Southern League 2017/18

[Meadow]

*cough cough*

Oh, and Maidstone.

 

[Habbinalan]

Just back from watching a well organised Cambridge City side turnover H & Y Utd 0 - 1. They defended well, rode their luck and played some nice football without offering much threat to the home side's goal. Then, having sneaked a classic away goal that hit the post, rolled along the line and was sucked in by the 15-20 City fans behind the goal, they hung on and now travel to Hartley Wintney for the final, who I gather had no problem dealing with Dunstable.

 

[Jemfy]

Just back from watching a well organised Cambridge City side turnover H & Y Utd 0 - 1. They defended well, rode their luck and played some nice football without offering much threat to the home side's goal. Then, having sneaked a classic away goal that hit the post, rolled along the line and was sucked in by the 15-20 City fans behind the goal, they hung on and now travel to Hartley Wintney for the final, who I gather had no problem dealing with Dunstable.

If I've understood correctly Hartley Wintney are already promoted as the best 3rd placed team to make the playoff final on a PPG basis (not complicated at all...)

They are literally only playing in the final to keep Cambridge City down!

 

[Habbinalan]

If I've understood correctly Hartley Wintney are already promoted as the best 3rd placed team to make the playoff final on a PPG basis (not complicated at all...)

They are literally only playing in the final to keep Cambridge City down!

Somethings not right -

1. Hayes & Yeading finished 3rd, that 's why City played them last night.
2. There are 2 semis then a final, so that would have made Hartley Wintney's game against Dunstable dodgy but no one said anything.
3. I thought some one in the Evo-Stick North to Northern Prem had that tied up - Hyde and Trafford promoted from 3rd and 6th?

I see you've also been switched to the Northern Prem First Division South, so will be parting ways with City whatever happens on Monday - subject to ratification at the AGM. I presume you'll not be objecting?

 

[Jemfy]

Somethings not right -

1. Hayes & Yeading finished 3rd, that 's why City played them last night.
2. There are 2 semis then a final, so that would have made Hartley Wintney's game against Dunstable dodgy but no one said anything.
3. I thought some one in the Evo-Stick North to Northern Prem had that tied up - Hyde and Trafford promoted from 3rd and 6th?

I see you've also been switched to the Northern Prem First Division South, so will be parting ways with City whatever happens on Monday - subject to ratification at the AGM. I presume you'll not be objecting?

Where are you seeing us put in northern prem first division south? That's where we were last season. We've won promotion so if they are trying to put as at the same level you're damn right we'll be objecting! Edit: we should be going in to the new midlands step 3 division. So should Cambridge City if they go up (based on my understanding of borders)

Some miscommunication on my part, so let me clarify:

With the restructuring the plan from the start of the season was that all teams in 1st and 2nd would be promoted across the 6 divisions, as well as the best overall 3rd placed side, decided on PPG. In that division the 7th placed team would take a position in the playoffs.

With the edict from the FA that all teams finishing bottom of their divisions need to be relegated no matter what, and the fact Thurrock have resigned, there is an additional hole in step 3 to be filled with a promotion from step 4.

The FA in all their infinite wisdom [/sarcasm] decided that the best way to add in an extra promotion slot was the best losing playoff finalist would also win promotion.

It's the latter point that I'm going on about - it's unclear if there is a preference given to teams finishing 3rd over lower, or if it's just straight PPG, in which case it's Hartley Wintney who have it. So if they win they go up as playoff winners, if they lose they are promoted as the best playoff final loser. This means they have nothing to play for in the playoff final which is absolutely stupid.

 

[Habbinalan]

Where are you seeing us put in northern prem first division south? That's where we were last season. We've won promotion so if they are trying to put as at the same level you're damn right we'll be objecting! Edit: we should be going in to the new midlands step 3 division. So should Cambridge City if they go up (based on my understanding of borders)........
.

Ooops!! Just checked and one the pages that I googled was 2 years out of date.

This was where I got the impression that Hyde had got the extra place based on points per game, with Tadcaster getting in the play-offs.

https://www.footballwebpages.co.uk/step-4-promotion

I hadn't realised that there was now another extra (20th?) place. Has anyone set out the pecking order if City lose on Monday or do I have to work it out for myself?

I'm beginning to realise that I don't really belong down in these rarified regions of step 3 and step 4. I'll stick to L2 and the Vauxhall Conference after Monday.

 

[Jemfy]

Ooops!! Just checked and one the pages that I googled was 2 years out of date.

This was where I got the impression that Hyde had got the extra place based on points per game, with Tadcaster getting in the play-offs.

https://www.footballwebpages.co.uk/step-4-promotion

I hadn't realised that there was now another extra (20th?) place. Has anyone set out the pecking order if City lose on Monday or do I have to work it out for myself?

I'm beginning to realise that I don't really belong down in these rarified regions of step 3 and step 4. I'll stick to L2 and the Vauxhall Conference after Monday.

Ha you can't keep track of the whole level very well. It did happen to be Hyde in 3rd in the NPLN who were promoted already (officially) on a PPG basis, with Tadcaster Albion taking the extra playoff spot. That was the 19th promotion spot.

It's tracked here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/19IYalmuYUB-xj6akiGKTOy15BuKDQ36ipalVzYeDzZo/htmlview

I can't find anything official on if there is the extra promotion spot, or how it will be applied, but that seems the most likely, plenty of official sources on Thurrock's resignation. Completely possible then that this is all wrong and they just decide to break their precedent and award Thurrock last place and therefore not need a 20th promotion spot. Either that or somehow they decide to give it to Hayes & Yeading anyway on a PPG basis. I guess official announcements are waiting until the AGM cup and potential 21st+ promotion spots required...

I know in the summer last year the initial plan was to have the 19th spot given to the best playoff final loser, but was scrapped for the reasons already considered (one playoff finalist will be playing to keep the team they are facing down, or to promote an unknown team from a different division, i.e. with nothing to gain themselves). This is why it was ridiculous to me that when Thurruck's resignation was known about (late March/early April) the 20th place wasn't done on the same basis as the 19th.

I'm glad none of this affects us and we got up on our own!

It can be a bit of a circus at times, but it's even more mental than normal this year with the extra promotions all round for the league expansion at step 3 and 4.