“This town ain’t big enough for the both of us…”

[Silvio Dante]

…but what about a third?

I’ve posted here before about Yate Town -  pretty much smallest club in their league at level 7, and last night won their 4th game on the bounce to hit the playoffs. Weston Super Mare are one place behind, and the game at Lodge Road in two weeks looks set to be a cracker.

Anyhow, it got me thinking. Yate are punching above their weight now, and although there are plans to improve the infrastructure, getting anywhere higher than Conference South seems optimistic - unless there was a Salford style takeover.

So, if there was something of that nature to Yate, Weston or another club in our catchment area, could the Bristol area sustain a third league club, and where? I’d assume attendances of 2k-5k tops and the question becomes if that’s new fans or taken from us/Rovers. Would it impact? Is it sustainable?

It would, however, be a fantastic laugh to see Yate beat Rovers in a League 2 or Conference match!

[Eddie Hitler]

Weston has a 76k population vs Yeovil's 45k and also more than Taunton.

Maybe they should do a Tranmere and start to play games on a Friday night so that all the City fans, and maybe some Rovers fans, who travel up can watch them as well.

 

[Nbafc]

Would love Yate to do so, always had a soft spot for them and Lodge Road.

Forest Green & Cheltenham, a bit further away, have shown its possible.

 

[Nbafc]

1 minute ago, Eddie Hitler said:

Weston has a 76k population vs Yeovil's 45k and also more than Taunton.

Maybe they should do a Tranmere and start to play games on a Friday night so that all the City fans, and maybe some Rovers fans, who travel up can watch them as well.

 

Didn't realise that was Tranmere's tactic! Good example of how clever u need to be to succeed?

[Red Army 75]

With rovers being so shit for so long. And there ageing fan base it would affect their attendances IMO. City have hoovered up a lot of young support and it’s good to see the amount of young supporters at the gate. It wouldn’t affect city IMO. Concerning for the fewers if it did happen. Come on the town 

[Silvio Dante]

13 minutes ago, Eddie Hitler said:

Weston has a 76k population vs Yeovil's 45k and also more than Taunton.

Maybe they should do a Tranmere and start to play games on a Friday night so that all the City fans, and maybe some Rovers fans, who travel up can watch them as well.

 

That seems like a fantastic idea. I remember when Tranmere did that in the 90s and it galvanised the club - Weston look to have the biggest potential to do the same (although with the development of Yate/Sodbury, we’ll be nudging 40-50k conurbation population soon)

[spudski]

The plans for new stand, gym, pitch, sports bar etc etc sound great. I understand one stand will be similar in principle to the Carol Embry suite at FGRs, where it will be two tier, top section behind glass. Certainly what's planned looks great for the local community. Open 7 days a week, sports pitch and gym, electric car power points, sports bar, even allotments etc...all will bring extra revenue to the Club.

They are miles off ever being League...however, they are punching big time this season. With games in hand, and a bit of luck they could even make top 2. 

If a miracle ever did happen...the new proposals with housing would make the club land locked so to speak. With really no further room to expand. Very limited. I guess the new park and ride could be utilised for visiting supporters in future if attendances increased.

As with everything these days, parking is the issue. Double yellows on the nearby trading estate. The council doing everything they can to stop street parking. The same happening in near Sodbury. Proposal for is it 750 new homes...yet they want to make Sodbury high st, a car free zone, with no parking. It's full to busting already with local residents cars, and car park generally full each day. 

It's not practical or feasible.

[redysteadygo]

31 minutes ago, Nbafc said:

Would love Yate to do so, always had a soft spot for them and Lodge Road.

Forest Green & Cheltenham, a bit further away, have shown its possible.

 

Sunnyside Lane in my playing days.

[pongo88]

Nailsworth only has a population of approx 6,000 so if Forest Green can reach League 2 level (and probably League 1 next season) anything is possible. It just needs someone with some money to invest 

[Steve Watts]

32 minutes ago, spudski said:

The plans for new stand, gym, pitch, sports bar etc etc sound great. I understand one stand will be similar in principle to the Carol Embry suite at FGRs, where it will be two tier, top section behind glass. Certainly what's planned looks great for the local community. Open 7 days a week, sports pitch and gym, electric car power points, sports bar, even allotments etc...all will bring extra revenue to the Club.

They are miles off ever being League...however, they are punching big time this season. With games in hand, and a bit of luck they could even make top 2. 

If a miracle ever did happen...the new proposals with housing would make the club land locked so to speak. With really no further room to expand. Very limited. I guess the new park and ride could be utilised for visiting supporters in future if attendances increased.

As with everything these days, parking is the issue. Double yellows on the nearby trading estate. The council doing everything they can to stop street parking. The same happening in near Sodbury. Proposal for is it 750 new homes...yet they want to make Sodbury high st, a car free zone, with no parking. It's full to busting already with local residents cars, and car park generally full each day. 

It's not practical or feasible.

The park and ride will only be a 10 minute walk from the stadium, however, which would help. And most residents will live within 3 miles, so the younger/fitter among the fan base are in walking distance.

1 hour ago, Silvio Dante said:

It would, however, be a fantastic laugh to see Yate beat Rovers in a League 2 or Conference match!

Would be even funnier if it were to happen in a Southern Premier League South match!

[Robbored]

53 minutes ago, Nbafc said:

Didn't realise that was Tranmere's tactic! Good example of how clever u need to be to succeed?

Tranmere are surrounded by by far bigger clubs so that’s why they play home games on Friday evenings. They’ve done so for as long as I can remember.

[Silvio Dante]

Just now, Steve Watts said:

The park and ride will only be a 10 minute walk from the stadium, however, which would help. And most residents will live within 3 miles, so the younger/fitter among the fan base are in walking distance.

 

I’m saying nothing.

[Silvio Dante]

2 minutes ago, Robbored said:

Tranmere are surrounded by by far bigger clubs so that’s why they play home games on Friday evenings. They’ve done so for as long as I can remember.

Except they don’t any more.

Factually correct as ever.

[Steve Watts]

5 minutes ago, Silvio Dante said:

I’m saying nothing.

There's a reason I changed my wording from "us" to "the fan base" before I pressed "Submit Reply"!!!

[spudski]

6 minutes ago, Steve Watts said:

The park and ride will only be a 10 minute walk from the stadium, however, which would help. And most residents will live within 3 miles, so the younger/fitter among the fan base are in walking distance.

Would be even funnier if it were to happen in a Southern Premier League South match!

In theory...but when it's freezing cold and raining heavily, or extremely windy, the chances are, most won't walk any distance. This is the problem...That's British weather in a nutshell. No one these days wants to stand soaking wet and shivering whilst watching a game.

[spudski]

34 minutes ago, redysteadygo said:

Sunnyside Lane in my playing days.

Me too...then onto lodge road. Changing in the old wooden cricket pavilion was fun...not :laugh:

[Eddie Hitler]

1 hour ago, Nbafc said:

Didn't realise that was Tranmere's tactic! Good example of how clever u need to be to succeed?

 

I remember that was why Half Man Half Biscuit wouldn't appear on The Tube because it was broadcast live 5 - 7 on a Friday which clashed with Tranmere games.

The Tube's production team offered to helicopter them to the ground after playing but they refused this as they wanted to remain ordinary fans rather than big time Charlies.

[petehinton]

Weston are an absolutely massive club and town for that level. To have 2/3 players of full-time (extremely decent) salaries at that level is unheard of really, and the quality/size of academy that's in place there now is really impressive. 

They're absolutely flying at the moment & look on course to go up. Would be amazed if they aren't in the National League in the next few years.

[Major Isewater]

1 hour ago, Nbafc said:

Didn't realise that was Tranmere's tactic! Good example of how clever u need to be to succeed?

I wonder how the opposition react to this request to play on a Friday night ? 

[Robbored]

18 minutes ago, Silvio Dante said:

Except they don’t any more.

Factually correct as ever.

Probably because the local PL clubs rarely kick off at 3pm these days because of Sky/BT - not that I pay attention to Tranmere Rovers…………….

[Dr Balls]

40 minutes ago, petehinton said:

Weston are an absolutely massive club and town for that level. To have 2/3 players of full-time (extremely decent) salaries at that level is unheard of really, and the quality/size of academy that's in place there now is really impressive. 

They're absolutely flying at the moment & look on course to go up. Would be amazed if they aren't in the National League in the next few years.

Weren’t they in the Conference at some point, along with Bath City? My impression was that they had a few bad seasons recently but agree that given the population and catchment, they could be a lot higher up than they are. 
 

As for Yate Town it’s great to see them doing well. And the reality is that with a bit of money and some behind the scene pushing the club forward, you can achieve things at this level of football. Forest Green are absolute proof of that.

[richwwtk]

7 minutes ago, Dr Balls said:

Weren’t they in the Conference at some point, along with Bath City? My impression was that they had a few bad seasons recently but agree that given the population and catchment, they could be a lot higher up than they are. 
 

As for Yate Town it’s great to see them doing well. And the reality is that with a bit of money and some behind the scene pushing the club forward, you can achieve things at this level of football. Forest Green are absolute proof of that.

The highest Weston got was Conference South.

Also a strange one was that their relegation to the Southern Premier recently was the first relegation in the club's history!

[Steve Watts]

1 hour ago, spudski said:

In theory...but when it's freezing cold and raining heavily, or extremely windy, the chances are, most won't walk any distance. This is the problem...That's British weather in a nutshell. No one these days wants to stand soaking wet and shivering whilst watching a game.

Parking won't make much of a difference in that situation right now as 2/3 of the ground is uncovered anyway.  Obviously covered terraces change that somewhat, but at the moment the club aren't there.  Would be great for them to see some sort of success, for sure.  The cup run showed the potential.

[phantom]

1 hour ago, petehinton said:

Weston are an absolutely massive club and town for that level. To have 2/3 players of full-time (extremely decent) salaries at that level is unheard of really, and the quality/size of academy that's in place there now is really impressive. 

They're absolutely flying at the moment & look on course to go up. Would be amazed if they aren't in the National League in the next few years.

Would not say a massive club, sadly the following is still low for the size of Weston. But much of this is because Weston has become a commuting town over the years so people already have affiliation with other clubs. 

There is a big City following in the town already that follow regularly, Weston will always struggle to push on to the next level

The association with the college is a massive thing for the club and town and hopefully see's the club bringing local players through.

As for getting to the National league, as much as the Bliss family have done an amazing job over many decades running the club, the step up in finances to compete at the next level up would surely need additional financial input

The league is certainly looking interesting, but lots of clubs are on the verge of the play offs

[Silvio Dante]

3 minutes ago, phantom said:

Would not say a massive club, sadly the following is still low for the size of Weston. But much of this is because Weston has become a commuting town over the years so people already have affiliation with other clubs. 

There is a big City following in the town already that follow regularly, Weston will always struggle to push on to the next level

The association with the college is a massive thing for the club and town and hopefully see's the club bringing local players through.

As for getting to the National league, as much as the Bliss family have done an amazing job over many decades running the club, the step up in finances to compete at the next level up would surely need additional financial input

The league is certainly looking interesting, but lots of clubs are on the verge of the play offs

Sorry Phants, as a Yate boy I have to correct your table:

 

[phantom]

9 minutes ago, Silvio Dante said:

Sorry Phants, as a Yate boy I have to correct your table:

 

How odd, I'll tell the guys at Weston later 

[Silvio Dante]

1 minute ago, phantom said:

How odd, I'll tell the guys at Weston later 

I’m assuming mine is right - Yate tweeted last night they were into the playoffs and the table is from the Southern League website. I’m guessing Weston updated the games played but didn’t put the result in. Crafty trick to make the playoffs!

[Sleepy1968]

2 minutes ago, Silvio Dante said:

I’m assuming mine is right - Yate tweeted last night they were into the playoffs and the table is from the Southern League website. I’m guessing Weston updated the games played but didn’t put the result in. Crafty trick to make the playoffs!

Has Mel Morris found a new club?

[GrahamC]

1 hour ago, Dr Balls said:

Weren’t they in the Conference at some point, along with Bath City? My impression was that they had a few bad seasons recently but agree that given the population and catchment, they could be a lot higher up than they are. 
 

As for Yate Town it’s great to see them doing well. And the reality is that with a bit of money and some behind the scene pushing the club forward, you can achieve things at this level of football. Forest Green are absolute proof of that.

Trowbridge were, not Weston.

[Atyeo's lift]

2 hours ago, pongo88 said:

Nailsworth only has a population of approx 6,000 so if Forest Green can reach League 2 level (and probably League 1 next season) anything is possible. It just needs someone with some money to invest 

Should someone tell Wally?

[Wiltshire robin]

37 minutes ago, phantom said:

Would not say a massive club, sadly the following is still low for the size of Weston. But much of this is because Weston has become a commuting town over the years so people already have affiliation with other clubs. 

There is a big City following in the town already that follow regularly, Weston will always struggle to push on to the next level

The association with the college is a massive thing for the club and town and hopefully see's the club bringing local players through.

As for getting to the National league, as much as the Bliss family have done an amazing job over many decades running the club, the step up in finances to compete at the next level up would surely need additional financial input

The league is certainly looking interesting, but lots of clubs are on the verge of the play offs

It’s always surprised me that Truro has never really made a push for league football being the only city (I think) in Cornwall and not having any competition from league clubs in the county .

[Leveller]

2 hours ago, petehinton said:

Weston are an absolutely massive club and town for that level. To have 2/3 players of full-time (extremely decent) salaries at that level is unheard of really, and the quality/size of academy that's in place there now is really impressive. 

They're absolutely flying at the moment & look on course to go up. Would be amazed if they aren't in the National League in the next few years.

Why do they look on course to go up by being on the fringes of the playoffs?

[grifty]

52 minutes ago, phantom said:

Would not say a massive club, sadly the following is still low for the size of Weston. But much of this is because Weston has become a commuting town over the years so people already have affiliation with other clubs. 

There is a big City following in the town already that follow regularly, Weston will always struggle to push on to the next level

The association with the college is a massive thing for the club and town and hopefully see's the club bringing local players through.

As for getting to the National league, as much as the Bliss family have done an amazing job over many decades running the club, the step up in finances to compete at the next level up would surely need additional financial input

The league is certainly looking interesting, but lots of clubs are on the verge of the play offs

I scored after 7 seconds in my adult footballing debut against Met Police in a friendly playing for West Watford nearly 20 years ago.

My claim to fame and something I tell my missus every time the words Met Police are mentioned, even if its not to do with the football team.

[petehinton]

14 minutes ago, Leveller said:

Why do they look on course to go up by being on the fringes of the playoffs?

playing great football, scoring a lot of goals and in really strong form. Finding their stride at the right time

[Shaun Taylor]

2 hours ago, Silvio Dante said:

Except they don’t any more.

Factually correct as ever.

You're correct they hardly ever play Friday evenings anymore but that could be down to Everton & Liverpool don't play many home games on Saturdays 

[myol'man]

1 hour ago, Wiltshire robin said:

It’s always surprised me that Truro has never really made a push for league football being the only city (I think) in Cornwall and not having any competition from league clubs in the county .

I thought that Truro were going to be the next big thing a few years back, new stadium shared with Cornish Pirates. What happened to all that?

[Arsene's Wanger]

6 minutes ago, myol'man said:

I thought that Truro were going to be the next big thing a few years back, new stadium shared with Cornish Pirates. What happened to all that?

The club's owner's business went into freefall iirc. Think he stopped ploughing money into them. Shame really as I think Cornwall would really get behind a league club.

[redysteadygo]

The local non league teams will have to go some to beat Minehead's  achievement of  finishing second in the Southern Prem League to Wimbledon the year they got promoted to the football league. That was after beating Swansea 1-0 at the Vetch Field in the  F.A. Cup 1st round and then loosing narrowly at Portsmouth.

[LondonBristolian]

5 hours ago, redysteadygo said:

Sunnyside Lane in my playing days.

Wow! My grandparents used to live at the top of Sunnyside Lane backing into the playing field. There was always football going on a Saturday but I had no idea until now that Yate Town used to play there!

[Silvio Dante]

31 minutes ago, myol'man said:

I thought that Truro were going to be the next big thing a few years back, new stadium shared with Cornish Pirates. What happened to all that?

I think the thing with Truro is unless they go full time and pay people to move there, they’re always going to struggle to develop. The location isn’t as favourable for employment as here, for example, and teams like WSM and Yate are part time and rely on people having other jobs while playing for them. If those other jobs aren’t there in Truro, they get less players.

Add in that a standard away game (even here) is a few hours away adding massive costs and it’s difficult to see how they get much further. They’ve been bankrupt twice to my knowledge and sold their ground.
 

IIRC, Cornish Pirates have turned down promotion before as it’s not financially viable 

[Eddie Hitler]

27 minutes ago, myol'man said:

I thought that Truro were going to be the next big thing a few years back, new stadium shared with Cornish Pirates. What happened to all that?

 

Truro City was bought by the Cornish Pirates owner who has money but doesn't piss it away.

The Stadium for Cornwall, which is in a bonkers place IMO on the A390 which is best described as the traffic jam into Truro, is stalled awaiting government money that may never come.

Truro City is still playing at Treyew Road but developers are moving in and they will be ground sharing at Plymouth Parkway until the new Stadium is built; if ever.

There is no great tradition of watching football in Cornwall and crowds are low, if there any spectator sport it's rugby, so I don't see Truro City as having much potential.

If I was a betting man I could see Mousehole overtaking them; and I'm not joking.

They have several rich people backing the club and have a very professional set up 

https://www.mouseholeafc.co.uk/

[Leveller]

2 hours ago, petehinton said:

playing great football, scoring a lot of goals and in really strong form. Finding their stride at the right time

Just looked at the form table for the last six games, where they are about sixth, with Taunton top. Obviously it depends how many games you look at!

[Eddie Hitler]

2 hours ago, Wiltshire robin said:

It’s always surprised me that Truro has never really made a push for league football being the only city (I think) in Cornwall and not having any competition from league clubs in the county .

 

The long term best football teams in Cornwall have been Bodmin and St Austell; Truro only saw success through money being poured into it by Kevin Heaney a property developer.

They all thought he was a great benefactor but he had secretly sold the ground and that was from where the money derived.

Truro may be the only city but that's because of the Victorian cathedral.

It's smaller than Bodmin, St Austell, Newquay, Falmouth and Penzance and its traffic problems are terrible despite its small size.

And their crowds were tiny and playing in Plymouth is going to cut them further.

I quite like them but the reality is that that their glory days are now behind them.

Edited January 20, 2022 by Eddie Hitler

[Wiltshire robin]

27 minutes ago, Eddie Hitler said:

 

The long term best football teams in Cornwall have been Bodmin and St Austell; Truro only saw success through money being poured into it by Kevin Heaney a property developer.

They all thought he was a great benefactor but he had secretly sold the ground and that was from where the money derived.

Truro may be the only city but that's because of the Victorian cathedral.

It's smaller than Bodmin, St Austell, Newquay, Falmouth and Penzance and its traffic problems are terrible despite its small size.

And their crowds were tiny and playing in Plymouth is going to cut them further.

I quite like them but the reality is that that their glory days are now behind them.

Wow guess you learn something new everyday . I had no idea Truro was smaller than those places .

[Eddie Hitler]

19 minutes ago, Wiltshire robin said:

Wow guess you learn something new everyday . I had no idea Truro was smaller than those places .

 

On checking I am understating it slightly but it is down in fourth.

Though all these towns have seen huge amounts of house building these last six years or so and this only goes to 2011.  All are much smaller than Weston.

 

# Settlement Population[1]

2001 2011

1 Redruth (including Camborne) 39,937 42,690

2 Falmouth (including Penryn) 28,801 31,988

3 St Austell 22,658 25,447

4 Truro 20,920 23,041

5 Newquay 19,562 20,189

6 Penzance 20,255 19,872

7 Saltash 14,124 15,566

8 Bodmin 12,778 14,614

 

[Dr Balls]

3 hours ago, Eddie Hitler said:

 

On checking I am understating it slightly but it is down in fourth.

Though all these towns have seen huge amounts of house building these last six years or so and this only goes to 2011.  All are much smaller than Weston.

 

# Settlement Population[1]

2001 2011

1 Redruth (including Camborne) 39,937 42,690

2 Falmouth (including Penryn) 28,801 31,988

3 St Austell 22,658 25,447

4 Truro 20,920 23,041

5 Newquay 19,562 20,189

6 Penzance 20,255 19,872

7 Saltash 14,124 15,566

8 Bodmin 12,778 14,614

 

All bigger than Nailsworth…

Must be hard for Gloucester City fans considering all the trouble that their club  has had in recent years with their flooded ground (now all hopefully sorted) to have not just Cheltenham lording it over them but also Forest Green Rovers.

Imagine that - being a “City” fan with a local “Rovers” team above you in the league….

On the other hand don’t bother.  As far as Bristol is concerned, It’s not worth wasting your time on something so ludicrous!

[spudski]

5 hours ago, LondonBristolian said:

Wow! My grandparents used to live at the top of Sunnyside Lane backing into the playing field. There was always football going on a Saturday but I had no idea until now that Yate Town used to play there!

Yate Town played on the pitch nearest the Cricket pavilion and Tennis courts for a while before they moved to Lodge road. Made my debut for Yate Town on that pitch, and scored :laugh: When they moved to Lodge road, the pitch was awful to start with... especially in the summer...never seen a ball bobble about so much. It's so much better now. A lot of clay soil in Yate. Not ideal for footy.  The other pitches beyond were played on by youth teams like Yate Utd boys. Known as the German fields as this was where there was a German POW camp during WW2.

[SecretSam]

The one that mystifies me is Bath, how come they haven't managed to do anything. 

The West Country, however, struggles to support the league clubs it has now, let alone new ones.

[Lanterne Rouge]

Following on from the Friday night games that Tranmere used to play Southend did the same as so many from the area went to watch the big London clubs - West Ham in the main.

Also, Torquay famously used to play on a Saturday night to avoid the big holiday season changeover day.

[forbespm]

On 20/01/2022 at 18:35, Dr Balls said:

All bigger than Nailsworth…

Must be hard for Gloucester City fans considering all the trouble that their club  has had in recent years with their flooded ground (now all hopefully sorted) to have not just Cheltenham lording it over them but also Forest Green Rovers.

Imagine that - being a “City” fan with a local “Rovers” team above you in the league….

On the other hand don’t bother.  As far as Bristol is concerned, It’s not worth wasting your time on something so ludicrous!

I remember when all 3 clubs were in the same division,Cheltenham pipping Gloucester city to promotion to the national league.

All things considering ,Gloucester city have a hardy and loyal following.

Not been the best of times since the floods nearly put them out of business but it's great to see them back at meadow park.

3 games this season they have had more than 2,000 on the gate so the support is there

[Dr Balls]

11 hours ago, forbespm said:

I remember when all 3 clubs were in the same division,Cheltenham pipping Gloucester city to promotion to the national league.

All things considering ,Gloucester city have a hardy and loyal following.

Not been the best of times since the floods nearly put them out of business but it's great to see them back at meadow park.

3 games this season they have had more than 2,000 on the gate so the support is there

Just checked which other teams are in National League North with Gloucester and amazed that there are 9 clubs who in one form or another have been in the league, including the likes of York and Chester. By comparison, in National League South it’s only Maidstone who have ever been in the Football League, (and even then it was a brief visit) so you can see how the balance of power in football has shifted over the last few years at these somewhat lower levels. Plus the fact that when dividing the country in two, only the Cornish might consider Gloucester and Hereford as “The North”!

[KegCity]

18 hours ago, SecretSam said:

The one that mystifies me is Bath, how come they haven't managed to do anything. 

The West Country, however, struggles to support the league clubs it has now, let alone new ones.

It's all about the rugby in Bath. It's also a tough location as they're not a big club so most people in the area either support City/Gas or are closer to Wiltshire and support Swindon. 

I think if they somehow got to league 2 they might be able to build some momentum.

[CyderInACan]

57 minutes ago, Dr Balls said:

Plus the fact that when dividing the country in two, only the Cornish might consider Gloucester and Hereford as “The North”!

The Cornish refer to anywhere further away than Exeter as being “Up Country”

Edited January 22, 2022 by CyderInACan

[Lanterne Rouge]

1 minute ago, CyderInACan said:

The Cornish refer to anywhere further away than Exeter as being “Up Country”

Exeter! EXETER! Launceston is as far up country as most of them are prepared to venture - anywhere further truly is Terra Incognita.

[forbespm]

3 hours ago, Dr Balls said:

Just checked which other teams are in National League North with Gloucester and amazed that there are 9 clubs who in one form or another have been in the league, including the likes of York and Chester. By comparison, in National League South it’s only Maidstone who have ever been in the Football League, (and even then it was a brief visit) so you can see how the balance of power in football has shifted over the last few years at these somewhat lower levels. Plus the fact that when dividing the country in two, only the Cornish might consider Gloucester and Hereford as “The North”!

I went to Gloucester city v york at the start of the season.I remember Ralph Milne scoring a last minute winner for city at bootham crescent.yes,some big clubs in national North.

[OneCity]

What about Mangotsfield? Not sure where they play, but is there a chance they could ever climb the pyramid to at least Conference level?

I'm just thinking of a team that play within Bristol, or at least within the Greater Bristol area, and they come to mind.

Edited January 22, 2022 by OneCity

[spudski]

Great away win for Yate today at league leaders Farnborough. Certainly grinding out results. 

The recent game against Weston was very entertaining and a little bit fiesty.

How Weston's LB never got sent off I'll never know.

Love the banter you get between managers, players and fans at this level. 

Yate will also be hosting a BCFC legends team again Man Utd legends in July.

Whether it's Leg ends or Legends that play will be questionable.

Anyone else got into following their local team more recently?

I've been on and off over the years depending on circumstances.

[BS4 on Tour...]

On 20/01/2022 at 08:10, Silvio Dante said:

…but what about a third?

I’ve posted here before about Yate Town -  pretty much smallest club in their league at level 7, and last night won their 4th game on the bounce to hit the playoffs. Weston Super Mare are one place behind, and the game at Lodge Road in two weeks looks set to be a cracker.

Anyhow, it got me thinking. Yate are punching above their weight now, and although there are plans to improve the infrastructure, getting anywhere higher than Conference South seems optimistic - unless there was a Salford style takeover.

So, if there was something of that nature to Yate, Weston or another club in our catchment area, could the Bristol area sustain a third league club, and where? I’d assume attendances of 2k-5k tops and the question becomes if that’s new fans or taken from us/Rovers. Would it impact? Is it sustainable?

It would, however, be a fantastic laugh to see Yate beat Rovers in a League 2 or Conference match!

We’ve got one - Forest Green Rovers - only 4 miles further from Bristol than Weston super Mare ...

[BS4 on Tour...]

On 20/01/2022 at 08:35, Silvio Dante said:

That seems like a fantastic idea. I remember when Tranmere did that in the 90s and it galvanised the club - Weston look to have the biggest potential to do the same (although with the development of Yate/Sodbury, we’ll be nudging 40-50k conurbation population soon)

Southend United used to play at home on Friday nights as well back then and they brought that back as recently as 2013 to try and attract West Ham fans based locally to support the Shrimpers ... 

[joe jordans teeth]

3 minutes ago, BS4 on Tour... said:

We’ve got one - Forest Green Rovers - only 4 miles further from Bristol than Weston super Mare ...

So not near Bristol at all,Forest green is only 2 miles shorter than Newport county 

[Silvio Dante]

5 hours ago, spudski said:

Great away win for Yate today at league leaders Farnborough. Certainly grinding out results. 

The recent game against Weston was very entertaining and a little bit fiesty.

How Weston's LB never got sent off I'll never know.

Love the banter you get between managers, players and fans at this level. 

Yate will also be hosting a BCFC legends team again Man Utd legends in July.

Whether it's Leg ends or Legends that play will be questionable.

Anyone else got into following their local team more recently?

I've been on and off over the years depending on circumstances.

It was pretty much an assault by Weston’s LB! Thought on that game a 1-1 draw was just about fair, Yate started superbly. Weston’s keeper kept them in it for me, but then the second half was a bit of a damp squib.

Fantastic result today. Yate are small at this level and Paul Michaels done a fantastic job. Been down about 5 times this season and will no doubt add by season end.

[BS4 on Tour...]

19 hours ago, joe jordans teeth said:

So not near Bristol at all,Forest green is only 2 miles shorter than Newport county 

I think you missed the point - the OP mentioned Weston as being a club in our catchment area, so I merely pointed out that Forest Green Rovers is only 4 miles further from Bristol than Weston ...

[Eddie Hitler]

To update as Truro City were mentioned on this thread the chap who bought them ?two years ago is retiring from sports ownership.

Dicky Evans is the long term owner of the Cornish Pirates rugby team, over twenty years, and has said that he will step down in three years and has capped his funding in that time at £2.5m.

Truro City barely rates a mention but he's pulling out of those as well but presumably without a similar financial guarantee.

And as Dicky was providing, through those teams, two thirds of the private funding for the unstarted "Stadium for Cornwall" then that will have gone for a Burton as well. Mind it was planned in a stupid location where the traffic is already a nightmare.

Which leaves Truro City ownerless, groundless, potless and playing home games in Devon at Plymouth Parkway's ground.

I think the club will revert to what it was before Kevin Heaney bought what wasn't even one of the top amateur football teams in Cornwall and funded a huge rise through the leagues by secretly selling the ground to a developer.

 

https://www.cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/dicky-evans-end-funding-cornish-6807815

 

[Clutton Caveman]

On 20/01/2022 at 08:10, Silvio Dante said:

…but what about a third?

I’ve posted here before about Yate Town -  pretty much smallest club in their league at level 7, and last night won their 4th game on the bounce to hit the playoffs. Weston Super Mare are one place behind, and the game at Lodge Road in two weeks looks set to be a cracker.

Anyhow, it got me thinking. Yate are punching above their weight now, and although there are plans to improve the infrastructure, getting anywhere higher than Conference South seems optimistic - unless there was a Salford style takeover.

So, if there was something of that nature to Yate, Weston or another club in our catchment area, could the Bristol area sustain a third league club, and where? I’d assume attendances of 2k-5k tops and the question becomes if that’s new fans or taken from us/Rovers. Would it impact? Is it sustainable?

It would, however, be a fantastic laugh to see Yate beat Rovers in a League 2 or Conference match!

To be honest I wouldn't fancy playing Rovers at the moment.

[Eddie Hitler]

1 minute ago, Clutton Caveman said:

To be honest I wouldn't fancy playing Rovers at the moment.

 

I wouldn't even fancy playing Barnsley!

[Leveller]

Treating this now as a thread on this league …

I see that Yate have dropped to eighth, Weston remain in the play offs, but Taunton have continued their surge up the table.

Tonight they play a game in hand, where a win would put them three points clear in first, with two games to go.

The automatic promotion place still looks open to four teams though, ie Hayes, Taunton, Farnborough and Met Police.

[cidercity1987]

Just now, Leveller said:

Treating this now as a thread on this league …

I see that Yate have dropped to eighth, Weston remain in the play offs, but Taunton have continued their surge up the table.

Tonight they play a game in hand, where a win would put them three points clear in first, with two games to go.

The automatic promotion place still looks open to four teams though, ie Hayes, Taunton, Farnborough and Met Police.

Some very bad results for Yate lately especially at home. As an example, somehow managed to lose to 10 men lower midtable Tiverton who had Craig Woodman of all people sent off in about the 20th minute.

Still in with a shout of the play offs though with some games in hand still

 

[Leveller]

28 minutes ago, cidercity1987 said:

Some very bad results for Yate lately especially at home. As an example, somehow managed to lose to 10 men lower midtable Tiverton who had Craig Woodman of all people sent off in about the 20th minute.

Still in with a shout of the play offs though with some games in hand still

 

But they are tonight’s opponents at Taunton  - so that’s a tough one.
 

[phantom]

Weston travel to Truro this weekend, make or break for them

[Leveller]

1 hour ago, phantom said:

Weston travel to Truro this weekend, make or break for them

And Truro have recently beaten Taunton!