Under 25 League

[Dailydose]

Agreed, the figure is high? The clubs should pay the same and the fa or counties pay the increase.

You get the feeling grass roots is being hung out to dry

[Winslow Boy]

Agreed, the figure is high? The clubs should pay the same and the fa or counties pay the increase.

You get the feeling grass roots is being hung out to dry

Yeah agree with that. Would be a good idea for them to subsidise the increase.

[agamemnon3]

In the Herts County League Div One, there are still quite a few games to play.

 

Bovingdon Reserves are currently leading, but still have to play the sides in 2nd, (Sun Sports), 3rd, (Weston), and 4th, (Hadley Reserves).

 

Hadley Reserves are nine points behind Bovingdon Reserves, but have two games in hand, and are at home to them tonight, (ko 7.30, if anyone fancies it), and it could well be quite a game.

 

It's good that the Herts County League recognise that, for the players and coaches involved, second-team football can mean just as much as first-team football does.

 

Now compare that to the lazy, half-baked, couldn't-care-less attitude of the SSML, and it's clear why clubs are moving on.     

[Jonno]

Agreed.

[LordBrackley]

Rumours that quite a few teams are considering or actually leaving this time around.  Hope the League have replacements ready and waiting in the wings if this is the case. There were 26 reserve sides a couple of years ago and It's now down to just 16 development teams. Not sure the experiment is working to be honest. 

[agamemnon3]

Following yesterday's AGM, the Development League is now down to just eleven teams, from last season's sixteen --- and this includes two new teams in Stotfold and Kempston Rovers.

 

Gone from last season are Colney Heath, Welwyn Garden City, Risborough Rangers, St Margaretsbury, Hoddesdon Town, Hertford Town and Cockfosters.

 

Is anyone, (other than the blazers at the SSML), really surprised ?  

[Winslow Boy]

Following yesterday's AGM, the Development League is now down to just eleven teams, from last season's sixteen --- and this includes two new teams in Stotfold and Kempston Rovers.

 

Gone from last season are Colney Heath, Welwyn Garden City, Risborough Rangers, St Margaretsbury, Hoddesdon Town, Hertford Town and Cockfosters.

 

Is anyone, (other than the blazers at the SSML), really surprised ?

Going to be tough to convince managers and players to bother with that.

[Big J R]

Would this be because of the cost, or a total lack of interest ??

[LordBrackley]

Would this be because of the cost, or a total lack of interest ??

Has been a catalogue of decline. All started when the League decided to cut many of the 26 existing Reserve teams adrift all based on ground gradings for a so-called Development League. Travelling has been a problem for the most northern based clubs who turn up for midweek games to find the opposition loaded with first team players. Oxhey Jets were totally stitched up in the Challenge Trophy semi-final if my memory serves because there is no qualification criteria.  Last season the League started one month late due to a shortage of officials and ended with many games being declared 0-0 draws. Roll on, roll off subs doesn't appeal to all either. Biggest surprise to me is that it's the Hertfordshire clubs that have jumped ship. Ironic because the travelling is so much better for northern/western based clubs this season. Doesn't appear to have been much proper consultation with those involved otherwise this might have been avoided. There had better be some plans to reinstate a Reserve League or can see the who thing folding next season.

Edited June 24, 2018 by LordBrackley

[Jonno]

Disaster from start to finish and should never have been implemented as an under 25 league. What does a player and manager think when they see games being awarded a 0-0 for the last month of the season if they had nothing to play for? Complete and utter shambles.

[agamemnon3]

Fixtures for the first few weeks of the Herts County League have been released.

 

In Division One, we now have reserve teams from Baldock, Bovingdon, Cockfosters, Hadley, Hoddesdon, Oxhey Jets, Rayners Lane, St Margaretsbury and Wodson Park in an 18-team strong division.  With regular Saturday and Tuesday/Wednesday evening games scheduled, this could well be a fiercely-fought contest, and is exactly what the SSML Reserve Division ought to have been.

 

Meanwhile, back in the sleepy world of the SSML, for the teams remaining in the U25/Reserve set-up, (all eleven of them), there are still no fixtures scheduled at all.   

[Karen Browne]

Clubs in U25 Development League were sent draft September fixtures on July 30th.

Released set will be sent out within next 7/10 days, just waiting on early County Cup draws.

[Jonno]

Fixtures for the first few weeks of the Herts County League have been released.

 

In Division One, we now have reserve teams from Baldock, Bovingdon, Cockfosters, Hadley, Hoddesdon, Oxhey Jets, Rayners Lane, St Margaretsbury and Wodson Park in an 18-team strong division. With regular Saturday and Tuesday/Wednesday evening games scheduled, this could well be a fiercely-fought contest, and is exactly what the SSML Reserve Division ought to have been.

 

Meanwhile, back in the sleepy world of the SSML, for the teams remaining in the U25/Reserve set-up, (all eleven of them), there are still no fixtures scheduled at all.

Spot on. It’s gonna be a great season in that league. Loads of games, loads of derbies and no silly experiments. Can’t wait.

[agamemnon3]

KB --- fair enough, I accept what you say.  But there is nothing on FullTime, which I tend to regard as 'authoritative'.  Incidentally KB, my digs are not aimed at you.  I love the SSML, and want everyone connected with it to thrive and do well, but over the last few years the League's attitude to second-team football has been nothing short of a disgrace.

 

Jonno --- Absolutely.  In some ways the Herts Div One is going to be a tougher and more interesting competition than the Herts Prem this season, and all credit to the Herts County League for letting it happen and running with it. 

[Munchkin]

The development league has been a disaster and What’s most disappointing is they fail to acknowledge it at all, using the argument the clubs voted it in. This may be factually correct but it was on promises which weren’t delivered.

 

So instead of admitting the failure and resorting back, it continues in this ridiculous state where now 4 of the 11 clubs don’t have first teams in the SSMFL.

[Jonno]

At least they got a few quid out of the FA though, ticking boxes with regards to “grass roots youth football”.

[Uncle T]

Levy entered the Suburban League this season. We will be playing U18 and over 25's in the team. Flexible is the key to reserve team football. Why do the FA keep putting obsticles in the way for people to play football.