Gubby Allen
11-06-2011, 11:14 PM
Not sure how closely football is followed down the pyramid, but this story today of Rushden & Diamonds being expelled from the Conference (been on the cards for a month or two) in itself isn't much of a story - but the consequences have led to a ridiculous situation.
Southport now get reinstated back to Conference, Thurrock back to the North/South level beneath, but given where they are cannot replace Southport in the North.
So the most northern side left in the Conference South - Bishops Stortford - near my roots, just 10 miles up the M11 & south of Stansted Airport have now been moved to the Conference North.
It was problems enough Histon in Cambridge being put there after relegation, but it's become so northern weighted, that Stortfords 3rd nearest team is nearly 200 miles away!
It's actually nearer for the fans to drive to Paris, Brussels or Amsterdam than to Workington and half the clubs they'll have midweek games against and rumours it could cripple them badly as they'll hardly take any away fans to games any more.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/13738222.stm
Southport now get reinstated back to Conference, Thurrock back to the North/South level beneath, but given where they are cannot replace Southport in the North.
So the most northern side left in the Conference South - Bishops Stortford - near my roots, just 10 miles up the M11 & south of Stansted Airport have now been moved to the Conference North.
It was problems enough Histon in Cambridge being put there after relegation, but it's become so northern weighted, that Stortfords 3rd nearest team is nearly 200 miles away!
It's actually nearer for the fans to drive to Paris, Brussels or Amsterdam than to Workington and half the clubs they'll have midweek games against and rumours it could cripple them badly as they'll hardly take any away fans to games any more.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/13738222.stm