Nets?

One thing that has always interested me(strangely) is the shape of nets(yes I have no life!).

The European style square nets seem to be pretty much common place amongst most clubs now as oppose to the old style 'triangular' shaped ones seen at many grounds in the past.

New Style 'Euro' Nets and the Old Style Traditional Nets

I would imagine that UEFA/FIFA regulations now state that teams in the Premiership must have the new style nets as Watford appeared to change pretty quickly when they were promoted to the big time last year.

Even clubs in the lower reaches of the football league are comforming to the new style of nets in fact I think you could count on one hand how many league clubs still have the old style goalposts who would actually have room for the new style.

Some clubs pitches don't have room for deeper nets with Walsall(Bescot Stadium), Scunthorpe(Glanford Park) and Cheltenham(Whaddon Road) examples of this.

Typically though my club, Port Vale despite having one of the biggest pitches in the league have yet to change. The old style goalposts still reign supreme at Vale Park when even clubs in the Conference have square nets? I keep thinking every season why don't we change? Our current goals even caused a problem last season when a shot from Hartlepool came back off the stantion casting doubt on whether it had crossed the line, a problem which wouldn't be had with square nets!

Having done some research it appears to cost just over a grand to update

http://www.sportserve.co.uk/cat.php?cat=51

Having said that it does seem some clubs struggle to afford with the botsched jobs at Macclesfield and Rochdale who clearly have new nets hanging off the old goalposts!

Still nothing beats the nets at Lewes' Dripping Pan during this seasons FA Cup first round tie against Darlington where they had 1 style at 1 end and at the other!

Intrigingly shaped nets at Stafford Rangers

Player Features: Simeon Jackson

One player I have noticed who is certainly making a name for himself in the Conference is Rushden & Diamonds striker Simeon Jackson.

The 19 year old Canadian, has scored 14 goals already this season in a side who have largely flirted around mid-table. His efforts have seen him grab the February player off the month award for the Conference with 60% of the votes.

This should assure that he receives admirers from the football league come the summer especially as he is out of contract, although as long as Rushden offer a new deal they will get a few even if he opts for pastures new.

With players like McLean, Mackail-Smith, Blackett and Boyd already moving from the Conference to local rivals of Rushden, Peterborough who's betting the League 2 money bags aren't keeping tabs on another potential signing?

I doubt Rushden will let their star man go cheap though, which could see it result in a tribunal.

http://www.thediamondsfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10784~995836,00.html

Edit

Idiot here didn't do his research because Shrewsbury V Wrexham has been called off due to a Waterlogged pitch. They'll be playing in July if this carries on!
I remember a few seasons ago Vale had 4 games to play going into the last week. We played Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday and still picked up 5 points.

League Two Preview

Midweek in League two see's 3 games mostly affecting the mid-table teams. Although the local derby between Shrewsbury and Wrexham looks the pick of the bunch. Shrewsbury despite being anchored in mid-table for most of the campaign could yet achieve something from their last season at Gay Meadow. The ammount of games in hand they have courtesy of flooding and January's bad weather gives them an outside chance of chasing down a playoff place. Wrexham's season which couldn't get much worse did take an upturn at the weekend with victory at Barnet(their first win in 13) but the Welsh club still have a lot of work to do if they are to avoid playing conference football next season. Elsewhere Accrington will aim to keep themselves clear of Boston in 23rd when they entertain underachieving Bristol Rovers and Mansfield and Chester battle it out for mid-table mediocrity at Field Mill.

League One Preview

Promotion at the top of League One looks altogether more clear cut. With Scunthorpe 10 points clear, not many people would bet against another one of football's 'smaller clubs' being promoted to the 2nd tier. Colchester and Southend were last season's suprise promotions and the North Lincolnshire club look likely to follow in their footsteps barring a very bad run in. 'Big Club' or should that be 'sleeping giant' Notts Forest could cut their lead to 7 points with a win over Doncaster at the City Ground but Doncaster will be hoping to pull some points back on the playoffs after succumbing to Bournemouth at the weekend.
Blackpool have the best chance of the chasing pack(behind 6th place Tranmere) the seasiders are 4 points adrift but with 2 games in hand. One of these being tonight's clash with struggling Bournemouth who as I mentioned earlier beat Donny at the weekend to move out of the bottom 4.
My own pride and joy entertain Cheltenham at Vale Park looking to cement a place in mid-table and hammer another nail in the Gloucestershire sides relegation coffin. Although a win for John Ward's team would keep them in touch with the teams just above the dropzone.

Championship Review/Preview

Promotion to the 'promised land' of the Premiership looks as open as ever with 8 teams all still in the immediate playoff and automatic promotion picture.
Derby and Birmingham look as though they will just hold off the challenge of West Brom and Sunderland for the automatic placings, although the momentum is certainly with the Black Cats after saturday's win at the Hawthorns and any slip ups could see Roy Keane's men take advantage. Derby will surge back to the summit tonight if they can win at mid-table Norwich. The other two matches see a mid-table battle; Sheffield Wednesday V Plymouth and Hull attempting to pull away from the bottom three and make Ipswich look nervously over their shoulder as those two meet at the KC.
Preston's win last night against Southampton infront of the Sky cameras, moved them back into the playoff places with Neil Mellor scoring his first goal for the club and David Nugent netting his 16th of the season. Rasiak's 20th was in vain on the evening but it remains wide open which should make the last 10 games or so very interesting.

Introduction

Hi and welcome to my blog which will be looking at stories and issues in the football league from the Championship down to the Conference.

Yes that's right no Premiership, the overpaid and overpriced world of the Prima donnas will have no place on this blog. It will be totally dedicated to lower leagues and smaller clubs!

I'm a Port Vale fan myself but I appreciate all football in the football league and love a good debate so any comments are welcome.

Enjoy

Regards

Richard