Farny at the far post

Vodkat League Vice Chairman Alan Farnworth casts his eye over current events

As another season draws to a conclusion, I think it’s worth taking a step back and reflecting on what has happened over the course of the 2007-08 season.

At the risk of boring everyone, I have to finish where we came in and that of course means the dreaded restructuring. I don't know who coined the phrase restructuring but they have a lot to answer for. I could think of a better description but it might involve lawyers and they are very expensive.

Once more we are at the end of a season and nobody knows where they are going! At the beginning of the season the Unibond League wanted four clubs out of the Northern League. The FA did their best to help this along by throwing the rule book out of the window, and adding a further fall back by saying that all a club had to do was finish in the top six of the Northern League. Sod the fact that our league was set up such that we would contribute just one club, and that was as long as they won the league and met the Unibond Grade “E” standard for ground grading.

Anyway, Trafford have duly achieved this, and will take their place in the Unibond League next season where they will probably carry all before them like most of clubs usually do when they go up. I’m sure they will find it easier playing at a lower standard of football (don’t bother sending any letters to me, they will only go in the bin anyway).

Then we have the issue of Alsager Town. Where are they going to go? They have the same grade as Trafford but have to be relegated. What a stupid rule!!!

Now the Unibond would like the most northerly clubs from the south. Really? As I said months ago, who writes the script - Ken Dodd?

The we had Newcastle Blue Star resign because of the travel. The FA and Unibond League accept their request to go back to the Northern League, and Consett and Dunston Federation decide that stopping where they are seems the best bet. So then there were none! (I hope you are following this because I'll ask questions later).

Having accepted the resignation, Newcastle Blue Star decide to have a change of heart were welcomed back to the Unibond like the prodigal son. I wonder if that's because they were short of clubs? What do you think?

In the meantime Retford,ran away with the Unibond League South are told they can’t go up because all their ground grading requirements weren’t completed on time - 1st April. But then we are told the Unibond League will announce who is going where on 15th May. You couldn’t make it up, could you? Someone somewhere couldn't run a chip shop - and it's not the Vodkat League.

Anyway, to all of you who have made me welcome on my travels, a big thank you. To those of you I've missed, yuo don't know what you've missed, but you will be first up next time around unless you tell me otherwise. To all of our clubs who lost old friends and colleagues and loved ones during the season, my condolences. And finally, to all of you out there in the non league world, keep smiling, keep watching the beautiful game and let’s hope that next season brings you everything you desire.

See you on “the far post”.

Farny

Alan Farnworth