Non-League Football 26/27

[Stuntman_Mike]

On 11/08/2026 at 11:01, Gary Eatfood said:

Me too.

What you make of it?

 

It's the first time I've seen them play this season. It was probably the quietest game I've seen Morley have and it just didn't seem to fall for them throughout. Looks like they're still finding their feet.

 

The ref was really poor! Including the throw in count for the time the Coalville player was  collecting the ball and the St Andrews lad grabbing the ball on the floor without giving handball were the most memorable bad moments.

[Gary Eatfood]

2 hours ago, Stuntman_Mike said:

What you make of it?

 

It's the first time I've seen them play this season. It was probably the quietest game I've seen Morley have and it just didn't seem to fall for them throughout. Looks like they're still finding their feet.

 

The ref was really poor! Including the throw in count for the time the Coalville player was  collecting the ball and the St Andrews lad grabbing the ball on the floor without giving handball were the most memorable bad moments.

Pretty much what you’ve said above!

 

Losing Sam Moore in pre-season was a blow and hasn’t helped Ronnie.

 

My long-form thoughts are here if you’ve got a spare ten minutes:

 

https://www.coalvilletownfc.co.uk/match-report/936249

[Finnaldo]

On 12/08/2026 at 10:33, filbertway said:

Hard to know the level of teams atm, but we (Coalville) look a long way from a team with designs on top spot this season atm. Really struggling to consistently create chances and we look like we can be easily undone by a long ball at any moment.

 

Long way to go and we will hopefully see some ins and outs in the squad over the next 3-4 weeks as squads at higher levels begin to take shape.

MFL Div 1 is a horrible league to get out of. Hinckley started there with an influx of similar large non-league clubs restarted with serious money behind them, now with the general influx of money into the lower leagues, the likes of Gornal and Sutton (who tbf seem a well-run club rather than just £££) and now St Andrews it’s probably worse than ever. Hinckley benefitted from a combination of a very weak league and our highest budget up to that point. 
 

The post-Covid non-league spike, whilst fantastic for these clubs, has also seen a rise in interest from village millionaires it seems. I’m genuinely concerned for the near future as there’s far too many clubs which blokes putting money in hopes of quick results and an ego boost, and as that increases and the money costs out more and more of these types, you wonder where these clubs which pre-investment were essentially step 6/LSL Prem level (and haven’t had their infrastructure pushed much beyond what is essential) are going to find themselves when the deep pockets get frustrated and walk. 
 

In the meantime Coalville seem to be going the right way about things but the above makes it a painful climb nowadays, the same is happening to Hinckley, the lack of stadium and costs that induces has an impact as well. That days of Barwell’s rise (a good team built under a good manager) and Coalville’s steady growth (gradual build over twenty years) is much harder when the money has doubled if not tripled in some cases in the span of six years.

[CosbehFox]

Yeah Step 6 is a huge bottleneck. Theres countless clubs in Step 5 which are surviving, don’t really have the infrastructure and are more suited to regional leagues 

 

The FA are due to reform that level as it’s badly needed as the travelling is getting daft 

[filbertway]

5 hours ago, Finnaldo said:

MFL Div 1 is a horrible league to get out of. Hinckley started there with an influx of similar large non-league clubs restarted with serious money behind them, now with the general influx of money into the lower leagues, the likes of Gornal and Sutton (who tbf seem a well-run club rather than just £££) and now St Andrews it’s probably worse than ever. Hinckley benefitted from a combination of a very weak league and our highest budget up to that point. 
 

The post-Covid non-league spike, whilst fantastic for these clubs, has also seen a rise in interest from village millionaires it seems. I’m genuinely concerned for the near future as there’s far too many clubs which blokes putting money in hopes of quick results and an ego boost, and as that increases and the money costs out more and more of these types, you wonder where these clubs which pre-investment were essentially step 6/LSL Prem level (and haven’t had their infrastructure pushed much beyond what is essential) are going to find themselves when the deep pockets get frustrated and walk. 
 

In the meantime Coalville seem to be going the right way about things but the above makes it a painful climb nowadays, the same is happening to Hinckley, the lack of stadium and costs that induces has an impact as well. That days of Barwell’s rise (a good team built under a good manager) and Coalville’s steady growth (gradual build over twenty years) is much harder when the money has doubled if not tripled in some cases in the span of six years.

This is an excellent post. I do accept struggling against obviously well backed teams. Its struggling against teams with 20 fans and no backing that frustrates me

 

Weve played a lot of step 5 teams in cups and im genuinely not sure theres much of a difference in levels

 

It's really hard to try and adjust me standards having seen my club climb through the leagues 20 years ago with a third of the fans. But you make some very good points.

 

I dont think were close to maxing out potential yetz, but yeah if were not on it. There's plenty of money floating round that can throw a spanner in the works 

[Finnaldo]

2 hours ago, filbertway said:

This is an excellent post. I do accept struggling against obviously well backed teams. Its struggling against teams with 20 fans and no backing that frustrates me

 

Weve played a lot of step 5 teams in cups and im genuinely not sure theres much of a difference in levels

 

It's really hard to try and adjust me standards having seen my club climb through the leagues 20 years ago with a third of the fans. But you make some very good points.

 

I dont think were close to maxing out potential yetz, but yeah if were not on it. There's plenty of money floating round that can throw a spanner in the works 

It’s certainly tough and it’s very difficult for the man on the terrace to place really. I won’t say who but by chance I happened to see a club that fits the description’s wage book and it was over a couple grand in weekly wages. At Step 5. Now there’s all kinds of maths you could apply but you’re talking almost five figures in wage bill over a 38 game season at the ninth tier of English football. But supporters of clubs like Coalville see a team getting five blokes and a dog clearly outperforming them and it’s frustrating. 
 

I do think it’s a bubble that will be corrected. This is only fun for these kind of investors when they’re winning, and as more and more money piles in at that level the winning isn’t certain and you’re left with the reality of a middling step 5 club. Money clubs will always exist of course, but you can surely only put so much money into your Coventry Sphinxes and St Andrews to no success before it becomes an inconvenience. 

 

 

[filbertway]

7 hours ago, Finnaldo said:

It’s certainly tough and it’s very difficult for the man on the terrace to place really. I won’t say who but by chance I happened to see a club that fits the description’s wage book and it was over a couple grand in weekly wages. At Step 5. Now there’s all kinds of maths you could apply but you’re talking almost five figures in wage bill over a 38 game season at the ninth tier of English football. But supporters of clubs like Coalville see a team getting five blokes and a dog clearly outperforming them and it’s frustrating. 
 

I do think it’s a bubble that will be corrected. This is only fun for these kind of investors when they’re winning, and as more and more money piles in at that level the winning isn’t certain and you’re left with the reality of a middling step 5 club. Money clubs will always exist of course, but you can surely only put so much money into your Coventry Sphinxes and St Andrews to no success before it becomes an inconvenience. 

 

 

Wowee, that doesnt surprise me. There'll always be pot collectors who do it for the ego trip/using the club to get their companies good contract work.

 

I fully respect and understand our approach and being sustainable. The week or two when I thought id no longer have a club to follow was awful.

 

Just a case of trying to enjoy the ride and hope we manage to get past this bottleneck of a league sooner rather than later

easier said than done some days though haha

 

FA Vase today though! A good run in the vase is always appreciated so hopefully we can get over the first hurdle at home to Deeping today!

[STEVIE B]

Harborough 1-0 Morecambe.

Should have been 3. Morecambe were poor, but rebuilding after relegation, even so, a great result.

Onwards & upwards. 

Roll on Tuesday, away at Oxford City

[Bert]

Gonna be a long old season for Quorn I feel. 

[Phil_Dunphy]

Assombalonga scores for Harborough.

[Bert]

29 minutes ago, Phil_Dunphy said:

Assombalonga scores for Harborough.

Heard today he’s on £1600 a week  

[STEVIE B]

2 hours ago, Phil_Dunphy said:

Assombalonga scores for Harborough.

1-1. Well deserved against full time Oxford City. Darlington at home on Saturday. 

[Leicesterpool]

Nuneaton Boro lost 2-3 to AFC Rushden and Diamonds, pitch from the pictures looked rough and desperate need of more rain. Safe to say much difficult league from the last two divisions we have been in.

[los dedos]

8 hours ago, Leicesterpool said:

Nuneaton Boro lost 2-3 to AFC Rushden and Diamonds, pitch from the pictures looked rough and desperate need of more rain. Safe to say much difficult league from the last two divisions we have been in.

You guys face Rugby with ex Nuneaton player Wes York ! Still can't believe Nomads didn't come in for him, local to Anstey and way too good for that league. 

[Leicesterpool]

13 hours ago, los dedos said:

You guys face Rugby with ex Nuneaton player Wes York ! Still can't believe Nomads didn't come in for him, local to Anstey and way too good for that league. 

Wes York is playing at that level!? He was an epic player for us.

[los dedos]

2 hours ago, Leicesterpool said:

Wes York is playing at that level!? He was an epic player for us.

Had offers higher up but wanted to stay as local as possible. 

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DcGzziBMprL/?igsh=MW5saHZxNGpzeTc4eg==

[purpleronnie]

 

England clubs continually trying to stop any new generation of fan attending matches.

[Leicesterpool]

After watching the recent garbage with Leicester, i'm pleased to go and see Nuneaton Boro for the first time this season against Coleshill Town on this coming Tuesday night, beat Rugby Boro yesterday 1-0 in the fa cup. 

[Tuna]

5 hours ago, purpleronnie said:

 

England clubs continually trying to stop any new generation of fan attending matches.

State of that badge

[purpleronnie]

Decent start by Harborough, 2 wins, 2 draws.

[isaidno]

Quorn vs Shepshed in the FA Cup qualifying.

 

[Leicesterpool]

Seen an epic at the oval last night between Nuneaton Boro and Coleshill Town, first half very tight bit of stalemate... second half what different game two screaming goals for the Boro to put them 2-0 up with half an hour to go. The final ten minutes seen Coleshill really push on and score two quick goals back, the match suddenly became end to end, however another late screamer from Cane Eliott secures all three points for the Boro, to win it 3-2 in front of 507. Non league football as usual giving the entertainment.

[Manwell Pablo]

On 14/08/2026 at 23:36, Finnaldo said:

It’s certainly tough and it’s very difficult for the man on the terrace to place really. I won’t say who but by chance I happened to see a club that fits the description’s wage book and it was over a couple grand in weekly wages. At Step 5. Now there’s all kinds of maths you could apply but you’re talking almost five figures in wage bill over a 38 game season at the ninth tier of English football. But supporters of clubs like Coalville see a team getting five blokes and a dog clearly outperforming them and it’s frustrating. 
 

I do think it’s a bubble that will be corrected. This is only fun for these kind of investors when they’re winning, and as more and more money piles in at that level the winning isn’t certain and you’re left with the reality of a middling step 5 club. Money clubs will always exist of course, but you can surely only put so much money into your Coventry Sphinxes and St Andrews to no success before it becomes an inconvenience. 

 

 

 

 

Couple of grand a week is typical of a playoff chasing Step 5 team.

 

There's a non Leics team in the UCL Prem, 120k a season, well it was last season and I have reason to believe it's gone up.

[Leicesterpool]

Planning to watch Tamworth v Worthing tonight, not sure why all the national league are playing tonight? Tomorrow off to watch the Nuneaton Boro at Lincoln Utd in the fa trophy, new ground for me.

[STEVIE B]

30 minutes ago, Leicesterpool said:

Planning to watch Tamworth v Worthing tonight, not sure why all the national league are playing tonight? Tomorrow off to watch the Nuneaton Boro at Lincoln Utd in the fa trophy, new ground for me.

It's because they all have games on Monday. National North, some are playing tomorrow & Monday, which will be a tough ask. I'm off to watch Harborough at Hednesford later. Then at home v Marine on Monday