The Play Offs

[tomogull]

We're now at the stage of the season of the lottery of the Play Offs. Promotion from the National League is between Tranmere & Forest Green. FGR's third successive play off final I believe. And I think it will all end in tears again 'cos Tranmere are by far the better side. And a club that should be in the Football League.

Coming up from below are Maidenhead (Nat South) and Fylde (Nat North) and the winners of the play off finals between Halifax v Chorley and Ebbsfleet v Chelmsford. I'd like to see Halifax - because they were unfortunate to be relegated last season - and Chelmsford win, although I suspect it will be Ebbsfleet because they have been vying with Maidenhead for the top spot all season.

In the Nat South, Hampton & Richmond were in the play offs even though they finished 7th in the league, below both Poole and Hungerford. Presumably because the Poole and Hungerford grounds are not up to National League standards. This meant that Ebbsfleet played Hampton & Richmond who finished a massive 27 points below Ebbsfleet. It would have been farcical if H & R had won. Fortunately, they didn't.

In the Nat North, Darlington finished in 5th place, above Chorley, but were not in the Play Offs. Does anyone know why? Surely it can't be because of their ground?

Looking at the teams coming up, I don't think there are any there that you could say would be going straight back down again - like North Ferriby. North Ferriby and Southport were pretty well much in everyone's forecasts for relegation, but I can't see any obvious candidates for relegation next season, except ........ no, no - don't even think it !!!!

[torregull]

Darlington's ground was ruled not up to the standard required in National League,the same as Poole and Hungerford.

[tomogull]

Darlington's ground was ruled not up to the standard required in National League,the same as Poole and Hungerford.

Cheers for that, Torregull. I thought Darlington had a new stadium. Or maybe one was planned and never happened. Er .... ring any bells ???

[Gullscorer]

This season's National League table is a good example of why I hate the play-offs.

Lincoln were rightful champions with 99 points. Tranmere were second with 95 points, and FGR a long way behind on 86 points. Results over the course of the whole season put the teams in these final positions.

It would be a grave injustice if FGR were to be promoted instead of Tranmere. Yet because of the lottery of the play-offs this is what could happen.

[happytorq]

Cheers for that, Torregull. I thought Darlington had a new stadium. Or maybe one was planned and never happened. Er .... ring any bells ???

Wow, Darlington have fallen, havent they? I remember when George Reynolds built the 25k seater stadium even though they were still in League 2 (or whatever it was called at the time). That's where it all went wrong. This club is a phoenix club, formed in 2012 after original Darlo went out of business.

I still chortle occasionally at the time they had a tuesday night game at plainmoor and it was called off late. Walked into Boots and Laces (I didn't know it was off either) and see about half a dozen Darlo fans huddled in the corner, looking depressed. I think they were bought drinks by the locals all night.

[Orange Gull]

Cheers for that, Torregull. I thought Darlington had a new stadium. Or maybe one was planned and never happened. Er .... ring any bells ???

They do have a new ground. However, it doesn't have more than 500 covered seats across two stands which is the requirement to play in the conference.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39719126

[tomogull]

Wow, Darlington have fallen, havent they? I remember when George Reynolds built the 25k seater stadium even though they were still in League 2 (or whatever it was called at the time). That's where it all went wrong. This club is a phoenix club, formed in 2012 after original Darlo went out of business.

Yes - that's what I sort of half-remembered back in the mists of time. The old Feethams ground is now a housing development. I wonder what George Reynolds stadium is used for ....... if it hasn't already been pulled down for another 'development'

P.S. Having looked on wiki, the stadium is now used by Darlington Rugby Club. When it was used by the original Darlington F.C. the average gates were between 1500 and 2000 ...... in a 25000 seater stadium. Oh dear !

[happytorq]

it's used for rugby. Capacity is limited by the council to 10k (dunno why) but it's still there. Might be a good place for the 'new' Darlington side to play at in the future.

[Plainmoor78]

The Feethams was/is owned by Darlington cricket club, it was a cricket ground and a football ground. The cricket club sold the football half of the ground for housing. Of interest to us is the fact that this was a controversial move since the 1903 Deed of foundation stipulated that the land should only be used for cricketing and other athletic purposes.

[SenorDingDong]

Looking at the teams coming up, I don't think there are any there that you could say would be going straight back down again - like North Ferriby. North Ferriby and Southport were pretty well much in everyone's forecasts for relegation, but I can't see any obvious candidates for relegation next season, except ........ no, no - don't even think it !!!!

I'd say if Chelmsford or Chorley spring a surprise they'll be amongst the favourites, although both are far bigger sides than North Ferriby. From the existing teams Guiseley surely must go down one of these seasons and Solihull might struggle with their crowds and lack of alternatives revenues that Boreham Wood etc have.

[Plainmoor78]

From the existing teams Guiseley surely must go down one of these seasons and Solihull might struggle with their crowds and lack of alternatives revenues that Boreham Wood etc have.

I would also add Woking to that list and possibly chester if they hit a poor run during the campaign; and quite likely us as well.

[brucie]

Its not an injustice if Forest Green get promoted at all because everyone knows the rules at the start. I had actually missed the first leg play off result and didn't know that Tranmere had won 3-0.

It could well be that Forest Green miss out again though, as I guess it will be a mismatch attendance wise, just as it was when they got beat by Grimsby last year.

Its basically a massive away match for Forest Green.

[standupsitdown]

Living in Essex I'd like to see Chelmsford go up.
They play in an athletics stadium, having previously shared with both Billericay & Maldon, a lesson not to sell a perfectly good football ground for housing development.

[hector]

Its not an injustice if Forest Green get promoted at all because everyone knows the rules at the start. I had actually missed the first leg play off result and didn't know that Tranmere had won 3-0.

It could well be that Forest Green miss out again though, as I guess it will be a mismatch attendance wise, just as it was when they got beat by Grimsby last year.

Its basically a massive away match for Forest Green.

That's not an argument for the play-offs being unfair. I hate the play-off system. If it was at least weighted so clubs finishing higher had an advantage, I could perhaps live with them but for teams to have an equal chance, often favouring the team who happens to have hit a bit of form at the end, is not fair, when one may have finished 20+ points behind.

[Alpine Joe]

I could perhaps live with them but for teams to have an equal chance, often favouring the team who happens to have hit a bit of form at the end, is not fair, when one may have finished 20+ points behind.

Although I agree with this, in the end it is decided by football, out on the pitch and by one set of players scoring more than their opponents. While it isn't entirely fair, it is a thousand times fairer than finishing higher in the league, but a worse team getting given promotion because their home ground may have more seats in their grandstand than yours does. Eradicate any cases of promotion being awarded/denied for non sporting reasons unconnected with what the participants have achieved, and once that shameful criteria is removed once and for all, then I'm all for turning our attention to whether the play-off system needs tweaking.