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#Post#: 104630--------------------------------------------------
Re: Rochdale vs York - Winner takes all.
DIR By: HChip
Date: April 24, 2026, 10:51 am
---------------------------------------------------------
A joint statement by both clubs highlighting the shambolic
format of NL promotion!
“This Saturday’s game brings an end to one of the most
thrilling, exciting and unpredictable title races in football
history. Both ourselves and Rochdale have the chance to write
our names in National League history.
The National League is no longer a non-league competition. It is
effectively a League 3, with fully professional clubs operating
at a level equal to or higher than many of those in League 2.
We both understand how important this game is to both clubs and
supporters. We both pledge now that whatever happens tomorrow,
we will both continue to fight for 3UP.
Both clubs sit on over 100 points. One of us will have to fight
once more in the National League Play-Offs. However, we both
strongly believe that this shouldn’t have to be the case.
We call on the National League, Football Regulator, EFL and
Premier League to come together immediately and resolve this
issue, so that we do not have to highlight this injustice year
after year.
For both sets of supporters attending the Crown Oil Arena this
weekend, we say thank you for being with us all season. The
passion you’ve shown for both clubs has been felt across the
world. This game will be seen far and wide. We want to showcase
this league for all its potential. Keep your support in the
stands, not on the pitch, and let’s all protect the game we
love.
Thank you!
Rochdale AFC & York City FC”
#Post#: 104634--------------------------------------------------
Re: Rochdale vs York - Winner takes all.
DIR By: TVOS
Date: April 24, 2026, 11:22 am
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: HChip link ---
>
> A joint statement by both clubs highlighting the shambolic
format of NL promotion!
>
> “This Saturday’s game brings an end to one of the most
thrilling, exciting and unpredictable title races in football
history. Both ourselves and Rochdale have the chance to write
our names in National League history.
>
> The National League is no longer a non-league competition. It
is effectively a League 3, with fully professional clubs
operating at a level equal to or higher than many of those in
League 2.
>
> We both understand how important this game is to both clubs
and supporters. We both pledge now that whatever happens
tomorrow, we will both continue to fight for 3UP.
>
> Both clubs sit on over 100 points. One of us will have to
fight once more in the National League Play-Offs. However, we
both strongly believe that this shouldn’t have to be the case.
>
> We call on the National League, Football Regulator, EFL and
Premier League to come together immediately and resolve this
issue, so that we do not have to highlight this injustice year
after year.
>
> For both sets of supporters attending the Crown Oil Arena this
weekend, we say thank you for being with us all season. The
passion you’ve shown for both clubs has been felt across the
world. This game will be seen far and wide. We want to showcase
this league for all its potential. Keep your support in the
stands, not on the pitch, and let’s all protect the game we
love.
>
> Thank you!
>
> Rochdale AFC & York City FC”
>
--- End Quote ---
I think it's actually a quote from the league that the clubs
have been asked to put out.
#Post#: 104637--------------------------------------------------
Re: Rochdale vs York - Winner takes all.
DIR By: olliebcafc
Date: April 24, 2026, 12:48 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
The statement is utter rubbish. There are no financial
regulations in the National League, so its not “effectively
League 3” as they don’t operate under the same rules, it’s not
fully professional and the reason we regularly see clubs reach
over 90/100 points is because the overall standard is terrible.
If the team finishing second is that good they won’t have
anything to worry about in the playoffs anyway.
Reaching the football league is a massive achievement. If you
can’t win the National League OR the playoffs, you don’t deserve
a spot. It’s also hypocritical of the National League to ask for
3 up, when they only allow 2 up from their other leagues!
As for the argument that there’s a bottleneck of big clubs,
they’ll all have escaped after this season except maybe Southend
and Carlisle. There’s hardly any left.
I know it’s a minority opinion, waiting for all the disagree
reactions!
#Post#: 104639--------------------------------------------------
Re: Rochdale vs York - Winner takes all.
DIR By: TA_Ref
Date: April 24, 2026, 1:02 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: olliebcafc link ---
>
> It’s also hypocritical of the National League to ask for 3 up,
when they only allow 2 up from their other leagues!
>
>
--- End Quote ---
But 4 go down though. Two each from the NL North/South go up.
Divisions have to be split geographically at some point and
that’s why the National League N/S is like that.
#Post#: 104640--------------------------------------------------
Re: Rochdale vs York - Winner takes all.
DIR By: TVOS
Date: April 24, 2026, 1:07 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: olliebcafc link ---
>
> The statement is utter rubbish. There are no financial
regulations in the National League, so its not “effectively
League 3” as they don’t operate under the same rules, it’s not
fully professional and the reason we regularly see clubs reach
over 90/100 points is because the overall standard is terrible.
If the team finishing second is that good they won’t have
anything to worry about in the playoffs anyway.
>
> Reaching the football league is a massive achievement. If you
can’t win the National League OR the playoffs, you don’t deserve
a spot. It’s also hypocritical of the National League to ask for
3 up, when they only allow 2 up from their other leagues!
>
> As for the argument that there’s a bottleneck of big clubs,
they’ll all have escaped after this season except maybe Southend
and Carlisle. There’s hardly any left.
>
> I know it’s a minority opinion, waiting for all the disagree
reactions!
>
--- End Quote ---
Can I ask how you know “the overall standard is terrible”? How
many games have you seen?
#Post#: 104641--------------------------------------------------
Re: Rochdale vs York - Winner takes all.
DIR By: olliebcafc
Date: April 24, 2026, 2:28 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: TVOS link ---
>
> [quote author=olliebcafc link=topic=7917.msg104637#msg104637
date=1777052917]
> The statement is utter rubbish. There are no financial
regulations in the National League, so its not “effectively
League 3” as they don’t operate under the same rules, it’s not
fully professional and the reason we regularly see clubs reach
over 90/100 points is because the overall standard is terrible.
If the team finishing second is that good they won’t have
anything to worry about in the playoffs anyway.
>
> Reaching the football league is a massive achievement. If you
can’t win the National League OR the playoffs, you don’t deserve
a spot. It’s also hypocritical of the National League to ask for
3 up, when they only allow 2 up from their other leagues!
>
> As for the argument that there’s a bottleneck of big clubs,
they’ll all have escaped after this season except maybe Southend
and Carlisle. There’s hardly any left.
>
> I know it’s a minority opinion, waiting for all the disagree
reactions!
>
--- End Quote ---
Can I ask how you know “the overall standard is terrible”? How
many games have you seen?
[/quote]
Not as many as you I’m sure. Not going to pretend otherwise. But
I used to watch it most weeks when it was on BT/TNT and know a
lot of Carlisle fans who have said similar this season. The 2
goals Rochdale scored at the weekend kind of back that up.
#Post#: 104643--------------------------------------------------
Re: Rochdale vs York - Winner takes all.
DIR By: AFAref
Date: April 24, 2026, 2:48 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: TVOS link ---
>
> To be honest, they can appoint Jimmy Tarbuck to this winner
takes all game (one for the kids, there), as long as they do a
good job, don't influence the result and the home team win!
>
--- End Quote ---
I'm afraid we'll have to have a difference of opinion Geoffrey!
#Post#: 104650--------------------------------------------------
Re: Rochdale vs York - Winner takes all.
DIR By: TVOS
Date: April 24, 2026, 4:28 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: olliebcafc link ---
>
> [quote author=TVOS link=topic=7917.msg104640#msg104640
date=1777054075]
> [quote author=olliebcafc link=topic=7917.msg104637#msg104637
date=1777052917]
> The statement is utter rubbish. There are no financial
regulations in the National League, so its not “effectively
League 3” as they don’t operate under the same rules, it’s not
fully professional and the reason we regularly see clubs reach
over 90/100 points is because the overall standard is terrible.
If the team finishing second is that good they won’t have
anything to worry about in the playoffs anyway.
>
> Reaching the football league is a massive achievement. If you
can’t win the National League OR the playoffs, you don’t deserve
a spot. It’s also hypocritical of the National League to ask for
3 up, when they only allow 2 up from their other leagues!
>
> As for the argument that there’s a bottleneck of big clubs,
they’ll all have escaped after this season except maybe Southend
and Carlisle. There’s hardly any left.
>
> I know it’s a minority opinion, waiting for all the disagree
reactions!
>
--- End Quote ---
Can I ask how you know “the overall standard is terrible”? How
many games have you seen?
[/quote]
Not as many as you I’m sure. Not going to pretend otherwise. But
I used to watch it most weeks when it was on BT/TNT and know a
lot of Carlisle fans who have said similar this season. The 2
goals Rochdale scored at the weekend kind of back that up.
[/quote]
They don't; that's a one off game which we needed to win. It was
desperation stakes for the most part in a game played on an
awful, hard, dry pitch against a team that has been relegated.
It wasn't going to be beautiful football.
If you go to You Tube and watch the highlights of some of our
other games, especially early in the season, you may see a
difference in quality. Try the home games v Gateshead, Solihull
Moors, Boreham Wood, Yeovil, Forest Green, off the top of my
head, and away at Wealdstone, Carlisle, Boston, Altrincham,
Eastleigh, etc...
There are good and bad teams in all leagues; look at the
so-called "Best league in the world" for how far behind the rest
the likes of Burnley and Wolves are, for example.
Ask these Carlisle fans what they think of us and York, given
between us we beat them by an aggregate of 11-0...
I just think saying "the standard is terrible" based on little
or no evidence isn't right.
I was very pessimistic about this league when we were relegated,
but I have been pleasantly surprised from what I've seen and
feel it's no different to the bottom half of League Two (Our
team now would have stuffed our relegation team).
I also doubt we would have some of the loan players we have
(Whatmuff from Man City, Perry from Coventry) if their clubs
didn't think it was a good enough standard.
I also disagree with your play-offs comment, as they aren't as
linear as you made out. Us or York will finish second because we
have been the second-best team over 46 games, but that becomes
largely irrelevant in a one-off play-off game (and then
potentially another), especially given there will be the
disappointment of missing out on the title to get over first.
Look at York last year - 90+ points, a fortnight's break until
the play-offs, then beaten 3-0 at home by Oldham, who had been
able to build up momentum with an eliminator play-off win in the
meantime. I don't have the stats to hand, but across the
divisions there is a history of the highest placed team failing
to win the play-offs, but those are the rules and so be it if we
end up in them.
#Post#: 104652--------------------------------------------------
Re: Rochdale vs York - Winner takes all.
DIR By: TVOS
Date: April 25, 2026, 2:48 am
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: olliebcafc link ---
>
> [quote author=TVOS link=topic=7917.msg104650#msg104650
date=1777066086]
> [quote author=olliebcafc link=topic=7917.msg104641#msg104641
date=1777058933]
> [quote author=TVOS link=topic=7917.msg104640#msg104640
date=1777054075]
> [quote author=olliebcafc link=topic=7917.msg104637#msg104637
date=1777052917]
> The statement is utter rubbish. There are no financial
regulations in the National League, so its not “effectively
League 3” as they don’t operate under the same rules, it’s not
fully professional and the reason we regularly see clubs reach
over 90/100 points is because the overall standard is terrible.
If the team finishing second is that good they won’t have
anything to worry about in the playoffs anyway.
>
> Reaching the football league is a massive achievement. If you
can’t win the National League OR the playoffs, you don’t deserve
a spot. It’s also hypocritical of the National League to ask for
3 up, when they only allow 2 up from their other leagues!
>
> As for the argument that there’s a bottleneck of big clubs,
they’ll all have escaped after this season except maybe Southend
and Carlisle. There’s hardly any left.
>
> I know it’s a minority opinion, waiting for all the disagree
reactions!
>
--- End Quote ---
Can I ask how you know “the overall standard is terrible”? How
many games have you seen?
[/quote]
Not as many as you I’m sure. Not going to pretend otherwise. But
I used to watch it most weeks when it was on BT/TNT and know a
lot of Carlisle fans who have said similar this season. The 2
goals Rochdale scored at the weekend kind of back that up.
[/quote]
They don't; that's a one off game which we needed to win. It was
desperation stakes for the most part in a game played on an
awful, hard, dry pitch against a team that has been relegated.
It wasn't going to be beautiful football.
If you go to You Tube and watch the highlights of some of our
other games, especially early in the season, you may see a
difference in quality. Try the home games v Gateshead, Solihull
Moors, Boreham Wood, Yeovil, Forest Green, off the top of my
head, and away at Wealdstone, Carlisle, Boston, Altrincham,
Eastleigh, etc...
There are good and bad teams in all leagues; look at the
so-called "Best league in the world" for how far behind the rest
the likes of Burnley and Wolves are, for example.
Ask these Carlisle fans what they think of us and York, given
between us we beat them by an aggregate of 11-0...
I just think saying "the standard is terrible" based on little
or no evidence isn't right.
I was very pessimistic about this league when we were relegated,
but I have been pleasantly surprised from what I've seen and
feel it's no different to the bottom half of League Two (Our
team now would have stuffed our relegation team).
I also doubt we would have some of the loan players we have
(Whatmuff from Man City, Perry from Coventry) if their clubs
didn't think it was a good enough standard.
I also disagree with your play-offs comment, as they aren't as
linear as you made out. Us or York will finish second because we
have been the second-best team over 46 games, but that becomes
largely irrelevant in a one-off play-off game (and then
potentially another), especially given there will be the
disappointment of missing out on the title to get over first.
Look at York last year - 90+ points, a fortnight's break until
the play-offs, then beaten 3-0 at home by Oldham, who had been
able to build up momentum with an eliminator play-off win in the
meantime. I don't have the stats to hand, but across the
divisions there is a history of the highest placed team failing
to win the play-offs, but those are the rules and so be it if we
end up in them.
[/quote]
Appreciate the detailed answer. To be fair last year was unfair
on York having a 2 week break before their game, but otherwise
since the format changed in 2017 the only club to go up that
were a fair way from 2nd were Grimsby. It’s usually a 2nd or 3rd
place team that goes up.
Granted the winning goal against Braintree was always going to
be messy, but for the first the defending wouldn’t look out of
place in Sunday league. I’ve been to three NL games this season
one of which was a good standard (York v Carlisle), but from the
other two bar one excellent goal by Morecambe I thought the
level was significantly worse than the York v Carlisle game.
As for clubs higher up the pyramid loaning players out, if I was
to make that decision I’d choose a club where they can get used
to winning and are likely to get regular games. That might
explain why Rochdale have two such players.
Best of luck today, have always enjoyed our games with Rochdale.
[/quote]
Fair comment, but when we got Whatmuff from City, we hadn’t
played any games, let alone won any. Braintree have had a keeper
on loan from West Ham all season and they’ve been relegated.
I think it’s a bit harsh to say the defending wouldn’t look out
of place in Sunday League football. You could level that at a
lot of goals conceded throughout the leagues.
Yes, always enjoyed our games against Bradford, especially a 3-0
win at Valley Parade in 2009, but not so much the 4-0 defeat a
few years later.
#Post#: 104653--------------------------------------------------
Re: Rochdale vs York - Winner takes all.
DIR By: olliebcafc
Date: April 25, 2026, 3:33 am
---------------------------------------------------------
[quote author=TVOS link=topic=7917.msg104652#msg104652
Yes, always enjoyed our games against Bradford, especially a 3-0
win at Valley Parade in 2009, but not so much the 4-0 defeat a
few years later.
[/quote]
Standouts for me the 4-0 at Spotland the season we went down and
the 4-3 the year before, not so much the game Pickford got sent
off or your most recent trip!
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