47 replies to this topic

[Big J R]

One Youth Cup game tonight, (Tuesday), and six matches involving CCL tomorrow.

What's the chances ?

Old Hamptonians v DFC (at Meadowbank) tomorrow in the Combi-Cup is almost derfinitely going to be a non-starter, (for the fourth time), even if it does thaw out, it will be waterlogged.

Poor old Whitelaw !!

[Chris Clapham]

Westfield v Wood (Grant McClellan Cup) is OFF tonight!
Called off yesterday.

[Smudge]

Today sees the Inaurgral meeting of a group of people,the aim being to get Croydon Athletic up and running again,in some shape or form.A Complete start from scratch operation is needed,due to the previous owner,clearing out everything that was not nailed down.But a massive task awaits them,but amongst their ranks,are some dedicated,hard working people,who will try their best to succeed.I WISH THEM WELL.

[Krooner]

So do I smudge as long as they start at the lowest level of the pyramid

[Smudge]

Where would you suggest Kroons,Croydon Municipal Sunday League Div 3?

[Krooner]

If it is in the pyramid structure Smudgey and is the lowest available entry point.

[The Fan]

Smudge, on 6 February 2012 - 01:47 PM, said:

Today sees the Inaurgral meeting of a group of people,the aim being to get Croydon Athletic up and running again,in some shape or form.A Complete start from scratch operation is needed,due to the previous owner,clearing out everything that was not nailed down.But a massive task awaits them,but amongst their ranks,are some dedicated,hard working people,who will try their best to succeed.I WISH THEM WELL.

Will you be giving a hand smudge.

[NICE GUY]

Krooner, on 6 February 2012 - 02:09 PM, said:

If it is in the pyramid structure Smudgey and is the lowest available entry point.

Krooonnnntzz like Windsor & Eton who went belly up, they reformed under a different name Windsor and went from Southern Premier down 2 divisions below into CCL Prem.  With Croydon Athletic who were in the Ryman Div 1 South, would they go down 2 divisions into Kent League Div 1 or CCL Div 1 ?

[Smudge]

Have been asked to attend the Meeting,if I can I will.But knowing me,I will probably upset someone with my views,it has been known you know, that I do that sometimes.Thinking of a name though,will be the hardest bit,NO A.F.C. though thats a definite NO,NO,been talking to my market friends,they are going to save all their Orange boxes,so at least we have something to sit on at least.Anyone got a spare mower that they dont need?

Edited by Smudge, 6 February 2012 - 03:16 PM.

[NICE GUY]

Smudge, on 6 February 2012 - 03:14 PM, said:

Have been asked to attend the Meeting,if I can I will.But knowing me,I will probably upset someone with my views,it has been known you know, that I do that sometimes.Thinking of a name though,will be the hardest bit,NO A.F.C. though thats a definite NO,NO,been talking to my market friends,they are going to save all their Orange boxes,so at least we have something to sit on at least.Anyone got a spare mower that they dont need?

Pitch should be decent, its not being used thats one good thing !!!

[WindsorFC Programme Editor]

Krooner, on 6 February 2012 - 02:09 PM, said:

If it is in the pyramid structure Smudgey and is the lowest available entry point.

It will be where the FA put them as you well know

Plus, the name is an irrelevance at this stage. Are the local FA on-side with the current ambitions?

[Krooner]

WindsorFC Programme Editor, on 6 February 2012 - 03:35 PM, said:

Krooner, on 6 February 2012 - 02:09 PM, said:

If it is in the pyramid structure Smudgey and is the lowest available entry point.

It will be where the FA put them as you well know

Plus, the name is an irrelevance at this stage. Are the local FA on-side with the current ambitions?

Indeed but only being honest in my views in wishing them luck.  There are conditions

[Green_Fingers]

NICE GUY, on 6 February 2012 - 03:12 PM, said:

Krooner, on 6 February 2012 - 02:09 PM, said:

If it is in the pyramid structure Smudgey and is the lowest available entry point.

Krooonnnntzz like Windsor & Eton who went belly up, they reformed under a different name Windsor and went from Southern Premier down 2 divisions below into CCL Prem.  With Croydon Athletic who were in the Ryman Div 1 South, would they go down 2 divisions into Kent League Div 1 or CCL Div 1 ?

Current FA rules dictate a Minimum 2 Step drop (Step 6) as NG suggests - but no reason why not Step 7 (the lowest pyramid level) if that's what the FA decide.

In Windsors case, Step 5 was the option under current rules (unless otherwise determined by the FA)


If a Club (whether a Members’ Club or a Company) is wound up, liquidated, ceases to trade
or is removed from its League or withdraws from football competition (‘the Former Club’),
and then wishes to establish a new Club (‘the New Club’) and be placed within the NLS
other than as set out in Regulation 5.3, then unless otherwise determined by the LC, it will
be allowed to make an application only to join a League/division at step 5 of the NLS unless
the Former Club was in either Step 4 or Step 5 when the event which caused it to cease
its membership occurred in which case it must re-join the NLS at a minimum of two Steps
below the level at which it was at the time the event occurred,  or withdrew from football
competition, whichever is lower.  Where the Former Club is a member of The FA Premier
League or Football League in the current Playing Season then the LC shall at its absolute
discretion determine in which league within the NLS the New Club shall be placed for the
following Playing Season and will set out at its complete discretion the requirements to be
met by the New Club.  
In order for consideration to be given to the placement in the NLS by the New Club in the
following Playing Season, an initial application must be received by the LC by 1st March or
within twenty-one days of the Former Club being wound up, liquidated, ceasing to trade,
resigning or being removed from its League or withdrawing from football competition, if  
such date is later than 1st March.
The full application accompanied by all necessary documents including evidence o

[Non League Nigel]

Lets hope their ground is looked after bettter than the rugby ground round the corner just off bridstock road

[spy]

Thats Streatham & Croydon RUFC, it's never been any different, hasn't changed since I was having a little fun with the groundsmans daughter back in 1973 !!!!!!!!!!!  Happy Days !!!  

[Guildford Sweeney]

The FA rules on this are a disgrace.  I seem to remember Windsor trying to put a huge amount of distance between themselves and the 'old club' (of course they play at the same ground, most of the players are the same, same colours etc. but that is by the by).  However when it comes to the league allocation, they are more than happy to be the 'reincarnation' of Windsor & Eton, therefore bypassing a few seasons in the process.  I know this isn't Windsor's fault, but it shows a glaring unfairness in the FA rules that two clubs formed at exactly the same time could have to start their lives at completely different levels.  

It's yet more evidence that the FA don't really care about the evolution of football at this level - the higher non-league clubs go bust and then the FA let them start again two leagues below, thus ensuring a period of stagnation for all the clubs who have done it the hard way.

If Windsor were a 'new club' then why were they not treated as such?  

There aren't even any rules on what classifies a club as a 'new' incarnation.  Suppose a step 3 club (say, for example, Leatherhead) was on the verge of going bankrupt halfway through the season.  Could I, as someone without any connection to them, start up a new club called 'AFC Leatherhead' and get my team allocated to step 5 the season afterwards?  There's nothing in the FA rules to say I can't.  What if someone had tried to start up 'Eton FC' last year - who would have got the place?

The FA rules are so poorly written that it's probably not going to be long until a decent lawyer makes mincemeat of them.

[VPCTFC]

Guildford Sweeney, on 6 February 2012 - 09:45 PM, said:

Suppose a step 3 club (say, for example, Leatherhead) was on the verge of going bankrupt halfway through the season.  Could I, as someone without any connection to them, start up a new club called 'AFC Leatherhead' and get my team allocated to step 5 the season afterwards?

No. There's already an AFC Leatherhead!
You're quite right that the FA rules are poorly written, and that includes the ground gradings. Like you say, a lawyer could shred half of them to bits, like when they use the word 'may'. If you're going to have a rule, make it a rule, not a possibility or something that's open to interpretation.
Regarding Croydon Athletic, their case is a bit different as the club hasn't folded (yet). They've just stopped playing first team football (their youth and ladies are still playing) so any new club would be a completely new club rather than a continuation. It's the same as AFC Wimbledon being formed whilst Wimbledon were still playing under the name when they first moved to MK in my view.
As such, the new club should be able to apply to CCL1 or Kent Invicta League as that's the lowest level of the NLS in the area. The fact that also equates to a two level drop of the old club is purely coincidental.
The FA rules state that new clubs can only apply to step 6 in exceptional circumstances and should start at step 7. The problem with that is they don't say what they count as step 7 these days as they've recently changed their categories.
There are only two official step 7 leagues left in the country this season, over 40 were stripped of the title and are now listed as 'suspended' or 'provisional'. The Surrey Elite has never been officially step 7 so God knows if that comes into the equation.
The sames also true of promotion from step 7 to step 6. It's a mess.

[Smudge]

Attended the meeting tonight,which I must say was not very well attended.I can see a problem though,the current owner of Croydon Athletic has not liquidated the Club,and no creditor has filed for Bankruptcy of the Club.One of the creditors is the local Authority,who were owed money on the lease,they have taken proceedings out against the leaseholder for possession of the ground,which is currently locked.How long this procedure could take is anyones guess,grass grows quick in spring time.An interim Committee was chosen to set up a constitution,and Limited Company.Members of the Club would be asked for a joining fee of £25.Many dual Rams/Palace Fans present favoured the name as A.F.C.Croydon Athletic,just hope they find a new brand name.Wish them well in their endeavours,but feel it will be a struggle to get it up and running financially.A figure of £800 per week was the lease Croydon Athletic had to pay to the Council,when Welling Utd hire Croydon Arena for £200 per game.Helping locals I think not.There was also one of the great and good at the Meeting,promising to get the ear of Boris,election time just round the corner I fear.Would of been nice if he had chucked in £100 to get the ball rolling,alas he never.

[BlueAndWhiteArmy]

Any news from C&H for game v south park tonight? What's the chances?

[NICE GUY]

BlueAndWhiteArmy, on 7 February 2012 - 10:04 AM, said:

Any news from C&H for game v south park tonight? What's the chances?

What at C&H ?,,,,,,,,,,,,,zilch ...........lol !