(07 May 2014, 8:41 pm)Michael wrote Were staying up!

What were the odds of us stopping up after the Everton game?

(07 May 2014, 8:41 pm)Michael wrote Were staying up!

What were the odds of us stopping up after the Everton game?

(07 May 2014, 8:11 pm)marxistafozzski wrote They did indeed fold and reform in 2010...

I have a question for you Adam

Is the Gatshead FC we know today the same Gateshead that was voted out of the League 54 years. Football in Gateshead has an interesting history, reforming a few times, mergers with South Shields and so on...

I am guessing Gateshead today is a new club and it was not this club that got voted out of the league, but also guessing most fans view it as a Phoenix so to speak

(08 May 2014, 6:10 pm)Adam wrote Sorry for the late reply. You can tell that A-level revision has completely taken over my life at the minute.

Technically, it is the same club, but it isn't. The club was formed back in 1930 under the name Gateshead AFC. The latest media reports all say that the forthcoming Wembley match is the biggest one in the club's 84 year history, so obviously must include this incarnation, if you like.

That club folded back in 1973 but reformed under the name Gateshead Town in the same year and then rebranded themselves as Gateshead United the following year when they merged with South Shields (again). That club then folded in 1977, but the club reformed again into the current Gateshead FC that we know.

(08 May 2014, 6:33 pm)Michael wrote First leg of the championship play off's tonight!

Brighton V Derby - KO 19:45

Come on Brighton!

FRI 9 MAY 2014 - CHAMPIONSHIP
Wigan v QPR - 19:45

SUN 11 MAY 2014 - CHAMPIONSHIP - Derby v Brighton - 17:15
MON 12 MAY 2014 - CHAMPIONSHIP - QPR v Wigan - 19:45

League 1 play-offs

SAT 10 MAY 2014 - LEAGUE ONE
Peterborough v Leyton Orient - 12:15
Preston v Rotherham - 17:15
TUE 13 MAY 2014 - Leyton Orient v Peterborough -19:45
THU 15 MAY 2014 - Rotherham v Preston -19:45

Would like to see Leyton Orient promoted

League 2

SAT 10 MAY 2014 -York v Fleetwood - 19:30
SUN 11 MAY 2014 -Burton v Southend -12:00
FRI 16 MAY 2014 - Fleetwood v York -19:45
SAT 17 MAY 2014 - Southend v Burton - 12:00

Would like to see Fleetwood promoted

(08 May 2014, 6:36 pm)marxistafozzski wrote So the FA are talking about creating a new division that will contain Premier League B teams, it will sit between League 2 and The Conference, it will contain 10 Premier League B teams, the rest being made up of Conference Teams...Premier B teams will not be allowed to get higher than League 1 or lower than the Conference and wont enter the FA Cup...

What is others opinions on this, do you think it can work or will it flop

(08 May 2014, 6:42 pm)Michael wrote Don't agree at all, will wreak the football pyramid

(08 May 2014, 6:46 pm)marxistafozzski wrote There is a good case for it and it can work, look at Germany and Spain as an example, it has gone on for years there, but it is not an English thing, it never has been, which will be about as welcomed as a wet fart. I am personally in favour of it, if it gives the younger players more competitive games then it cannot be too bad

(08 May 2014, 6:36 pm)marxistafozzski wrote So the FA are talking about creating a new division that will contain Premier League B teams, it will sit between League 2 and The Conference, it will contain 10 Premier League B teams, the rest being made up of Conference Teams...Premier B teams will not be allowed to get higher than League 1 or lower than the Conference and wont enter the FA Cup...

What is others opinions on this, do you think it can work or will it flop

(08 May 2014, 6:54 pm)Michael wrote It might do but why not make it a total separate league though

English league reserves 1 and English league reserves 2

3 down/3 up

(08 May 2014, 10:07 pm)AdamY wrote I really don't see the point in a 'B' league, however, I don't have a problem with 'B' teams providing that they start in the Vaux Wearside League (or whatever) and work their way up the pyramid system until the glass ceiling is reached - which, in my opinion, should be League 1.

This way, everybody benefits. Lower league teams will receive increased revenue from gate receipts as the likes of Newcastle United B battle teams such as West Allotment Celtic, Ryton & Crawcrook Albion or Dunston UTC during their inevitable rise up the pyramids. Hopefully, players at those clubs will gain something by playing against a better calibre of opponent as it is often stated that this is how one improves their game. Also, as coaching and scouting staff will be present at these games, we might see one or two lower-league players joining the ranks of bigger clubs if they impress. If a compensation scheme is put in place, this also has the potential to boost the finances of lower-league clubs.

Also, as Talksport have been banging on about all night, what damage does a 'B' League do to the likes of FC United if Manchester United can field a team in a division two or three leagues above them?

(08 May 2014, 10:28 pm)marxistafozzski wrote Fair point and I agree with you, B teams should be made to start in the Wearside League, Northern Alliance or Teesside League, but that would never happen, even an predominantly Under-21 team would smash there way up the Pyramid, I saw Sunderland Reserves play Wolviston from the Wearside League a few years ago and they won about 8-0. If the FA went along that route B teams would mostly likely be put at Step 4(Northern Premier League Division 1) or Step 6(Northern League Division 2).

The main problem with this proposal would be attendances for such games, West Allotment v Newcastle Reserves would be well attended at West Allotment, but Newcastle B home games would not be so well attended, as they are in the same league system, most fans will be watching 'Big' Newcastle at SJP or somewhere else in the country.

The proposal at the moment is forming a League 3 for 10 B teams and the rest from the Conference, the B teams would not be allowed to go higher than League 1 or lower than the Conference, they would not be allowed entry into the FA Cup or League Cup...

I personally think League 2 should be expanded to a North/South format with 10 B teams in each section with the current League 2 teams and 4 Conference clubs making up the rest to give the divisions a full quota of 24 each

(09 May 2014, 6:39 am)AdamY wrote Personally, I could care less whether Newcastle United B home games are well-attended when playing in Northern Alliance. The club gets 52,000 every week at St James Park and, even if they are placed on different tier of the pyramid, the same problem with attendance might surface as fan choose the 'big' club over the little club in League 3. However, West Allotment Celtic (and the league in general) would receive a short-term financial boost (something that might secure the status of the club for a season or two) and, personally, I would love to see more money going into clubs at a grassroots level through the participation of bigger clubs.

I am also supportive of a buddy-system where bigger clubs partner up with two or three smaller clubs and disperse their reserve and youth teams accordingly.