First division chat season 2013/14

How do people feel the 1st Division is shaping up this year? It is very tight for the championship with 8 teams within 6 points.
It makes a nice change to see Gt Yarmouth near the top, can't remember the last time Gt Yarmouth have started so well.
Always expect more of Saffron Walden mainly because of their attendances but unfortunately it never happens, maybe this season?
Braintree Reserves are up at the sharp end again.
My prediction would be Halsted Town for the title.

I notice that the two Reserve teams Braintree and Bury are fairing better than the new Reserves teams this season. Is this because of the step up from Reserves South to Division One or because these teams are not ready? Will Stowmarket & Cornard improve this season on previous? Do posters feel it has worked  having as many Reserves in the league.

Like to read some opinions on division one. Thanks.


FIRST DIVISION (table at Saturday, not incl of last night)

P W D L F A Pts
Whitton United 10 9 1 0 22 6 28
Halstead Town 10 9 0 1 33 10 27
Great Yarmouth Town 13 8 3 2 35 15 27
Swaffham Town 12 8 1 3 35 12 25
Fakenham Town 12 7 3 2 46 14 24
Braintree Town Res 11 7 2 2 22 12 23
Haverhill Borough 11 7 1 3 16 12 22
Team Bury 13 7 1 5 21 19 22
Debenham LC 12 6 2 4 20 16 20
Saffron Walden Town 10 5 2 3 22 12 17
Ipswich Wanderers 10 5 1 4 21 14 16
Long Melford 12 4 0 8 15 28 12
Dereham Town Res 12 3 2 7 21 25 11
AFC Sudbury Res 10 3 1 6 11 30 10
March Town United 11 2 1 8 13 22 7
Cornard United 11 1 3 7 10 32 6
Stowmarket Town 12 2 0 10 9 37 6
Downham Town 14 1 2 11 16 57 5
Needham Market Res 10 1 0 9 11 26 3

Don't really think it is good for the league with all these res sides coming in but what are the other options?
Without them i think Div 1 would of folded by now and so for the time being they have to be a good idea.
It really does not help with no relegation in the past couple of years but this also can't be helped due to prem teams
being promoted and no step 4 sides coming the other way.
Can't really see past Whiton for winning div 1.

MarkInGorleston wrote:
Always expect more of Saffron Walden mainly because of their attendances

Yep, strange they can't improve with that sort of money coming in. And makes you wonder how they were forced to fold the other year.

The club folded for a year because the previous chairman got the hump with the town council over a number of issues &
pulled out 2 weeks before the new season started.
As there was no real committee at the time, (most was run by family members) there was not enough time for anyone else to step in.
The club is now on the up & has just been granted CBS status.
Everyone who is a member gets 1 vote even the chairman only has 1.
CBS status has huge benefits which will hopefully come into play in the near future.
At the moment a lot of money has been spent on the ground & as some of you will know that football clubs eat up cash very
quick.
And also there is no money to pay players at present.
Our time will come  

Evergreen wrote:

MarkInGorleston wrote:
Always expect more of Saffron Walden mainly because of their attendances

Yep, strange they can't improve with that sort of money coming in. And makes you wonder how they were forced to fold the other year.

Yes but the kids don't pay and the crowd is made up of 30% of them   

Yes but as Whitney Houston once sang "Children are our future"!