Reserve Premier Division

As we enter the second half of the season, have the member clubs found the new format to have been a success or not? Various concerns were voiced at the time with the main concern being the ''financial burden'' that would be put on the clubs due to the long distances to games e.g. Dereham to Maldon and vice versa for example. Has this been the case??

We've seen two reserve sides have to fold which suggests it hasn't worked. I know we have struggled to find enough players for some of the longer journeys, and who can blame the lads for not wanting to travel when they're not getting paid for it, no doubt others have been the same.

Not to mention the increased costs of the extra travelling for clubs in these times of austerity.

I don't really know why or who decided to change it.

It needs to go back to being regionalised in my opinion. Surely there would be a lot more local interest if the likes of Wivenhoe, Stanway and Clacton were playing each other? Less travel, shorter trips, more likelihood of the fixtures being fulfilled, players would enjoy it more?

Instead of having a final between the top of each division to determine the ultimate winner they could have the top two of each league in some sort of semifinal first.

Theres only 27 teams left in now, but whats the alternative? Division 6 of the Anglian Comb?

Witham were in favour of it, when it started and a chance to play different opposition than the usual sides in North Essex and South Suffolk for our Reserves, which our u18s are playing against.

Personally think it was a good idea.

Seems that Clubs never thought this through went it was put forward, i.e the long distances with the financial implications for the cost of travel etc, you either pay for a coach or pay the players petrol /diesel money for using their cars on long trips as they cannot and should not be expected to pay for it themselves with the cost of fuel as it is. If a club has a First Team home match where hopefully they make good money , from admission, bar, food etc, this profit could easily be lost on Reserves Travelling expenses

Whilst at the time the idea was probably a good one , as club play different clubs than they normally would. but feel it would be best in clubs interests of going back to the South & North Divisions and having a play off for the overall winner. In the long term how many move clubs will look at the costs and then decide either to withdraw their Reserve Team altogether or drop back to lower competitions , if this happen the teams in the Thurlow Nunn Reserves Leagues could drop

Not having a go Sammy but you said 'profit from home games'..........can't remember the year but it was many ago

Backfour; it's been a success for a certain 51yr old,full 90 last week and to be fair he wasn't to bad...just the one late tackle which he had to call a taxi for.