Step 5/6 Review Leagues Meeting8 January 2012

STEP 5/6 REVIEW

Purpose of Meeting

• Update on the work of the Review Group

• Current Position

• Look at Possible New Structure

• Next Steps

• Questions and Answers

STEP 5/6 REVIEW

Work of Review Group• Initial announcement made at Leagues

Conference in July 2011• Individual Meetings with all Step 5/6 Leagues• Notes of Meetings Confirmed• Review outcomes from League Meetings• Update to Leagues Committee• Leagues Committee agreed Project Proceed• Meeting with Leagues Today

STEP 5/6 REVIEW

Main Outcomes from League Meetings• General View in favour of 12 Step 5 Leagues

• 8 Yes• 4 No (Don’t see the need – sledgehammer to Crack a

Nut)• 2 Non Committal

• There should be 22 Clubs• No Reserve Teams at Step 5 (or Step 6) • Ground Sharing Not an Issue • There has never been a problem with movements as

Step 4 never relegates 12 clubs.• 12 Divisions will give a more clearly defined geographic

spread• Leave at 14 – introduce Play-offs if necessary

STEP 5/6 REVIEW

Main Outcomes from League Meetings – Cont

• 2 Long Established Competitions Lost – Why?• 23 Step 5 Clubs Relegated for no reason • Look for Some Leagues to Merge• Fewer Leagues will Lead to Increased Travel

Costs• Maybe Create More Step 5 Leagues Not Less• Take Opportunity to Increase Promotion

Opportunities

STEP 5/6 REVIEW

Initial Thoughts of Review Group• Continue to Look at Possibility of 12 Step 5 Leagues• Geographically Based• 22 Clubs per Division• ALL Clubs to Meet Grade F by 31 March 2013• FA to Carry Out Grading with Leagues• Clubs that Fail the Grading WILL NOT BE Included• ALL Clubs that Meet Grade F WILL BE Included• Year 1 (2013/2014) Possibly up to 287 Clubs in Structure• Balance out Through Promotion/Relegation Process

STEP 5/6 REVIEW

How a New Structure Might Look

NOTE• All Current Step 5 Clubs Included (287)• Divided into 12 Geographical Groups• League Names Removed• Number of Clubs varies between 23 and 25• Does Not Take into Account Promotion/Relegations

over the Course of the Next 2 Seasons

EXAMPLE ONLY

STEP 5/6 REVIEWCurrent Structure

League Clubs Games Per Club

Total Mileage

Avg per Club

Avg perAway Game

Combined Counties League 22 42 21,251 966 46

Eastern Counties League 21 40 41,591 1,980 99Essex Senior League 18 34 15,358 853 50Hellenic League 21 40 33,718 1,606 80Kent League 16 30 15,149 947 63Midland Football Alliance 22 42 38,225 1,737 83Northern League 22 42 32,255 1,466 70North West Counties League 22 42 38,940 1,770 84Northern Counties East League 20 38 41,237 2,062 109Spartan South Midlands League 22 42 23,305 1,059 50Sussex County League 20 38 24,779 1,239 65United Counties League 21 40 34,201 1,629 81Wessex League 22 42 28,328 1,288 61Western League 18 34 31,886 1,771 104Totals 287 420,223 1,464 --

STEP 5/6 REVIEW

Possible Structure Year 1 (2013/2014)League Clubs Games

Per ClubTotal Mileage Avg per

ClubAvg per Away

Game

North Division 23 44 38,249 1,663 75

North East Division 24 46 66,912 2,788 121North West Division 24 46 51,528 2,147 93Midlands Division 24 46 46,128 1,922 84Eastern Division 24 46 63,408 2,642 115London NE Division 25 48 44,600 1,784 74London SE Division 23 44 39,583 1,721 78London NW Division 24 46 29,616 1,234 54London SW Division 24 46 29,520 1,230 53South Division 24 46 36,696 1,529 66Central Division 24 46 35,160 1,465 64Western Division 24 46 62,736 2,614 113Totals 287 544,136 1,896 ---

STEP 5/6 REVIEW

Next Steps

• Meet With Leagues (Today)• Meet With Clubs

• Thurrock – 15 Jan• West Riding FA, Rothwell – 22 Jan• Leicester – 29 Jan• Yeovil Town FC – 12 Feb

• Feedback from All Meetings to Leagues Committee in March 2012

• Ground Grading Gets Underway - 2012

STEP 5/6 REVIEW

Next Steps - Continued

• List of Eligible Clubs by 31 March 2013• Leagues Committee to Agree Club

Allocations in May 2013• August 2013 – Season to Commence

STEP 5/6 REVIEW

WE WOULD RE EMPHASISE

NOTHING HAS BEEN AGREED

THIS IS VERY MUCH WORK IN PROGRESS

QUESTIONS

Step 5/6 Review Leagues Meeting8 January 2012