch him at Exeter when he was one of the best players on the field. He was so good that I was not surprised to see him sought after by teams at a higher level.

He was part of the team that went to Old Trafford in the third round of the F.A.Cup in January 2005 where Exeter won 0-0. He was man of the match when Exeter earned promotion in the Conference play-off final of 2008.

He played for Derby County and was impressive enough that he earned a move to Crystal Palace.

With Crystal Palace he reached the semi-final of the League Cup but was released at the end of the 2013-14 season.

He returned to Exeter in 2017 and in 2020 was in the League Two playoff final at Wembley.

In September 2020 he joined Torquay United.

National League table from Non League Matters

With Torquay dropping off the end of the world I need to pick a new team for the new season. I have read that Southend United owe the taxman a lot of money, they are looking for new owners, and there are plans to build a new stadium so even if the football is dire I will have a lot to keep me interested.

5=Southend United

That concludes the professional leagues.

( There are rumours that there are still three part time teams here but it is still a professional league)

Football League Two 2022-23

 I dipped in and out of Swindon Town during the season without ever really following them although I know that the superstar of the squad was Harry McKirdy with his long flowing locks. The only other note I have is a funny name and who would not question George Cowmeadow about where his name came from. I am not invested so will be changing my pick at this level.

I looked at all the options from top to bottom and was beginning to despair of finding an obvious choice but right at the end of the alphabetically compiled list I found the one.

4=Wrexham

I think coverage will be excellent with self publicists Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney at the helm. I can see them causing the ructions that I know the British football authorities need to shake them out of their cozy "we are in charge, do as you are told" attitude. Many football clubs have suffered at the hands of the football authorities and whilst I understand some of the issues I do agree with Shaun Harvey when he implies that there is a lot of narrow mindedness and short termism in football.

I am seriously looking forward to the Wrexham journey and I hope that it does not end too quickly when the two American stars find out how much hatred they are going to receive from other clubs in the football league. Hopefully the enthusiasm of the football fans will carry them through the tough times.

League Two table from Sports Mole

My pick for next season is newly promoted WREXHAM and they already have some ambitious fixtures organised before the start of next season:

Football League One 2022-23

My pick, Exeter City, had a mixed season typified by the 7-0 win against Cheltenham in the Carabao Cup then at the end of the season a 6-0 defeat away to Ipswich. Looking through the results we were always consistently inconsistent. There can only be one pick at this level and it is Exeter, my home city.

3=Exeter City

League One table from Sports Mole

Exeter have already announced their pre-season fixture list. Every match is away against theoretically weaker opposition.

Football League Championship 2022-23

 I did not really become invested with Bristol City.

When I check back the last match I watched involved Blackpool and a 3-3 draw when Antoine Semenyo scored as did Tommy Conway and Nahki Wells made an impression also. This was in August 2022 when my enthusiasm for the sport of football is at its highest having missed it all summer.

I think it is time for change (another change) at this level. Let me look at my options.

The obvious choice is newly promoted Plymouth Argyle who are just down the road. I could also pick Cardiff City for the night life after the matches but it would involve the Severn Bridge. Hull is where I went to university many years ago so I know the area a little bit. There are Leeds, Leicester and also Southampton as I know them from the Premier League. How about Sheffield Wednesday. I remember drinking at the top of the hill then walking down to Hillsborough. Sunderland is the final option as their fans are so passionate about the club (I know one). I think it has to be Plymouth.

2=Plymouth Argyle (Exeter's deadly rivals but not this season)

Championship table from Sports Mole:

Premier League 2022-23

 I have enjoyed this season for two main reasons.

Arsenal have finally got back to winning ways albeit that the season finished slightly disappointingly with City taking us close to the finish. We have made up for years of poor performances with some magical games and some average games but few major disasters. The only real problem being a 4-1 defeat to Manchester City who are one of the greatest teams ever to have been assembled.

Brentford, my Premier League pick for the season did the double over Manchester City and still ended up in 9th place so explain that one to me if you can. My favourite moments of the season have been watching Brentford "over performing" although having watched them in the Championship I am using the pundits words rather than my own. I knew when they beat Arsenal at the start of the season last year that they are well worth their position in the Premier League. I had doubts about David Raya, the goalkeeper, but he has certainly stepped up this season. It will be sad to see him go. He has been an inspiration to the rest of the team.

I see no reason to change my selections for next season :  0=Favourite team, 1=Premier League Pick.

0=Arsenal (always will be)

1=Brentford (inspirational) Thank You Thomas Frank.

Premier League table from Sports Mole.

Level 10 Wessex League & Western League

 The final two leagues from level 10 are published here:

That concludes the Level 10 leagues with all the playoff results. I have brought the data together in this blog for those who just want to look and see what has been going on.

Level 10 Spartan South Midlands League & United Counties League

 Two of the leagues that are stuck in the middle so can take teams from all around when the F.A. decides to shovel them out of other leagues. I understand the F.A. but I disagree with impositions.

Nearly there now with all the level 10 leagues. One more post to go. The F.A. in a statement I read recently absolve themselves from any interest in the transfers from Level 10 to Level 11 and vice versa. This is in spite of the fact that I read the pyramid officially ends at Level 11 (County Leagues).

Level 10 Southern Combination & Southern Counties East League

 The South East corner of the country is covered here:

The top two from each of these divisions will be promoted which is how it should be and would be if it were not for the money that playoff matches attract at the end of the season.

Level 10 South West Peninsula League

 The South West Peninsula League is the last remaining league with the top division at Level 10. The F.A. ordered discussions to take place so that the Western League would absorb these divisions but I heard that talks broke down. There will come a time when the F.A. impose a decision from the top but it would be better if agreement could be reached.

Living in the area this was always my favourite league as it bridged the gap between professional level 10 and amateur level 11. I remember watching a team and paying £3 entry one season then when they were relegated the entry was free. I felt this was a way for clubs to learn about the professional levels without having to commit to losing money.

The top team from the east and the top team from the west are the only two teams to be promoted up to the Western League.

Brixham & St Blazey should both feature in the Western League Premier Division next season.