Darlington demoted to..

[Plymouth Gull]

Non-league Step 5, the Northern league. Seems a bit harsh, 4 whole divisions!!

When teams start up as a phoenix club they get to start at step 4, so why have Darlington (who managed to actually fulfil the remaining games this season), been forced to go lower than that? Sends out totally the wrong message to clubs in financial trouble. 'Lets not bother trying to stay alive, we'll be better off starting as a phoenix'.

Seems ridiculous, I'd be fuming if I was a Quaker.

[ferrarilover]

I don't know for sure, but do they not have to apply to divisions for 'permission' to join? Maybe it's not a standard thing, AFC Darlo might not have been allowed automatic entry into the Step 4 (Ryman Premier?), perhaps there was only space in the Step 5?
For me, the lower the better for a club like Darlo, they need to be among equals and pub teams with 40 fans will be about right. It will give them the best chance to restart themselves and get back to the top tier of non-league (which is about where they should be).

Matt.

[Southampton Gull]

Darlington are a bigger club than us so not sure how you can equate them to a pub team with 40 fans.

I hope they come back a la Aldershot.

[ferrarilover]

Perhaps historically, but not where they are now. This is the Northampton argument all over again, "we were in the First Division 60 years ago, we're a big club".

Matt.

[Southampton Gull]

Not at all. I doubt many of their fans view them as a big club but they deserve better than the label you give them.

[ferrarilover]

They were, on merit, a BSN club anyway, as of the end of last season, so it's hardly a step to suggest that they go from that to the level of the Dog and Duck league, one below that. Darlington, so far as I understand it, are a bedraggled mess, and the best place for them is among other clubs of a similar stature. No point in having them in the BSN where they are just going to get humped every week.

Matt.

[Jeff]

Is it not two divisions Nick, or have I missed something!? BSP, BSN, Northern League....

When Tivvy were in the Southern league, they were in the division below BSS?

The Northern League is the equivalent to the Western League that teams like Barnstaple, Ilfracombe play in (and that I think Buckland might have got themselves promoted into now?).

They have bypassed the Northern Premier League system completely that you are alluding too. The pyramid goes BSP - BSN - NPL - NPL1N - Northern league. So they will be playing an additional 3 tiers down from where they "should" have been next season. it may also be something to do with ground grading. They aren't playing in the white elephant Darlington Arena anymore - theyve had to move in with Shildon up the road, and I'm not sure what standard of ground they have. At that level, something like Dawlish I guess.

I do like the way someone mentioned the Ryman League earlier in this thread. I think the likes of Leatherhead, Ramsgate etc would have had some problems with Darlo being admitted to their league!

[wivelgull]

Regarding the last posting: Shildon's ground, Dean Street, is far, far better than any grounds I've been to in the Western league. The Western league is NOT the same level as the Northern league. For many years, the best amateur teams in the country (e.g. Bishop Auckland, Crook Town, Willington) played in the Northern League and some still do. Millfield, the Crook Town ground, at one time had a capacity of 11,000, and at times was able to fill it. Grounds today, like Billingham Synthonia's Bellasis Lane seem like Wembley compared with, for example, Frome Town or Tiverton Town. All in all the standard of football (many FA Amateur Cup winners, many FA Vase winners, many representatives of England at amateur level), the quality of the grounds, even today's attendances, are far superior to those of the Western league. I suspect that those commenting upon the Northern League have never attended a match at West Auckland (for example), Whitley Bay or Marske United.

[Southampton Gull]

Wivel, I wish you attended one every bloody week

[Jeff]

No, you're right I have never attended a Northern League game. But I wasn't commenting on the standard of football - it is the same level of the pyramid as the Western. Of that there is no argument. A Northern League side might hump the likes of Barnstaple etc, but its irrelevant as they play at the same tier so they are the same number of promotions away from the conference.

Its obvious from the distribution of FA Vase finalists that the Northern League, Western League and Eastern Counties leagues are the stronger of the leagues at that level.

[Gullscorer]

They were, on merit, a BSN club anyway, as of the end of last season, so it's hardly a step to suggest that they go from that to the level of the Dog and Duck league, one below that. Darlington, so far as I understand it, are a bedraggled mess, and the best place for them is among other clubs of a similar stature. No point in having them in the BSN where they are just going to get humped every week.
Matt.

Do you mean 'thumped'?