Re: Restart
Posted: 16 May 2021, 17:09
Judging by that then, no 'promotion' for us. 
There’s plenty to look forward to this week – the start of home friendlies as well as the new non-league allocations. We can see the document posted on this thread was wrong as it used the league positions at the end of aborted 2019/20 season to allocate clubs to the new structure. But as we know, those seasons never existed to the authorities. However, at least it does show it’s likely we’ll be allocated to the new Northern Premier South West League.
Some may personally like an impending move North, others may not. It was often said that the Northern Premier League was better run and it would offer a few more local-ish derbies. But remember to give some thought to those running the club though and the extra admin involved in moving leagues yet again. Also I suspect most of the Yeltz playing and management staff are based to the south and east of Halesowen, so it may be less convenient for them. A new league offers new teams to watch for fans, but on the playing side the built up knowledge about opposition teams over the past two years will be lost as we take on relatively less known clubs. Travel up the M6, especially through Tuesday rush-hour traffic congestion was never pleasant either and it often takes less time to travel on longer journeys down the M40 in the Southern League.
It’s also worth pointing out that moving north will mean playing against one of the handful of teams at Step 4 that have a better league record of points over the last two ‘seasons’, namely Leek Town (never mind the past horrors that their ground brings back for a certain generation). Also there would be a possibility of being up against Marine who will surely have money to spend following their big FA Cup game with Spurs. At least we would lose Corby Town as opponents though. A final thought on this potential new division - Macclesfield Town lost their EFL status but have re-formed as Macclesfield FC (with Robbie Savage a director under a new local owner) and have already made significant improvements to their facilities. Normal rules should mean they are placed one division below in the North West Counties League, however, rumours circulating around Macc still say they may somehow end up higher, so could they yet also be in our league? In any event rapid promotion for them to Step 4, then the Northern Premier should be expected.
It’s odd that the Northern Premier and Isthmian Leagues will both administer three divisions at Step 4, but only one Premier division at Step 3. Meanwhile the Southern League will run only two divisions at Step 4, yet have two Premier divisions at Step 3. What therefore seems inevitable is that should the Yeltz achieve promotion to Step 3, this will involve a further move back to the Southern League. And if anyone wants to look beyond that into Dreamland any progression to the National League would mean going North again. I suppose we just have to get used to the geographical switches, I’m sure it’s all a new challenge everyone relishes.