Proposed New League Set-Up

[Hetty]

Have this morning been reading with interest about the proposed new league set up which looks almost certain to be implemented the season after next.

A Cornwall Premier and a Devon Premier with 3 leagues below it. The two Premier Divisions will be made up of teams finishing in the top half of the Division 1 west and East if I’m not mistaken.

So, it seems this is a move to return to the old Devon league and South Western League Days.  Is this a good move? surely this will make the two leagues weaker by splitting the current premier Division up?

Having said that if you look at some of the teams in the bottom half of the premier at the moment and the strength of the contenders in Div 1 West the league could actually be stronger. 

I for one hope that Tavistock are included in the Cornwall Premier, this will make the league super competitive. Will this force teams to look at step 5 or will clubs be happy to remain where they are?

So many questions  

[BIG AL]

1 hour ago, Hetty said:

Have this morning been reading with interest about the proposed new league set up which looks almost certain to be implemented the season after next.

A Cornwall Premier and a Devon Premier with 3 leagues below it. The two Premier Divisions will be made up of teams finishing in the top half of the Division 1 west and East if I’m not mistaken.

So, it seems this is a move to return to the old Devon league and South Western League Days.  Is this a good move? surely this will make the two leagues weaker by splitting the current premier Division up?

Having said that if you look at some of the teams in the bottom half of the premier at the moment and the strength of the contenders in Div 1 West the league could actually be stronger. 

I for one hope that Tavistock are included in the Cornwall Premier, this will make the league super competitive. Will this force teams to look at step 5 or will clubs be happy to remain where they are?

So many questions  

Now is the time to escape the dictatorial claws of the swpl and revert to a set up as the old sw league. Hopefully just Cornish clubs -  this will abolish stupid long treks into Devon.

It will generate more local interest and probably a larger away following. The sw league should never have been abandoned.

[Paul Collings]

4 hours ago, Hetty said:

 

I for one hope that Tavistock are included in the Cornwall Premier, this will make the league super competitive. 

 

One of the main points of Peninsula Cornwall (Step 6) and the new Cornwall League below it at Step 7 is that they will be for Cornish clubs only.  Rather defeats the object if Tavistock are allowed in.

As the current plans are, only the divisions below these (ECPL & Duchy in the east) will still have some Devon clubs.

[hedgerow]

8 minutes ago, Paul Collings said:

One of the main points of Peninsula Cornwall (Step 6) and the new Cornwall League below it at Step 7 is that they will be for Cornish clubs only.  Rather defeats the object if Tavistock are allowed in.

As the current plans are, only the divisions below these (ECPL & Duchy in the east) will still have some Devon clubs.

That is to be debated about Devon Clubs remaining in the ecpl and duchy leagues. The leagues still want them but the CCFA want only cornish teams. With regards to Tavistock joining Cornwall not much chance of that happening as they are a Devon club. 

 

The reason for changes is to allow clubs, in Cornwall and Devon, to progress up through the pyramid. Somerset, Dorset, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire will also be reorganised. 

[Paul Collings]

10 minutes ago, hedgerow said:

That is to be debated about Devon Clubs remaining in the ecpl and duchy leagues. The leagues still want them but the CCFA want only cornish teams.

Nothing is set in stone yet obviously  but i'm not sure that there is anything to debate. CCFA has already said it cannot insist on this and, as you rightly point out, both leagues want to keep their Devon teams.There are also four Cornish sides playing in Devon Leagues who may/may not want to stay there.

Interesting time ahead, whatever.

[baldy]

March 2018

A follow up meeting was held at the Devon County Football Association headquarters on Friday 23 March. Representatives of the Cornwall and Devon Football Associations, South West Peninsula and the Devon & Exeter Leagues reported back on their meetings that they had had with their Management Committees regarding the re-organisation of the Steps 6 and 7 in Cornwall and Devon. It is pleasing to report that all parties wish to go ahead with the structure as from the 2019/20 season.

This will mean that the South West Peninsula League will be responsible for the two Step 6 leagues, one in Cornwall and one in Devon. The Cornwall FA will run the Step 7 league in Cornwall, Devon FA will run the Step 7 League in the South/West of the county and the Devon & Exeter League will run the Step 7 league in the North/East of Devon. The names of the Step 7 leagues will be agreed at a later date.

Ray Lewis, Chairman of the Football Association’s Leagues Committee will be taking the proposal to its next meeting on 10 April to gain approval to move this venture forward.

It was agreed to form a Joint Liaison Committee formed of representatives from all parties and this will meet on 3 May. This will then be followed, in early June with meetings when the full proposals will be given to Clubs. The Football Association will be writing to each club explaining the structure and the timeline for submitting expressions of interest. The closing date for this will be 30 September 2018 with formal applications to be received by 31 December 2018.

Ray Lewis
Chairman, FA Leagues Committee

[gingerninja]

Big Al yet again on his anti Devon rant, it's really starting to get boring

[BIG AL]

4 hours ago, gingerninja said:

Big Al yet again on his anti Devon rant, it's really starting to get boring

Thank you this is my opinion boring or not -is that not the meaning of a forum ?

[Dave Deacon]

It's disappointing that it appears that not all the clubs themselves have too much of an idea what is actually proposed and would seem is going to happen. Talking to a current SWPL club rep last night, he had no idea that the new SWPL Step 6 is only going to consist of 40 teams!

[John Mead]

5 hours ago, Dave Deacon said:

It's disappointing that it appears that not all the clubs themselves have too much of an idea what is actually proposed and would seem is going to happen. Talking to a current SWPL club rep last night, he had no idea that the new SWPL Step 6 is only going to consist of 40 teams!

The principle at Step 6 is to have 2 floodlit Divisions of 20 teams (max allowed). There is always some flexibility about the "borders" between neighbouring Leagues at the same level in NLS and while there could possibly  be a Cornwall/Devon divide intially, there's nothing to say it'll stay that way. Who plays where will depend on how many apply from each County, which Clubs have the necessary facilities etc etc. The FA will explain all in their letter to Clubs as well as meetings with Clubs in June.

[Mike Odgers]

The SWPL(Premier) Step  6 is 20 clubs now so with two SWPL step 6 Divisions (Cornwall & Devon) =40 -isn't that the same Dave? or are you incorporating the Devon & Exeter League which is planned to be upgraded to Step 6?

[Dave Deacon]

It’s been said to me that Cornish football  is being sold down the river! 

How is this a step forward? Or perhaps no one is bothered about us here in Cornwall because surely it’s in fact a backwards move we are just sitting back and allowing to happen.

Presumably it won’t end up being a Cornwall/Devon format anyway because can someone list 20 Cornish "compliant" clubs at Step 6? It’s not just lights needed to call yourself a Step 6 club.

[SCFC]

19 minutes ago, Dave Deacon said:

It’s been said to me that Cornish football  is being sold down the river! 

How is this a step forward? Or perhaps no one is bothered about us here in Cornwall because surely it’s in fact a backwards move we are just sitting back and allowing to happen.

Presumably it won’t end up being a Cornwall/Devon format anyway because can someone list 20 Cornish "compliant" clubs at Step 6? It’s not just lights needed to call yourself a Step 6 club.

To be fair Dave, whoever made the grading requirements are absolutely clueless. Rules such as a sink in the referees room, a certain amount of subs able to fit in a dugout and a need for seated areas. To be quite honest, the sink is pathetic, when do a club ever have 6/7 subs apart from pre season and are there even enough supporters watching a game to fill a seated area? most prefer to stand and watch

[Hetty]

Personally I feel the standard of football is being diluted. Surely any Premier Division in the South West Pennisula should be the best of Devon and Cornwall? 

[gingerninja]

7 hours ago, BIG AL said:

Thank you this is my opinion boring or not -is that not the meaning of a forum ?

That is correct. But reading your anti Devon posts everyday, you ranting on about how awful it is that you have to cross a bridge to watch 90 minutes of football, is getting as annoying as Trump banging on about his wall. Just give over

To me a mix league of Devon and Cornwall sides is the way forward, as it'll keep the best clubs on their toes week in week out. Or is this a way of trying to get the better clubs to climb the ladder? If Tavistock enter the Devon league, as they should, who would seriously challenge them for the title? It'll be like the SPL 

[100%cornish]

I would miss seeing the talented Plymouth Argyle youngsters take on our local teams but it would be nice to go back to the old south western league with St Blazey ,Penzance and other old Cornish teams back in the league but would miss seeing the quality of the 2 Plymouth teams and Tavi

 

[BIG AL]

54 minutes ago, gingerninja said:

That is correct. But reading your anti Devon posts everyday, you ranting on about how awful it is that you have to cross a bridge to watch 90 minutes of football, is getting as annoying as Trump banging on about his wall. Just give over

To me a mix league of Devon and Cornwall sides is the way forward, as it'll keep the best clubs on their toes week in week out. Or is this a way of trying to get the better clubs to climb the ladder? If Tavistock enter the Devon league, as they should, who would seriously challenge them for the title? It'll be like the SPL 

 There should be a cornwall league, administered from within cornwall and not in mid devon. League officials in mid devon do not really care about clubs or anything else in cornwall. I am not able to make long journeys into devon because of work commitments, yes some of us do still work ! If it is being annoying , then so be it, you do not have to read the posting.

[Dave Deacon]

16 minutes ago, BIG AL said:

 There should be a cornwall league, administered from within cornwall and not in mid devon. League officials in mid devon do not really care about clubs or anything else in cornwall. I am not able to make long journeys into devon because of work commitments, yes some of us do still work ! If it is being annoying , then so be it, you do not have to read the posting.

Although the Cornwall FA will run the Step 7 league in Cornwall, I think they are actually looking for someone to run it Big Al

[Dave Deacon]

How many will have the opportunity to go up from the two Step 6 SWPL Divisions? 

[John Mead]

13 hours ago, Dave Deacon said:

How many will have the opportunity to go up from the two Step 6 SWPL Divisions? 

I'm guessing one from each Step 6 division but the fine detail will eventually be revealed by the FA

[Rob1978]

The new leagues will not be as good as the current one - imagine splitting the premiership in two. However clubs like Exmouth find their path blocked by clubs in the West with big budgets and no ambition to go up. Devon non league football is constantly on the rise with Tiverton, Barnstaple, Bideford all in the southern league with Buckland, Willand and Parkway all having the ambition to join them. Cornish football is getting left behind and getting more parochial. Surely St Austell/Bodmin could play western league with reduced playing budgets - relying on ambitious youngsters looking to earn a deal with Truro. When Parkway turned down promotion a few years back they still stated it was a long term ambition. If Bodmin said ‘we cant afford to go up at the moment but long term we will try to build the club so we can get there’ - I would respect them more

[SCFC]

53 minutes ago, Rob1978 said:

The new leagues will not be as good as the current one - imagine splitting the premiership in two. However clubs like Exmouth find their path blocked by clubs in the West with big budgets and no ambition to go up. Devon non league football is constantly on the rise with Tiverton, Barnstaple, Bideford all in the southern league with Buckland, Willand and Parkway all having the ambition to join them. Cornish football is getting left behind and getting more parochial. Surely St Austell/Bodmin could play western league with reduced playing budgets - relying on ambitious youngsters looking to earn a deal with Truro. When Parkway turned down promotion a few years back they still stated it was a long term ambition. If Bodmin said ‘we cant afford to go up at the moment but long term we will try to build the club so we can get there’ - I would respect them more

absolutely disgusting that West clubs are blocking Exmouth's ambition of going up.... i assume it doesnt matter that they are currently 13th in the league, 50 points behind the leaders?

[Hetty]

How can teams go up on reduced playing budgets and ask players to travel further, when there will be teams in the SWPL (Cornwall or Devon) willing to pay players more to travel less? Id imagine this is the main issue facing clubs who even give promotion a second thought. 

[Rob1978]

Ambition for going up doesn’t have to be about this season does it? It can be something you aim for over a period of time. Exmouth will have good and poor seasons. Is that really beyond your comprehension?? Buckland and Bideford have often lost players to Bodmin but even finishing in the lower half of the western is a bigger achievement than winning the swpl for the umpteenth time. Exmouth are big enough to be a Western League again but are up against clubs with southern league budgets.

[Hetty]

''but even finishing in the lower half of the western is a bigger achievement than winning the swpl for the umpteenth time'' 

 

No its not!

[Smiler]

Why do people keep saying the football down here is better if the Cornish teams are playing teams from Devon where's the proof and lets be honest the standard in the SWPL has already dropped unless your picking your team on a silly budget. The talent is here in the county look at Falmouth however lots of the lads are dropping out or not stepping up to SWPL because of the travelling so how about if we have a step 6-7 leagues in Cornwall and with the reduction of the travelling we encourage these lads to step up from the Combination and ECP Leagues, you people that keep harking on if we don't have the Devon clubs in this league the standard will drop might be pleasantly surprised as will most of the club houses with more local derby s also you might find more supporters travelling to away games.Well done to the people who came up with the idea the future looks good !!!!

[BIG AL]

2 minutes ago, Smiler said:

Why do people keep saying the football down here is better if the Cornish teams are playing teams from Devon where's the proof and lets be honest the standard in the SWPL has already dropped unless your picking your team on a silly budget. The talent is here in the county look at Falmouth however lots of the lads are dropping out or not stepping up to SWPL because of the travelling so how about if we have a step 6-7 leagues in Cornwall and with the reduction of the travelling we encourage these lads to step up from the Combination and ECP Leagues, you people that keep harking on if we don't have the Devon clubs in this league the standard will drop might be pleasantly surprised as will most of the club houses with more local derby s also you might find more supporters travelling to away games.Well done to the people who came up with the idea the future looks good !!!!

Certainly agree. The footballing standard in Devon is no better than it is in Cornwall.

[Rob1978]

58 minutes ago, Hetty said:

''but even finishing in the lower half of the western is a bigger achievement than winning the swpl for the umpteenth time'' 

 

No its not!

Maybe Bodmin should play their first team in the Dutchy league every year because obviously all that matters is getting silverware 

On a serious note Cornish football is getting left behind. Maybe the geographical factors are too big to be overcome. However clubs like Bodmin/St Austell need to be straight on the issue. Is it financially impossible for them to play at step 5 or are they just happy to plough all of their considerable budgets to winning all the time at a lower level? If its the latter, I find it pathetic and sad. Football should always be about playing at the highest level you possibly can.

[SCFC]

1 hour ago, Rob1978 said:

Ambition for going up doesn’t have to be about this season does it? It can be something you aim for over a period of time. Exmouth will have good and poor seasons. Is that really beyond your comprehension?? Buckland and Bideford have often lost players to Bodmin but even finishing in the lower half of the western is a bigger achievement than winning the swpl for the umpteenth time. Exmouth are big enough to be a Western League again but are up against clubs with southern league budgets.

Never knew Exmouth had any ambitions about going up? Wouldve shown that by financial backing i'd assume, resulting in a strong league position... unless that money has been blown on bang average players?

im sure you've got to finish in the top 3 to be considered for promotion, unfortunately, regardless of how big a budget everyone has, thats the opposition you face, either match it or accept you'll be inferior

41 minutes ago, Rob1978 said:

Maybe Bodmin should play their first team in the Dutchy league every year because obviously all that matters is getting silverware 

On a serious note Cornish football is getting left behind. Maybe the geographical factors are too big to be overcome. However clubs like Bodmin/St Austell need to be straight on the issue. Is it financially impossible for them to play at step 5 or are they just happy to plough all of their considerable budgets to winning all the time at a lower level? If its the latter, I find it pathetic and sad. Football should always be about playing at the highest level you possibly can.

I would agree that Cornish football will always struggle probably due to the geographical location of us. Totally agree football should be about playing at the highest level possible, only considerations i can think of is either too many players (in current squads) dont want the extra travelling, clubs cant fund the extra expenses or possibly they may like the idea of being one of the "big boys" and not take too kindly to being in a relegation scrap (if this was ever true, id be embarrassed for the club)

[Rob1978]

Exmouth do have the ambition to go up. Obviously they don’t need a big budget to do so due to their location. If anything travel would probably be easier for them in the western league as they are based just off the m5.

[Dave Deacon]

2 hours ago, Rob1978 said:

Exmouth do have the ambition to go up. Obviously they don’t need a big budget to do so due to their location. If anything travel would probably be easier for them in the western league as they are based just off the m5.

Big plus point that!