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Post by ssstone on May 3, 2013 0:18:20 GMT
This will attract some controversy i know - hee - but what do u think?
My opinion - in Maidstone and in (now) League 2 cos was easy last time ha ha.
Thoughts guys and gals.......
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Post by nws on May 3, 2013 7:15:46 GMT
Anything that doesn't start leading to segregation etc etc and take the fun and friendliness out of going to football
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Post by jakage on May 3, 2013 7:28:05 GMT
But isn't the ultimate, overriding ambition to get back to the football league?
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Post by Deleted on May 3, 2013 8:35:05 GMT
Anything that doesn't start leading to segregation etc etc To be fair you've caused a fair bit of them & us segregation. Does this mean you'll kindly bore off? |
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Post by Deleted on May 3, 2013 9:22:36 GMT
Segregation is necessary at Conf S grounds I think (Bedford's ground had a dividing fence, with the gate open when we visited). So shall we just stay in the Ryman League forever?
I think we'll be a strong Conf side in 2020 alongside Dover and Welling, by which time I'd expect Dartford to be in League 2 (and G*lls!).
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pete
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Post by pete on May 3, 2013 10:07:05 GMT
Segregation is necessary at Conf S grounds I think (Bedford's ground had a dividing fence, with the gate open when we visited). So shall we just stay in the Ryman League forever? I think we'll be a strong Conf side in 2020 alongside Dover and Welling, by which time I'd expect Dartford to be in League 2 (and G*lls!). Think Dartford will have to improve dramatically to move up. Despite finishing in a respectable position in their first season in the conference since returning home, they have an average attendance over 300 less than ours. That's including one game where they got over 3000 (vs Ebbsfleet?) and presumably a number where the away support would have been significantly more than any we've had this year. Whilst they have a great facility there I felt it lacked atmosphere when I went to see us there, maybe that was just the apprehensive nature of the game situation. If we were at the same level as them ( and presuming the ground capacity was sufficient) I think our attendances would be significantly higher. The big issue for a club moving on to the top of BSP & then into league 2 is whether or not to go full time. Dartford have stayed part time & I notice that according to their forum they are losing a few players this summer to full time clubs. I think that in the current climate, unless a club goes full time it will be virtually impossible to win the BSP & move to the next level. Having said all of this I would be happy if as you say we were a strong conf side by then |
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Post by mackster on May 3, 2013 11:25:43 GMT
Darts do have a real advantage over many clubs, including our own. They were given a free ground by the council who only charge them £1 per year rent. Most clubs in the BSP have to either rent or spend money keeping their ground up to scratch. True that their support hasn't really picked up considering the league they are now in.
If we can overcome the pitch regulations we should have the infrastructure to support a BSP club and who's to say we can't do a Crawley or Stevenage. Success attracts success and this town is big enough to support a league club. There is an awful lot of clubs in the FL that are basket cases, many are kept in because of just the 2 down rule.
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Post by russc on May 3, 2013 11:49:57 GMT
I can't see how we'd manage to get the ground capacity up enough to sustain league football
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Post by daveu on May 3, 2013 12:07:14 GMT
I can't see how we'd manage to get the ground capacity up enough to sustain league football The original plans included the ability to expand up to a capacity of 6000 which is what you need for League 2. That would mean moving the water main and redeveloping the river side. I think we own the strip of land between the perimeter fence and the footpath so there's the ability to extend outwards as well as building terracing. |
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Post by jdl on May 3, 2013 12:41:15 GMT
Where do I belong? In the bloody stadium on Saturday afternoon!
Will I be there? No. Because I COULDN'T GET A BLOODY TICKET!
Am I pissed off?
Just a tad.
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Post by jdl on May 3, 2013 12:48:43 GMT
Actually, to be serious, I do have a plan for the Stones.
Get into the Conference, do quite well for a couple of seasons, even winning it or coming second, but get constantly frustrated that we can't get promotion. So sell the ground so some big shops can be built on the site, and groundshare with another local team (say Dartford?) while we look to build a new ground in Maidstone.
Then spend all the money we got from selling the ground on getting into the FL and supporting our host club as they flirt with bankruptcy. And, when the money runs out, try to fix up a deal with some northern club to move up there and take on some utterly stupid name like the Newcastle Browns.
And then finally lose most of our players so we're unable to fulfil next season's league fixtures and go bust.
Woah - what a nightmare! Glad I woke up just in time...
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Post by Deleted on May 3, 2013 12:58:12 GMT
Where do I belong? In the bloody stadium on Saturday afternoon! Will I be there? No. Because I COULDN'T GET A BLOODY TICKET! Am I pissed off? Just a tad. Look on therbrightside. |
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Post by StonedProf on May 3, 2013 16:28:52 GMT
I can't see how we'd manage to get the ground capacity up enough to sustain league football The rules say that for League 2 you need a capacity of 5,000 including 2,000 seats under cover. I think that it would be just about possible, by building on the river side (~600 seats), extending the Main Stand to the full length of the pitch (~1,400 seats) and building a large terrace at the Town End (~1,500 capacity would be possible within the current boundary, I think, but more if we built over part of the car park). This added to the current Springfield End terrace (500) and most of the current pitchside standing (which accounts for about 1,000 of the current capacity) would produce a ground that would just about meet Football League requirements. I've started a basic 3D model of the ground as I wanted to see what could be done with the site in theory. It will take a while, but when/if I finish it, I'll post it on here. As for the thread topic, on current crowds I think that we could sustain a team in the Conference National. Football League might be possible, but I agree with NWS. Unfortunately from the things that I have read, entering the Football League also comes with a much less friendly experience, overzealous policing and so on. The ability to segregate is required for Conference National and above, although until fairly recently I think it was required down to step 3. |
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Post by eclipse on May 3, 2013 17:14:18 GMT
This is the current requirement for league entry:
The Football League require that the ground occupied by a club promoted to League 2 must have a certified capacity of at least 4,000 (with the ability to be increased to 5,000) which shall include at least 500 seats (with the ability to be increased to 1,000).
By 1st May in its first season as a Member of the Football League the club is required to have a certified capacity of 5,000 which shall include at least 1000 seats(with the ability to be increased to 2,000).
By 1st May in its third season as a Member of the Football League the club is required to have a certified capacity of 5,000 which shall include at least 2,000 seats.
As clubs develop their ground to meet the above criteria it is important to remember that by the end of their third season in the Football League the SGSA will require them to have brought any terracing up to the prescribed standard or take that terracing out of use which would therefore reduce the capacity of the ground.
As StonedProf said, this is probably just about achievable at the Gallagher, certainly Conference level would not be too difficult.
Would be interesting to see what kind of crowd we would get against the likes of Luton, I think 4000 would be possible.
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Post by signalstone on May 3, 2013 17:16:22 GMT
But isn't the ultimate, overriding ambition to get back to the football league? I know this is what Terry and Oliver want eventually. Not for me though, football league, we've been there and done that and I dont want to go there again.  I think the Conference Prem is of a far higher standard than when we were there last time (Aliance Prem, Goala League) There are so many ex league clubs at the top of the non league pyramid I think that would be our level. I would be happy to get there and no further  |
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