Lack of mid week games

Colin Appleton · Post by **Colin Appleton** » Sun Aug 31, 2014 6:43 pm

I always feel non-league football misses a trick. With no Champions League games scheduled for this week and as a result no games on TV don't you feel the Conference with a view to trying to attract the best possible attendances at matches should have had a full programme of games during the week ?

Also can anyone explain why in a couple of weeks most of the teams in the Conference North appear to have a mid week fixture but Barrow don't ?

And one final point as games are bound to be called off at some stage over the winter due to the weather and also cup runs shouldn't the league also try to cram in as many games as possible during August/Sept/Oct.

Moan over ....

xerxes · Post by **xerxes** » Sun Aug 31, 2014 7:30 pm

Well, if there aren't any midweek games then they can't clash with the Champions' League!

But you make a good point about avoiding fixture congestion later in the season. Not so long ago there were plenty of midweek games in the first couple of months of the season - don't know why they've changed it.

mickmike wilson · Post by **mickmike wilson** » Sun Aug 31, 2014 7:43 pm

xerxes wrote:Well, if there aren't any midweek games then they can't clash with the Champions' League!

That's the point he's making, As any fixtures around this time don't clash with the CL you'd expect to attract a higher crowd.

A.B. · Post by **A.B.** » Sun Aug 31, 2014 9:24 pm

Colin Appleton wrote:I always feel non-league football misses a trick. With no Champions League games scheduled for this week and as a result no games on TV don't you feel the Conference with a view to trying to attract the best possible attendances at matches should have had a full programme of games during the week ?

Also can anyone explain why in a couple of weeks most of the teams in the Conference North appear to have a mid week fixture but Barrow don't ?

And one final point as games are bound to be called off at some stage over the winter due to the weather and also cup runs shouldn't the league also try to cram in as many games as possible during August/Sept/Oct.

Moan over ....

1. I agree, but surely there would be weekends later on in the season where there are no games played whatsoever (thats if there are no rearranged games)? We could go a couple of weeks without a game which isn't ideal. Or, alternatively, the season could just end earlier than it is, which IMO, is already very early.

2. I think the mid-week game that week is on a Monday night away to Bradford PA.

John Very Little · Post by **John Very Little** » Sun Aug 31, 2014 9:37 pm

If us or our opponents progress further than 2 games in the FA Cup or 1 game in the FA Trophy then we will have to rearrange league games that take place when its the later rounds of those competitions. There may also be Cup replays and we also have to fit in the Lancs Trophy. Every winter games are always called off and rearranged for later in the season so games will be rearranged for midweek. Its just we don't know when or how many games that will be yet.

Now we're in Conf North we only play 42 games instead of 46 in the Conf Prem so that's 4 less midweek games already. I think another factor is the income as I think most club chairman want games as evenly spread as they can so the income is more evenly spread and they aren't struggling for income in the second half of the season which is what would happen if too many games were played early in the season.

As mentioned midweek games clashing with Champs League games tends to mean lower crowds on those nights. Another issue now is International Football with the Euro 2016 qualifiers taking place on 6 nights a week when there are double headers as UEFA want more games on TV. Sadly this again will most likely mean less at midweek matches at this level and the clubs will suffer.

russell_anderson · Post by **russell_anderson** » Sun Aug 31, 2014 9:58 pm

No Champions League games but England are at home and on TV.

Colin Appleton · Post by **Colin Appleton** » Sat Sep 06, 2014 7:06 pm

After going two points clear it's a shame we're not in action midweek when everyone else is. I can't understand why we haven't got a game. Can anyone tell me why we haven't a fixture ?

McMark · Post by **McMark** » Sat Sep 06, 2014 7:11 pm

Colin Appleton wrote:After going two points clear it's a shame we're not in action midweek when everyone else is. I can't understand why we haven't got a game. Can anyone tell me why we haven't a fixture ?

Sorry Colin,
"point of order" It is Saturday night after a hard fought win against a fair side, we are top of the league by a couple of points! Let's bathe in our glory with positives and save the rest for during the week bud!!!

Colin Appleton · Post by **Colin Appleton** » Sat Sep 06, 2014 7:16 pm

Yea but I'm loving living the dream and want to go five points clear on Tuesday night ..

tommy2thumbs · Post by **tommy2thumbs** » Sat Sep 06, 2014 7:41 pm

if we had more midweek games, would we then have fewer Saturday games?
discuss

Ace · Post by **Ace** » Sat Sep 06, 2014 8:41 pm

Isn't it also that the players are part-time and have jobs during the week?

Bingo · Post by **Bingo** » Sat Sep 06, 2014 10:38 pm

I think we might be missing Colin's point a little bit - a majority of the league ARE in action this coming Tuesday meaning we might not be top of the league by next Saturday (although we would have a game in hand)

jimboc90 · Post by **jimboc90** » Sun Sep 07, 2014 5:18 am

Bingo wrote:I think we might be missing Colin's point a little bit - a majority of the league ARE in action this coming Tuesday meaning we might not be top of the league by next Saturday (although we would have a game in hand)

This is something i never like as it undoubtedly puts extra pressure on the side to return to the top,however i believe we have enough about us to win and claim top spot back if needs be,playing not great but still winning is title winning form.

GordyB · Post by **GordyB** » Sun Sep 07, 2014 8:14 am

Bingo wrote:I think we might be missing Colin's point a little bit - a majority of the league ARE in action this coming Tuesday meaning we might not be top of the league by next Saturday (although we would have a game in hand)

We could still be top but with a game in hand. That would be a good feeling.

Billy Carbuncle · Post by **Billy Carbuncle** » Sun Sep 07, 2014 9:13 am

Correct me if I'm wrong but wasn't it Barrow that requested no midweek games because of the floodlight situation?