Farny at the far post

League Vice Chairman Alan Farnworth looks at current events

Here we go again. Another season under way, and once more the one thing that is on everyone’s mind in non-league circles is reconstruction – now there’s a surprise.

Yet again the same old questions are being asked. How many are going up? Who’s going where? The same old story is being played out, despite our friends from the Unibond League assuring us just a short time ago that they would give us a rest for three years, because their First Division is really just the Vodkat League under a different name. At a rough count, 15 of the clubs in the North and South Divisions used to play in our league, so it’s a fair statement to make.

Now, they are making no secret of the fact that they want to get up to full strength as soon as possible. Oh really? Where do they think they are going to get the clubs from? Oh yes, of course, four from the Northern League. Who was it suggested that – Ken Dodd?

I read recently in the Non League Paper that Gerry Luczka, the Chorley manager, suggested that the Unibond should come and get more clubs from us, and at the same time there should be no relegation from the Unibond League. Now, I’ve known Gerry for a very long time, and he knows our league well, so I’m sure he realises that if the Unibond League devastate us any further, then the Unibond League would be relegating clubs straight into the Manchester League, because the Vodkat League wouldn’t exist.

But maybe that’s what the Unibond League clubs want. Just a Unibond League and sod the Vodkat League. Well, gentlemen, let me assure you that any attempt to take more than one club from us would be met with very stiff opposition. Why shouldn’t the Unibond League relegate clubs? Do they think they are too good for us? Or, perhaps they are worried that Unibond clubs would get relegated and would never get back up again because of ground grading.

I’ve got a message for the Unibond League - what you should do is relegate about half a dozen clubs to us, we’ll make sure they work on their grounds to get the facilities sorted out properly and turn them into proper football grounds, and then send them back to you when we are ready.

While touching on the subject of ground grading, the latest gem to emerge from Soho Square recently was the suggestion that all grass bankings in football grounds are to be outlawed. That would be fine, the Unibond League would be back to two divisions and all the problems would be solved. On the point of grass banking, going back to Gerry Luczka again, another point springs to mind – don’t Chorley have a big grass bank all down one side at Victory Park?

Getting back to events on the pitch, as we approach the end of October, most of our clubs have played about 25% of their league games. In Division One it’s Salford who are making all the early running and opening up a gap on Trafford. I don’t want to labour a point, but it’s interesting that two clubs looking most likely to be in contention for promotion to the Unibond League have grass banking in their grounds.

In Division Two it’s New Mills and league newcomers Kirkham & Wesham who are setting the pace. Incidentally, I paid my first visit to Kirkham & Wesham the other week and very nice it was too, great to see a new club with good facilities coming into the league. Just one thing that puzzled me – they were selling badges with AFC Fylde on them. What’s that all about? Another new club coming into our league perhaps?

Finally, let’s hope that this season we can carry on the success we have had in recent years in the national cup competitions. Cheadle were our sole survivors up to the end of September in the FA Cup, but we still have ten clubs remaining in the FA Vase.

Let’s hope that by the end of this season we will have a visit to the new Wembley to look forward to with one of our clubs.

At the time of writing the season is ticking over nicely weatherwise, let’s hope that continues.

See you 'at the far post'.

Farny

Alan Farnworth