Defiant England’s fifth division finally succumbs
The fifth tier of English football, the National League, had the dubious honour of being the last professional league in England to play matches for the foreseeable future last weekend.
With the top four divisions already shut down by the coronavirus, for some reason the National League (formerly the Conference) opted to briefly carry on, although it has since announced there will be no more matches played until the situation is resolved.
The decision to play last weekend was controversial.
Eastleigh manager Ben Srevens commented “there was no way whatsoever” that the games should have gone ahead. He accused the National League of “greed”.
It is perhaps an opportune moment to see which teams are in this significant league as it either offers a gateway to the Football League or alternatively the drop into semioblivion as they slide down football’s pyramid.
Of the 24 teams in the fifth tier, half have at some time experienced life in the top four divisions, while the other dozen are still hoping to at least earn a few seasons in the “lofty heights” of League Two (fourth tier).
Currently topping the league are Barrow, a blast from the past, having been relegated from the old Division Four back in 1972.
It was in the days when the bottom teams had to apply for re-election and being Barrow’s 11th such application they couldn’t muster the required votes and were replaced by Hereford United.
If the season does ever restart, Barrow have a great opportunity of getting back into the “big time’’ after a 48-year hiatus.
The most well-known team are Notts County, currently third, who are the oldest professional club in the world, founded in 1862.
County were relegated from League Two last season and are desperate to bounce back immediately.
It is hard to imagine that they were in the top flight, then Division One, in the 1991-92 season, but were relegated that year and have never experienced life in the Premier League.
However, they are going well and attracted a crowd of nearly 5,000 for their match last Saturday when they thrashed Eastleigh 4-0.
In fourth place are another relatively well-known club, Yeovil Town, who also suffered relegation last season.
As recently as the 2013-14 season, Yeovil were in the Championship which was quite an achievement considering they had only gained entry to the Football League in 2003.
Nicknamed the Glovers after the town’s glove-making industry, Yeovil are perhaps best known for their FA cup exploits as a non-league side.
They earned a considerable reputation as giant-killers, reaching the third round a record 13 times, beating 20 league teams in the process.
Visiting teams used to complain about the notorious “Yeovil Slope” at their old Huish ground and there were a few newspaper headlines proclaiming “Land of Slope and Glory”.
But the ground is no longer a factor since moving to Huish Park in 1990.
Another well-known club languishing in the National League are Hartlepool, currently in ninth place.
Hartlepool are one of those strange clubs, a bit like Accrington Stanley, which have achieved a certain status in English football because of their consistent lack of success.
After numerous relegation scrapes the Pool were relegated from the Football League in the 2016-17 after 95 years in the bottom two divisions
Hartlepool drew 1-1 at Sutton United last weekend.
Other teams that have experienced life in the Football League are Halifax, Stockport County, Barnet, Torquay, Aldershot, Dagenham and Redbridge, Chesterfield and Wrexham.
Of the teams that have no experience of the Football League, the best placed at the moment is Harrogate Town currently in second place.
This is quite a performance from the Yorkshire side that has made its way up the pyramid and only turned fully professional at the start of the 2018-19 season.
Another team with a growing reputation are the Hertfordshire side Boreham Wood who reached the National League play-offs last season, but lost to Tranmere Rovers in the final.
One club that has been making its presence felt in recent years are Solihull Moors, currently in eighth place.
The club’s distinctive name came from the merger of Solihull Borough and Moor Green in 2007.
They play at Damson Park which features a quaintly-named “Tuck Shop End” behind one of the goals where refreshments are served.
Last season, the Moors had a terrific season, finishing in second place. However it ended in tears, being beaten by AFC Fylde in the play-offs.
In the play-off final Fylde, who had enjoyed strong showing in recent seasons, went on to lose against Salford City.
This season has been disappointing for Fylde who are currently second from bottom, despite beating Aldershot 1-0 last Saturday at Mill Farm stadium.
We must not overlook Dover Athletic who are mid-table.
Dover is probably better known as the location of Vera Lynn’s World War II hit, The White Cliffs of Dover, than as a bastion of football.
Nicknamed the Whites, their club’s crest includes the aforementioned white cliffs as well as Dover Castle.
The castle enjoys a rich history and was the HQ for the evacuation of British and French soldiers from Dunkirk.
What lies in store for the entire Football League no one really knows.
The main target will be to complete the season even if it means playing behind closed doors.
With Euro 2020 scrapped there could be an opportunity to do this in the summer.
However, the coronavirus may have the final say. Let’s hope not.