NCA NEWS 15.8.20

[grooveavenue]

It seems from proposals yesterday that Level 3 are to be consulted about 14 team league - 2 week Christmas break. Player burn out/availability have been taken into consideration. Further down the Levels geographical locations (N and S I asume) and Cup competitions are on the table. Club responses by October.

[Rich]

A number of thoughts on the proposals from me:

1. Free weekends for player welfare = good

2. 2 weeks off over Christmas when we traditionally have the best gates = bad

3. League down to 14 teams for 2021/2 suggests we will need to finish in the top 11 next season (assuming 5 down and 3 up)

4. Cup competitions only for the lower leagues (level 5 or 6 and below IIRC)

5. Level 4 (i.e. one below us) looks like it will be split into 3 regional divisions instead of the current N and S. Potentially that involves a Midlands division, making away games a more reasonable prospect (if we find ourselves in that position)

[grooveavenue]

Yes Rich, a lot better thought in your response than in my head! So I'll just respond to yours as we patiently await start dates and I fill my head with grand designs without ever stretching my imagination that we will be taking advantage of a 3 geographical zones at a lower station than we currently hold ( I guess you were only teasing us on that one!!)

Season breaks - a must.

Xmas 2 weeks break - it does seem player welfare in the clubs and at home is foremost in the thinking. Yes, Xmas has always tended to be better gated but we only have one home ....that could be, say, 20th Dec (yes Xmas time but, AND shopping time) , then next fixture AWAY early Jan or the other way round. I prefer the New Year fixture. I guess Xmas/New Year hospitality etc makes it all good revenue for the Club though. To be honest I forsee a jump in interest with AJ on board on the pitch or otherwise. Again, to be honest ( I am a very honest person, today at least) if we can realise a top 3 placing regularly Match 1 to Match 30 * we used to call it Sept to April, that is where increased gates lie. It would be great to get 900 -1100+ gates again.

I wonder how season tickets are going, Mary?

To be honest, he said, your idle thought of being on geographical maps at Level 4 never crossed my mind and I'll put it down to your absence of clear mind in these strange days...to be honest, you will get over it! I wonder, however, if H Q. have later thoughts to move towards splitting Level 3 into N and S and joining up with Level 4 teams N and S? Day dreams/nightmares. Us travelling to Darlington and Plymouth on reduced/nil subsistance travel expense never made sense to me.

Anyway, discuss or disgard at your will.

[southernmose]

Aug 17, 2020 10:40:05 GMT grooveavenue said:

To be honest, he said, your idle thought of being on geographical maps at Level 4 never crossed my mind and I'll put it down to your absence of clear mind in these strange days...to be honest, you will get over it! I wonder, however, if H Q. have later thoughts to move towards splitting Level 3 into N and S and joining up with Level 4 teams N and S? Day dreams/nightmares. Us travelling to Darlington and Plymouth on reduced/nil subsistance travel expense never made sense to me.

Anyway, discuss or disgard at your will.

Steady on, according to the stats wizards at Rolling Maul, this actually increases travel for all but a minority of teams...

In addition, if the alleged schema for dividing the country into 3 is actually as one poster (one of the more reliable ones) claims to have been told, then going down to Level 4 would see us spending a lot of time in Devon and Cornwall (or Norfolk and Kent depending on how think your pen is when drawing the MM-Saltash line...). North, midlands and south, one would have thought, was a reasonable division of the country but apparently North, Midlands and SW, and Midlands and SE makes more sense at HQ.


"Find Melton Mowbray on a Map.



Draw a line eastwards from MM so that it intersects with the River Ouse at Kings Lynn. Then draw a line North West from MM to the River Mersey near Frodsham. Finally head South West with a line going to the River Tamar at Saltash, gives you a Y shape. Top bit Nat 2 North, bit to the left Nat 2 SW/Mids bit to the right Nat 2 Mids/SE, think it makes travel worse for several Clubs!"

[grooveavenue]

My comment was about the very suggestion that we'd be EVER playing at Level 4!! But that was never intended to be serious. It is interesting to learn that travelling even in a North or South zone will add up to a mile count just as high or higher than currently. Mine was a thought which I hoped somebody would put me right on. That certainly is the case and if the North South Midlands divide does arise that information will be useful in our thoughts. Thanks.

[Phil]

Aug 17, 2020 10:40:05 GMT grooveavenue said:

Yes Rich, a lot better thought in your response than in my head! So I'll just respond to yours as we patiently await start dates and I fill my head with grand designs without ever stretching my imagination that we will be taking advantage of a 3 geographical zones at a lower station than we currently hold ( I guess you were only teasing us on that one!!)

Season breaks - a must.

Xmas 2 weeks break - it does seem player welfare in the clubs and at home is foremost in the thinking. Yes, Xmas has always tended to be better gated but we only have one home ....that could be, say, 20th Dec (yes Xmas time but, AND shopping time) , then next fixture AWAY early Jan or the other way round. I prefer the New Year fixture. I guess Xmas/New Year hospitality etc makes it all good revenue for the Club though. To be honest I forsee a jump in interest with AJ on board on the pitch or otherwise. Again, to be honest ( I am a very honest person, today at least) if we can realise a top 3 placing regularly Match 1 to Match 30 * we used to call it Sept to April, that is where increased gates lie. It would be great to get 900 -1100+ gates again.

I wonder how season tickets are going, Mary?

To be honest, he said, your idle thought of being on geographical maps at Level 4 never crossed my mind and I'll put it down to your absence of clear mind in these strange days...to be honest, you will get over it! I wonder, however, if H Q. have later thoughts to move towards splitting Level 3 into N and S and joining up with Level 4 teams N and S? Day dreams/nightmares. Us travelling to Darlington and Plymouth on reduced/nil subsistance travel expense never made sense to me.

Anyway, discuss or disgard at your will.

Mary advises 241 season tickets sold GA.

[dag]

Hm. 241 season tickets sold seems a bit short of the usual numbers. I thought our normal membership was well above that figure, or am I dreaming of the days of yore.

[owain]

Considering there's still no start date that means 241 of us have plonked down our cash for whatever happens. I expect more sales once fixtures start to be firmed up.

[grooveavenue]

Yes 241 seems low but we don't yet know when any rugby will be played, dates, game contact rules and we have to remember that semi-pro/part time players are earning other livings and by necessity mixing with others, unlike the Prem lads who, it sounds like, are living in Club and home bubbles. I seem to remember that the Club get extrenely busy 4 weeks prior to season start (no doubt I'll be put right on that!).
When I signed the dotted line after forced end to the season it was to do with contributing towards expenditure within the Club during lockdown- a donation.

It is good to read that players/staff sponsors have come forward so early with financial committment. Thanks to all

[grooveavenue]

Ah....update RCA Newsletter release today with more detail than earlier. N1 x 14 teams N2 x 3 regions. Interesting it also says "entitlement" to 2 weeks break at Christmas. Wonder if that means games can be rearranged for one of the other Autumn/ Spring (maybe) reserve weeks if both parties agree?
All starts 21/22 ....and crickey thats next year!!

I believe Club input by October.

I feel we are moving on but without any movement!!!! Difficult job for all.

Nice chat- back to my bubble....