Latest news with #VanaramaNationalLeague
Forbes
3 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Wembley Stadium Prepares For New Record Attendance For Nonleague Soccer
The Vanarama National League season will come to a close on Sunday, June 1st, as Oldham Athletic take on Southend United in the promotion final with the two teams doing battle for one place to return to the English Football League ahead of next season. Build-up for the game has largely been occupied by controversy over ticketing arrangements, with the National League initially advising Wembley of an expected attendance of 40,000, before knowing which two clubs had qualified for the final. There was a surprise in that these two sides reached the final, Southend only securing their playoff place on the final day to finish seventh, while Oldham finished fifth and were 23 points behind their semifinal rivals York City in the league standings. They are also the two sides with the highest average attendances in the competition. This caused challenges with the ticket limitations, impacted by engineering works on public transport lines servicing the stadium. That is despite Southend United stating that, "we believe that more than 30,000 Southend fans will want to attend Wembley, and that Oldham will want to take something similar". Should both clubs sell out their ticket caps, as is expected, it would mean a new record for the Promotion Final game at this level, which currently stands at 47,029 and was set in 2015 when Bristol Rovers beat Grimsby Town on penalties at Wembley Stadium. Both clubs have gone on to sell above their initial capacity of 17,500, with further tickets available exclusively if tied to a coach package. Oldham has sold 20,832, while Southend has gone even further to sell 28,852. As such, a new record looks likely to be set at Wembley with neutral tickets also sold. This is in spite of fury from supporters of both clubs, who have faced great uncertainty and pressure to secure tickets. "Under normal circumstances, next Sunday's matchw ould likely smash the current Vanarama Nataionl League promotion final attenance record... Unfortunately, the excitement on both sides has been trampled on by the seemingly-amateurish planning of several key stakeholders around next weekend's final," a joint statement from the Shrimpers Trust and Oldham Athletic Supporters Foundation reads. "We question the ability to execute on the prestige of a Wembley day out if capacity is capped. Wembley will be a shadow of its potential with a half-full stadium," the statement continues. "This wouldn't happen for the FA Cup final, or for the EFL playoff finals, or for a Taylor Swift concert. If it did then a workable solution would be found. Why is the National League playoff final not being treated similarly?" Southend United confirmed as much on Sunday, when they issued a statement explaining that, "the current allocation of tickets does not come close to reflecting the scale of demand from our supporters, and as things stand we will almost certainly sell out our allocation (of tickets without a coach package) today – resulting in disappointment for tens of thousands of supporters, many of whom have followed the club through thick and thin". The Shrimpers revealed that 1,000 tickets sold within 20 minutes of going on sale in the final batch listed on Thursday night, with some fans still yet to secure their ticket. Both teams have improved as the season has gone on and have been able to beat teams who finished above them in the league to take up their places in this final. As two former members of the English Football League, both of whom have undergone financial struggles and secured new ownership in recent years, this game is crucial to the future of both clubs. 'Play-off games are cup games so anything can happen. What you've got to do is come out the right side of results and we've managed to do that,' Southend coach Kevin Maher, who secured promotion for the Shrimpers as a player 20 years ago in the playoffs, said. 'We've been stronger in the second half of the season, in terms of the number of points we picked up. So that tells you more about us as a team and where we've got to as a squad.' The Blues only brought in new ownership, under the leadership of chairman Justin Rees, in the summer of 2024, and the new ownership, a consortium of largely local businesspeople, could secure promotion in their first season at the helm.
Daily Mail
23-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Jeff Stelling quits football role as broadcasting legend releases furious statement on social media after being left in an 'intolerable' position
Broadcaster Jeff Stelling has resigned as honorary president of Vanarama National League side Hartlepool in protest at owner Raj Singh's handling of negotiations to sell the club. Pools issued a lengthy statement on Wednesday evening in which they said an agreement with one potential buyer had been reached in March, but that proof of funds for next season is yet to be deposited and revealing a plan to poll season-ticket holders over whether or not Singh should resume control. The move came after local businesswoman Shelley Hammond, who has been linked with a takeover, suggested that a deal was close following an earlier update, and it proved the final straw for minority shareholder and high-profile fan Stelling. He said in a series of posts on his X account: 'Following Raj's latest statement, I have resigned as president of @Official-HUFC. 'I know this is only an honorary role, but it is the best way I felt I could protest against the treatment of the party trying to take control the club. 'Supporters have been left in an intolerable position with a perceived threat to the future of the club should they not support the current owner. The popular broadcaster released a furious statement on social media explaining his decision 'Let's remember it was him who wanted to stop funding the club. Yet now he seems almost affronted that others want to take over. 'Not once have I been consulted about this even though I am a shareholder. I have not met the would-be buyers, but I do know they have been trying to buy this club for over a year - not the actions of time-wasters. 'I will always love this club and wish all our fans the best.' Singh initially put the club up for sale in the wake of relegation from the Football League at the end of the 2022-23 season and stood down as chairman in March amid fan protests as Pools limped towards an 11th-placed fifth-tier finish.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Callum Howe 'hurting' and 'gutted' after City fall short in the play-offs
CALLUM Howe admitted to being 'gutted' and 'hurting' after York City's Vanarama National League season ended on Tuesday evening. York headed into the play-offs knowing that they needed two wins to confirm a return to the Football League, but fell short as Oldham Athletic eased to a 3-0 victory at a sold-out LNER Community Stadium. The defeat means that City missed out on the chance to play at Wembley Stadium for the first time since 2017, and that they will remain a National League club for a fourth straight season. The result will therefore hurt for quite some time for this York squad, and for Howe, having captained the club this season. 'We're just gutted. For the season to end like that, it's not good enough and we're all hurting,' Howe told BBC York. 'We didn't play to our capability on the night, for whatever reason that is, we're all in the changing room scratching our heads. 'I don't really know what to say right now, we're just gutted. 'We're gutted for ourselves, we're gutted for the club and we're gutted for the fans. 'The fans deserve a lot more than that after they've backed us all season, we're just sorry that we haven't turned up.' Howe also admitted that the defeat will take a while to accept, with the City centre-back aware of his responsibilities as one of the more experienced heads in the group to support the younger players who may have not been through a similar predicament. The captain also believed that the players had let themselves down in the match, but hopes that they can all take lessons from it to regroup for the 2025/26 season. Howe added: 'It will take a while. I think it will take a while for this to fully sink in, I'm gutted for the group really. 'It's a great group of lads and we've had a good season overall, but we've let ourselves down. 'It's how we bounce back for next year. 'I've got to learn from my experiences and use it to help the younger lads. 'A few of them have probably not been through this situation before, I think it's important that we all stick together and regroup. 'We've got to look at that and learn from it ourselves, because we've got to do the same. 'We'll have a few weeks now to let the dust settle and regroup, we've got to come back into pre-season with a fresh mindset and be ready to go again. 'We know we're a good team, but we need to keep that consistency for the whole of next season. 'Fingers crossed we can be right up there again.' Despite the hurt and frustration of how the York season came to an end on Tuesday evening, Howe doesn't want it to overshadow the incredible season which City have enjoyed. Having amassed the second-highest points tally in history for the football club, reaching 96 points, and becoming a title contender just one year on from only celebrating survival on the final day, Howe was proud of how far the football club has come in such a short space of time. 'We've had a lot of clean sheets this year and were confident going into the game,' he confessed. 'Like I said, I've not really got the words right now to explain what has gone on but I suppose that's football. 'You've got to learn to bounce back from these things, I think that's it. 'From surviving last year to play how we have done for most of this season, to push Barnet at the top. 'We've come a long way, but unfortunately we've just not got over the line.'
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
How have players who left last summer fared for new clubs?
SEVEN first team players left Oxford United last summer, and most of them have enjoyed varying levels of success in the debut campaigns with their new clubs. Of those seven, four were released – Billy Bodin, Marcus Browne, James Henry and Steve Seddon – while another free agent, Josh Murphy, ultimately left for Portsmouth. Midfield duo Marcus McGuane and Oisin Smyth were sold by the U's, and here, we profiled how each of the seven have got on since leaving the club. READ ALSO: How is U's squad shaping up following retained list? Billy Bodin The attacker was released by United following three years at the club, during which time he scored 25 goals in 106 matches. Bodin joined Burton Albion as a free agent, and after four goals in 12 Sky Bet League One games, on January deadline day he switched to Reading on loan, where he netted twice. Marcus Browne The 27-year-old forward was without a club until he joined League Two side AFC Wimbledon in January. Browne has been an important figure for the Dons, and scored four goals in 18 league games, helping the club to the play-off final against Walsall. James Henry After seven years with the U's, the 35-year-old midfielder switched to Vanarama National League club Aldershot Town, and has scored an impressive 15 times in 44 matches. Henry scooped the National League player of the month in August, and registered an assist with a wonderful cross as the Shots won the FA Trophy at Wembley earlier this month. Marcus McGuane United activated a one-year option in the midfielder's contract, and then sold him to Bristol City three months later. The move saw McGuane reunited with former U's head coach Liam Manning, although the 26-year-old featured just 21 times in the Championship as the Robins earned a place in the play-offs. Josh Murphy An initial offer was made to Murphy almost immediately following promotion, and talks continued for weeks, but after much deliberation, the winger opted to join Pompey. The 30-year-old has enjoyed an outstanding debut season for Portsmouth, registering seven goals and 14 assists in the Championship. No player grabbed more assists in the Championship, with West Bromwich Albion attacker Tom Fellows matching the total of 14. Josh Murphy on the ball for Portsmouth (Image: Zac Goodwin/ PA Wire)Steve Seddon The left back signed for Scottish Premiership outfit Motherwell at the start of July, and has played 17 times across all competitions. Injury though has hampered his playing time for the Well. Oisin Smyth The 25-year-old midfielder also made the move to the Scottish Premiership, joining St Mirren for an undisclosed fee. He scored twice on his debut in a 3-0 victory against Hibernian, and has played 24 times this season. Smyth opened the scoring from the penalty spot as the Buddies won 2-1 at home to Rangers on Boxing Day.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
City learn of play-off semi-final opponents for next Tuesday
YORK City now know who they will face in the Vanarama National League play-off semi-final. Oldham Athletic cruised to a 4-0 victory this evening against FC Halifax Town, meaning it will be the Latics who travel to the LNER Community Stadium for the play-off semi-final on Tuesday, May 20 (7.45pm). The winner of the match between York and Oldham will then head to Wembley Stadium to take on one of Forest Green Rovers, Rochdale or Southend for a spot in the Football League on Sunday, June 1 (3pm). It was a disastrous start for Halifax when Oldham found themselves 1-0 up just five minutes in, with Tom Pett's corner being turned home by Joe Garner. One became two just seven minutes later when another dangerous Pett delivery found Mike Fondop, whose flick into the area found Mark Kitching to finish. Just two minutes later, Oldham went 3-0 up when Fondop turned goalscorer from provider, heading home Joe Pritchard's cross. Oldham would have to wait until the 56th minute for a fourth in front of a crowd of over 10,000 at Boundary Park, as Pritchard arrowed an effort into the top left corner from Vimal Yoganathan's through ball. It sets up the semi-final at the LNER Community Stadium which York have already sold out their home allocation for, playing against a team they beat and drew with during the normal season. City managed to clinch the three points on their travels to Boundary Park when first-half goals from Malachi Fagan-Walcott and Ollie Pearce sent the Minstermen home happy. It was a different story when Oldham visited North Yorkshire, as Joe Felix's driven strike on the half-an-hour mark was cancelled out by Joe Raglan in the second-half - much to the frustration of manager Adam Hinshelwood. The play-off semi-final will take place on Tuesday, May 20 at the LNER Community Stadium (7.45pm).
