Conference North next season?

[rob]

All hypotheticals but, if we make it all the way to the playoff finals and get robbed by a last minute penalty decision and therefore remain in the conference south for another season! 3 teams look to be relegated from the national that are much more southern than us.

In order to balance the leagues, it looks like us or hemel would be the most northerly team. This was also mentioned last season.

Has this happened in the past, where a team from the south has had to play in the north?

[saint68]

Apr 22, 2023 5:50:12 GMT rob said:

All hypotheticals but, if we make it all the way to the playoff finals and get robbed by a last minute penalty decision and therefore remain in the conference south for another season! 3 teams look to be relegated from the national that are much more southern than us.

In order to balance the leagues, it looks like us or hemel would be the most northerly team. This was also mentioned last season.

Has this happened in the past, where a team from the south has had to play in the north?

Oxford City and Bishop’s Stortford have had to play in Conference North before.

It’s possible that us or Hemel could be transferred, but I suspect it’s more likely to be Oxford assuming they don’t go up via the play-offs. Stortford have been promoted back so I guess they’re not safe from endless trips up north either.

[expatsaint]

I believe that both Oxford City and Bishops Stortford spent at least one season in the Conference North. I read recently that when Bishops Stortford objected to being placed in the northern section, the league then agreed to partially subsidise their travel expenses for at least the following season.  

[lagerman]

I think, if they don't go up, it'll be Oxford City who'll get shifted over to NLN, l think they are the furthest "North"

[minty]

This seems to pop up every year. It's not always how far north you are which decides which division you go in. Take Gloucester City who have spent numerous seasons in the National North. Transport connections too are taken into consideration. On this basis Oxford being right on the M40 would be the prime candidate followed by Stortford and possibly Hemel ahead of us.

[EFMTFTV]

Transport isn't taken into consideration (remember Lowerstoft)

It's simply the most northern team, so Oxford, Stortford, Braintree would all be ahead of us

Only caveat is if they transfer you they won't do it again for 3 seasons

[rob]

Apr 24, 2023 15:46:58 GMT EFMTFTV said:

Transport isn't taken into consideration (remember Lowerstoft)

It's simply the most northern team, so Oxford, Stortford, Braintree would all be ahead of us

Only caveat is if they transfer you they won't do it again for 3 seasons

Depends what the definition of North is. 1. Could be average distance to each conference North team? 2. If it is latitude then we are further north than oxford.

[asf]

These are the latitudes of of team grounds mentioned above (taken from Google maps):

Saints - 51.75465 N
Oxford City - 51.77350 N
Bishops Stortford - 51.87330 N
Braintree - 51.87617 N

Taken on those figures, then if we miss out on promotion, we should still be in NLS.

[EFMTFTV]

So it's Braintree, then Stortford, then Oxford, then us?

I was always told it was done on the latitudes rather than stuff like access to motorways and this would suggest this as Stortford and Oxford have been in it (Braintee were national)
Where do Hemel land?

[asf]

Hemel is 51.75393

So just South of us.

[minty]

Gloucester City sneaked into the NLN play- offs yesterday. Could have further ramifications if they went up.

[middxsaint]

Apr 30, 2023 7:34:52 GMT minty said:

Gloucester City sneaked into the NLN play- offs yesterday. Could have further ramifications if they went up.

Not really.   Two go up from the North.  They would just be one of them.   They would probably go back to the North if relegated again.

[pinkpanther]

Apr 28, 2023 11:22:58 GMT EFMTFTV said:

So it's Braintree, then Stortford, then Oxford, then us?

I was always told it was done on the latitudes rather than stuff like access to motorways and this would suggest this as Stortford and Oxford have been in it (Braintee were national)
Where do Hemel land?

I don't know the exact criteria but it won't be done purely on latitudes. Oxford and Stortford were both in the North at the same time and it was Stortford who got moved to the South first.

You mentioned Lowestoft earlier. That's roughly as far north as Birmingham and further north than several clubs that have been in the North for years. When they were promoted in 2014 they were initially placed in the South, which suited them, and were upset to be shifted during the summer after someone (I can't remember who now) folded or dropped out to give a late reprieve to a third club.