It was mid-morning, not "the early hours"
The incident was the 'early hours' not discovered until later though.
It was mid-morning, not "the early hours"
The incident was the 'early hours' not discovered until later though.
Without going too far off topic - it would make more sense to have the old ‘north’ and ‘south’ divisions to avoid lower league clubs with limited funds having to make such journeys - Dover to Barrow is a heck of a journey for anyone!
Most non league clubs can’t afford hotel costs for overnight stays. Good to see them using trains.
Dover and Barrow are in the National League, its the 5th level of FA competition and the first national level. Below that level 6 is divided into 2 geographic regions to reduce travel, level 7 below that is divided into 4 regions. Leagues go down to level 10 with the geographic areas becoming smaller.
Dover and Barrow are in the National League, its the 5th level of FA competition and the first national level. Below that level 6 is divided into 2 geographic regions to reduce travel, level 7 below that is divided into 4 regions. Leagues go down to level 10 with the geographic areas becoming smaller.
Euston to St Pancras (by coach)
Barrow can take a running jump. They have no place to be taking the high ground. Never been to the football ground, I and about 150 supporters, and the team, got as close as Preston before we were told the game was off the other year. Lots of us had hotels booked, so frankly my heart doesn't bleed for him.
Absolutely it is, but there is a problem: the three teams who failed to arrive for their away games today are likely to be fined for it. Barrow in particular have been shooting their mouth off about Dover's non-arrival, demanding that Barrow are awarded the points by default, calling Dover a "tinpot club", and so on. It is claimed that when Dover's supporters - on a coach - arrived at the ground, a Barrow official informed them that "Your bunch of c-words haven't bothered to come".
Will teams such as Dover "risk" travelling by train again?
Without going too far off topic - it would make more sense to have the old ‘north’ and ‘south’ divisions to avoid lower league clubs with limited funds having to make such journeys - Dover to Barrow is a heck of a journey for anyone!
However having geographic regions in level 6 (National League North & South), hasn't stopped the situation of matches such as Blyth Spartans (Northumberland) v Gloucester City or Gateshead v Hereford.
It is probably due to the larger amount of southern based teams at that level which causes teams that should ideally be in National League South ending up in National League North.
It produces a huge drain on these club's finances as it is either a very long journey there and back on the day, or hotel accommodation needed the night before the match.Some of the bigger clubs in the National League North do travel by coach all the way (for example York City), but I have seen a few of teams on the train on a Friday before a Saturday match.
However getting back from Gloucester City to Cramlington (the closest station to Blythe) after a Saturday match either means missing the end of the match or getting home the following morning.
Absolutely it is, but there is a problem: the three teams who failed to arrive for their away games today are likely to be fined for it. Barrow in particular have been shooting their mouth off about Dover's non-arrival, demanding that Barrow are awarded the points by default, calling Dover a "tinpot club", and so on. It is claimed that when Dover's supporters - on a coach - arrived at the ground, a Barrow official informed them that "Your bunch of c-words haven't bothered to come".
Will teams such as Dover "risk" travelling by train again?
Unless the Conference rules have changed, clubs are not penalised for no-shows if they are travelling by rail and an incident prevents them from fulfilling the journey.
However, the Conference does penalise no-shows or late arrivals if a journey is made by road.
I'm sure Dover will "risk" travelling by train again, most of their players are London-based so few would be starting their journey at Dover.
When my team was in the Conference (a distant memory now) we always used London trains for fixtures at Altrincham, Morecambe, Runcorn, Southport, Gateshead etc.
Dover to Barrow is nearly as long as trip as you'll get in England so if they can afford first class travel for their squad and staff for that journey they could have got a coach the day before and a reasonably priced hotel
If I recall correctly Arsenal received heavy criticism a number of years ago for flying to an away fixture with Norwich from London when going by train or coach would have been easier surely? Flight lasted like 18 minutes or something.
So the Dover team were stuck at Euston but the supporters coach made it all the way to the ground before finding out the game was off? I find that very hard to believe.
Unless the Conference rules have changed, clubs are not penalised for no-shows if they are travelling by rail and an incident prevents them from fulfilling the journey. However, the Conference does penalise no-shows or late arrivals if a journey is made by road.
If I recall correctly Arsenal received heavy criticism a number of years ago for flying to an away fixture with Norwich from London when going by train or coach would have been easier surely? Flight lasted like 18 minutes or something.
It does seem surprising, but it's mentioned in the statement that Dover Athletic have put out.
"However, we are shocked and disappointed with the response from Barrow AFC and some of their supporters. ... We were further shocked to hear about abuse directed by Barrow officials towards both our Kit Manager and our Supporters Club driver – the latter had travelled to Barrow this morning and was subjected to foul and abusive language as a Barrow Club official attempted to board the supporters coach."
So it did arrive in Barrow, and had its driver known that there was a problem you'd imagine he'd have parked up at Charnock Richard or somewhere and waited for further news.
.
We had supporters fly to that and our game at Gateshead yesterday.However having geographic regions in level 6 (National League North & South), hasn't stopped the situation of matches such as Blyth Spartans (Northumberland) v Gloucester City or Gateshead v Hereford.
It is probably due to the larger amount of southern based teams at that level which causes teams that should ideally be in National League South ending up in National League North.
It produces a huge drain on these club's finances as it is either a very long journey there and back on the day, or hotel accommodation needed the night before the match.Some of the bigger clubs in the National League North do travel by coach all the way (for example York City), but I have seen a few of teams on the train on a Friday before a Saturday match.
However getting back from Gloucester City to Cramlington (the closest station to Blythe) after a Saturday match either means missing the end of the match or getting home the following morning.
We had supporters fly to that and our game at Gateshead yesterday.
Can't remember which league team it was, but wasn't they a manager who decided that if they could get to an away game by train then they would?
Pretty sure Wenger used to do it in his early years at Arsenal. Infact they'd still travel to games in North West as you had that incident of him getting abused at Stoke on Trent station a few years back.
Manchester clubs both get on at Stockport for London games (often pictures of them waiting in the papers).
I was surprised to see the Scotland Rugby team heading down the M6 on a coach a few weeks back, must have taken a long time to get to Japan that way