So the breaking news today, confirms that AFC Mansfield will
be playing in the EVO-Stick Northern Premier League East next season. After narrowly missing out on promotion by 7
goals in the league season promotion looked unlikely. However, Andover Town have decided not to
take their place in step 4 next season and therefore left the door open for a
promotion slot for the Bulls.
Chairman Andy Saunders, received an email asking the club to
confirm if they would be happy to take a place at step 4 for next season if one
was to become available. Of course this
was a natural decision to accept any place and then the confirmation came at
around 10.45 this morning that we had been accepted into the Northern Premier
League East for the 2018/19 season.
This is a great achievement for all at the club and confirms
our position now as the highest placed local non-league club. That does not mean that the Bulls will be
sitting back and relaxing. There is lots
to do to engage the local public into this venture now we have moved up a level
and we should look at the likes of Cleethorpes Town and Alvechurch as to how to
adapt to life at Step 4 and make a success of the first season.
There is work to do both on and off the field and ground
upgrades will start in the near future to ensure that the ground meets the
ground grading requirements before the 31st March 2019. There will be lots to do in terms of off the
field activities which will include trying to entice new sponsors to come on
board with the club and developing other sources of income within the
club.
Importantly the club would not have achieved this without
the support of our loyal supporters and the volunteers who spend hours of their
time ensuring that the club runs in an efficient manner. There is room for more volunteers to help in
a number of different areas both on matchday and at other points during the
week. If anyone would like to get
involved then please contact us through facebook or the website and we will be
happy to discuss what you would be able to offer us.
So who will we be playing in the Evo-Stick Northern Premier
League East next season. For me one game
stands out and that is the prospect of again locking horns with Tadcaster
Albion who we met in the FA Vase a few years ago.
The teams we will come up against are listed below.
|
|
|
Tadcaster Albion |
There is the old foes from last season in Pickering and
Pontefract Collieries who we will come up against again next season and l am
sure they will be just as hard fought as the games this season. We have other good local games against
Lincoln United, Loughborough Dynamo and Sheffield FC. We will also visit Belper Town and Carlton
Town.
There will be a trip to Stamford who beat us in the FA cup
two years ago when we reached the 3rd Qualifying round. They went on to make the first round proper
that year losing away at Hartlepool United.
Some of the longer trips of the season will be to Wisbech
Town, Morpeth and Marske United. There
is some traveling to do but l am sure the Bulls will take to it like a duck to
water.
I am sure whatever is thrown at the Bulls next season we
will be up for the challenge. Roll on August.
Also the club will play in the FA Trophy. Hopefully another first for the Forest Town
Arena in the coming months.
Hopefully later on l will bring you the distances for
travelling for next season. Calculator
and google maps at the ready.
No comments:
Post a Comment