How easy is it to get back?

[Frigiliana Pie 1]

As I reckon there’s now a 90% chance Notts will be in the National League next season, I’ve been thinking about how long it might take to get back into the EFL. The evidence of what has happened to other clubs isn’t very encouraging.

I took a starting point of season 2002/3, which was the first year in which 2 up 2 down was in force between what are now League 2 and the National League. Since then, 29 different clubs have been relegated from League 2, 3 of which, Torquay, York and Barnet, have gone down twice.

Of these, only 4 have gone straight back up again. These were Shrewsbury (2004), Carlisle (2005), Bristol Rovers (2015) and Cheltenham (2016). Not many out of 32 relegations. The next quickest returns were by Torquay (2 seasons in 2009), Barnet (2, 2015) and Tranmere (3, 2018).

Others took longer.... Oxford (4, 2010), Exeter (5, 2008), Mansfield (5, 2013), Luton (5, 2013), Grimsby (6, 2016), Lincoln (6, 2017), Macclesfield (6, 2018), York (8, 2012) and Cambridge (9, 2014).

And of course there are those that haven’t made it back up and perhaps never will.... Kidderminster (now National League North, 14 seasons since relegation), Rushden and Diamonds (SLP, 13), Boston (NLN, 12), Wrexham (NL, 11), Chester (NLN, 10), Darlington (NLN, 9), Stockport (NLN, 8), Hereford (NLN, 7), Aldershot (NL, 6), Torquay (NLS, 5), Dagenham (NL, 3), York (NLN, 3), Hartlepool (NL, 2), Leyton Orient ((NL, 2), Barnet (NL 1) and Chesterfield (NL, 1).

Some of these, such as Darlington and Rushden, aren’t strictly speaking the same club that was relegated, but they are all close equivalents.

So if we do go down, it could take a long time to get back up again. There are some relative minnows in the list like Kidderminster and Boston who massively over achieved by ever reaching League 2 in the first place and perhaps it isn’t surprising that they haven’t come back. But there are others, with roughly the same size and fan base as Notts, who took several years - Oxford, Grimsby, Luton and Tranmere for instance. And one, Stockport, which has been in the sixth tier for several years now. In fact it’s the first time I’ve ever been able to regard Bristol Rovers as a beacon of hope!

It could be a long hard road back.

[irishpete]

Thats what I can not understand when folks say might be a good thing we go down & re build.It's fecking hard league to get out of & who is to say another bad season hey presto North divison

[i961pie]

Much depends in what AH does after we go down.

[karl wheatly]

Much depends in what AH does after we go down.

I think that Alan Hardy has already had enough of the flak he is taking on social media and would - or sorry will - cut his losses and quit Notts after relegation.

As he has almost no chance of recovering his money, I can envisage another spell in administration, with all its consequences.

[countygump]

Thats what I can not understand when folks say might be a good thing we go down & re build.It's fecking hard league to get out of & who is to say another bad season hey presto North divison

The Cinerama league is a sand-trap. Even more so than L2. I said a few weeks ago, our only hope is if Al gets his cheque book out and that still applies, but I'm not sure it's even do-able now. As usual we've left it too late.

[karl wheatly]

Thats what I can not understand when folks say might be a good thing we go down & re build.It's fecking hard league to get out of & who is to say another bad season hey presto North divison

Many Notts fans aren't aware that if we get relegated to National North we face losing Meadow Lane. The council have an option to redevelop the site and relocate us to a new, small community stadium at Holme Pierrepoint !

[ireallyhateforest]

Many Notts fans aren't aware that if we get relegated to National North we face losing Meadow Lane. The council have an option to redevelop the site and relocate us to a new, small community stadium at Holme Pierrepoint !

That is my biggest fear, in fact it makes me sick to my stomach just thinking about it.

I wish the players had the same passion us fans do

[nw6pie]

Many Notts fans aren't aware that if we get relegated to National North we face losing Meadow Lane. The council have an option to redevelop the site and relocate us to a new, small community stadium at Holme Pierrepoint !

Have you seen that written anywhere? I remember some stories to this effect but can’t find anything online to corroborate it.

This might be sacrilege, but the real Meadow Lane died for me when the ground was redeveloped in the early 90s anyway.

[Elite_Pie]

Have you seen that written anywhere? I remember some stories to this effect but can’t find anything online to corroborate it.

This might be sacrilege, but the real Meadow Lane died for me when the ground was redeveloped in the early 90s anyway.

Can't find anything in writing, but as I understand it the lease on the ground is held by the family of Haydn Green, and includes a clause that we have the right to play there as long as we do not drop below Tier 5 (The National League).

[nw6pie]

Can't find anything in writing, but as I understand it the lease on the ground is held by the family of Haydn Green, and includes a clause that we have the right to play there as long as we do not drop below Tier 5 (The National League).

Thanks Elite. The thing I don’t remember hearing anything about is about the Holme Pierrepont arrangement with the council, which I find harder to believe.