League Cup
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League Cup
Is the League Cup going to resume at any point? I assumed the hiatus was Covid related but most of our other beloved institutions have returned I think.
Re: League Cup
Hi Russell
I was hoping Chris N would reply with a definitive answer, in the meantime I'll give my what I think but could be completely talking out of my backside answer!
I believe re-introducing the League Cup was discussed at a League AGM some years ago however it's a loss making exercise for the home club, crowds are generally very small and by the time match officials and away team travel expenses have been paid there is nothing left over. Away teams don't want to be travelling on midweek nights any more than they have to especially if you have fixture congestion. There is also next to no prize money.
The only time it became of interest to most supporters and clubs was if you reached the very latter stages.
Consiquetly the majority of league clubs were against the re-introduction of the League Cup and it's on a permanent hiatus now.
I was hoping Chris N would reply with a definitive answer, in the meantime I'll give my what I think but could be completely talking out of my backside answer!
I believe re-introducing the League Cup was discussed at a League AGM some years ago however it's a loss making exercise for the home club, crowds are generally very small and by the time match officials and away team travel expenses have been paid there is nothing left over. Away teams don't want to be travelling on midweek nights any more than they have to especially if you have fixture congestion. There is also next to no prize money.
The only time it became of interest to most supporters and clubs was if you reached the very latter stages.
Consiquetly the majority of league clubs were against the re-introduction of the League Cup and it's on a permanent hiatus now.
Re: League Cup
Thanks Brian, that would make sense
Re: League Cup
I hadn't even noticed that it was not taking place. As with the county cups (although I missed the last one v Berko), unless we made the final, I never bothered to go to the games & I'm not alone judging by the attendance figures. It's only possible value, as far as I could see, was to allow managers to give fringe players a chance to show what they could do or experiment with formations.
Pessimists are never disappointed.
Re: League Cup
Think Brian has said most of it Russell. Just after Covid, the Southern League decided to follow suit with the Northern Premier League and suspend its competition following a suggestion of one of its member clubs that clubs then voted on.
This was after a suggestion to make the competition non-regional throughout. I do remember the Truro City Secretary speaking, saying that how could an extra time and penalties game at Leiston on a Tuesday night possibly be viable to either club?
It's gone into its third season of suspension, suggest one of the issues might be not finding a sponsor for the competition.
Not sure what the Isthmian League have done, but when I last looked about 4 years ago they were having group round robins to get into the main competition, some in front of attendances less than 50. Whether or not the group games got finished I don't know!
Minor Cup competitions have their uses for managers trying to give squad players playing time or for playing a strong team if they need the playing time, but from an administrative and financial perspective they can take up more time and be more of a pain than the major competitions.
Another one of those where you hope you get drawn away.....
This was after a suggestion to make the competition non-regional throughout. I do remember the Truro City Secretary speaking, saying that how could an extra time and penalties game at Leiston on a Tuesday night possibly be viable to either club?
It's gone into its third season of suspension, suggest one of the issues might be not finding a sponsor for the competition.
Not sure what the Isthmian League have done, but when I last looked about 4 years ago they were having group round robins to get into the main competition, some in front of attendances less than 50. Whether or not the group games got finished I don't know!
Minor Cup competitions have their uses for managers trying to give squad players playing time or for playing a strong team if they need the playing time, but from an administrative and financial perspective they can take up more time and be more of a pain than the major competitions.
Another one of those where you hope you get drawn away.....
Silence is assent.
Re: League Cup
Fully agree do we really need a cup competition with The Free Bet Cup or whatever it was called in what it was called prior to it's suspension? Nothing about the league cup is viable way I see it. One year the finalists over two legs was Truro and St Neots. Is it reasonable to expect working lads to do them trips midweek?
What really get's me though The Herts Senior cup was first played in 1886 and the disrespect shown for it's history has been shown when the county FA could not even be bothered to hold it at there own ground (Prior to them building a 3g pitch on it I will add)! We have traveled to other counties where there County Cup is still a prestigious trophy played at one of the counties best grounds. Why cant Hertfordshire be the same?