These National League muppets are bangin' on about wanting more teams to go up to the EFL from the 2025/26 season. What a load of bellends!
The Current State of Play
Right now, only two teams get to go up from the National League to League Two each season - the champions and the play-off winners. This has been the case since 2003, but now these clubs are whinging and campaigning to increase that number to three. They reckon it'll increase progression opportunities. Bollocks!
Recent Success Stories
Sure, there have been some success stories recently, like Luton getting promoted from the National League in 2014 and then reaching the Premier League nine years later. And let's not forget Wrexham, owned by those Hollywood muppets Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, who secured promotion back to the EFL in 2023 and then got a spot in League One the following season. But who gives a toss?
The 3UP Campaign
Now, there are 24 teams in the National League, all vying for just two promotion spots. So, the 72 National League teams and its North and South feeder divisions have launched this '3UP' campaign to try and change things. They're hoping that the EFL clubs will vote to implement the change at their annual general meeting in June, with the changes proposed to come into effect in the 2025/26 season. Good luck with that, ya mugs!
The National League's Argument
The National League's chief executive, Mark Ives, reckons that a third promotion spot would be "completely transformative" for the league. He says that the current structure is unfair and that clubs are being prevented from promotion on sporting merit that they would otherwise deserve and benefit from under 3UP. Well, boo-hoo, mate. Life's not fair!
Why This Campaign is a Load of Bollocks
First off, if these National League clubs want to get promoted, they should just play better footy! It's as simple as that. Whinging and campaigning for more promotion spots is just taking liberties. Second, the EFL has its own problems to deal with, like the stalled talks over a 'New Deal' on television money with the Premier League. They don't need these National League mugs adding to their troubles.
In conclusion, this whole 3UP campaign is a load of old bollocks. The National League clubs need to stop whining and just focus on playing better footy. If they do that, they might actually earn their promotions on merit, instead of trying to get them through some dodgy campaign. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to the pub to watch some proper footy!
