NWCFL and Midland League keen to hold talks with the FA over club allocations

The North West Counties League and the Midland League have issued a joint statement expressing their interest in talking to the FA amid growing concerns over the geographical boundaries that determine club allocations in the National League System.

Both leagues say fluid and increasingly impractical boundaries at Steps 5 and 6 are creating major logistical, financial and competitive pressures for clubs, leading to longer travel, rising costs, disrupted local rivalries and regular appeals from sides unhappy with their placement.

The NWCFL continues to run a 24-team Step 5 division this season, with its most southerly clubs level with the River Mersey.

Several sides, including Northwich Victoria and Winsford United, have already been moved into the Midland League, while others, such as South Liverpool and City of Liverpool, were nearly switched this summer before late reprieves.

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Imbalance

The imbalance has left the NWCFL top-heavy, while the Midland League currently operates with just 18 Step 5 clubs.

At Step 6, NWCFL clubs on the Wirral are facing trips to Wolverhampton, Telford and Wellington – journeys more commonly associated with Midlands football – while both leagues insist this growing overlap is undermining club sustainability.

The issue is not new: back in August, NWCFL chairman Chris Stirrup told The NLP that “the FA has created a perfect pyramid, but we’re seeing what were perhaps unforeseen consequences with the changing borders between neighbouring competitions.”

He stressed the need for dialogue rather than dramatic action.

“I don’t plan on screaming into the void,” he said. “Instead, I do want to talk more with other leagues about how to fix the problem we have. Let’s work together on this.”

Support

Stirrup has echoed those sentiments once again, signalling his interest in speaking with The FA about how club allocations can be made more sustainable.

“Following recent dialogue with our friends and Counterparts at the Midland Football League, it has become apparent that we are both having the same concerns regarding Club allocations and the knock-on effect that this is having,” he said.

“Regionally, it is apparent that our respective Steps 5 and 6 Divisions are covering each other’s area.

“We have a situation where in the NWCFL, any team promoted from our Step 6 First Division South Division will now go into the Midlands League Step 5 Division, whilst Clubs relegated from the Midlands League Step 5 could end up playing as far away as Runcorn.”

“We have a similar issue at the Northern lying regions of our Step 5 Division, with clubs being placed into the Northern Leagues.

“All of these placements need transport, need match officials, need Players and need Supporters.

“Mike Joiner and I would be interested in speaking with other leagues about the effect that club migrations are having on their operations as well as speaking with The FA about how we can support them in finding a more suitable and sustainable way of integrating new clubs into the NLS, whilst providing the best possible support, logistics and development opportunities for existing clubs.

“If the FA is truly For All, then we want to make that happen.”

Pressures

The FA has previously acknowledged the pressures on clubs at Steps 5 and 6, particularly around allocations and travel distances.

In an exclusive sitdown with the NLP back in August, FA heads James Earl and Matt Edkins highlighted the ongoing work to balance the pyramid and ensure clubs can progress sustainably.

As the statement continued, Midland League chairman Mike Joiner added that the boundaries between his league, the United Counties League and the Hellenic League are also causing disruption.

“In addition to our concerns regarding the current boundaries between the Midland Football League and the North West Counties League, we also have the same concerns regarding movement of clubs between ourselves and both the United Counties League and The Hellenic League,” he explained.

“This is also having a detrimental effect on progressive clubs at Step 7 and below, who are unable to effectively plan for their future, when they do not have any guarantees as to which Step 6 Division they will be allocated to.”

Open dialogue

He added: “Over the past few years, the FA have spoken on numerous occasions about the sustainability of Clubs at all levels.

“The current policy of moving clubs each season between leagues, with the extra costs incurred, which they can ill-afford, does not aid the sustainability of clubs towards the bottom of the pyramid.

“This is all about opening a dialogue and discussion to continue to support one of the most open and competitive Non-League Systems in world football.

“We want to ensure that all clubs have a chance to keep their operational costs down whilst retaining their regional identities.

“We want to ensure that Match officials don’t travel wide and varied distances – we want to ensure Players don’t give up on the game due to travelling or lack of games and also, for Supporters to go along and not have to change generational allegiances because a traditional derby opponent has been changed by Administration rather than Competitive football.”

An FA spokesperson said: “We make every effort each season to allocate National League System [NLS] clubs to the most geographically suitable league possible. The clubs are allocated to a league based on the step in the NLS that they will be playing in, and their location in the country.

“Over the last 12 months we have been consulting with Step 5/6 Leagues and Clubs and have committed to looking at the different proposals for these Leagues.

“We also included both Leagues in the allocations process last season to specifically look at solutions in that region, and remain committed to including Clubs in our wider consultation, to ensure the best solution is reached.”

READ MORE: The FA on Non-League game: Working to better Step 5 and 6 is a priority