FA Meeting at Leicester

[kevinb]

Good meeting at Leicester today. Good turn out from UCL clubs and some very interesting questions left "unanswered" by the "Top Table". We had some great "support" from Felixstowe & Walton, Rocester, Gresley, Fairford and Aylesbury United, who all basically made their feelings known about the "FA's suggestion"! There were a few slips of the tongue by the powers that be that didn't go un-noticed by the floor. I am seriously not too sure what will now happen, I still think it's a done deal even though they say it isn't, but there was certainly nearly a 100% show of "against" the new proposals, oops sorry suggestions, and also a 100% "for" a proper Pyramid of 1-2-4-8-16. I have to say great comments from Gresley Rovers and our very own Jamie Shaw of Sleaford Town, well done Casper! As it appeared to be going the way of the floor, the meeting was brought to a rather abrupt end by Mr Walden, can't think why for the life of me! PS: nice little cameo from Reg Jackson, of the Lincs FA, at the end of the meeting about his concerns over the possible demise of both Youth and Reserves football and his concerns that in a few years time he hoped people wouldn't remember that they were there when this was put in place, if it is!

[fozwaldo]

It's not a done deal kevinb. It's more a "heads they win, tails we lose".

[casper]

Thank you Kevin. I am more hopeful after the meeting than I was before. I think the FA will have to realise that they need to postpone their ideas. They can also use the current financial climate as a reason to buy themselves time without losing too much face. This will give them time to look properly at alternatives such as 1,2,4,8,16 which would provide all clubs in the non league structure with a clear and defined path of promotion and relegation. This would allow them to set on field and off field plans with much greater security knowing any likely destinations and impact of these.

[foundrymankev]

I have to agree, renewed optimism overall; some great characters in the room, passionate and knowledgeable. An interesting 2 1/2 hours. Support for the clubs from the UCL Committee could not be better. At least my club got a loud and clear FA message on where we stand in ground gradings when I asked! The Gresley Chair made it all so simple near the end and there's little to argue against that structure of 16 leagues

[afcrover]

16 leagues at step five has to be the way to go!!

How I see this would need some changing of the ground grading at step 6 and 7 as we would need to include more teams currently at step 6 and 7 to make the pyramid work.

To create new leagues at step 3 and 4 step 5 team would need to be promoted, and you would need to replaced step 5 teams and step five with current step 6 and 7 teams.

For this to happen the ground grading would need change to the following:
Step 5 current grading - 16 regional leagues
Step 6 current grading NO LIGHTS - could be 16 or 32 Divisions with fixed boundaries
Step 7 current grading NO LIGHTS

Step 6 would have no lights and be leagues of 18/20 with slightly more travelling
Step 7 would generally be county based with little travelling

At each step the travelling would slightly increased along with the ground grading, with the current system the grading is to wide apart, if you reduce it slightly at step 6 as you move up the league the grounds improve and you travel a little further.


Although done in 2010 a proposal of how a 16 league step five can be found on the link below:

www.mikeavery.co.uk/NewAlliancePremierLeague.htm

[railwatcher]

I think everyone should also acknowledge John Weeks and his committee who provided the consultation with our clubs to give clear unbiased information for our clubs to make an informed passionate and eloquent debate to the meeting in Leicester, which included support from County FA's who had been invited to the Raunds meeting as they have not been advised of the example. Well done to all contributors, the groundswell with good contributions from a good number of other clubs left the FA in no doubt of the strength of feeling for Step 5. Will the powerful 3 who sat side by side listen and put their great invested interest aside for Step 5 remains to be seen, as one said the concrete seems to have been poured but not quite set! Keep up the good work and write in at the appropriate time, I am sure the committee will be issuing comments and directives if appropriate before too long. The groundwork done, enter the chairman from Gresley to create the tsunami.

Thanks to Northants & Lincs FA reps they are listening and voiced their concerns their written support will be vital.

Collectively I believed we showed just why the UCL should not be absent from Step 5.