I think many would agree that there are several All Age teams that would walk all over most 3rd Grade Zone teams.
That’s not the problem though. The problem is convincing those all age teams to make the jump. It’s a much higher level of commitment to play ZL than A/A, not only adding on another 8-10 games, plus you might have a group of 14-15 mates who just want to play together but if they go to ZL, then ressies or even firsts will start knocking if they’re good enough. Plus the cost to play is a lot higher too.
I honestly see the only option long term being 3rds are optional. It keeps those clubs who can have 3rds happy that they still have their ex presidents and whatever still involved in ZL, but it’s at the cost of not every club being able to field 3 teams and them potentially not playing every week.
Middleby Gone
Lawrie Out
It is simple, AA is the reason there isn?t enough players for thirds.
Unfortunately it looks like Wallsend will be dropping out of Zone League Football.
It appears a shame that despite having numbers for 2 grades Wallsend are dropping out. Come on Newcastle Football and Wallsend you can do better then that........
i think the problem is, with staying in ZL2 and fielding, 3 sides (and struggling for numbers) mainly made up with reggies and 3rds from Wallsend and Cardiff's ZL3 leftovers, the sides they would have put on the park would have been cannon fodder for everyone else in the comp.
Not sure why they were not allowed or didn't want to drop down to ZL3 for this season after nearly folding is one thing we might never know.
The powers NF, MF & HVF now need to bring a side who will be competitive and allow them to compete with only 2 grades if they cant get a 3rd grade.
Wallsend only considered playing Zone League 3 this year. The main reason why they couldn't go up to Zone league 2 is listed above. We didn't want to be cannon fodder for everyone else in the competition. It was that simple, why enter a competition just to be making up the numbers. The 3rd grade issue was a very distant secondary reason.
Wallsend , needed to be in zone league 3 to rebuild. I think that nearly everyone will agree it was a basic valid request. There are easily 6 or 7 ZL3 clubs better positioned to take the jump to zl2. The strange thing is that if both Wallsend and Cardiff groups went to a new club they wouldn't have started in zl3.
So the squad unanimously voted to pull out of Zone league. Why enter a competition to get pumped.
Official, Wallsend are gone. Hard to see the club coming back into Zone now. Especially as players will look at other options.
Yep, coaching and playing group. Was a quality issue. Put the hand up early that the squad could ONLY be competitive in Zl3.
Certainly not kicked out by association.
Zone League 2 will be extremely tough this year. There are a fair few teams there that could compete at Zl1 level. Why put everyone through that? I don't think the challenge is totally recognised.
So the association not being flexible to let Wallsend into ZL2 lost the whole club?
Who is in charge of ZL comps?
Obviously Someone that sits in an office and has no idea on club football. For too many years these competitions have been run terribly. The competition has only maintained credibility through clubs like Suns, mayfield, Dudley, Cardiff, warners bay etc who built these leagues. Well built ZPL, I can't believe I pay rego to fund these people's wages.
The people that didn't let Wallsend drop down should put their head down in shame. It follows on from so many crap decisions, remember the grand finals idea at fletcher. Maybe they should either get out from behind the computers and go and watch a game. Or get someone in that is actually trying to promote the game.
Hearing Mayfield Juniors might be following in Wallsends footsteps