Latest news with #NationalLeagueSystem
South Wales Argus
18-05-2025
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
Isthmian League chairman honoured with Lifetime Achievement
Robinson has had a long and storied career within non-league football, and before becoming Isthmian League chairman, he held the roles of Dulwich Hamlet general secretary between 1975 to 1982, and then Isthmian League secretary until 2005. The honour was kept secret from Robinson until the award ceremony and he expressed how humbled he was to be recognised by those who have also put many years of service into non-league football. 'I did not know anything until I heard, 'when your father was treasurer of a non-league club', that I thought, 'Oh hang on, that is me!',' he said. 'It is my 50th year in football this year, so it is amazing to receive such a recognition.' Amidst a career of dedicated service to non-league football, Robinson was quick to highlight what he believed was his biggest achievement during his time involved with the Isthmian League, which forms part of Step 3 & 4 of the National League System, alongside both the Northern Premier League and Southern League. 'It has been incredible to see the change in non-league football over those years,' he continued. 'In 1975, the Isthmian League had two divisions, now it has four divisions comprising of 88 clubs. 'We used to have elections to determine promotions, now it is all automatic, right from Step 6 up to Step 1. 'You win a league; you get a promotion. It does not depend on somebody liking you or not liking you. And I think that is the biggest achievement of all my 50 years. 'I am very proud of that. We have now got a perfect pyramid, and I am very proud that I have been a part of being able to put that in place.' The National Game Awards is a celebration of the non-league season - highlighting the community, fans, on-field, and off-field successes of the game outside of the English Football League. The ceremony is held each year by the Non-League Paper, the UK's number one selling football title and the best place for your non-league news, with this year's event held at Plough Lane - home of AFC Wimbledon And when asked whether he had any plans to step away from an active role within non-league football, Robinson was unequivocal in his response. 'No, no, no, absolutely not!' he said with a smile. 'I tried to see every club this year, and I think I failed by about three clubs, but I went to nearly 60 grounds. 'It is a commitment and sometimes you question it, but actually, I love it. 'You go along, you meet people, you shake hands with them, and you try and make a difference. 'It is all about talking to people and finding out what they want. It is not always achievable, but I will always try my best to help.' The Non-League Paper is the UK's number one selling football title, available every Sunday. For more information please visit
Powys County Times
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Powys County Times
Isthmian League chairman honoured with Lifetime Achievement
Pitching In Isthmian League chairman Nick Robinson was thrilled and surprised in equal measure as he was honoured with the Non-League Paper Lifetime Achievement award at the National Game Awards in association with Isuzu. Robinson has had a long and storied career within non-league football, and before becoming Isthmian League chairman, he held the roles of Dulwich Hamlet general secretary between 1975 to 1982, and then Isthmian League secretary until 2005. The honour was kept secret from Robinson until the award ceremony and he expressed how humbled he was to be recognised by those who have also put many years of service into non-league football. 'I did not know anything until I heard, 'when your father was treasurer of a non-league club', that I thought, 'Oh hang on, that is me!',' he said. 'It is my 50th year in football this year, so it is amazing to receive such a recognition.' Amidst a career of dedicated service to non-league football, Robinson was quick to highlight what he believed was his biggest achievement during his time involved with the Isthmian League, which forms part of Step 3 & 4 of the National League System, alongside both the Northern Premier League and Southern League. 'It has been incredible to see the change in non-league football over those years,' he continued. 'In 1975, the Isthmian League had two divisions, now it has four divisions comprising of 88 clubs. 'We used to have elections to determine promotions, now it is all automatic, right from Step 6 up to Step 1. 'You win a league; you get a promotion. It does not depend on somebody liking you or not liking you. And I think that is the biggest achievement of all my 50 years. 'I am very proud of that. We have now got a perfect pyramid, and I am very proud that I have been a part of being able to put that in place.' The National Game Awards is a celebration of the non-league season - highlighting the community, fans, on-field, and off-field successes of the game outside of the English Football League. The ceremony is held each year by the Non-League Paper, the UK's number one selling football title and the best place for your non-league news, with this year's event held at Plough Lane - home of AFC Wimbledon And when asked whether he had any plans to step away from an active role within non-league football, Robinson was unequivocal in his response. 'No, no, no, absolutely not!' he said with a smile. 'I tried to see every club this year, and I think I failed by about three clubs, but I went to nearly 60 grounds. 'It is a commitment and sometimes you question it, but actually, I love it. 'You go along, you meet people, you shake hands with them, and you try and make a difference. 'It is all about talking to people and finding out what they want. It is not always achievable, but I will always try my best to help.'
The Herald Scotland
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
Isthmian League chairman honoured with Lifetime Achievement
The honour was kept secret from Robinson until the award ceremony and he expressed how humbled he was to be recognised by those who have also put many years of service into non-league football. 'I did not know anything until I heard, 'when your father was treasurer of a non-league club', that I thought, 'Oh hang on, that is me!',' he said. 'It is my 50th year in football this year, so it is amazing to receive such a recognition.' Amidst a career of dedicated service to non-league football, Robinson was quick to highlight what he believed was his biggest achievement during his time involved with the Isthmian League, which forms part of Step 3 & 4 of the National League System, alongside both the Northern Premier League and Southern League. 'It has been incredible to see the change in non-league football over those years,' he continued. 'In 1975, the Isthmian League had two divisions, now it has four divisions comprising of 88 clubs. 'We used to have elections to determine promotions, now it is all automatic, right from Step 6 up to Step 1. 'You win a league; you get a promotion. It does not depend on somebody liking you or not liking you. And I think that is the biggest achievement of all my 50 years. 'I am very proud of that. We have now got a perfect pyramid, and I am very proud that I have been a part of being able to put that in place.' The National Game Awards is a celebration of the non-league season - highlighting the community, fans, on-field, and off-field successes of the game outside of the English Football League. The ceremony is held each year by the Non-League Paper, the UK's number one selling football title and the best place for your non-league news, with this year's event held at Plough Lane - home of AFC Wimbledon And when asked whether he had any plans to step away from an active role within non-league football, Robinson was unequivocal in his response. 'No, no, no, absolutely not!' he said with a smile. 'I tried to see every club this year, and I think I failed by about three clubs, but I went to nearly 60 grounds. 'It is a commitment and sometimes you question it, but actually, I love it. 'You go along, you meet people, you shake hands with them, and you try and make a difference. 'It is all about talking to people and finding out what they want. It is not always achievable, but I will always try my best to help.' The Non-League Paper is the UK's number one selling football title, available every Sunday. For more information please visit
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Promoted Merthyr to compete in National League North
They are the football club proud to come from the south Wales valleys – but have been told they will be a 'northern' team next season. There were huge celebrations when community-owned Merthyr Town won the Southern Premier League South title. But it has been confirmed they will now play in the National League North next term – with 300-mile away trips to Darlington and South Shields among their away days in a regionalised division. In front of more than 3,000 fans at Penydarren Park last month, the part-time outfit sealed promotion to English football's sixth tier, their highest level in 30 years. The Martyrs had played in the Western and Southern Leagues since being reformed after Merthyr Tydfil's liquidation in 2010. And the club had been aware the potential make-up of the teams next season at sixth tier level – and the large contingent of teams from the south of England - could see them having to plan to head north. Three south of England sides, Dagenham & Redbridge, Ebbsfleet and Maidenhead, dropping out of the fifth-tier National League would have given organisers a headache in how to split clubs. The National League confirmed its allocations for the 2025-26 season on Thursday, although says those are subject to appeal. A Football Association 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. These allocations are subject to appeals. "Geographical suitability continues to play an important part in NLS allocations, and we always try to balance this against the number of teams in each division to ensure sporting integrity is maintained." 'Merthyr can go as far as people want' Merthyr Town owners vote against Cymru Premier move Merthyr are not alone in the anomaly: Oxford City, Hereford United and Bedford Town have also been placed in National League North, whose other new clubs include Robbie Savage's Macclesfield Town. The game at Hereford's Edgar Street will be Merthyr's shortest away day, with a 43-mile, one-way trip taking around an hour. But it will take fans – and players – as much as 12 hours on the road in a round-trip for their game at South Shields. At the time of their promotion, chairman Les Barlow said their placing would make "no difference" as they revelled in a season in which they enjoyed a 32-game unbeaten run. Merthyr won the Welsh Cup in 1987 and went on to upset Italian giants Atalanta in the following season's European Cup Winners' Cup. Last season, they turned down a lucrative offer from the Football Association of Wales to join the Welsh league system, a decision manager Paul Michael says was vindicated by their promotion.
