Non-League 25/26

Chelmsford are another one of the non league clubs (occasionally league clubs) that fall prey to vultures

Wealdstone were a successful conference (now national league) club and they lost their very valuable home in the centre of Harrow

The sale raised millions - from memory the club received very little, or nothing,  from the sale.  Homeless and nomadic for along time eventually getting their own home again - but in Ruislip...

It was an already existing ground but sadly the club whose ground it was (Ruislip Manor) died out as Wealdstone took over the lease of the ground after 17 years homeless.

I've seen way too many of these situations and anybody that follows football will be aware of some/many.

This is the issue for Chelmsford - purchase costs of land in the south east is eye watering - it's where some sort of partnership can be beneficial

They do need to move on from their current base which is a big hurdle but hopefully not insurmountable 

13 minutes ago, scram said:

Chelmsford are another one of the non league clubs (occasionally league clubs) that fall prey to vultures

 

Wealdstone were a successful conference (now national league) club and they lost their very valuable home in the centre of Harrow

 

The sale raised millions - from memory the club received very little, or nothing,  from the sale.  Homeless and nomadic for along time eventually getting their own home again - but in Ruislip...

 

It was an already existing ground but sadly the club whose ground it was (Ruislip Manor) died out as Wealdstone took over the lease of the ground after 17 years homeless.

 

I've seen way too many of these situations and anybody that follows football will be aware of some/many.

 

This is the issue for Chelmsford - purchase costs of land in the south east is eye watering - it's where some sort of partnership can be beneficial

 

They do need to move on from their current base which is a big hurdle but hopefully not insurmountable 

 

 

I mentioned Wealdstone because I lived in Harrow about a mile from Lower Mead from about 1979 to 1981. I used to frequently watch games there; Stuart Pearce was a chippie and budding full back and a guy called John Watson in midfield who was far and away the dirtiest player I've ever seen. In a game against Altrincham he pole-axed an opponent and then walked on his face; that was one of his softer days.

Their ground sale was absolutely dodgy business; I know this for a fact because a relative, who lost his career as a result, was involved. He has always claimed innocence though he did end up with a brand new apartment overlooking Tower Bridge as a result.....

Anyhow, back to City and Weston Super Mare at home in Round Two. I'd love to know, if they get through, how they'll accommodate Man Uts (or even Wednesday for that matter) at home in Round Three!

Tough game

Definitely winnable but the expectation is on Chelmsford this time

That dynamic adds a different type of pressure

Not strictly Non League...but the over 35s vets side at Wythenshawe have made a few headlines recently with some ex Premier League names turning out for them in recent weeks. Joleon Lescott, Stephen Ireland, Sedum Onuoha, Papis Cisse and Emile Heskey among them. 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c2emr7per0mo

Have heard a rumour regarding another new signing that may be making his debut tomorrow against South Liverpool, BIG name if true.

Going to pop down to see if there's any truth in it, will report back here.

So the BIG name never materialised yesterday. 

Had to make do with 

Maynor Figueroa

Jefferson Montero

Danny Drinkwater

Stephen Ireland

Papis Cisse 

and George Boyd

3-0 at HT, none for Cisse 

He scored 7 in the second half at a canter.

On 08/11/2025 at 18:17, eugene said:

Not strictly Non League...but the over 35s vets side at Wythenshawe have made a few headlines recently with some ex Premier League names turning out for them in recent weeks. Joleon Lescott, Stephen Ireland, Sedum Onuoha, Papis Cisse and Emile Heskey among them. 

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c2emr7per0mo

 

Have heard a rumour regarding another new signing that may be making his debut tomorrow against South Liverpool, BIG name if true.

 

Going to pop down to see if there's any truth in it, will report back here.

Is it just me who finds this a bit sad? Winning 13-0 against teams who are clearly much worse than them.

In cricket, in the days when you were allowed one overseas professional* you’d have Michael Holding, Mark Taylor, Curtly Ambrose, Matthew Hayden, Garry Sobers, etc. all turning out for village teams but the great joy is they were playing against each other. Imagine how good that league would be if one team had Cisse, another had Drinkwater, another had Ireland and they had to inspire their team to victory. Instead they come over as a load of bullies, hiding well below their level.

(*this is still the rule in the majority of leagues, but the overseas pros tend to be a rung or two lower as pros play all year round in franchise cricket).

All them playing together in the vets league is daft, of course they’ll run rings round other middle aged blokes who haven’t played top flight and international football. It’s like the Neville Southall/Michael Owen video, but with Big Nev saying “well done, he’s 46” instead. 

It’d be more interesting to see how they’d get on against younger players who might be faster and fitter than them - Pudil and Beevers are still playing at NPL level against lads who are half their age, rather than in the vets league 

Attendances this year compared to last amongst the top six divisions:

On 11/11/2025 at 08:32, Emerson Thome said:

Is it just me who finds this a bit sad? Winning 13-0 against teams who are clearly much worse than them.

 

 

 

 

You've never visited Wythenshawe have you ?

See that all national league games kick off at 3:03pm today as part of their 3up campaign.

think that is a cool idea for a protest/statment.

Just hope Chelmsford can get through to Round 3 and get a moneyspinner which will really underpin their potential to get to and be competitive in the National League. I heard someone say that they are pushing for an increase in capcity at the stadium up to 4,500. 

Handsworth v Penistone Church

Saturday, the 15th of November, 2025

Northern Counties East Premier Division

Current score (26’): Handsworth: - Penistone Church: 0

Meant to put “Handsworth: 1 - Penistone Church: 0” 

Ended with a 4 - 0 victory at home for Handsworth, my second team.

Up the Ambers and up the Owls!

On 15/11/2025 at 14:21, Daz said:

Just hope Chelmsford can get through to Round 3 and get a moneyspinner which will really underpin their potential to get to and be competitive in the National League. I heard someone say that they are pushing for an increase in capcity at the stadium up to 4,500. 

Daz....You might be interested in a bit of nostalgia. This is the game which had the previous best attendance and which I went to. Shame the clip misses Ricky Holmes classic taking the p*** out of the AFC bench after his penalty.....

But as you see we've been there before in terms of investment. Peter Webb put a lot of his and his company's money into the club at that time but sadly it ended in acrimony. I hope we don't go down that path again.