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Looking Back (and foreward too)


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Well done to Gravesend, they deserved it. Think most would agree. I think that they will do well in the higher echelons). They have proved that they have the support and facilities. Just a few more players to strenthen a squad that just occasionally appeared thread bear.<p>Hard luck Canvey. Wish you well next time. Its a shame so many fans are against you. The supporters who post here seem a dedicated (and ok)bunch. What the club needs now more than anything is the new ground. Its the key to everything. New support will be generated and long-term success will follow. Hope to see you in the conference very soon. Look for quality players from this level. I would be a bit concerned with some of the high profile names being linked with the club already (check your message boards). Canvey had a very good season, the cup runs do not make up for the league failue. Sorry chaps.<p>Aldershot supporters can look foreward to better things. Promotion is coming, beware of big name players. The key for the club next season will be to get a good start. It will generate hoards of supporters through your turnstiles.<p>Braintree Town, with the trophy run and the league success you have had a fantastic season. Repeating it will be hard. Good luck.<p>The same goes for Purfleet and Grays (even with the Canvey old boys). Both clubs should be proud of their achievments. With less support than Braintree its going to be very hard next season. <p>Chesham, failed to live up to their promise. Sorry, but facts are facts.<p>Bedford, an interesting season. They will be much improved next year. Old southern-league giants always come back. Stick with what you have and expect Conference soccer five seasons from now. <p>Finally, who will win next year. <p>Sutton Utd, are you ready to concede yet.<p>carjam

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Well I'd put relegated Hayes as one of the favourites though they may find the Ryman tougher than expected, though surely Aldershot must get it right soon, Canvey should be thereabouts and I'd fancy promoted Aylesbury to do well though whether they can put in a serious title challenge is another thing, nearly made it to the Conference just a few years back under Bob Dowie and are doing well under Cliff Hercules. I think Chesham should do better this season, Colin Lippiat having taken over from Bob Dowie as manager and I'd fancy Billericay and Braintree to be right up there and St Albans could also improve now that there problems are behind them, would also fancy Bedford to improve though not sure whether Purfleet, Grays and Hendon can repeat this years success, would expect promoted Bishop Stortford and Ford to finish around mid table, wouldn't give Sutton or Kingstonian more than an outside chance of success, as for the bottom three I'd go for Heybridge Swifts, Enfield and Harrow Boro.

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Whoa Carjam you sound like a benevolent headmaster saying goodbye to his fouth years juniors!!<p>I was going to say goodbye and good luck to GNFC and your goodself but I have a feeling that we will be hearing from you again!!<p>My prediction will be that Aldershot will eventually get it right albeit probably too late to get promotion - Billericay will struggle getting good players. St Albans will have a good season and be there or there abouts - as will I fear Bedford having got over first season nerves - we will do well,Canvey wont risk a good cup run v. promotion and GNFC??... will find the Conf hard going but have my wishes for a good first season - and Carjam? you will be as much a nuisance to the conf supporters as you have been to us but will that detere you?? NEVER!! <img src="graemlins/coolsmoke.gif" border="0" alt="coolsmoke" />

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Mr Irony, thats exactly how it wa meant to sound. Pleased you agree so much, with everything I have to say.<p>Staying around, err, well why not. I will wait and see how my predictions go for next season. After all after apparently giving out 'so much' im still standing by to take it all back.<p>carjam

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Just thought I'd offer my 2p worth: Most of the high finishing teams look to be bringing in a large number of players - Canvey, Aldershot, Grays etc all talking about 7-8 new faces. Could be a more open league, especially first half of the season. The first team to gel into a settled side will win it imho. Purfleet and Braintree look to have settled squads may benefit and should be top 5. Hayes look likely to lose a couple of their better players and having used something approaching 40 players this season just gone will also need to find a settled lineup if they are to bounce back up - I doubt they will. Chesham have got a good new manager (never a fan of Dowie) and could mount a challenge. Close season is going to be very interesting this year and I'm not going to stick my neck out with firm predictions until August!

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I cant see any mention of Billericay in there. I think I might be a tad disappointed if I was a fan. Your crowds were ok, you had a good start, even led the league. What way will they go now.<p>For Purfleet, they have done amazingly well. I can only see one direction from now on. Downwards.<p>carjam

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I think Canvey should be one of the favorites, and I will put up Grays and Purfleet to, but don't believe in Aldershot -who does? I also think Hayes will have a difficult season, they are sure to loose some of their best players who won't settle for Ryman football, but want to play in the conference. If they get a good start, and can maintain in, maybe...<p>I also think Billericay will have a good season at last, actually probably better than Aldershot, (I hope!). Maybe a new record placing between those upper six? Promotion? Not yet...<p>Can't see any of the promoted teams making an impact on the top half of the tables. Cliff Hercules has stepped down as Ducks-manager, who will replace him?<p>As to the bottom teams, Harrow, Heybridge and Enfield.<p>Per-Helge

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I reckon it will probably be Canvey and Aldershot making all the running with Grays pressing hard but it could be the most *open* league for years. Teams such as Billericay, Purfleet, Chesham, St Albans, Hendon, Bedford, Kingstonian and Sutton could all figure strongly if they get the mix right and avoid any off the field problems.

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Hope you're wrong about Borg Dr Tatlock, Aylesbury are a nice club what have they done to deserve him as manager? Bit of a shocker Cliff H stepping down, don't know if there's any chance of Bob Dowie going back there, he nearly got them to the Conference a few years back.

As there are four teams going down I'll take Basingstoke to join the previously mentioned Heybridge, Enfield and Harrow B, should make the relegation scrap more intresting, though as somebody mentioned the ground grading nonsense will probably come into it.

As for the new Division One north/south, I'll tip Croydon Athletic to continue their upward surge, whilst their neighbours go the other way, don't think they'll make a promotion spot this time though, from the southern league I'll go for Bognor Regis and Tooting & Mitcham with Bromley, a club seemingly in terminal decline, finishing bottom and from the northern Northwood and Harlow Town to go up.

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I'll be happy enough with a top half finish.<p>Performance of the season must have been a toss up between Braintree & Grays. Braintree have had a fabulous season and my prediction of them being relegated was certainly proved wrong, but perhaps based on hatred rather than anything else :-) <p>I had a word with Alan Turvey last Friday and petitioned him to sort the 'Derby Day Fixtures'. I don't want to get lumbered with Ford. Who does?<p>Canvey & Billericay my tips for the top next time out. Ha**ow Borer certs for relegation. Jimmy Chapman at Ford will throw money at the thing, but the Ducks may yet end up with George Borg!<p>Away game I'm looking forward to the most has to be Ha**ow Borer. A chance to really let them know why we loathe and detest them so much. Home game joy will be Aldershot (proper Club, proper fans).

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There's a lot of subjects coming in here. If we are talking about whos going down, I have to look at the Essex sides(Canvey excluded). There are too many clubs packed into a small area, something has to give. Take any two from Purfleet, Grays, Ford (did they get promoted and Heybridge) for certain relegation.<p>carjam

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I'll throw Hampton into the relegation shake up as well. Could be academic though, I reckon we'll see a couple of teams going to the wall this season (I hope I'm wrong) and dropping out... Will be a much more interesting season, reckon maybe 6 teams in contention for title and 9 in relegation dogfight!!!

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Hope your right. Without some re-organisation of the structure for next season though it will be hard keeping many teams involved at the top. I still say Sutton will run away with it. Id rather it be Aldershot though.<p>carjam

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Yes definetly need a new structure which allows the top two to go up, and no silly play off systems, still can't see Sutton doing much I'd say its between Hayes and Aldershot.

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the play off system should be introduced if their is a 2nd promtion place as it would keep the season intersting for teams that would normaly have the seasons ending for temas like Grays, St Albans, Purfleet & Billericayin janurary which would increase gate reciptes bringing much needed cash

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