Conference North: September

A look back at the events of September in our featured division this season - the Conference North.



Hyde and Farsley saved

The future of two of the divisions clubs was in doubt during September as both Hyde United and Farsley Celtic earned reprieves from being wound up.

Hyde were officially wound up by the High Court over an outstanding debt of £122,000 to HMRC.

However, after extraordinary fund-raising, including a bucket collection at Manchester City's Premier League game with West Ham, the club raised around £35,000 to earn a reprieve.

Earlier in the month, a dramatic last-gasp rescue package saved Celtic from going out of business after the club's Throstle Nest ground had been locked up earlier the same day.

After entering administration in June with debts of around £200,000, the club appeared to have folded until finding new financial backers to buy the ailing West Yorkshire outfit.


Ironically, Hyde play Farsley this weekend as two crisis clubs who went so close to going out of business simply enjoy still being in existence.


North West pair take over at top

Former Conference clubs Droylsden and Southport lead the way at the top of the division after September's rounds of fixtures.

Droylsden have been in fine scoring form, racking up a 7-1 win over Stafford and thumping Harrogate 5-0, but the Bloods also went down to a home defeat to fellow high-flyers Corby.

Southport also ended the month with a home loss, to Farsley, but 4-2 wins against Gainsborough and Stafford helped Liam Waston's side to joint top.

However, early pacesetters Eastwood remain level on points with the two despite a poor September where the Nottinghamshire club managed only one win.

Top of the table:

................................P...GD...PTS
1. Droylsden..............11....19....21
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2. Southport..............11.....8.....21
3. Eastwood Town......11.....6.....21
4. Fleetwood Town.....11.....9.....20
5. Corby Town...........11.....4.....20
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6. Alfreton Town........11....7......19
7. Ilkeston Town.......11.....9......18


Suphulrites slip into bottom three

Three defeats in their four league games this month saw Harrogate Town slip into the relegation zone. Losses to AFC Telford, Stafford, and Droylsden saw Simon Weaver's side drop into the bottom three at this early stage.

Joining them there are Vauxhall Motors. Winless during September, two draws for the Cheshire club weren't enough to see them slip into the danger zone with just one win and nine points from their first 11 games.

New Gainsborough boss Brian Little has overseen a mini revival with the Lincolnshire outfit. Wins at Redditch and Solihull saw Trinity move out of the relegation spaces, but poor home form means they continue to languish at the wrong end of the table.




Bottom of the table:

.............................P...GD...PTS
17. Gainsborough.....11...-8.....10
18. Redditch............11...-8.....10
19. Solihull..............11...-9.....10
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20. Harrogate Town..11...-10....10
21. Vauxhall Motors..11...-10.....9
22. Farsley Celtic......11...-5......3

And we'll bring you all the latest news from the Conference North at the end of the month in our October review.