Dorking Wandering
The Dorking Wanderers FC Fans Forum
Seen a few comments about which teams will be in our league for next season so here are the confirmed teams for next season as it stands:
Dorking Wanderers
Weston-super-Mare
Hornchurch
Farnborough
Chelmsford City
Chesham United
Hemel Hempstead Town*
Chippenham Town
Bath City
Slough Town
Tonbridge Angels
Hampton & Richmond
Enfield Town
Salisbury
Horsham
Ebbsfleet United
*Hemel are the only question mark here. As it stands, my guess would be that Merthyr Town are placed in the National League North as they are fractionally more north than Hemel are. However, Hemel probably has better transport links so they could move Hemel to the NLN instead and put Merthyr in the NLS.
The other condition is Gloucester City. If they win the Southern League playoffs then it would likely be them who go NLN and Merthyr and Hemel stay south. Gloucester play Walton & Hersham in the playoff semi-final tonight so we will have a better idea by tomorrow.
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.
I always think about the week early in the season when we lost to Aveley and Weymouth in 6 days (I know we were struggling with injuries, but it still felt like two very winnable games). Aveley had 10 men for over half the game, and we still didn't win despite it basically being attack against defence for 60 minutes. Those 6 lost points turned out to be crucial.
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.
Whilst there is a chance of that, I have a feeling that leagues try to leave clubs where they are for 3 years unless it it seriously geographically necessary.
Although it could be you only get left where you are for 3 years after a forced moved across.
"Why would I leave to join a League Two club? We're going there anyway!" - Marc White
@matthewpont Yup, and the 3-3 at home to Salisbury will live rent free in my head forever 🙃
@matthewpont Yup, and the 3-3 at home to Salisbury will live rent free in my head forever 🙃
I often think of the bloke in front of me who left at 2:0 to, I presume, "miss the traffic", and must have wondered WTF happened when he presumably found out later he'd missed 4 goals!
@calvertskans That is the most likely scenario.
Oxford do not belong in the NLN, and the NLN is a better standard than the NLS. It makes sense they argue the case to move back to NLS, to improve their chances of promotion. Gloucester previously played in NLN.
On the grass v plastic pitch front for next NLS season, it looks like the following:
- Losing at least 4 grass pitches (Weymouth, St Albans, Welling, Truro and possibly either Boreham Wood or Torquay)
- Losing at least 1 plastic pitch (Aveley and possibly one of Maidstone/Eastbourne and potentially Hemel Hempstead)
+ Gaining at least 4 grass pitches (Ebbsfleet, Dartford or Dover, 2 of Maidenhead/Wealdstone/Dagenham and possibly Totton)
+ Gaining at least 1 plastic pitch (Horsham and potentially Merthyr, Gloucester or Oxford)
