My perception, looking back as a historian (cough), is that the Southern League was the strongest became it was professional and therefore the closest to Division Four in standard.
The Isthmian League was a different thing because it was amateur.
The Northern Premier League was only formed in 1968 with teams from a mis-mash of different leagues.
I understood from someone "in the know" that home gates were understated regularly. That was the way amateur players could receive their "boot money". They were all at it apart from probably Corinthian Casuals. The Southern League as already mentioned was openly professional.
"...In the end they finished with a memorable 0-0 draw with one of the best teams in the country — joint Division One leaders Middlesbrough - having given them one of their toughest games for a long time."
Just discovered in a piece I did on unusual grounds that, on Loakes Park, I wrote: "the Chairboys, then of the Isthmian League, held Jack Charlton’s Middlesbrough – joint top of the First Division – to a 0-0 draw in the third round of the FA Cup." https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/unusual-football-stadiums
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My perception, looking back as a historian (cough), is that the Southern League was the strongest became it was professional and therefore the closest to Division Four in standard.
The Isthmian League was a different thing because it was amateur.
The Northern Premier League was only formed in 1968 with teams from a mis-mash of different leagues.
I understood from someone "in the know" that home gates were understated regularly. That was the way amateur players could receive their "boot money". They were all at it apart from probably Corinthian Casuals. The Southern League as already mentioned was openly professional.
The one we beat Peterborough on 👍
From the Bucks Free Press, January 1975:
"...In the end they finished with a memorable 0-0 draw with one of the best teams in the country — joint Division One leaders Middlesbrough - having given them one of their toughest games for a long time."
Were we joint 23rd in League Two at the conclusion of the 2013/14 season?
Bucks Free Press, known for always getting the story correct.
(In fairness back in 1975 it was still a proper local paper)
Just discovered in a piece I did on unusual grounds that, on Loakes Park, I wrote: "the Chairboys, then of the Isthmian League, held Jack Charlton’s Middlesbrough – joint top of the First Division – to a 0-0 draw in the third round of the FA Cup." https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/unusual-football-stadiums
So...
The purpose of introducing goal average/goal difference was to separate teams on the same number of points at the end of the season.
In 1975 the BFP had an excellent editor and an excellent sports reporter.
Goal average definitely made for a nerdier-looking table
It’s good to have you back @flymofrank
Indeed
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