Next Season
Next Season
Won't be a walk in the park looking at the clubs that could be in the BSN...it's not like a couple of years ago, full of literal pub teams that nobody has ever heard of.
We could have...
Darlington (probably unless the conf bounce us down to the Evostik)
Chester (certain)
Halifax (possible depending on promotion)
FCUM (possible)
Kettering (probable depending on geography)
Boston United
Altrincham
Half a dozen big non league clubs there with 1,000+ gates, and Altrincham also a biggish name. All a big threat then even your piss ant little non entity clubs like Guiseley and Gainsborough who play in front of 300 and in no way should be able to compete with those above, are bankrolled by rich owners. Most clubs will have stable squads suitable for the level and we'll pretty much have to start again.
An eye opener when you think about it.
We even may turn out to be only the 3rd biggest club in the bloody BSN!!
We could have...
Darlington (probably unless the conf bounce us down to the Evostik)
Chester (certain)
Halifax (possible depending on promotion)
FCUM (possible)
Kettering (probable depending on geography)
Boston United
Altrincham
Half a dozen big non league clubs there with 1,000+ gates, and Altrincham also a biggish name. All a big threat then even your piss ant little non entity clubs like Guiseley and Gainsborough who play in front of 300 and in no way should be able to compete with those above, are bankrolled by rich owners. Most clubs will have stable squads suitable for the level and we'll pretty much have to start again.
An eye opener when you think about it.
We even may turn out to be only the 3rd biggest club in the bloody BSN!!
Re: Next Season
You've possibly also got Worcester and Nuneaton who have 1000 crowds potential (historically at least).
We still have to go in there with as many guns blaziing as we can. If we go in with an inferiority complex then we've got less chance. People talk about when we first dropped to the (Vauxhall) Conference. We weren't favourites then neither, yet as a group of supporters we had faith. (I remember I had a tenner on Darlo at 14-1 before a ball was kicked. Boston were 6-1 favourites, I think we were fourth or fifth on the list of teams - I was a student at the time so a tenner was a lot; the winnings even more "a lot" ).
We're a big fish in a small pond next season, whether we like it or not and I can only expect (not hope) that we get the right management and players in place in the coming weeks/months so that we can turn the corner. I can imagine that the clubs listed above will have a wary eye on our inclusion in next season's BSN with similar trepidation.
We still have to go in there with as many guns blaziing as we can. If we go in with an inferiority complex then we've got less chance. People talk about when we first dropped to the (Vauxhall) Conference. We weren't favourites then neither, yet as a group of supporters we had faith. (I remember I had a tenner on Darlo at 14-1 before a ball was kicked. Boston were 6-1 favourites, I think we were fourth or fifth on the list of teams - I was a student at the time so a tenner was a lot; the winnings even more "a lot" ).
We're a big fish in a small pond next season, whether we like it or not and I can only expect (not hope) that we get the right management and players in place in the coming weeks/months so that we can turn the corner. I can imagine that the clubs listed above will have a wary eye on our inclusion in next season's BSN with similar trepidation.
Re: Next Season
I also got a tenner on Darlo at 14-1.
- beatroute66
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Re: Next Season
If we can have a stable club moving forward, a decent side and (knowing that this is the longest shot of all) play in a sensible/relative-to-our-level ground I'd really look forward to a competitive season in the BSN.
Re: Next Season
There are no sensible/relative to our level grounds, why even suggest it?
- beatroute66
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Re: Next Season
I was putting a utopian thought out there and I still don't really believe that we can sustain a long-term future in the Arena, especially at the level we'll be playing at next season.Quakerz wrote:There are no sensible/relative to our level grounds, why even suggest it?
Re: Next Season
I think the important point Qz makes is that the teams he quoted have established squads (and management?) used to playing around this level - regardless of how many of our current squad we want/are able to retain and whatever our new management structure looks like we are going to have a lot of new faces and organisation - maybe partly part-time for example. Realistically we might have to accept next season will be about getting things established and stabilised on and off the field. Should be competitive but if we are close to the play offs I think that would be a decent achievement.
Re: Next Season
I can see it being a re-run of the 2010/11 Conference season (last season):
- We've been relegated after sinking like a stone due to the effects of administration.
- We go for a new manager who 'knows the level' (a new Cooper) and end up signing quite a lot of new players (a new batch of Terrys, Austins and Seniors).
- We make a very slow start as the team hasn't had time to gel and the teams we're up against see us as a bit of a giant-killing.
- We figure the league out by the time it's too late to make the playoffs, but there's enough there to be optimistic for the next season.
It'll be disappointing not to make a promotion push in such a low-level league, but realistically I think it will be tough.
- We've been relegated after sinking like a stone due to the effects of administration.
- We go for a new manager who 'knows the level' (a new Cooper) and end up signing quite a lot of new players (a new batch of Terrys, Austins and Seniors).
- We make a very slow start as the team hasn't had time to gel and the teams we're up against see us as a bit of a giant-killing.
- We figure the league out by the time it's too late to make the playoffs, but there's enough there to be optimistic for the next season.
It'll be disappointing not to make a promotion push in such a low-level league, but realistically I think it will be tough.
Re: Next Season
I agree with that.
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Re: Next Season
Feel i have to stick up for guiseley, considering i live there.Quakerz wrote:Won't be a walk in the park looking at the clubs that could be in the BSN...it's not like a couple of years ago, full of literal pub teams that nobody has ever heard of.
Half a dozen big non league clubs there with 1,000+ gates, and Altrincham also a biggish name. All a big threat then even your piss ant little non entity clubs like Guiseley and Gainsborough who play in front of 300 and in no way should be able to compete with those above, are bankrolled by rich owners. Most clubs will have stable squads suitable for the level and we'll pretty much have to start again.
Its a Nice little well run club. Its a great none league match day out. Certainly much more friendly and welcoming then our arena.
They have a great community programme, running free football coach on holidays for kids. They redeveloped the ground a couple of years ago, to get access to the BSN. They are based in 10 mins either side of bradford and leeds on the train. They are trying to grow there fan base sustainbly and not do a farsely celtic.
At the moment Id take there situation over ours.
Re: Next Season
They are bankrolled, man. Everybody knows it.
They are "well ran" like Hartlepool.
They are "well ran" like Hartlepool.
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Re: Next Season
Playing against Darlo for most teams will be like their cup final.
We are there to be shot at.
We are there to be shot at.
Re: Next Season
To start with, maybe. But in 10/11 Eastbourne, Bath and Hayes had all embarrassed us by mid-October, which probably helped make us not seem so 'giant' to other teams.JABWootton wrote:Playing against Darlo for most teams will be like their cup final.
We are there to be shot at.
I can see us getting humbled by a bunch of painters and van drivers in Corby and Worcester - with the words 'yet another new low' being trotted out - before we really adjust to the league and people realise that we're not much of a big fish.
Also worth noting that nobody has bounced straight back after relegation from the Conference to the Conference North since the leagues were restructured.
Re: Next Season
... well I fully expect a new manager and new key players won't be thinking along those lines. They'll be thinking promotion ..... consolidation is not a word that will be banded about. I'm certain of that!
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Re: Next Season
Am I right in presuming that Guiseley's ground prevents them from getting promoted to the Conference?
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Re: Next Season
You are incorrect.Darlo_Pete wrote:Am I right in presuming that Guiseley's ground prevents them from getting promoted to the Conference?
Their new stand gets them the required grading, and this has been confirmed by The BSBP.
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Re: Next Season
Cheers for that, I didn't realise thet they had built a new stand, since the end of last season, good luck to them, but I think they will struggle at Conference level, with the level of crowds they get.Fibonacci0112358 wrote:You are incorrect.Darlo_Pete wrote:Am I right in presuming that Guiseley's ground prevents them from getting promoted to the Conference?
Their new stand gets them the required grading, and this has been confirmed by The BSBP.
Re: Next Season
The link with crowds and success is an anomaly Pete ... I think Fleetwood and Luton sort of prove that. If you've got someone to subside you ... you can operate from low crowds ... indeed it was interesting to hear Tony Mowbray (Middlesborough's manager) ranting on, saying that it was high time they got rid of the (crowd pulling) double game Easter programme ... saying it was outdated ... ... Yeah right ... I suppose crowds are outdated now are they? It seems many clubs don't rely on them anymore ... I'll leave that one with yer ...