Pilgrims' Patter

The Forum => The B-Ark => Topic started by: Kearsley Pilgrim on June 29, 2017, 01:30:42 PM

Title: 2017/2018 Travel Distances
Post by: Kearsley Pilgrim on June 29, 2017, 01:30:42 PM
http://www.thestatszone.com/articles/travel-distances-in-english-football-2017-18-national-league-north

A supposedly northern part-time league is getting to be anything but, with full-time teams and the two clubs furthest apart geographically having a near 500 miles round trip when they play each other. Although we're down in 4th in this Travel Distances League Table, our 'isolation' can still be seen by the fact that our nearest away ground is 54 miles away - compare that to the teams up my way, Salford City, FC United, Curzon Ashton and Stockport County.

From my own point of view losing Altrincham and Stalybridge Celtic, and gaining Blyth Spartans and Spennymoor Town, will add more than a few miles to my away match travels in the coming season.


Title: Re: 2017/2018 Travel Distances
Post by: youngchubby69 on June 29, 2017, 03:51:33 PM
To be fair,I have always thought that the conference North and south should be split into 3 league s North, Midlands and south.
But that would mean only one team could gain promotion from each league, which wouldn't work.
So I will scrap that thought.
But we should be in the southern league.
Title: Re: 2017/2018 Travel Distances
Post by: Pilgrim86 on June 29, 2017, 04:04:03 PM
To be fair,I have always thought that the conference North and south should be split into 3 league s North, Midlands and south.

Well it used to be NPL, SPL and Isthmian as feeders into the Conference...
Title: Re: 2017/2018 Travel Distances
Post by: York Street Pilgrim on June 29, 2017, 10:12:58 PM
I thought the point of regional leagues was to help clubs lower down the pyramid with lower incomes to meet their travel costs. But when you consider the incomes of Chelsea versus Boston United, for example, and then realise that Boston clock up more miles than Chelsea, well something's not right, is it?
Title: Re: 2017/2018 Travel Distances
Post by: father Ted on June 30, 2017, 12:03:55 AM
 Shd be  quarters at this level,,
Title: Re: 2017/2018 Travel Distances
Post by: Pilgrim86 on June 30, 2017, 09:29:09 AM
I thought the point of regional leagues was to help clubs lower down the pyramid with lower incomes to meet their travel costs. But when you consider the incomes of Chelsea versus Boston United, for example, and then realise that Boston clock up more miles than Chelsea, well something's not right, is it?

A fairer comparison is to look at Blyth and Newcastle, 2 towns not far apart (Chelsea have the benefit of some very local derbies, we don't).
Newcastle will travel on average 238 miles per game (one way), but Blyth *only* 160 miles. Comparing Man Utd/City with Salford gives similar results.
Title: Re: 2017/2018 Travel Distances
Post by: Lee Newell on June 30, 2017, 09:31:25 AM
With a north/south divide it works great for clubs up north or down south but those in the middle like Boston don't gain. At least when we get promoted to the Conference National we won't have any additional travelling costs!
Title: Re: 2017/2018 Travel Distances
Post by: Pilgrim86 on June 30, 2017, 10:12:35 AM
At least when we get promoted to the Conference National we won't have any additional travelling costs!

Apart from the extra games we play.
Title: Re: 2017/2018 Travel Distances
Post by: green hats mate on June 30, 2017, 10:48:27 AM
Don't know if is been ratified but it's been expected that step 3 leagues will  add new clubs and split into four area divisons to cut down travel .     
If implemented I think for this season it means 4 teams being relegated from Con N and Con S .
Title: Re: 2017/2018 Travel Distances
Post by: Champs next year on June 30, 2017, 04:08:02 PM
Do we have anyone with a bit of north east info who knows how strong blyth & spennymoor may be this season?
Title: Re: 2017/2018 Travel Distances
Post by: joshb on June 30, 2017, 09:34:42 PM
We're buggered no matter what. A Midlands league would still see us playing Telford and teams like Hereford.
Title: Re: 2017/2018 Travel Distances
Post by: Steelihat on June 30, 2017, 10:28:43 PM
To be fair,I have always thought that the conference North and south should be split into 3 league s North, Midlands and south.

Well it used to be NPL, SPL and Isthmian as feeders into the Conference...

All skewed by Northern league not joining pyramid - two feeders from south, only one from North.
CN or (National North) is the Northernmost 22 teams at this step. With so many teams from South, it leaves teams like Brackley (and Boston) at a geographical disadvantage