I knew there was talk of friendlies but a mini league involving local teams sounds a great idea . Obviously it all depends on certain things but it would be great .
And with Dick being involved it would be in really good hands . A very well respected bloke .

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Looks like the Lincolnshire League are planning something similar to the Brookbanks proposal following Null & Void declaration 

The Lincolnshire Football League (Step 7) has been made null & void. It's the 2nd league at that level to be scrapped after the West Lancashire League made the same decision. County FA’s are liaising with all Regional Feeder Leagues (Step 7) about how to conclude their seasons.  


 

Think everything will depend on how safe fans feel it is to go back in a football ground. We may find that progress in getting back to nearly normal is slower than we expected and we just cancel everything and plan to start again in August. On the other hand it is good for everybody's mental well being to be positive and plan for the time we may be able to watch football again whenever that may be. As a parallel after the Second World War when football had been  suspended fans were desperate to watch any type of competitive game and the crowds went through the roof and it helped people get their lives back together again fostering a massive feel good factor. Even I have missed the characters behind the goal and in the stand and can't wait to be rolling my eyes at their antics. Its what non league is all about and I love it!

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Carlton Town FC[/url] [url=https://twitter.com/CTFC1904]@CTFC1904

 Re potential local football tournament ! A lot more ground work being done this coming week! Hopefull we can announce teams that have committed to take part next weekend and give out more information

 

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Every one of us is a character in the eyes of others

WhiteBallProject wrote:

WhiteBallProject wrote:

Think everything will depend on how safe fans feel it is to go back in a football ground. We may find that progress in getting back to nearly normal is slower than we expected and we just cancel everything and plan to start again in August. On the other hand it is good for everybody's mental well being to be positive and plan for the time we may be able to watch football again whenever that may be. As a parallel after the Second World War when football had been  suspended fans were desperate to watch any type of competitive game and the crowds went through the roof and it helped people get their lives back together again fostering a massive feel good factor. Even I have missed the characters behind the goal and in the stand and can't wait to be rolling my eyes at their antics. Its what non league is all about and I love it!

If I wrote a full tribute to every "character" behind the goal over the years I would still be typing after Covid virus has been long forgotten about. Its the "characters" that makes Ilkeston Town what it is. It is the characters that makes players want to sign for Ilkeston Town and I do believe its the characters that make wealthy people want to give up their own money to develop football at the NMG! 
Yes Kev! You are one of those characters but I don't recall rolling my eyes at your antics for at least five years since Ilkeston FC's last game at Ashton. It was an emotional day for all of us that day so don't ever change Kev!

yeah remember that day ......not good
 

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On Tuesday 2nd February it's been13 long weeks since our last match against Leek Town at the NMG. 
With no chance of a re-start for at least another 5 weeks, it's looking more and more likely that the Northern Premier League season will be declared null and void, the same as last season. Non-League football has little chance of returning until vaccinations bring the coronavirus under control and infections, hospital admissions and death rates fall massively.

It shouldn't be long before the NPL publish the results of their recent survey of what clubs want to do but In my opinion the chances of the Northern Premier League playing a reduced fixture competition to decide promotion and relegation are slim. So the only chance of seeing more football before the start of 2021-22 season is through the Tommy Brookbanks proposal which requires FA permission. We can only hope that we get some positive news on this soon.


The 2020-21 season looks like ending with Ilkeston having played just 7 league games out of 38.


Here are all of this season’s results in all competitions (P13, W9, D1, L3).

​We were undefeated in our first 9 matches 

12.09.20   Ilkeston Town          3   Shepshed Dynamo  0    FACup
19.09,20   Cleethorpes Town   2    Ilkeston Town          3    NPL
22.09.20   Coventry Sphinx     0    Ilkeston Town          2     FACup  
29.09.20   Ilkeston Town          2    Stamford                 2     NPL
03.10.20   Ilkeston Town          4    Hanley Town           1     FACup
06.10.20   Spalding United      1    Ilkeston Town          2     NPL
10.10 20   Market Drayton       1    Ilkeston Town          5     NPL
13.10.20   Ilkeston Town          1    Alvechurch              0     FACup
17.10.20   Ilkeston Town          2    Kempston Rovers   1     FATrophy  


Then we suffered 3 defeats in the next 4 matches

20.10.20   Newcastle Town      4   Ilkeston Town            1     NPL
24.10.20   Ilkeston Town          0    Hartlepool United     6     FACup
27,10.20   Ilkeston Town          2    Chasetown               1     NPL
03.11.20   Ilkeston Town          2    Leek Town                3     NPL   


 

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Not heard anything about the Tommy Brookbanks planned tournament for a while but this appeared in the Gedling Eye on 5th Feb.

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Carlton Town manager Tommy Brookbanks plans tournament to give Notts clubs a lift after lockdown  

The manager of Carlton Town FC hopes his end of season tournament idea will provide a boost for Nottingham football clubs. Tommy Brookbanks believes that the event can offer a financial and mental lift to lower league teams who need it now more than ever. His tournament plan would see a number of Notts teams form two competitive leagues and play each other during the spring.

The competition will look to go ahead only if the season is null and voided, which now looks increasingly likely. Sixteen clubs have confirmed they are in favour of the tournament so long as fans can attend. The national lockdown has meant that sides like Carlton Town FC have struggled without competitive football.  

Brookbanks, 55, spoke about the effect that the pandemic has had on lower league football; he said: “Financially Nottingham clubs have suffered badly, and this would help the clubs massively. “It’s looking highly likely that this season is gone, and I think we then just have to focus on a proper restart in August. 

 “We need to wait on the tiered system to see where we are because we can’t play a tournament again without crowds, we need the crowds to help the club. “We just need to get over these next few months.” 

As well as the financial aspect, Brookbanks spoke about the consequences that a lack of football has been having on his players mental health.  “The mental health aspect is more important than the financial aspect. “You can lose money but when you start losing your health as well then it does become serious.  

“Some lads are still living at home with their parents and football was an outlet for them, and now it’s no longer there. “Some are coming to the end of their careers which is massive, some are just starting out and it’s hard for them. The big thing has been keeping them positive – trying to get them something to look forward to.” 

The tournament has been planned to take place in March, April and May. 

Last edited by Matchman (07/2/2021 8:59 AM)

Forgot to say is that another reason i really want this to go ahead is i have actually watched a few games of the premiership { Which is really a last ditch thing for me to watch this by the way } but it is torture for me. Yes there is some good football but yet time and time again you the cheating going off all the time. As a lot of guys out there are aware that i do rant about this . These players are on multi THOUSANDS of pounds and it comes down to cheating ......... So you can see i need my non league football fix , but i here say "well theres cheating in non league football" yes your right but the players arent being paid bloody stupid money to do this . 


 

WhiteBallProject wrote:

Cheating/Gamesmanship has always gone on in the game but today there is little attempt to hide it by the players. It is almost that it is part of the game and players are accepting that they cannot win by skill alone and they have an extra edge which could be described as being professional. I always thought VAR might get rid of blatant cheating but in some it has made it worse and the diving players have got cleverer. Nearly every good striker needs to know how to win  penalty. My favourite player Salah is an expert at it and so is Mane, Sterling and Kane. And Grealish appears to get flattened if a defender gets within a yard of him. He appears to throw himself at players and on to the ground. Oh for the days when Kenny Burns would put the ball and the player over the touch line and then call the ref a cheat if he gave a free kick!
However if you think the cheating is bad in our game I watched the South American Cup Final between Santos and Palmieres and there was twenty minutes added time for players who went down almost every time they got the ball. The commentators said that both teams where playing for penalties but deep into added Palmieres scored after a huge long ball was headed home. The local experts seem to saying that teams did not try to win a game until the last ten minutes!!

Its just really does my head in as these players are getting stupidly HIGH wages to cheat at their work place . Bloody ell any normal worker cheating at the workplace would get a verbal, written warning or even the sack , these players just collect their tens /hundreds of thousands pounds with no remorse what`s so ever . Makes my blood boil. 
 

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Tournament Update   -   7th Feb


CARLTON SECURE SPONSOR FOR PROPOSED TOURNAMENT AS CITY COURIERS STEP UP TO THE PLATE

Joint Carlton Town Manager Tommy Brookbanks and Chairman Mick Garton are delighted to comfirm that they have secured a sponsor for the proposed end of season tournament if their league season gets curtailed as looks highly likely.

Tommy Brookbanks whose idea it was to hold such a tournament made initial contact with a potential sponsor and after extensive talks this week, Carlton Chairman Mick Garton who is also Vice Chairman of the proposed tournament can comfirm that an outline deal as been agreed with “City Couriers Direct Ltd”

Garton told us” Obviously the tournament remains very much a hope rather than a reality at the moment, as we still don’t know what is happening with the Non League football season or when Boris will ease lockdown” ” I can comfirm a lot of work is going on behind the scenes, both in setting up media coverage and coming up with different senarios depending on different potential start dates”

“If the tournament is to go ahead, it will be in the name of City Couriers Direct who have shown their commitment by putting down a deposit to secure sponsorship for what they believe is a fantastic idea”.  

“They had some key requirements in terms of getting involved around the media side of it and have insisted there will be a presentation night at Carlton Town on a date soon after the tournament ends when they will present trophies to the player of the tournament from each club whom have entered and hopefully prize money along with medals for the winners and runners up, once we know the tournament is a reality, we will firm up the details at a steering meeting” continued Garton.

Chairman of the proposed tournament Dick Durrant was delighted with the news and told us ” Hopefully that will benefit the chosen Charity as well, as we can direct the £50 entry fees in that direction if we managed to get everything covered”  “Most clubs who have committed have paid their entry fees and I stress that if the tournament can not go ahead, monies will be refunded, but we now have to put down a deadline of 6pm on Tuesday night for teams to pay their £50 fee, if they have not done so, we will go to our reserve list of clubs wanting to take part who unfortunately got in touch after the 16 places had gone” comfirmed Durrant.

On the back of that, this website understands the 16 teams will be comfirmed this coming week and finally we asked for a statement from the sponsors City Couriers Direct whom Garton and Durrant are both looking forward to working closely with.

 Spokesman Thomas Claypole told us “we are proud to be associated with the new football tournament aimed at supporting local clubs who will hopefully be able to play in a competitive environment in these trying times”  “Our thanks to Mick Garton and the leagues organising committee for accepting our offer to be the tournaments main sponsor and we look forward to becoming an active and supportive partner of the “City Couriers Direct Football Tournament”

“City Couriers Direct Ltd are a locally based national courier offering logistics solutions to a variety of major UK suppliers. As the partner of choice to many of the UK’s same day or multi drop delivery specialists, we also offer pick and pack ecommerrce and warehousing solutions to the UK logistics industry, please contact us on 01246 541937 or e mail us at citycouriersdirectltd@outlook.com” said a delighted and excited Claypole who is really hoping the tournament gets the green light. 


 

Last edited by Matchman (09/2/2021 9:53 AM)

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FEBRUARY 13, 2021

CARLTON ANNOUNCE THE 16 TEAMS ACCEPTED FOR THE PROPOSED CITY COURIERS FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT.

Carlton Town have this evening revealed the 16 teams set to take place in a football tournament if the season is curtailed due to the pandemic, but if restrictions are lifted to enable football to be played and spectators are allowed in, the proposed tournament, the brain child of joint Carlton Town Manager Tommy Brookbanks (pictured) is set to take place, hopefully in April and May with speculation growing that some restrictions will be lifted at around Easter.

With massive falls in the infection rate in recent days and nearly 15 Million people vaccinated now, the local football family including players, supporters and even match officials are hoping they can finally come out of lockdown.

The proposed tournament received a massive boost last week when City Couriers were secured as sponsors by Brookbanks and Carlton Chairman Mick Garton who is Vice Chairman of the new tournament.Chairman of the proposed tournament Dick Durrant as been working hard behind the scenes this week to finalise the 16 teams who will be seeded to determine two equally balanced leagues.

Whether it becomes two groups of 8 or 4 leagues of 4 will depend on and if and when restrictions are lifted and the organisation Commitee have different models in mind depending on the all important time factor.

Admission for all games will be £5 Adults, £3 concessions and £1 for Children and the final and a proposed separate presentation hosted by the sponsors will take place at Carlton Town.

Brookbanks has done the press rounds speaking to both the non league paper and Gedling Eye about the new tournament and this website understands, more press is being lined up should the tournament get the go ahead., he believes that it will give everyone involved with local football a much needed boost, in particular with many people suffering with mental health problems after spending months in lockdown.

To comfirm our social media post the 16 teams involved are as follows.

Carlton Town,
Basford United,
lkeston Town,
Gresley Rovers,
Dunkirk Fc,
Rainworth MW,
Gedling MW,
Eastwood CFC,
Hucknall Town,
Radford Fc,
Southwell City,
Clipstone Fc,
Linby Colliery Fc,
Kimberley MW,
Awsworth Villa Fc,
Blidworth Welfare Fc.

Further details are expected to follow after Boris Johnson announcement towards the end of February and following subsequent league decisions, but at least supporters can now see there is meat on the bone and it will be all systems go if it gets the go ahead.

WATCH THIS SPACE!


 

do you think we will have a mix of the first team and under 23`s ? 

Matchman wrote:

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Really hope this tournament gets the go-ahead.

A small problem with this competition is that there appears to be a massive difference in quality between some of the teams. Basford, Ilkeston and Carlton look certain to be in the final four with Gresley the most likely other.  

I know nothing about the competition rules but the following may be a way of making the competing teams more evenly matched :

This is a possible solution:
Make it a rule that the highest ranked four clubs to include a set number of players aged under 23 when playing against the twelve lower ranked clubs.

Maybe :
Basford to include at least four players aged under 23,
Ilkeston and Carlton to include at least three players under 23
Gresley to include at least two players aged under 23 .

When the top four ranked teams play against each other, they can play their best teams

It should be a great competition for the twelve more evenly matched teams to try to finish as a top four team. 


If time allows I think two divisions of eight would be better than four divisions of four as it gives the lower ranked clubs more games against each other.

Regardless of how well they do, some of the lower ranked teams will benefit from a home game against Ilkeston with a boost to their gate and refreshment takings.


 

I like the idea of two X eight leagues . No doubt the teams like Basford , Carlton , us and Gresley will put out u23 when they can.
I just hope the Ilson fans can travel on a coach as I know plenty don't drive . And I suspect you can't car share ?
Again no doubt will find out next week