National League North & South Play-off Finals

[Raymondo316]

To be held on the same day at a ''top-flight ground'' in the midlands.
Should make for a interesting journey up on the the train and back if its a Ebbsfleet/Dartford final

 

[Joe.]

Ridiculous.

 

[Harrier94]

Perfect for us.

 

[Bendubz]

I understand the reasoning behind it, but I'd rather just have the South final at somewhere like the Emirates and the North final somewhere like the Stadium of Light, somewhere slap bang in the middle of the division's area, so that it's fairly local for all clubs

 

[Raymondo316]

Sunderland maybe a bit to North.
Manchester or Sheffield would probably be the best option

 

[LeWhites]

Seems a bit silly but good that its finally moving to a neutral ground. Now to get the Nat League play offs to a more sensible ground...

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

Sort've 50-50 on it. I think its a good idea to make it feel more special, but giving the higher placed side home advantage I felt was a great way to reward the side who did better over the season

 

[LeWhites]

Sort've 50-50 on it. I think its a good idea to make it feel more special, but giving the higher placed side home advantage I felt was a great way to reward the side who did better over the season

Ask Ebbsfleet how much of an advantage it is to play at home

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

Very true, but that was for Maidstone to overcome that disadvantage they had because over the season Ebbsfleet did better.

 

[LeWhites]

Very true, but that was for Maidstone to overcome that disadvantage they had because over the season Ebbsfleet did better.

They did the same against us two years earlier - bottle jobs.

 

[Chris FGR]

The North final should be at Burton, and the South at Stevenage.

 

[Blue Lion]

Surely there's enough money rattling around in football to allow the finals to be played at different grounds. There's a reason why these divisions are regionalised so what's the point of making teams travel further for a game that would normally attract lots of locals to watch. Imagine let's say Darlington 1883 or Chorley finishing second in the NL North and having to trek down to somewhere like Leicester for the play off final. Can't see a benefit of it, other than a good away trip of course

 

[JE93]

The North final should be at Burton, and the South at Stevenage.

Conf North at Burton? Would be no where near big enough if a few clubs got into the mix. Surely Bramall Lane or Hillsborough in Sheffield would be sensible choices for a northern final. Or Huddersfields Galpharm Stadium.

Not against the idea but 1) it has to be a sensible suggestion in terms of location and size of ground. 2) the cost of hiring a large ground should not impede the financial benefit to the two clubs getting to the Playoff finals with large bills for rental, policing, etc.

 

[Chris FGR]

Conf North at Burton? Would be no where near big enough if a few clubs got into the mix.

They used to play it there.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_conf/7371753.stm

 

[The_Boss]

Surely there's enough money rattling around in football to allow the finals to be played at different grounds. There's a reason why these divisions are regionalised so what's the point of making teams travel further for a game that would normally attract lots of locals to watch. Imagine let's say Darlington 1883 or Chorley finishing second in the NL North and having to trek down to somewhere like Leicester for the play off final. Can't see a benefit of it, other than a good away trip of course

Darlo yeah, but Chorleys not exactly a massive trek to Leicester!

 

[Swedes]

Darlo yeah, but Chorleys not exactly a massive trek to Leicester!

Only about 30 miles difference, and from Darlington is an easy straight run down there.

A massive stadium wouldn't necessarily be needed for either game, and no team in a regional league should have to travel outside of that region for a match in that competition and no-one will take more than a few thousand anyway. Any 10,000-15,000 capacity stadium in easy reach of both teams should do the job comfortably no matter which teams qualify. Somewhere like Crewe would be ideal for a north-west v midland team final, Rochdale for anything cross-pennine, Chesterfield for anything Yorkshire v Midlands, and somewhere like Doncaster for if it's a Yorkshire/North-East game (granted, Donny isn't in the north east, but it has very good transport links from there). For the south somewhere like Leyton Orient or Brentford would do a job for London/South-East clubs, or have it at Oxford or Swindon if a South-West club sneaks in.

 

[rudebwoyben]

I'm not sure of the point of this. I'm pretty sure the attendances at the Britannia Stadium were not great when there was a play-off for the final promotion spot to the Conference National between a Conference North and a Conference South side. Having to travel will put off those people who are not regular attenders but will go support their club at an important match.

 

[Swedes]

I'm not sure of the point of this. I'm pretty sure the attendances at the Britannia Stadium were not great when there was a play-off for the final promotion spot to the Conference National between a Conference North and a Conference South side. Having to travel will put off those people who are not regular attenders but will go support their club at an important match.

2839 for Altrincham v Eastbourne at the Britannia stadium. Could have held that at a non-league ground and still had plenty of space.

 

[rudebwoyben]

2839 for Altrincham v Eastbourne at the Britannia stadium. Could have held that at a non-league ground and still had plenty of space.

Which makes Sparrow's suggestion pretty sensible.

 

[Sparrow]

Which makes Sparrow's suggestion pretty sensible.

I didn't say nuffin.

 

[rudebwoyben]

I didn't say nuffin.

Yep, apologies for that! ChrisFGR's suggestion was the one I meant.

 

[Joe.]

They did the same against us two years earlier - bottle jobs.

Don't be like that, I thought we were friends!

Why should I have to travel to the midlands to see us lose to Dartford, who are just 8 miles away from us?

 

[Silver Stone]

Yeah I'm of the opinion that venue should be decided once the teams are known, if you're going to make it neutral. Priestfield would be a natural fit for any number of possible Kent derbies in a final, or Roots Hall/Colchester for the Essex lot etc.

 

[Joe.]

Yeah I'm of the opinion that venue should be decided once the teams are known, if you're going to make it neutral. Priestfield would be a natural fit for any number of possible Kent derbies in a final, or Roots Hall/Colchester for the Essex lot etc.

I'd take Roots Hall over Priestfield any day of the week, but I agree. I understand they want them on the same day at the same venue, but it would be daft to expect clubs and fans in the South to travel up there for a game when there's plenty of venues within an hour that are more than suitable.