Non-League Football 26/27

[Sir Steve Howard]

On 23/08/2026 at 13:41, purpleronnie said:

 

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

This is beyond horrific and will surely decimate the number of young fans coming to watch

[Leicesterpool]

5 hours ago, STEVIE B said:

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 

Ah i see what you mean

[STEVIE B]

Harborough lost 2-1 at Hednesford..

The visitors were comfortably the better in the 1st half. 0-0. 

Hednesford bossed the 2nd & created more. 

Assombalonga put Harborough ahead. 2 goals in the last 10 mins won it for Hednesford. Crowd of 2,561 is very impressive. 

[Super_horns]

I see the National league games were all last night after being at 12.30 on the Saturday last week .

 

Wonder how fans feel about games being moved around at that level just for TV?

Mind you gives teams an extra day before the Bank Holiday fixtures on
Monday.

[joeybside]

Quorn 3-6 Whitby

 

Brutal interview. Bez has been thru enough already this season let alone losing one of his friends. Hope the club give him whatever support he needs. Losing 90% of your squad will always be mission impossible to turn around. But too many found wanting today and it’s been apparent the last few weeks. 

[CosbehFox]

The FA have a lot to answer for. Completely strangled the club with their decision making 

[Super_horns]

One record Mr Vardy has lost !

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cx2zvw14e8zo

 

 

[Officer Doofy]

Watched coalville thoroughly dismantle Kirby Muxloe 6-0 today. 

 

Nice little setup there 

[STEVIE B]

Good win for Harborough Town yesterday against Marine.

Not the best of games, but deserved 2-1 victory. Decent crowd, 1,255. 

[SemperEadem]

John Fleck was at Hallam FC yesterday, intently watching the match so presume he had a mate playing.

[joeybside]

Great to see Quorn break their NPL Duck with a 2-0 win against Ilkeston yesterday. 
 

Timely confidence boost for Friday Nights return up the Butthole for some FA Cup action. Everyone dreams of a Cup run but a boost to the coffers would be timely to help Bez get more quality into the squad

[boots60]

Good afternoon yesterday at Anstey Nomads, easy 3-0 win over Banbury Utd, should have been more.

Nomads scored direct from a corner but unfortunately ruled out for a foul on their keeper.

[Manwell Pablo]

On 29/08/2026 at 21:15, CosbehFox said:

The FA have a lot to answer for. Completely strangled the club with their decision making 

 

I see this a lot. And I am not one to stand up for the FA.

 

Either I am missing something or Quorn are the 22nd most northern club at Step 3 in the country geographically, albeit only just....whilst it is horrendously bad luck especially as the Gonads just crept into the central league and they are all of 10 miles away and in the same county, given each Step 3 league is 22 teams and that's not really flexible, I am at a loss as to what people expect the FA to do about that.

 

I mean I may well be missing a solution they have over looked but it just looks unavoidable to me.

[CosbehFox]

2 hours ago, Manwell Pablo said:

 

I see this a lot. And I am not one to stand up for the FA.

 

Either I am missing something or Quorn are the 22nd most northern club at Step 3 in the country geographically, albeit only just....whilst it is horrendously bad luck especially as the Gonads just crept into the central league and they are all of 10 miles away and in the same county, given each Step 3 league is 22 teams and that's not really flexible, I am at a loss as to what people expect the FA to do about that.

 

I mean I may well be missing a solution they have over looked but it just looks unavoidable to me.

They had Rushall Olympic in the Northern Division and moved them across at the expense of Quorn. A straight swap. 
 

The argument for Rushall swapping across was they had lost their derby to Hednesford but equally Quorn lost their potential derby v Anstey. 
 

I know the FA have a difficult job getting those divisions together but Rushall/Quorn seemed change for changes sake 

[Manwell Pablo]

3 minutes ago, CosbehFox said:

They had Rushall Olympic in the Northern Division and moved them across at the expense of Quorn. A straight swap. 
 

The argument for Rushall swapping across was they had lost their derby to Hednesford but equally Quorn lost their potential derby v Anstey. 
 

I know the FA have a difficult job getting those divisions together but Rushall/Quorn seemed change for changes sake 

 

Right.

 

But when it comes down to the meat and bones of it Quorn is further north than Rushall. 

[CosbehFox]

4 minutes ago, Manwell Pablo said:

 

Right.

 

But when it comes down to the meat and bones of it Quorn is further north than Rushall. 

Braintree is further north than Merthyr Tydfil. The latter plays the National North whilst Braintree play National South.
 

Rushall now have five trips over to the East past the same roads Quorn would use. 
 

Geographically theses advantages and disadvantages but purely logistically for both clubs it’s a challenge to keep being moved around. Rushall happy because they are signing in the West Mids market while Quorn have to completely alter their player base. That player base Rushall already had and have had on and off for a number of years during their Step 3 spells 

[Manwell Pablo]

26 minutes ago, CosbehFox said:

Braintree is further north than Merthyr Tydfil. The latter plays the National North whilst Braintree play National South.
 

Rushall now have five trips over to the East past the same roads Quorn would use. 
 

Geographically theses advantages and disadvantages but purely logistically for both clubs it’s a challenge to keep being moved around. Rushall happy because they are signing in the West Mids market while Quorn have to completely alter their player base. That player base Rushall already had and have had on and off for a number of years during their Step 3 spells 

 

That's different though isn't it as there as an element of extreme west and east divide and cut off runs in a diag line as the country is at it's widest in the south west, they're opposite sides of the country. Quorn and Rushall are just over an hour apart. Plus any National League team is going to have to travel 3-4 hours at some point in the season if they are on the boarders no matter where they are put.

 

I get the player base argument, it's a reason most clubs who lose an appeal to the FA use as the FA don't listen to it, when it comes to matters of geography it is exactly that to them.

 

With Rushall and Hednesford being happy with their lot in life it's not an issue. If Rushall decide they are not, which as you have said upon Hednesford promotion they were not, the FA are pretty screwed aren't they as if Rushall appeal their own placement in the Northern league on the one grounds the FA appeal boards have serious difficulty arguing with, basic Geography,  they are going to win aren't they. And the FA don't like losing appeals, mainly as it screws the leagues up as quite often you end up with one 21 and one 23 team leagues as they are loathed to relocate teams once they have been placed. So if Rushall, a team with more geographical right than Quorn to be in the central league, decide they wish to move, not a lot anyone can do.

[CosbehFox]

5 minutes ago, Manwell Pablo said:

 

That's different though isn't it as there as an element of extreme west and east divide and cut off runs in a diag line as the country is at it's widest in the south west, they're opposite sides of the country. Quorn and Rushall are just over an hour apart. Plus any National League team is going to have to travel 3-4 hours at some point in the season if they are on the boarders no matter where they are put.

 

I get the player base argument, it's a reason most clubs who lose an appeal to the FA use as the FA don't listen to it, when it comes to matters of geography it is exactly that to them.

 

With Rushall and Hednesford being happy with their lot in life it's not an issue. If Rushall decide they are not, which as you have said upon Hednesford promotion they were not, the FA are pretty screwed aren't they as if Rushall appeal their own placement in the Northern league on the one grounds the FA appeal boards have serious difficulty arguing with, basic Geography,  they are going to win aren't they. And the FA don't like losing appeals, mainly as it screws the leagues up as quite often you end up with one 21 and one 23 team leagues as they are loathed to relocate teams once they have been placed. So if Rushall, a team with more geographical right than Quorn to be in the central league, decide they wish to move, not a lot anyone can do.

Rushall appealed back in 25/26 being in the Northern League. Effectively the FA were proven wrong then in the appeal but didn’t want to change their minds. Yet for Quorn back then logistically it would have so much more sense to put them North then as they built a Step 3 squad from Step 4

 

Edited 1 September by CosbehFox

[Manwell Pablo]

3 minutes ago, CosbehFox said:

Rushall appealed back in 25/26 being in the Northern League. 

 

 

Quorn were in the Central Premier. 
 

 

 

Looks like they had a point about the twinning then doesn't it in hindsight.

 

[CosbehFox]

21 minutes ago, Manwell Pablo said:

 

Looks like they had a point about the twinning then doesn't it in hindsight.

 

Yes and no. 

 

The FA states the twinning as the reason for their inclusion to the Northern Division. But Rushall argued that shouldn't be the case. 

 

The FA then didn't make the obvious twin in Anstey for Quorn. Rather went with the best of both arguments in favour of Rushall. 

 

It further highlights the incompetence of the decision because it's the upheaval which causes the problem as clubs can't appropriately budget. 

[FoxesFan#1]

I'll be in the home end at the el-classic tomorrow for Brackley v Harborough Town, very much looking forward to getting into football again after what feels like a long summer break.

 

The game is segregated which is a rarity in NL North down here as most are mixed.

 

Away end is a bit shallow so better to get right behind the goal rather than to the wings.

 

For Hebburn Town we stood at both ends and I don't recommend getting too close to the corner flags as you won't see much of the goal mouth.

 

You also get half of one side too which has a small cover - in fact you get three stands!  

 

Tbh as a home fan which I am now, it is a super little stadium and the club house is exceptional (sadly as it's segregated it will only be home fans this week).

 

But it's been a real tough summer for the team with almost a brand new squad.  Only two regulars remain from last season and one returning loanee from Reading.  

 

Crowds have been very good considering it's still a small club and mid-week v King's Lynn we had nearly 1000 which considering last year much of the increase in attendance was down to away fans and not home fans.  Teams like Southend brought close on 1000 away fans in crowds of 1700 to give it some perspective

 

I'm sure Harborough fans will enjoy their trip, it's very easy to access from the A43 and the town is nice for a beer too.

 

If you're travelling down, enjoy the game!

Edited 4 September by FoxesFan#1

[STEVIE B]

5 minutes ago, FoxesFan#1 said:

I'll be in the home end at the el-classic tomorrow for Brackley v Harborough Town, very much looking forward to getting into football again after what feels like a long summer break.

 

The game is segregated which is a rarity in NL North down here as most are mixed.

 

Away end is a bit shallow so better to get right behind the goal rather than to the wings.

 

For Hebburn Town we stood at both ends and I don't recommend getting too close to the corner flags as you won't see much of the goal mouth.

 

You also get half of one side too which has a small cover - in fact you get three stands!  

 

Tbh as a home fan which I am now, it is a super little stadium and the club house is exceptional (sadly as it's segregated it will only be home fans this week).

 

But it's been a real tough summer for the team with almost a brand new squad.  Only two regulars remain from last season and one returning loanee from Reading.  

 

Crowds have been very good considering it's still a small club and mid-week v King's Lynn we had nearly 1000 which considering last year much of the increase in attendance was down to away fans and not home fans.  Teams like Southend brought close on 1000 away fans in crowds of 1700 to give it some perspective

 

I'm sure Harborough fans will enjoy their trip, it's very easy to access from the A43 and the town is nice for a beer too.

 

If you're travelling down, enjoy the game!

Thanks for that. 

I'll be travelling from Harborough tomorrow. Looking forward to what should be a good game. 

Harborough have been very competitive in every game so far, winning their 3 home games. 

Away from home, they've started well in most games, scored first & been pecked back. At this level, the full time sides seem to have that extra fitness going into the last 10/15 mins. 

[FoxesFan#1]

2 minutes ago, STEVIE B said:

Thanks for that. 

I'll be travelling from Harborough tomorrow. Looking forward to what should be a good game. 

Harborough have been very competitive in every game so far, winning their 3 home games. 

Away from home, they've started well in most games, scored first & been pecked back. At this level, the full time sides seem to have that extra fitness going into the last 10/15 mins. 

My pleasure, nice to share a bit of pre-match info, if I'm going to be honest I expect Harborough to be the favourites tomorrow whilst we find our feet.

 

Oh yeah last year was something else for fitness.

 

Only Truro and Brackley were Part Time in the NL last season and it showed with fitness in last 30 mins

 

We'd literally compete well and then you could see the FT teams were well drilled and would win games in last ten minutes quite easily sometimes.

 

I think it was Woking at home where we were 0-0 after 60 mins but by 70 mins we were 0-4 down!  Similar with Southend, went head to head all game and they put three in last ten mins.  Most of our games felt like they were lost in last 30 mins of the match.

 

PT players found it real hard last season but tbh I'd rather not have FT players that puts a club in financial jeopardy one day.

 

Enjoy the game, have a safe journey and be kind when you get three goals in last ten mins!

[davieG]

https://www.newsandstar.co.uk/sport/26496149.carlisle-united-boss-hits-national-league-schedule/

 

Carlisle United boss hits out at National League schedule
26th August
Matthew Graham Profile Image
By Matthew Graham

ROB Elliot has branded the National League's Bank Holiday fixture scheduling "ridiculous" after Carlisle United were handed a Friday night trip to Wealdstone followed by a home clash with S****horpe United three days later.

United travel to the London club on Friday evening before returning to Brunton Park for Monday's Bank Holiday encounter, leaving the Blues facing a lengthy overnight journey between the two fixtures.

While Elliot insisted his focus remains solely on beating Wealdstone, the Carlisle head coach questioned the decision to stage two games over the long weekend.

 

"It's just ridiculous that, I don't understand, just play one game over the Bank Holiday weekend," he said.

"There's a lot of weeks free where we can play on a Tuesday night.

 

"This is my issue with the National League. I think it's a brilliant league and I think it's so undervalued.

"I do think we shoot ourselves in the foot a little bit where we could be a bit leaner with it."

Elliot also highlighted the impact on supporters, many of whom face one of the longest away trips in the division.

"They're asking us to go to Wealdstone, asking the supporters to go to Wealdstone," he said.

"It's not possible for them to get back unless they get a coach or drive.

"You're asking people to take time off work and whatnot, whereas you could just play on a Saturday."

Carlisle already face some of the biggest travel demands in the National League and Elliot believes the schedule places unnecessary pressure on both players and fans.

"We know we do the most miles anyway," he said.

"From a footballing perspective, to then not get home until five o'clock in the morning and then have to play on Monday at three o'clock.

"On the flip side, the fans, I'm sure, we will have ridiculous support as we always do.

"The sacrifices they make and people want to be able to follow their team and I think we need to make sure it's as accessible as possible."

Despite his frustrations, Elliot insists Carlisle will take the challenge head on, with all attention currently fixed on Friday night's contest.

"The lesson is just worry about Friday, win Friday and then we can figure out Monday after the game and take it from there," he said.

"We'll do everything we can to win on Friday and then we'll figure out Monday after."

[boots60]

Off to Quorn v Shepshed in th FA Cup tonight. Havent been there since the 2007 pre season game under Martin Allen.

Would imagine its changed considerably since then.