Jordan Parsons discusses the results of the FA Fair Play table for Barking and other non-league teams.
Barking’s approach to their game looks to be paying off – at least in terms of league position, as the FA Fair Play table for non-league teams is released.
The table shows the number of dismissals for dissent, violent conduct and abusive language. It also shows which teams have received yellows and then ranks them through a scoring system to work out which sides have been the best or least disciplined.
The Blues are the least disciplined on the field out of their east London rivals with nine cautions for dissent and one dismissal for violent conduct. However, this physical style of play is arguably paying off for the east London side as they continue to exceed expectations – winning 15 of their 24 games and sitting in a commanding third spot in the Essex senior league.
Violent
The main non-league east London sides are also featured in the table with Romford FC as the ‘best behaved’ side in the area. With only one dismissal for violent conduct and a warning for dissent, they are well ahead of Barking.
Sadly for Romford, their more disciplined approach has not been rewarded with points. They are languishing in 17th place and with a number of teams below them having two or three games in hand, Romford could be set for a relegation scrap – one that the Boro’ would have preferred to avoid as their pre-season expectations suggested a less tense mid-table finish.
On the other hand, AFC Hornchurch seem to have struck a pleasant balance between foul and fair play as they currently sit second in the Ryman North league, although they are eight points behind league leaders AFC Sudbury. With their discipline taking a back-seat to their on-field exploits, the club will likely be pleased with their all-round performance.
Overall, despite losing their manager to Stockport, Northwich Victoria are still the best behaved side in the top five tiers of non-league football.
The Vic’s have only had one dismissal all season and only received 11 yellows. At the other end of the table Worcester City, are the worst behaved side in the top five tiers of the non-league with nine red cards and forty yellows.
City have received nine red cards, five cautions for dissent, two dismissals for abusive language and on top of that, two dismissals for violent conduct have put them firmly at the foot of the fair league table.
Check out the full table here: