#national-league

#national-league

Carlisle and Barrow will play each other next season in the Cumbrian derby in the National League, writes Peter Hutchinson. The clubs are located at opposite ends of Cumbria and the distance between the two grounds is some 78 miles [by car]. Does this make it the greatest distance between two teams involved in a derby'? A couple of clarifications: answers here will feature the shortest distances by car. The second, perhaps more important, point is that we are excluding matches that are simply rivalries.

Phil Parkinson, the new Chester boss, has signed a two-year deal and stated that fans can expect a real modern-day approach to football. He emphasized, 'We have a set way of going about things, an identity that we won't deviate from.' This commitment to a clear identity is crucial as Chester seeks to return to the National League.

We are aware of a video circulating online following our game against Morecambe yesterday. Contrary to social media opinion and wisdom, the ejection was nothing to do with bacon sarnies more a little 'over-exuberance' on the last day of the season.

KSI's involvement with Dagenham & Redbridge and the live streaming of their match on YouTube represents a significant milestone for the National League, allowing fans worldwide to engage with non-league football.

In 1901, the American League declared itself a competitor to the NL, jumping up from its minor league status (where it had been called the Western League). The two leagues agreed to play a World Series in 1903, and for the next 90-odd years the leagues served as heated rivals. The NL's dominance in the All-Star Game from 1963 to 1982 -- it won 19 of the 20 contests -- was offered as proof of its superiority, certainly by its players and fans.

Sutton United have signed Hartlepool United's Grenada international winger Jermaine Francis for an undisclosed fee. The 23-year-old, who has won 15 international caps for the Caribbean nation, is the 10th new player to join the club since Chris Agutter took over as head coach in October. Francis, who has also had spells at Braintree and Chelmsford, scored three goals in 22 National League appearances for Hartlepool after joining them last summer.

All National League fixtures on 15 November will kick off three minutes late as part of a campaign to grant fifth-tier clubs a third promotion place to League Two. The English Football League (EFL) has resisted previous calls for an extra promotion spot, but the National League is continuing to push for change and will highlight the issue again next month, with all 12 fixtures on the day kicking off at 15:03 GMT.

Starting with the hosts, watching their extended purple patch come to an end over the weekend as they eventually fell to a 1-0 loss at the hands of Carlisle, Scunthorpe are desperately seeking an immediate response here. Nevertheless, despite only making their National League return this season, Andy Butler's men have enjoyed a stellar start to proceedings. Getting Tuesday's return to Lincolnshire underway sat in the play-off places, the Irons have their sights set on mounting another promotion charge this year.