So, you think a few games in a row without a win is bad? Try supporting Durham City.
Today they lost 6-0 to Matlock Town, keeping them plum bottom of the league with the following record:
P W D L F A GD PT
Durham City 24 0 0 24 14 119 -105 0
Yes, that was their 24th consecutive defeat this season.
On Friday, the FA held a hearing regarding a breach of the rules by Durham City:
The FA:
These charges arose from the club’s decision to report itself to the Football Association when it became aware that the manager had played Joshua Home-Jackson under a false name, whilst suspended playing for another club, against both Bradford Park Avenue on 31 October 2009 and Kings Lynn on 7 November 2009.
The FA decided to penalise them 6 points, which unless they win an appeal will put them on -6pts for the season.
Durham City are sadly a victim of their own success, after winning back to back league titles they reached the Northern Premier League, and they were told that their artificial pitch would mean they were unable to go any higher up the leagues:
Durham’s New Ferens Park was fitted with a 3G pitch a couple of years ago. The pitch is at the upper end of the market, with realistic, silicon-coated blades of grass and a rubber crumb base. Compared with the sand covered artificial monstrosities of years gone by, it is almost like playing on grass. Indeed, FIFA and Sepp Blatter are fans of the pitches, and they are approved for use in UEFA competitions. In England, though, there are mixed messages over which pitches are acceptable and which aren’t. The 3G pitches are banned in the FA Cup, but allowed in the FA Trophy, for example. They’re allowed in the Unibond League, but not in the Football Conference.
On hearing this their backers decided to pull the plug on the team:
This, as it turned out, was the problem for Durham City AFC. At the start of the season, they were informed by the Unibond League that they would not be considered for a place in the Blue Square North or even allowed to compete in the play-offs if they were to use a 3G pitch. The problems came in the immediate aftermath of the decision, when the club’s sponsors and backers decided to pull the plug on any further funding for the club. With the squad rapidly disbanded, local youngsters were drafted in and the club confirmed that it will play out this season in the Unibond League before, most likely, dropping back to the Northern League.
So, if your team goes a few games without a win, before moaning think of Durham City 
