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1 of 1- Matchman
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Another season assured at Step 3
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It’s not been the most successful of seasons but at least we are assured of another season at Step 3. It was a battle to stay up but we made it in the end. This season's Northern Premier League was probably tougher than normal due to there being no teams running away at the top and no teams stranded at the bottom. Suspensions and injuries affected us more than in previous seasons. So what lies ahead? Many supporters are suggesting a change of management.
Apart from getting himself suspended, I say Deaks along with, Craig, Adam, Ben and Simon have done well to keep us competitive at this level with a young team and a manageable wage bill. As always, managers and players come and go. Some are popular and some are not but you can never criticise the effort they put in.
So will Deaks survive or will there be a change. If Deaks goes. will we lose several players who are loyal to him and will we also lose Bradley and Rob the media boys who have done such a good job? If a new manager comes in will he want to change the players anyway? Whatever happens, ie whatever Andy decides, to be sure, we’ll go along with his decision.
- Matchman
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Re: Another season assured at Step 3
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I know that not every supporter is happy with the way the season has gone. We all have different opinions. The way attendances have fallen is very disappointing. Is that down to results which have been inconsistent? Or are there other reasons. We’ve gone from regular 500-600 attendances to less than 300 against Bamber Bridge.
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Thread Starter- kevilsonlad
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Re: Another season assured at Step 3
Matchman wrote:
.
It’s not been the most successful of seasons but at least we are assured of another season at Step 3. It was a battle to stay up but we made it in the end. This season's Northern Premier League was probably tougher than normal due to there being no teams running away at the top and no teams stranded at the bottom. Suspensions and injuries affected us more than in previous seasons. So what lies ahead? Many supporters are suggesting a change of management.
Apart from getting himself suspended, I say Deaks along with, Craig, Adam, Ben and Simon have done well to keep us competitive at this level with a young team and a manageable wage bill. As always, managers and players come and go. Some are popular and some are not but you can never criticise the effort they put in.
So will Deaks survive or will there be a change. If Deaks goes. will we lose several players who are loyal to him and will we also lose Bradley and Rob the media boys who have done such a good job? If a new manager comes in will he want to change the players anyway? Whatever happens, ie whatever Andy decides, to be sure, we’ll go along with his decision.
Personally I have thought WHY the hell have we got Four ? On the books .
If Deaks goes I don't think so many players will go with him but that's my thoughts .
- silverfoxx
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Re: Another season assured at Step 3
Let’s have a poll.
Will the current management team be here next season.
Err no.
- Matchman
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Re: Another season assured at Step 3
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The ambition of all clubs is to win games and achieve promotion to higher levels. A winning team on the way up enjoys increasing attendances. But once the team reaches it’s competitive level, then results start to tail off and attendances fall back. That seems to be what’s happened at Ilkeston. Our current home attendances have fallen to a level that suggests that we are a Step 4 club playing at Step 3 and we find ourselves in the awkward position where our aim to win promotion from a tough Northern Premier League would take us to a level where we would struggle even more to be competitive.
So where do Ilkeston go from here? A lateral move to the Southern League would surely help. Less travel costs and a less competitive league should bring improved results which would hopefully improve home attendances. In the end finances dictate the level that a club can play at and Andy Nally has done brilliantly to get the club into a sustainable position. The refurb of the clubhouse has greatly improved income from room hire and the planned Padel courts would provide more income to the football club. The 1500 tickets sold for the Derbyshire Senior Cup Final shows that a higher level of support is possible. Next season is a new start and there’s no reason why we can’t return to more consistent winning ways and boost attendances.
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Thread Starter- Matchman
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Re: Another season assured at Step 3
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Based on geographical locations it looks like we have zero chance of a sideways move to the Southern League
There will definitely be 4 Northern based teams promoted to Step 3 from NPL East and NPL West
Even if Belper were to be promoted from NPL Mids and Alfreton were relegated that would be only 6 teams more northerly than us looking to coming into NPL Premier to replace the 5 outgoing teams plus the place vacated by Widnes
That means 6 northerly teams cominging into the NPL and 6 northerly teams going out
Therefore no need for any sideways movements
Redcar are certain to come into the NPL Premier from NPL East and Matlock are favourites to join them.
Bury and Avro are favourites to come into the NPL Premier from NPL West
Anstey Nomads and Carlton are favourites for promotion from NPL Midlands but Anstey are likely to go into the Southern League Premier Central.
Of the 8 teams to be relegated from NL North and NL South, Alfreton are the only northerly team likely to come into the NPL Premier.
So as things stand, the six teams most likely to come into the NPL Premier next season are:
Redcar promoted from NPL East
Matlock promoted from NPL East
Bury promoted from NPL West
Avro promoted from NPL West
Carlton promoted from NPL Midands
Alfreton relegated from National League North
So there's a possibility of 3 local fixtures against Carlton, Alfreton and Matlock which would reduce overall travelling costs and a seaside trip to Redcar.
Last edited by Matchman (14/4/2026 10:06 AM)
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Thread Starter- kevilsonlad
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Re: Another season assured at Step 3
1/ Is the cost of getting into the club a bit on the higher side ? Maybe
2/ Are fans not happy with the management ? Maybe
3/ Is it the high cost of living putting fans/people off coming Maybe
4/ other issues Maybe
At this very moment i fall into two of the four .......
Its true around the country there some really good crowds so can we rule out the cost of living doesnt effect in way at them football clubs .
Just been looking at the some random admission costs at other grounds in our league plus their average home crowds
,
Stockton £13 Av 723
Leek £13 Av 536
Bamber £12 Av 403
Ashton £14 Av 347
Cleethorpes £12 Av 440
Could it be be that people cant be bothered to get to the ground because its not straight forward is it what with the ground being the edge of town. Plus the added cost of getting there just not viable .
I dont think you can point your finger at one thing but a combination of things .
but all this is hearsay on my part ...
- Matchman
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Re: Another season assured at Step 3
.
Based on geographical locations it looks like we have zero chance of a sideways move to the Southern League
There will definitely be 4 Northern based teams promoted to Step 3 from NPL East and NPL West
Even if Belper were to be promoted from NPL Mids and Alfreton were relegated that would be only 6 teams more northerly than us looking to coming into NPL Premier to replace the 5 outgoing teams plus the place vacated by Widnes
That means 6 northerly teams cominging into the NPL and 6 northerly teams going out
Therefore no need for any sideways movements
Redcar are certain to come into the NPL Premier from NPL East and Matlock are favourites to join them.
Bury and Avro are favourites to come into the NPL Premier from NPL West
Anstey Nomads and Carlton are favourites for promotion from NPL Midlands but Anstey are likely to go into the Southern League Premier Central.
Of the 8 teams to be relegated from NL North and NL South, Alfreton are the only northerly team likely to come into the NPL Premier.
So as things stand, the six teams most likely to come into the NPL Premier next season are:
Redcar promoted from NPL East
Matlock promoted from NPL East
Bury promoted from NPL West
Avro promoted from NPL West
Carlton promoted from NPL Midands
Alfreton relegated from National League North
So there's a possibility of 3 local fixtures against Carlton, Alfreton and Matlock which would reduce overall travelling costs and a seaside trip to Redcar.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The latest NonLeague Maps projections agree with my predicted six new teams coming into the Northern Premier League, ie:
Redcar promoted from NPL East
Matlock promoted from NPL East
Bury promoted from NPL West
Avro promoted from NPL West
Carlton promoted from NPL Midands
Alfreton relegated from National League North
But they also predict that Quorn will switch to the Northern Prem from the Southern League and Rushall will go the other way
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Thread Starter