Ridiculous away fixtures

[BornOnShorehamStreet]

I still think there`s huge merit in re-regionalising the lower leagues.
Less travel.
More derbies.
Bigger crowds.
More revenues.

I think you're right but problems arise when teams get relegated and promoted so that you end up with 'southern' teams playing in the northern section and vice versa. I might be wrong but I think this was one of the reasons it was scrapped in the first place. So let's dream a little and imagine a scenario where L**ds and the Pigs get relegated (on the old system of 2 up 2 down) - who would play in the North and who would play in the South?

Or, we go ahead with the proposed extra League, have three regionalised leagues, North, Midlands, South.

Or, we just get the fuck out of this League never to darken it's doors again!

 

[Sheffsteel]

Its kind of already been mentioned but

About 2 years ago I listened to Talksport Radio and they interviewed the guy who is responsible for sorting out the league fixtures.

He was saying that they invite requests from all clubs and try to keep everyone happy (where possible).

Talksport received an email asking why there are so many long distance mid week fixtures as it's unfair on fans wanting to travel.

The fixture guy explained that most clubs (especially in the lower leagues) request local derbies to be played on a weekend and they specifically request long distance fixtures to be played mid week because of the financial benefits.

Eg Play Bradford at the Lane at a weekend they bring 3000
Play them in midweek they bring 1,500
So we've gained 1,500 fans by playing this fixture at the weekend

Where as play Southend at the weekend they bring 400
Play then in midweek and they bring 200.
So we've only lost revenue of 200 fans by playing it Tuesday night.

 

[Selly]

Crabs idea has my vote,but it`s not insurmountable.
Division 3 N and Division 3S.
Winner of each goes up. Play offs for a second promoted team between 2nd to 5th in each division making 4 promoted teams
in total.
4 relegated from Championship. Joining Div 3 N or S determinrd by mileage ie nearest to pre derermined "Mason Dixon" type line rules.
I`m available to set up,administer and generally manage the project for just 250k PA.

Also the teams in 3N and 3S aren`t fixed.

So if Leeds, Carlisle, Hartlepool and Preston (all nominally "Northern") were relegated from the Championship, you may see one or more teams transfer from 3N to 3S to balance the leagues.

Generally these would be teams based in between Derby and the West Midlands - but not always.

Coventry for instance played in both 3N and 3S in the olden days.

 

[coaxingstar71]

I`d apply napalm and an atomic bomb to the Premiership and blow it the fuck out of existance.

Is that so we'd only be in the 2nd tier instead of the 3rd? I like your thinking, we don't need to get promoted, just blow up all the teams above us.

 

[blade too long]

I've been looking at our fixtures to choose which away games I could go to and I've realised we've got several ridiculous long midweek trips or at least awkward ones to get to :-

Tues 18 Oct - Shrewsbury (not the easiest place to get to)
Tues 14 Feb - Bristol Rovers
Tues 28 Feb - Southend Utd
Tues 14 Mar - Swindon Town

I note that Bristol and Southend had to come to Sheffield in midweek too.

Crazy - most fans would probably need to take the afternoon off work to get to any of these. As usual the fans come very low down on the list of priorities.

imagine in 4 years time those awkward away midweek fixtures at AC Milan and Besiktas
once CW has got us in to europe

now thats worth moaning about

 

[seanbeenstattoo]

I'm sure I once heard David Coleman describing Faroes v Eygpt as a local derby.

Hearing David Coleman describing Alberto Juantereno of Cuba "opening his legs and showing us his class" as he destroyed the field to record a 400/800 metres double gold at the Montreal Olympics in 76 still makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.
And it ended my childhood early.

 

[Sheffsteel]

Hearing David Coleman describing Alberto Juantereno of Cuba "opening his legs and showing us his class" as he destroyed the field to record a 400/800 metres double gold at the Montreal Olympics in 76 still makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.
And it ended my childhood early.

Juantereno's nickname was "the horse"
Makes you wonder why lol.

 

[coaxingstar71]

imagine in 4 years time those awkward away midweek fixtures at AC Milan and Besiktas
once CW has got us in to europe

now thats worth moaning about

.... once seanbeenstattoo has blown up all the teams above us, then we'll qualify for Europe!

 

[vorpal blade]

Hearing David Coleman describing Alberto Juantereno of Cuba "opening his legs and showing us his class" as he destroyed the field to record a 400/800 metres double gold at the Montreal Olympics in 76 still makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.
And it ended my childhood early.

possibly at the same Olympics (remembered primarily for adidas® SL-76s & and the stadium roof)

BUT heats of the 400m relay, Coleman in spasms of indignation at Australia turning up in a white kit and how it spoils it when teams change from their traditional kits.............only for, you've guessed it, a sotto voce retraction about 3 laps in when he thought no-one would still be listening; to the effect that it wasn't Australia after all, it was Austria.

Lets be right, we've all done it, (same with the Faroes/Pharoahs gag), but we realised we'd got it wrong before we were 10 AND we never got paid for commentating on sport for the BBC.

 

[seanbeenstattoo]

.... once seanbeenstattoo has blown up all the teams above us, then we'll qualify for Europe!

Ta. That`ll be MI5 knocking on my door any minute.

 

[Silent Blade]

Coventry for instance played in both 3N and 3S in the olden days.

Port Vale had 5 seasons in 3rd division North and 8 seasons in 3rd division South

 

[ChipButtyBlade]

I've been looking at our fixtures to choose which away games I could go to and I've realised we've got several ridiculous long midweek trips or at least awkward ones to get to :-

Tues 18 Oct - Shrewsbury (not the easiest place to get to)
Tues 14 Feb - Bristol Rovers
Tues 28 Feb - Southend Utd
Tues 14 Mar - Swindon Town

I note that Bristol and Southend had to come to Sheffield in midweek too.

Crazy - most fans would probably need to take the afternoon off work to get to any of these. As usual the fans come very low down on the list of priorities.

We will win all four.

 

[Canterbury Blade]

Personally I think we should play an away fixture every Valentines night in a decent location.

Our lass is made up at the thought of a few days away in Bristol. First day, probably wander down to Bath and check out the culcha. On the second day she can watch all her crappy soaps and order room service to her hearts content whilst waiting for my post match romantic arrival.. If its a win she will get treated especially nice...

As for Sarfend after last years 3 hour train journey (to go a few miles as the crow flies) meant I was going to charter a boat this year. However, February in mid week and crossing the estuary in the dark doesn't turn me on to the high seas.

Shrewsbury means a hotel in Birmingham as its cheaper and easier on the transport.

So, spare a thought for those of us who don't even have the option of club coaches or workmates going and sharing a lift. For the non Sheffield residents (and there's a surprising amount of us) it's even more of an adventure to get to these fixtures, especially as the team seem worth watching once more!

 

[GreasyChipBeattie]

possibly at the same Olympics (remembered primarily for adidas® SL-76s & and the stadium roof)

BUT heats of the 400m relay, Coleman in spasms of indignation at Australia turning up in a white kit and how it spoils it when teams change from their traditional kits.............only for, you've guessed it, a sotto voce retraction about 3 laps in...

No, I didn't guess it actually Vorps.
What does sotto voce retraction mean?
Is it something to do with withdrawing before, well, you know.

 

[vorpal blade]

whisper it, but no, it's nothing to do with 'getting off at Gateshead' - I remember the quote about "White Lightning".