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Fixtures 2020/2021
Posted: Fri Sep 11, 2020 5:06 pm
by dartLion
Ok, so I understand that I am a bit of sad muppet who needs to get out more, but does anyone know how the fixture makers compile the non-league fixture lists? I was told years ago that one guy had the job and started with pen and paper. I can believe this may still be the case today.
Now bear in mind here that whilst I am first and foremost a Darts supporter and season ticket holder, I am also a supporter of local non league football, and if Darts are playing more than 20 miles travel away from P-P, then I like to look for a game locally elsewhere, be it Ebbsfleet, Welling or even Bromley. This doesn't mean that I support any of those clubs and when there, am eagerly awaiting Darts updates. My admission money will of course benefit that club a little. But what amazes me as I plan out my viewing for the season ahead, (Covid permitting of course) is how often all these four clubs are all at home or all away on the same day? This has happened in the past too, and not surprisingly, I received nil response to my e-mail of enquiry submitted to the leagues management committee.
For 20/21, of the 42 rounds (days) in the South league, (each club having 2 bye rounds) there are 19 occasions when all three are either all playing at home (9 times) or all away (10 times) on the same day, put another way there are 10 match days when I cannot watch a local game and contribute. Additionally, of those 10 all away days, Bromley are also away on 5 of those.
Surely in these days of technology it is not hard to design a programme which arranges fixtures, where at least one or two teams in the same locality are playing at home in the same round. This would surely also benefit other clubs as I am sure there are floating supporters out there who just like to watch a game. Does the club have any say in how the fixture lists are formulated?
COYD - anyone still awake?
Re: Fixtures 2020/2021
Posted: Fri Sep 11, 2020 5:28 pm
by Reginald Horsfield
dartLion wrote: ↑Fri Sep 11, 2020 5:06 pm
Ok, so I understand that I am a bit of sad muppet who needs to get out more, but does anyone know how the fixture makers compile the non-league fixture lists? I was told years ago that one guy had the job and started with pen and paper. I can believe this may still be the case today.
Now bear in mind here that whilst I am first and foremost a Darts supporter and season ticket holder, I am also a supporter of local non league football, and if Darts are playing more than 20 miles travel away from P-P, then I like to look for a game locally elsewhere, be it Ebbsfleet, Welling or even Bromley. This doesn't mean that I support any of those clubs and when there, am eagerly awaiting Darts updates. My admission money will of course benefit that club a little. But what amazes me as I plan out my viewing for the season ahead, (Covid permitting of course) is how often all these four clubs are all at home or all away on the same day? This has happened in the past too, and not surprisingly, I received nil response to my e-mail of enquiry submitted to the leagues management committee.
For 20/21, of the 42 rounds (days) in the South league, (each club having 2 bye rounds) there are 19 occasions when all three are either all playing at home (9 times) or all away (10 times) on the same day, put another way there are 10 match days when I cannot watch a local game and contribute. Additionally, of those 10 all away days, Bromley are also away on 5 of those.
Surely in these days of technology it is not hard to design a programme which arranges fixtures, where at least one or two teams in the same locality are playing at home in the same round. This would surely also benefit other clubs as I am sure there are floating supporters out there who just like to watch a game. Does the club have any say in how the fixture lists are formulated?
COYD - anyone still awake?
Jesus I've just got my Signs Cosigns and Tangents books out
Re: Fixtures 2020/2021
Posted: Fri Sep 11, 2020 5:51 pm
by the futures white
dartLion wrote: ↑Fri Sep 11, 2020 5:06 pm
Ok, so I understand that I am a bit of sad muppet who needs to get out more,
You should have stopped at this point!
Re: Fixtures 2020/2021
Posted: Fri Sep 11, 2020 7:54 pm
by Skip
the futures white wrote: ↑Fri Sep 11, 2020 5:51 pm
dartLion wrote: ↑Fri Sep 11, 2020 5:06 pm
Ok, so I understand that I am a bit of sad muppet who needs to get out more,
You should have stopped at this point!
Re: Fixtures 2020/2021
Posted: Fri Sep 11, 2020 8:44 pm
by DA Mikey
Don’t listen to them, dartLion!
This is right up my Straße, and although I don’t really know the answer to your question, clearly the Christmas local derbies are manufactured for convenience, but I’ve often wondered myself just how randomised the other fixtures are. In your case, it could be that a bit of bad luck has seen 3/4 of the clubs you name be called at home - or away - on their opening fixture and could therefore easily continue that pattern for the majority of the season (especially relevant to teams in the same division).
Sounds like another one to canvas and quite possibly bore a few folks to tears with, a more protracted instalment than the previously run-out ‘who calls a gherkin a wally’ and ‘have you ever tried to cusk your own pines’*, which was an awkward one to both ask and answer.
* Jumbled to protect family forum status.
Re: Fixtures 2020/2021
Posted: Sat Sep 12, 2020 8:38 am
by Darren
Not sure how it works at our level but premier & football league club fixtures are worked out by sequencing.
Sequencing involves mapping out on what days all the fixtures will take place and the pattern of home and away games that a team will play.
There are rules governing sequencing - for example clubs will play no more than two home games consecutively and, with one eye on the financial situation at lower league clubs, the games either side of an FA Cup fixture should not both be away from home.
every club is paired with another in regard to when they play their home and away fixtures. This is done for a number of reasons, one being so that clubs like Everton and Liverpool do not play at home on the same weekend.
West Ham,for example are paired with Dagenham and Redbridge. But for reasons of revenue Southend request they do not play at home on the same day as the Hammers as they believe it impacts upon their attendance.
Southend, though, are in Essex, as are Colchester, so they cannot play together on the same weekend. Colchester share stewards with Ipswich so those two clubs also request they do not play home games on the same weekend. Transport links dictate Ipswich and Norwich do not play together on the same weekend either. In other words, when West Ham play at home can have an impact on when a club as far away as Norwich (108.8 miles) play their home fixtures. And there are the professional clubs in London....
Re: Fixtures 2020/2021
Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2020 8:34 pm
by Sleightly Deceptive
It amazes me how the hell it is done but they ALWAYS feature the Premier league winners facing a newly promoted team on the opening day if the new season. Or, so it seems. For me, if Darts are away and too far for a ‘reasonable’ journey - then it’s an afternoon on the sofa with Jeff! (Stelling) I can’t be arsed going to Ebbsfleet. Or anywhere else for that matter. Certainly nowhere with VAR!
