Going to be tougher next season for sure if you look at who is coming down. If a Wealdstone comes down, then they will be favourites for the title. 

Thanks for starting this Tom. Didn't think about Gloucester probably going into NLN - they always strongly stated NLN was their preference compared to NLS

Does have an increased 'South East' feel to the league! 

(I'd also really like to go to Merthyr by the way, a former EFL ground!)

Some interesting fixtures to keep an eye on then. Would be fun to see Merthyr in the NLS

Tonight's ones to watch...

NLS Eliminator

Worthing v Maidstone United

We play the loser next season. Hard to decide who I want to lose most - Worthing have Joe Cook. Maidstone have ridiculous searches. Both don't offer away fans seats!

Isthmian League (step 3) Play off Semi Finals

Billericay v Dover 

Dartford v Cray Valley PM

Only one of these I haven't been to is Cray Valley. So if they could advance it'd be nice. But Dartford is a very decent ground, fully enclosed and super modern for this level of football, and where Giuseppe Sole scored a superb free kick! And when I went, close by a McDonalds!

Billericay's ground is quite well developed with the slope much improved since the 3G pitch went in, and lots of cover. Saw a good 5-0 win there on the way to promotion in 2022. 

Never seen DW at Dover, but seen Palace there a couple of times, once a friendly and once a packed out FA Cup 3rd round. Dover edges it for me as a better day out.

Southern League (step 3) Play off Semi Finals

AFC Totton v Dorchester Town

Walton & Hersham v Gloucester City

A more interesting mixed bag this...

Totton (near Southampton) have Tom Blair on their books. Never been there!

Dorchester I have been to once when Palace played there in a pre season friendly. It actually hosted several EFL matches of AFC Bournemouth, when Dean Court was being re-built in 2001.

Walton & Hersham, never been to their current ground, but went to the old one Stompond Lane long before it closed in 2017 (again a Palace friendly!)

Gloucester City, as Tom says could be put into the NLN if they win promotion, which could then give Merthyr a place in the NLS. I didn't go to the FA Cup game there in 2018 (only went to the replay), but that was played at Jubilee Park (Evesham Utd) anyway. They moved back to Meadow Park after a long exile (flood damage) in 2020 and DW did play a behind closed doors friendly there (which I couldn't attend!)

So needless to say, I will be following tonight's scores with much interest!

@dorking-eagle Great summary, David.

For me, I'd prefer to visit Worthing again, and Dartford looks like a cracking ground. Walton & Hersham would be a good local game - but really fancy Merthyr in the NLS too.

Edit: Just seen Walton's ground - no thanks. So Gloucester City (Merthyr) for me please.

Agree Ade, 100% Gloucester (for Merthyr's ground!) for me too!

Dartford is lovely if you can change ends.

I have a feeling the away support is going to really grow next season. The 200-225 standard could well become a 300+ as standard...

If so a lot of clubs might choose to start segregating for us?

Some of the really tight grounds like Hampton may well think it makes their lives easier (albeit have they got segregated bogs etc?)

If you take over 300 to somewhere like Hornchurch or Chelmsford, is there even the space to all stand together?

Worthing  lost 2-0 to Maidstone (both penalties) so we will play them again next season.

So;

AFC Totton v Gloucester City

Dartford v Dover Athletic

Thoughts?

According to Worthing there were 551 fans in the Maidstone end last night. Not sure if that meant 49 no-shows from purchasers, but I hope it made it slightly more comfortable in there.

Maidstone go on to play away at Eastbourne.

Next season at Worthing hopefully they allow a bit more space in the away end if they sell 600 again.

In the Southern League, it's win-win for me - never been to Totton if they win. Never been to Gloucester if they win. But if Gloucester win, then possibly the best prize of all, a trip to Merthyr. As long as it doesn't clash with Palace's first ever trip to Everton's new ground then I am well happy.

In the Isthmian play off final, been to both grounds before, but they are both excellent grounds, so am ok with either. If we get Dartford I hope they don't segregate as its a lovely one to walk all the way around. Dover is a classic ground up quite a steep hill (think how away coaches never drive down to our ground, it's similar but UP a slope) and they have built a new stand there since I last went. Dover have had a very up and down few years, they never stand still for long.

As for who we missed out on from step 3, not massively missing out really, although a shame for Bobby Joe who scored for Walton & Hersham yesterday.

Sad to see Worthing choke the play offs like that after choking the league when top with a points advantage and with games in hand. 

I see some of the fans are blaming their failures on the goal keeper Covolan for errors at our place and at Truro. 

Dartford and AFC Totton are favourites to go up IMO.

I think after a play off defeat people feel all sorts of emotions and often looking for blame is an easy option. We were searching for answers ourselves (although hopefully in a reasoned and constructive way)

The obvious thing is to go to is most recent 'travesty of justice' - so in our case, the Josh Taylor red card at Bath. But of course overlooking our own errors - the suspensions from Brookings red cards, the lack of subs (and freshness on the pitch) at Hampton that drew them forward to equalise, or going all the way back to August, how on earth we didn't win at Torquay when we dominated them all game.

Anyway, some new teams in the division (whether fans have been to them before or not) will freshen things up slightly.

In some respects I hope Torquay don't go up as that is a great away trip, especially if it is in August again! Although they would be stiff competition next season.

Next up to decide the line up for 25/26 is the final day of the VNL

We will be joined by 2 teams out of

Maidenhead

Wealdstone

Dagenham

All pretty good away games really, Dagenham the best away end (from those) in my opinion (although pricey)

I would think Wealdstone would be a strong team on the pitch next season

But Maidenhead usually find a way to stay up on the last day by the most miniscule margin lol

Not overly bothered if Maidenhead stay up, but definitely want Dagenham to join us next season. Purely selfish on my part as I have never been there. 

Not fussed who comes up between Dover and Dartford. However in the Southern league, I would personally prefer AFC Totton. 

Saying that if it was to be Gloucester, would they be placed in the North, as that seems to be their preferred division 

Posted by: @steve1966

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Saying that if it was to be Gloucester, would they be placed in the North, as that seems to be their preferred division 

That is the thinking Steve. And then the NLS should get Merthyr instead. It is a cracking old skool ground and would be more of a proper awayday than all the M25 stuff too

Should also add that there is a chance that Oxford City are moved back to the NLS and both Gloucester and Merthyr go to the NLN.