19 May 2014, 6:17 pm
#651
(19 May 2014, 11:17 am)marxistafozzski That will unfortunately never happen I reckon, the infrastructure and FA ground grading criteria would not allow it, and most of them simply aint interested in promotion...
Out of the current crop in the Northern League I could only name a few teams who would be capable of taking the next step, when I say capable, I mean in a position to upgrade there ground to the relevant spec, W£$t Auckland, Shildon and Bishop Auckland, possibly Durham and Celtic Nation(proviring Steve Skinner keeps bankrolling them), out of that lot only Bishop and Durham have Evo-Stik standard grounds, Shildon and West could probably come up to scratch with minimal work also possibly Whitley Bay.
Spennymoor took the plunge and won promotion and I reckon if they push on there is nothing to stop them gaining Conference North Status.
The only thing that would worry me about having so many North East teams in or about the Football League is where will the support come from, SAFC and NUFC have it pretty much to themselves, we also have Boro and Hartlepool in the League, add Darlington and Gateshead to that and the options to tap into for support is getting rather thin, if you go a step further and add teams like Blyth, Whitby and Spenny, then all support is pretty much wrapped up, still i dream of the day Levels 4 and 5(Step 1) is filled with North East Teams...
What about teams in the North West?
There are any amount of teams who attract a decent enough crowd.
Going back 25/30 years - who would predicted Newcastle or Sunderland would attract the crowds they do today?
Who would have thought Gateshead would go from several hundred to 8k in the space of 4 home games?
Success attract crowds and if the success is maintained, so are attendances.
If some of the Northern League teams push on, then the travelling wont be an issue either as the derby games will still be there.
If they do head to NPL, I have no doubt they will hold their own.
Once Spenny establish themselves, hopefully a few others will follow their lead.
Back onto Gateshead - local news reports were disappointing tonight. Thought more would have been made of it. Yours truly has just appeared on Look North tonight, with stuff filmed at Wembley yesterday.
A photo at the Metrocentre Rally and Look North today - Andreos Constantopolous could be unmasked!
'Illegitimis non carborundum'
