12thaug03

Ryman League news

All is not lost - insists Ryman League chairman
The Ryman Football League season gets underway on Saturday, with Bromley making the short trip to play Croydon in a Division One South fixture.

With re-structuring hitting the non-league game at the end of this season, Ryman League Chairman Alan Turvey has issued a statement to all member clubs, writes Stephen McCartney.

Turvey said: "On behalf of both myself and the Directors I would like to take this opportunity of wishing all clubs a successful season in all competitions entered.

"Be assured that the Directors are aware of the concerns of clubs so far as the future is concerned and the problems that this may cause in so many areas not the least of which is finance and the effect that the proposed re-structuring
will have.

"As a League we have had more meetings as a group than any other to discuss what the Football Association are trying to force upon us.

"Our member clubs have overwhelmingly given their views and the Directors are following the course of action and the best possible advice is being taken and those views will me made known when fully available.

"In the interim clubs must make their own judgement on the various documents that have been circulated (they seem to change by the day) but are urged not to believe that all is lost - because it isn't!"

Meanwhile, following the decision by Ryman Second Division Two side Tring Town to withdraw from the competition,  the Board of the Ryman League has decided to make changes to the league fixtures for clubs in Division Two.

Subject to FA approval, the remaining 15 clubs will now play each other three times rather than twice and the Associate Members Trophy will not be run this season.

The League fixtures already published will remain with the dates for the additional fixtures announced as soon as possible.

Ryman League Fixtures - Saturday 16 August
Premier Division
Aylesbury United  vs  Billericay Town

Bognor Regis Town  vs  Braintree Town

Canvey Island  vs  Basingstoke Town

Carshalton Athletic  vs  St Albans City

Ford United  vs  Bishop's Stortford

Grays Athletic  vs  Bedford Town

Hayes  vs  Sutton United

Hendon  vs  Hornchurch

Heybridge Swifts  vs  Maidenhead United

Hitchin Town  vs  Harrow Borough

Kettering Town  vs  Northwood

Kingstonian  vs  Thurrock

Division One North
Barking & East Ham United  vs  Enfield

Berkhamsted Town  vs  Great Wakering Rovers

Boreham Wood  vs  Hemel Hempstead Town

Cheshunt  vs  Tilbury

Dunstable Town  vs  Wingate & Finchley

East Thurrock United  vs  Thame United

Harlow Town  vs  Waltham Forest

Leyton  vs  Aveley

Oxford City  vs  Arlesey Town

Uxbridge  vs  Chesham United

Wealdstone  vs  Yeading

Wivenhoe Town  vs  Barton Rovers

Division One South
Ashford Town (Middlesex)  vs  Hampton & Richmond Borough 

Croydon  vs  Bromley

Dulwich Hamlet  vs  Egham Town

Epsom & Ewell  vs  Slough Town

Leatherhead  vs  Corinthian-Casuals

Lewes  vs  Staines Town

Marlow  vs  Tooting & Mitcham United

Metropolitan Police  vs  Bracknell Town

Molesey  vs  Banstead Athletic

Walton & Hersham  vs  Horsham

Whyteleafe  vs  Croydon Athletic

Windsor & Eton  vs  Worthing

Division Two
Camberley Town  vs  Dorking

Chalfont St Peter  vs  Kingsbury Town

Chertsey Town  vs  Edgware Town

Ware  vs  Clapton

Wembley  vs  Flackwell Heath

Witham Town  vs  Leighton Town

Wokingham Town  vs  Hertford Town