Excellent, with any luck we'll be all ready to go in a week or two once we've found somebody from each local club

Johnnie,
Your positing could not come at a more appropriate time. I was reviewing the local newspapers on Monday for local Football content, and was staggered to find almost non coverage of all the local teams in South  London/Surrey Borders. As you say the Guardian group has stopped completely, with reference only to  the coverage Antonio received nationwide.  South London Press apart from Dulwich Hamlet was zero, although they covered QPR for "God's sake."  The Hamlet have a great publicity machine which ensures average crowds of 1500 plus attend home games.  The Croydon advertiser was also zero with blanket coverage of Crystal Palace. Cannot find any reference to  the most successful non league team in our catchment area, Sutton United. My own local newspaper covers local Football both in printed and online editions.

The impact of the local press covering local non league Football is a great disservice to  the community.  Although Local printed papers are now far and few between, many readers now use the online edition  for information. Local Football has always been the mainstay  of  sport in Local publications, providing reports, photos, news and fixtures. Although Non League leagues and clubs have their own websites the general public will not use this media. Local Football Club's are the heart of a community  for many reasons, but devoid of publicity in the general local Press serves to  disenfranchise the public from local interest and news.

For a number of  years I have spent a lot of time in various libraries researching the history of the Terrors. Without the huge benefit of the historical newspapers available this would have been an impossible task.  It also revealed the importance and influence of sport, and in particular  football had on local history and the community. The current situation at best will deprive future  generations of this knowledge.

Your idea of having website for local teams is a great idea.  However,  the items you suggested to  be included are almost impossible to  deliver by an individual from each club, as most owners/ chairman will not supply or  refuse to  give information to  supporters of the club.  Many clubs have problems getting news and items in their own programme notes, and websites  Also it's only restricted to  the "Die Hard Supporters." As for a paper version in the future this would be too costly on  a local basis, and we already have the Non League paper.

A concerted effort is needed to  be centred on the local Press to  bring back local football by way of this invaluable community news media.  

Apologies for being negative on your wonderful ideal, but I  wish your every success in your endeavours.
 
 
 

The site is now fully running at

http://www.southlondonsport.co.uk/

Any submissions definitely welcome, keep them coming in to 'johnnielowery@tiscali.co.uk'