National League Play-offs

I am going for Altrincham. What do you think?

Are Gateshead definitely excluded then? I though the council had changed their mind about the ten year guarantee?

Quoted from Grantham_Mariner

I am going for Altrincham. What do you think?

I’m with you on Altrincham. I think, as we learned with McAtee two years ago, that it helps to have a proper talisman in one-off games like the play-offs, and Alty have got that with young Chris Conn-Clarke; 22 goals this season and a bit of that McAtee swagger. Looks a talent.

Having said all that, Barnet have got Cropper bombs. That’s useful too, innit.

Alty or Barnet for me.

Alty or Halifax easy ish to get to would be my preference but I think Barnet might have enough

Barnet for me, be a shame though, nice to have another northern club in the league, would love Halifax.

Don't mind. No affinity with any of them, though if I was pushed, Halifax for a decent away day.

HALIFAX  !! For me as a certain Max Wright ("He's one of our own!) at the moment is on form knocking a few goals in for them the other week a hat trick on his birthday.
A game Wednesday evening i will be taking an interest in.

Not really bothered, Scunny not winning the National League North play-offs would be good though.

Quoted from promotion plaice

Not really bothered, Scunny not winning the National League North play-offs would be good though.

Alfreton play Boston tonight for the right to play Scunny in the semi-final on Saturday.

Don't want Barnet
Would love to see Halifax back in the league, proper club and Max to boot.

As we know Solihull Moors have been knocking on the door for a couple of seasons - that's my bet.

Alty or Halifax would be better away days but Alty edge it for me on the basis that they don’t play on a farmers field

Halifax up with Chesterfield would be great , I also want Donny and Bradford to stay down and it'll give us plenty of local games

Solihull v Halifax 7pm tonight. TNT Sports 1 if anyone’s interested.

Can anyone explain the votes for Barnet? Little love in the comments. Dull modern ground that's a pig to get to and surrounded by nothing and we've played them loads. If they were still at Underhill it might be a different question

Quoted from immariner

Can anyone explain the votes for Barnet? Little love in the comments. Dull modern ground that's a pig to get to and surrounded by nothing and we've played them loads. If they were still at Underhill it might be a different question

The question in the poll is who do you think will win the playoffs, not who do you want to win the playoffs. Anyway,

Think: Barnet

Want: Altrincham or Halifax

intercourse off: Bromley and Solihull

Quoted from immariner

Can anyone explain the votes for Barnet? Little love in the comments. Dull modern ground that's a pig to get to and surrounded by nothing and we've played them loads. If they were still at Underhill it might be a different question

Dont mind Barnet as an away day tb, find it fairly easy to get too, the bar under the stand is superb, and if you want to venture into London first, you can do so.  

That said, of course prefer Alty or Halifax

Quoted from Chrisblor

The question in the poll is who do you think will win the playoffs, not who do you want to win the playoffs. Anyway,

Think: Barnet

Want: Altrincham or Halifax

intercourse off: Bromley and Solihull

That'll be it then 😄 I didn't actually look at the poll question properly, assumed it would be a preference thing becauae barely any of us will have enough knowledge to make an informed opinion, so most will be going off the final table I suspect. Altrincham, Solihull and Barnet come in with the best form over the last 8 games so I'd go with one of them 3, with a preference for Altrincham (5 wins in their last 6)

Quoted from Hagrid

Dont mind Barnet as an away day tb, find it fairly easy to get too, the bar under the stand is superb, and if you want to venture into London first, you can do so.  

That said, of course prefer Alty or Halifax

I'm in the same camp, we had some good away days at Barnet. The Mariachi band a particular favourite... but yeah I haven't done Alty so would like them to come up.

Max Wright and Luke Summerfield start for Halifax.

Former Mariners Alex Whitmore and Jamey Osbourne start for Solihull

Quoted from LocalLadGTFC

Former Mariners Alex Whitmore and Jamey Osbourne start for Solihull

Suprised that Sbarra is still there , thought he was destined for a league move after the play-offs against us . Maybe he will get there with Solihull

Barnet hopefully , as it’s a decent trip up via central London, otherwise Bromley as it’s only a short drive for me .

Quoted from immariner

Can anyone explain the votes for Barnet? Little love in the comments. Dull modern ground that's a pig to get to and surrounded by nothing and we've played them loads. If they were still at Underhill it might be a different question

For me Barnett the affection for the team / ground
Is the inflatables invasion when we go there, nothing
Else really.

Dreadful stuff from Halifax, looks like someone else will have to prevent Solihull and their shittip middle of nowhere ground from befouling the football league.

Osbourne still looks a player, shame about the lack of ambition

Quoted from Chrisblor

Dreadful stuff from Halifax, looks like someone else will have to prevent Solihull and their shittip middle of nowhere ground from befouling the football league.

Shame, would have quite like Halifax back in the league but they’ve looked dreadful in the opening 25 minutes.

Quoted from Chrisblor

Dreadful stuff from Halifax, looks like someone else will have to prevent Solihull and their shittip middle of nowhere ground from befouling the football league.

Weird place that remember it  ,wasn't it Maccas last game in goals for us ?

A right walk from the little towny bit of Solihull which didn't seem to have loads barring a spoons and roundabouts .

Jesus, that was proper Dog and Duck stuff.

Wow what an awful own goal from the Halifax lad. Game over.

That Halifax own goal for Solihull's third is one of the stupidest goals i've seen in my entire life. Suspected match fixing levels of incompetence

Quoted from Mappers

Weird place that remember it  ,wasn't it Maccas last game in goals for us ?

A right walk from the little towny bit of Solihull which didn't seem to have loads barring a spoons and roundabouts .

Yeah, miles away from anything and wedged between the Jaguar Land Rover factory and Birmingham Airport's runway. I'd hoped the facilities at the ground would have made up for the complete lack of any in the surrounding area but then all they had in the away end was a cash only burger van and a tiny bar in what seemed like a portakabin. Also the temporary stand they put us in had loads of gaps in the roof and a bunch of annoying little teenagers with horrible accents spent most of the game throwing stuff over the fence separating us from the home fans. As if winning the playoff final in the circumstances we did wasn't good enough, it was even better to do it late in extra-time against them (and I even still hold a grudge in case you can't tell)

Quoted from Chrisblor

Yeah, miles away from anything and wedged between the Jaguar Land Rover factory and Birmingham Airport's runway. I'd hoped the facilities at the ground would have made up for the complete lack of any in the surrounding area but then all they had in the away end was a cash only burger van and a tiny bar in what seemed like a portakabin. Also the temporary stand they put us in had loads of gaps in the roof and a bunch of annoying little teenagers with horrible accents spent most of the game throwing stuff over the fence separating us from the home fans. As if winning the playoff final in the circumstances we did wasn't good enough, it was even better to do it late in extra-time against them (and I even still hold a grudge in case you can't tell)

Last time I went, I’m sure there was a nice bar in the away end.

Very cheesy but prospectively “The Peaky Blinders Bar” ?

Don’t quote me on that though.

Halifax pull one back 3-1

3-2 with 10 mins to go. Could be interesting.

Small-time Jamie Osborne kills the tie

Quoted from Heswall Mariner

As we know Solihull Moors have been knocking on the door for a couple of seasons - that's my bet.

So far so good then. UTM.

Quoted from Chrisblor

The question in the poll is who do you think will win the playoffs, not who do you want to win the playoffs. Anyway,

Think: Barnet

Want: Altrincham or Halifax

intercourse off: Bromley and Solihull

Was it Bromley's manager who hated us for absolutely no reason? Claimed Hurst was disrespectful in his pre-match interviews despite being irritatingly complementary of every single team we ever played.

A massive gate of 1,825 at the game. I bet a fair few of those were from Halifax too.

Halifax were playing their 5th game in 12 days due to a backlog of rearranged fixtures last week.

Unless Barnet do the business  we will face a  team who have never been in the EFL before. Just to prove the fluidity, only 6 teams in our division have never been Non league

Quoted from kamakazebear

Was it Bromley's manager who hated us for absolutely no reason? Claimed Hurst was disrespectful in his pre-match interviews despite being irritatingly complementary of every single team we ever played.

He seems to have had a chip on his shoulder about ever since we beat Northampton in the play offs when he was their keeper

Barnet absolutely shitting their pants. 3-0 down to Solihull after an hour. Horrible to think there's a very strong chance we're going to end up with either them or Bromley in League Two next season (come on Altrincham!!!!)

This, along with the Solihull v Halifax game, just feels like a very non-league occasion in terms of the quality and intensity of both game and crowd.

Hard to believe our play-off games in 2022 were in the same division as this.

331 Solihull fans at Barnet!! Ffs that’s pretty @rse really

Solihull look a class side, drunk all over Barnet.

If they make it to the EFL they could be a decent side.

Quoted from WOZOFGRIMSBY

331 Solihull fans at Barnet!! Ffs that’s pretty @rse really

Still probably a bigger club than Forest Green, so still a potential upgrade if not a particularly big one.

At this point, it’s a case of “anyone but Bromley” for me.

Quoted from forza ivano

Unless Barnet do the business  we will face a  team who have never been in the EFL before. Just to prove the fluidity, only 6 teams in our division have never been Non league

Oooh, name them, name them……

Quoted from Heisenberg

Oooh, name them, name them……

At a guess, BFS, Crewe, Bradford, Walsall, Gillingham & Swindon.

Quoted from Poojah

At a guess, BFS, Crewe, Bradford, Walsall, Gillingham & Swindon.

Port Vale?

I hope I haven't made myself an idiot on Facebook.  Aren't Solihull still a part time club? Players such as Jamey Osborne, who is an electrician by trade?

You get Premiership managers moaning their arses off about playing too many games, then you have Solihull playing 3 games in a week for fook all money in comparison doing the buisness, while also working their daily jobs?

I had a feeling it would be Altrincham or Solihull going up, I can't remember which one I voted for now to win the play-offs.  I also don't want Bromley to go up.

Quoted from WOZOFGRIMSBY

331 Solihull fans at Barnet!! Ffs that’s pretty @rse really

By contrast, the centre of Boston to Glanford Park today would have been at least 90 minutes, and probably longer due to the M180 closure, or just unde 3 hours by train.

The centre of Solihull to Barnet's ground would have been just over 2 hours in the car or 3 hours by train, so not too dissimilar.

Boston took their full allocation of 1,552 to Scunthorpe this afternoon.

Quoted from Nelly GTFC

Aren't Solihull still a part time club?

No. They were professional by the time Marcus Bignot left them to become Town manager in 2016.

Quoted from Poojah

At a guess, BFS, Crewe, Bradford, Walsall, Gillingham & Swindon.

got it one. it was just a toss up between those 2 great mates (poojah and golly) as to who got there first

Honestly, anyone but Bromley

Quoted from MaccasBoots

Honestly, anyone but Bromley

Definitely going to be a team new to the EFL

I’d prefer Altrincham or if not then Solihull and like you not Bromley

Quoted from GollyGTFC

No. They were professional by the time Marcus Bignot left them to become Town manager in 2016.

All abit vague on the internet, I can't find anything either way to say they are semi-pro or pro, no references/citations.  I'll take your word for it.

Quoted from Heswall Mariner

As we know Solihull Moors have been knocking on the door for a couple of seasons - that's my bet.

Remain my prediction to see next season - doh!

Solihull Moors 8.7 Million in debt upto June 2023, mainly to the directors I guess propping it up.

Definitely rather Solihull went up and that has absolutely nothing to do with the fact it’s 20 mins away from my house …… honest

I suppose we want the least bankrolled / potentially weakest to come up which I'm guessing is probably Alty . Bromley would be similiar to Sutton (until it went wrong ) a sh*thouse team who would be horrible to play against . Solihull seem to be well financed on 1k gates so maybe the least favourable apart from for Brummie

Quoted from Mappers

I suppose we want the least bankrolled / potentially weakest to come up which I'm guessing is probably Alty . Bromley would be similiar to Sutton (until it went wrong ) a sh*thouse team who would be horrible to play against . Solihull seem to be well financed on 1k gates so maybe the least favourable apart from for Brummie

My thoughts exactly - come on alty. Plus think their fans are decent at their place and it's an away game thats a decent location.

Quoted from MaccasBoots

Honestly, anyone but Bromley

They seriously  need help by a massive cash injection to sort that ground out for any future progression, Yes they are on my doorstep but honestly no thanks.
Also going to work on a Monday worst case scenario "The Lip" / banter  IF  "Town" loose to them, Also for "The travelling Faithful" not the easiest place to get to.
So Altringham for me.

Presumably given they’ve been allowed to compete in the play-offs, all three remaining sides’ grounds meet the EFLs minimum ground requirements? I’ve only been to Alty, quite some time ago, but they each look shocking in their own, unique special way.

It just seems mad to me that 30 years after clubs like Town were forced to make expensive, capacity limiting modifications to their ground as a result of the Taylor Report, we will still be playing league games at places like this next season.

Quoted from forza ivano

got it one. it was just a toss up between those 2 great mates (poojah and golly) as to who got there first

Stewards enquiry...

Crewe Alexandra were founder members of the new D2 in 1892/93 after playing in the Football Alliance. They failed re-election at the end of the 1895/96 season and played in the Combination, Lancaster League, Birmingham & Disctrict League and the Central League before being founder memeber of the new D3(N) in 1921/22.

Walsall were founder members of the new D2 in 1892/93 after playing in the Football Alliance. But since then they have dropped out of the FL twice. They played in the Midland League 1895/96 and dropped out again after the 1900/01 season and played in the Midland League, Birmingham & District League & the Southern League before being founder memeber of the new D3(N) in 1921/22..

Gillingham & Swindon.were both founder members of the new D3 in 1920/21 but before that played in the Southern League.

Milton Keynes Dons & Bradford City are the only clubs who have genuinely never played in any other league other than the EFL (or Premier League in Bradford's case).

So the real answer is...

2 if you mean clubs who have never played in non-league.

or 4 if you include clubs that have never dropped out of the EFL after becoming a new member for the first time.

Have Bromley still got the plastic pitch? If so I assume that’ll have to go

Quoted from buckstown

Have Bromley still got the plastic pitch? If so I assume that’ll have to go

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.com/sport/football/57336301.amp

I only imagine the cost has gone up since this .

Quoted from Poojah

Presumably given they’ve been allowed to compete in the play-offs, all three remaining sides’ grounds meet the EFLs minimum ground requirements? I’ve only been to Alty, quite some time ago, but they each look shocking in their own, unique special way.

It just seems mad to me that 30 years after clubs like Town were forced to make expensive, capacity limiting modifications to their ground as a result of the Taylor Report, we will still be playing league games at places like this next season.

Just looked at all three on google earth and non of them look vey inspiring would assume whoever gets promoted will need to spend an awful amount of money to get them into shape

Quoted from Nelly GTFC

All abit vague on the internet, I can't find anything either way to say they are semi-pro or pro, no references/citations.  I'll take your word for it.

Turning professional isn't like it used to be. It's a slower evolution now by going hybrid (some pros & some semi-pros) and gradually turning fully professional. A lot of clubs in National League North operate in this way and have a training schedule to work around this (Monday morning, Tuesday evening, Wednesday morning & Thursday evening).

Altrincham went professional in the summer of 2022.

Quoted from Mappers

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.com/sport/football/57336301.amp

I only imagine the cost has gone up since this .

Promotion is worth over £1m a season in increased income (TV money & PL solidarity payments). I'm sure they'll cope.

Quoted from Poojah

Presumably given they’ve been allowed to compete in the play-offs, all three remaining sides’ grounds meet the EFLs minimum ground requirements? I’ve only been to Alty, quite some time ago, but they each look shocking in their own, unique special way.

It just seems mad to me that 30 years after clubs like Town were forced to make expensive, capacity limiting modifications to their ground as a result of the Taylor Report, we will still be playing league games at places like this next season.

Solihull is worse than Alty by some distance imo , Bromley not too good either I remember going there in the NL days for a Tuesday night game getting urine wet through on the walk to the ground ,getting there and being told it was off .went back for the re-arranged fixture which we managed to win thanks to a John Paul Pitman effort if I remember correctly . It's a dump though and makes BP look the equivalent of modern and sophisticated .

So Alty even get's my vote after being to all three putting everything else to one side and based on previous experience  .

Quoted from Mappers

Solihull is worse than Alty by some distance imo , Bromley not too good either I remember going there in the NL days for a Tuesday night game getting urine wet through on the walk to the ground ,getting there and being told it was off .went back for the re-arranged fixture which we managed to win thanks to a John Paul Pitman effort if I remember correctly . It's a dump though and makes BP look the equivalent of modern and sophisticated .

So Alty even get's my vote after being to all three putting everything else to one side and based on previous experience  .

2 sides of Hayes Road (Bromley) have been redeveloped and are good/decent.

Quoted from GollyGTFC

2 sides of Hayes Road (Bromley) have been redeveloped and are good/decent.

Have they?  that must have been a good while when I went 2015/16 I think , maybe another try then if they make it .

Quoted from Mappers

Have they?  that must have been a good while when I went 2015/16 I think , maybe another try then if they make it .

Their home end...

Here's a better one...

Quoted from GollyGTFC

Here's a better one...

Is that a plastic pitch looks pretty worn out

Quoted from GollyGTFC

Their home end...

Yeah, that looks alright to be fair. The other 3 sides still looking shocking, and if I’m not the mistaken the away “end” is still an uncovered terrace.

Quoted from Poojah

Yeah, that looks alright to be fair. The other 3 sides still looking shocking, and if I’m not the mistaken the away “end” is still an uncovered terrace.

EFL rules mean they have to offer at least 100 covered, segregated seats to away fans. Some sort of reconfiguration from our last visit in 2021/22 will be needed if they are promoted.

Quoted from GollyGTFC

Their home end...

Yeah definitely wasn't like that when i went mate , looks a smart stand tbf

Foul by Bromley on the goalkeeper for their goal. No surprise to see them cheating again

Altrincham having a mare

Bromley or Solihull coming up would be an absolute catastrophe. Both dreadful clubs.

Quoted from Chrisblor

Bromley or Solihull coming up would be an absolute catastrophe. Both dreadful clubs.

They might as well cancel Wembley and ask Boreham Wood if they can host the Final.

Chance of the lowest ever attendance for a NL playoff final?

Hearing the Crystal Palace/Chelsea/Arsenal fans in the Bromley stands sing "we're the black and white army" makes me feel sick

Solihull Moors going to Wembley twice in 6 days or course. No doubt that will restrict there sales for the promotion final.

Quoted from jimgtfc

Chance of the lowest ever attendance for a NL playoff final?

Highly unlikely to be lower than the 2020 final attendance.

Awful outcome for us. 2 nothing clubs miles away

Cant stand Woodman either

Just got this feeing our opening game will be Bromley or Solihull away