I like the idea, but is conference south now too low for teams to do it even if they could? Any players aged 16-21 who are genuine first team prospects are probably verging on too good technically for that level, but playing with full men's teams at that level, where it can be more physical, could result in injuries.
Over in this part of the world Hereford United are leaking £9000 per week!! They are near to going semi pro or even bankruptcy. Not enough bodies through the gates since relegation last season.
on a brighter note, a number of the regions teams are on the verge of the first round proper of the fa cup. some non-league clubs are being run very well and having tremendous success
You say that supers, I live about 20mins from Braintree and am tempted to along and watch them against Lowestoft. Is this game the final round before 1st round proper?? Lowestoft v Sheff Utd, imagine that!
I wonder what it takes to run a football club. Truro City owe £600K. If I did a Ken Bates and offered a penny in the pound I could shove £6K on a credit card. What else would I need? A bond as a guarantee to the league I suppose. And someone to run it for me without making a loss. Simples!
yes it is. full draw here mate http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19870341 tough draw for lowie - braintree are two leagues above them and are a good side. note also, dereham town, if they can get through their replay against the met, face one of the weakest remaining sides, south park, so if they are able to kill kenny's side off they will have a realistic chance of a first round proper appearance! not bad for a team in the thurlow nunn premier division!!
If the Trawlermen were to progress and get into the Football League, how do you think that would affect us? I can think of a few plusses but I can think of a few minuses as well. And could the area really sustain another league club?
well i often go to lowestoft games. the town, although in suffolk, is heavily norwich orientated, probably cos its closer and easier to get to than ipswich, and there is no question that a large contingent of lowestoft fans also watch norwich. would it affect us? not to a large degree in terms of support but it would give an alternative to those who have become disillusioned with life in the top leagues.
I would cause an absolute nightmare behind the scenes, could you imagine try to police game because either norwich or us would have to be home at the same time as them, I would imagine lowestoft would come under suffolk police's banner which would probably mean Lowestoft and norwich having home games on the same saturday! would be great to have another club in the football league though!
still a very long way to go before they even get close to being a league club! hopefully they'll get promoted this season - its been a while coming. once in the conference south, anything could happen. on the whole, the regions non-league clubs have been strong for as long as i can remember. would be great to see one or two break into the conference along with braintree. histon did it and almost got in the league, and they are just a village!
They can't go much further up the leagues with that ground and the lack of parking. They would have to move away from Crown Meadow and I can't see that they would get enough money to build a new ground in Lowestoft. What they ought to do is amalgamate with Yarmouth and Gorleston, build a new ground with a huge car park near Hopton off the dual carraigeway of the A12 and run cheap match day buses from Lowestoft, Yarmouth and Gorleston. That could possibly support a team at Conference level and possibly higher.
24 hours to go - has your bank loan come through or is there any other likely saviour on the horizon?
As of yet there have been no parties coming forward with an offer. If the people of Cornwall weren't so parochial, the county could support a Conference South team. Falmouth hates Truro, Camborne hates Redruth. We're bloody poor and are wallowing in it. 17.00 hours tomorrow and we are likely to be without a team above SW League which is lower Ridgeons at best.
I've played against Lowestoft a number of times having played Ridgeons Premier (or whatever it's called now) for a few years while I lived in the area and their ground is pretty ropey even for Ridgeons standard. Yarmouth's was horrendous if there was even a breath of wind let alone on a windy December evening. In fact the best ground nearby would be Gorleston and with a lick of paint and some serious refurbishments it could be a good standard of ground. But in all seriousness the chances of Lowestoft making that step up is a long way off, but it can only be a good thing for the area particularly the coastal areas as there are some lovely parts along our coast (Lowestoft though is probably not that high up that list)
How much to get a new ground? Its OK if one of the supermarket chains wants your land bit if not its not feasible to build one. Here in Cornwall, a 10,000 all seater came in at £24M. No private money available and the council rightly said no chance. So Truro couldn't go past Conf South and Cornish Pirates can't get into the rugby Premier League. I do think the restrictions on clubs is a wee bit too harsh but maybe it only lets the solvent clubs progress.
Latest on Truro City. Cornwall Council has offered to stand as Guarantor for the bond for the next ten fixtures required by the league to ensure Truro's continuation. Whether the league accepts that we will know by 17.00. Personally I don't think Council's should be inolved in the finances of sporting clubs. I don't think Council Tax payers, already facing cuts to their services, should be expected to help out a private institution as much as I want to see the club survive. Especially as I was hoping Lowestoft were going to make it to Conf South.
