I understand that any hopes Eastwood Town and Trafford may have had of a reprieve from relegation, through the knock-on effect if no northern club comes down from the Conference, have been dashed. The league have apparently told Eastwood that if this happens the chance will be taken to revert the Premier Division to 22 clubs. So barring a miracle it's goodbye to both. Let's wish them well and only a short stay in their respective feeder leagues - who knows, they could both be back the season after next to fill vacancies caused by the new Conference North. If that's the case 2003-04 will be a useful re-grouping season for them. But apart from that, we at Alfreton know from experience what a hard league the NCEL is to get out of once you've dropped down to that level. There are some good footballing sides there, but some kickers too, and it will be tough for the Badgers' young side. I don't know enough about the NWCL and Trafford to write about them, but wish them all the best nevertheless.

The UniBond League Management met last night and decided that all teams with red stands and whose ground is located close to a swimming pool (both criteria must be met) are automatically exempt from relegation.

The Conference are reported to be amending their entry criteria to include all teams whose secretary's name rhymes with Bony Feared and have won less than 20 of their last 80 league games.

Bower Boy, or should that be badger bonker? (I know I should be HUFCpussycats). You've got to hope that its true and we do get another last minute lifeline. After all, what would you do without us? You certainly wouldn't have put six past anyone else! Seriously, last year was wrong, we should be in Div 1 now and everyone knows that, but the fact we stayed up wasn't our fault and we can only accept the actions that the league makes. If it was to happen again then we would snap off their hands, anybody else in our situation would also, but if/when we go down (looking like tomorrow!) then we will accept it and get on with rebuilding the squad which is already in process. Some would say that you have more luck than us with your £120,000 pay off from Tameside Council (taxpayers money by the way, so you have to thank the people of Hyde for your success) and the fact the council sells of their land to build houses on but gives you the money from it. It stinks what Roy Oldham has done for you and if it is legal, everyone in Tameside wants to know why it is. Apologies already for that rant, but I feel much better now. As we say in Hyde - Division One, Bring it on!

Who paid to lay a plastic pitch at Ewen Fields?
Who paid to then have it ripped up and replaced with grass when the plastic idea proved a disaster?
Who built your main stand?
Answers please.

Q.1 TAMESIDE COUNCIL - ALTHOUGH WE DID NOT GAIN ANY FINANCIAL BENEFITS FROM THIS MOVE
Q.2 HYDE UNITED FC - ALONG WITH GRANTS FROM THE FOOTBALL TRUST.
Q.3 TAMESIDE COUNCIL - ALTHOUGH THIS WAS PAID WITH THE USE OF GRANTS AND THE EXTENSION WAS FUNDED COMPLETLY BY GRANTS.

THE POINT IS, THAT IS WHAT IS AVAILABLE TO EVERY CLUB IN THE BOROUGH, BUT BY USING TAXPAYERS MONEY TO GIVE YOU £120,000 FOR SQUAD IMPROVEMENTS ETC, THEY CROSSED THE LINE AND YOU KNOW IT.

Is stinks and still does. However they have set a presdent now. So should a miracle happen and one or Droylsden, Ashton or even Hyde ever make it to the top non-league division and be the ONLY ones there then we both should expect this special treatment from the Council as the Top Team in Tameside. Saying that according to Pacey we already are so where's our cash Tameside?!!

Can't you Tamesiders fight your petty battles on your own threads or web sites instead oh hijacking others? This one was about Eastwood and Trafford, remember?

Sorry but they started it!!

Really though I think its been coming for Eastwood hasnt it?! Although I do feel sorry for Trafford. I wish they could escape but like Hyde they have no chance of doing so on the field of play. They are the first non-league club I went to see as a mate was playing for them. It was in 93-94 season (i think) and was against Maghull (I think) in the Lamot Pils Trophy final (now I remember that name for some reason) They won 3-1 and I had a great night.

North West Counties is a very strong league and its just a shame that one club can come up but with the restructure if the Unibond keeps 2 divisions I dare say Trafford may get back in.

If the new Alliance North is fed by the Unibond and a Midland League, I can't see why the Unibond shouldn't be fed by just two leagues (NWC and NEC) with 4 down, 2 up. Dropping out of the Unibond wouldn't be such a problem then.

Sod the Northern League - they never offer anyone up for promotion anyway.

No, not at present, but they may do if the southern based clubs went into a new Midland League to feed Conference North. That would mean the boundary would not be so far south and the long distances would be less of a problem. Similarly, if the Conference South was fed by south-eastern and south-western leagues the current Western League would not be so much out on a limb either.