Chester and Grays succeed in appeals

Former Football League club Chester City have won their appeal against being placed in Step 6 of the non-league system in the North-West Counties League.   The phoenix club is now likely to be placed in Step 4 and the Northern Premier League.   The club reckons this will make a big difference in terms of season ticket sales.   They are hoepful of selling between 600 and 750 season tickets.

Former Football League club Chester City have won their appeal against being placed in Step 6 of the non-league system in the North-West Counties League.   The phoenix club is now likely to be placed in Step 4 and the Northern Premier League.   The club reckons this will make a big difference in terms of season ticket sales.   They are hoepful of selling between 600 and 750 season tickets.


It is interesting that the ground on which the appeal was granted was that it was found that the Leagues Committee had failed to comply with a regulation ‘To provide clubs with a level of competitive football appropriate to their playing ability, stadium/ground facilities, economic means, and geographical location.’    Three of the criteria are effectively related to a club’s abiility to attract crowds.


Former Conference side Grays considered that their appeal victory over being placed at Step 5 may have saved them from their extinction.  After they were evicted from their New Rec ground they decided they couldn’t compete at Step 2.  But the FA said their resignation meant a withdrawal from all football and the best the two-time FA Trophy winnrers could hope for was the Essex Senior League.


The club now expect to be placed in the Ryman Premier League, but their problems are not over as they still have to sort out a groundshare.   However, manager Julian Dicks is staying on.