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[Football] The Non-League Football Thread- 2024/25 Edition
- Thread starter jackalbion
- Start date
Are they actually likely to play, do you think? Or just stand on the touch line posing for photos.Roberto Carlos v Gilberto Silva at the Pan in a few weeks...
Tim Chase on LinkedIn: 🚨 Epic Friday Announcement Alert! 🚨 I’m beyond thrilled to reveal that… | 20 comments
🚨 Epic Friday Announcement Alert! 🚨 I’m beyond thrilled to reveal that on 17th November, StriveAid will host an unforgettable charity football match at… | 20 comments on LinkedInwww.linkedin.com
From the wording I assumed they’d be managing the teams and maybe come on for 5 minutes
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Whitechapel
Famous Last Words
So they get the power to age people and they decide to be transphobic with it? Disgraceful.
That won’t go down very well at all at Woke FC.
AmexRuislip
Retired Spy 🕵️♂️
Tom Dallison-Lisbon playing for Ebbsfleet today v Wealdstone
stewart12
Well-known member
- Jan 16, 2019
- 1,950
Did the double header in Crowborough yesterday. The official "Sussex hop" massively boosted the crowd at both games which is always good to see. They all seemed to being bussed around in a proper coach and everything.
Started off with number 51- Jarvis Brook for their SCFL 2 game against Southwater Ground feels in the middle of nowhere and everything was slightly chaotic. To be honest it wasn't really equipped for the large crowd which was over 200. It's down a single lane road which got quite clogged up. Anyway, Admission was £5 which is a lot for this level really, especially as most clubs are free entry in this league. I do get why the club saw today as a rare money spinner so it's fair enough I guess. A (pretty good) programme was included in that price.
There's a decent sized clubhouse which just does teas etc, Bovril was an ASTRONOMICAL £2. Not sure if that's the normal price or whether it was hiked for this game.
This is a standard Division 2 ground really, with hard standing on all sides and a small covered standing area behind one goal. For some reason the crowd were confined to two sides of the ground which made it seem a lot more packed than it actually was. On one side there were stalls doing hot food and beer, a nice pint of Long Man ale was a mere £3 which was the best value thing there.
Atmosphere wise it was the case of a lot of Groundhoppers discussing grounds they've been to rather than paying any attention to the game. I know I'm being slightly hypocritical here as a groundhopper with no real interest in Jarvis Brook vs Southwater but I do at least try and watch the game.
The ground has an absolutely ludicrous slope across it which massively impacted this game. Jarvis Brook were going downhill in the first half and really should have been 4 or 5 ahead by half time, instead they took a 2 goal lead before some sloppy defending gave Southwater a goal just before half time with their first big chance.
Southwater then dominated the second half with the slope now in their favour and bombarded the home side with chance after chance. The writing was on the wall when Jarvis Brook had a player sent off for a second yellow. Very predictably the visitors equalized in the last minute.
Anyway it's an alright ground, fairly standard for this level- I did feel like I was getting milked a bit though really.
Onto their neighbours Crowborough Athletic for their SCFL Premier Division clash with table toppers Hassocks
In stark contrast to earlier I didn't feel in anyway fleeced here at all. Entry was £7- about normal for this level.
The ground is definitely one of the best in the SCFL. You've got a covered terrace which spans the width of the end behind one goal, then on one side there are three stands side by side. Two of these are seated and one is standing. The other two sides have hard standing
The clubhouse is actually quite small which is surprising but there is also a bar area in one corner.
Crowd for this game was over 400, again boosted by the coach load from the groundhopper community.
The game started in frenzied fashion with the unbeaten league leaders Hassocks going 1-0 up within minutes. The hosts quickly equalised though and it didn't take them long to go 2-1 up with a brilliant goal from Forster.
Hassocks did have chances but to be honest the hosts were the better side a deserved to win. They did have chances to extend their lead but it ended 2-1. A good game and it's so noticable how big a jump it is in quality from SCFL 2 to this when you watch it back to back
Only 5 grounds to go now and I'm STILL yet to see a 0-0
Started off with number 51- Jarvis Brook for their SCFL 2 game against Southwater Ground feels in the middle of nowhere and everything was slightly chaotic. To be honest it wasn't really equipped for the large crowd which was over 200. It's down a single lane road which got quite clogged up. Anyway, Admission was £5 which is a lot for this level really, especially as most clubs are free entry in this league. I do get why the club saw today as a rare money spinner so it's fair enough I guess. A (pretty good) programme was included in that price.
There's a decent sized clubhouse which just does teas etc, Bovril was an ASTRONOMICAL £2. Not sure if that's the normal price or whether it was hiked for this game.
This is a standard Division 2 ground really, with hard standing on all sides and a small covered standing area behind one goal. For some reason the crowd were confined to two sides of the ground which made it seem a lot more packed than it actually was. On one side there were stalls doing hot food and beer, a nice pint of Long Man ale was a mere £3 which was the best value thing there.
Atmosphere wise it was the case of a lot of Groundhoppers discussing grounds they've been to rather than paying any attention to the game. I know I'm being slightly hypocritical here as a groundhopper with no real interest in Jarvis Brook vs Southwater but I do at least try and watch the game.
The ground has an absolutely ludicrous slope across it which massively impacted this game. Jarvis Brook were going downhill in the first half and really should have been 4 or 5 ahead by half time, instead they took a 2 goal lead before some sloppy defending gave Southwater a goal just before half time with their first big chance.
Southwater then dominated the second half with the slope now in their favour and bombarded the home side with chance after chance. The writing was on the wall when Jarvis Brook had a player sent off for a second yellow. Very predictably the visitors equalized in the last minute.
Anyway it's an alright ground, fairly standard for this level- I did feel like I was getting milked a bit though really.
Onto their neighbours Crowborough Athletic for their SCFL Premier Division clash with table toppers Hassocks
In stark contrast to earlier I didn't feel in anyway fleeced here at all. Entry was £7- about normal for this level.
The ground is definitely one of the best in the SCFL. You've got a covered terrace which spans the width of the end behind one goal, then on one side there are three stands side by side. Two of these are seated and one is standing. The other two sides have hard standing
The clubhouse is actually quite small which is surprising but there is also a bar area in one corner.
Crowd for this game was over 400, again boosted by the coach load from the groundhopper community.
The game started in frenzied fashion with the unbeaten league leaders Hassocks going 1-0 up within minutes. The hosts quickly equalised though and it didn't take them long to go 2-1 up with a brilliant goal from Forster.
Hassocks did have chances but to be honest the hosts were the better side a deserved to win. They did have chances to extend their lead but it ended 2-1. A good game and it's so noticable how big a jump it is in quality from SCFL 2 to this when you watch it back to back
Only 5 grounds to go now and I'm STILL yet to see a 0-0
Arthur
Well-known member
I think (but don't quote me on this) Brook were only charging yesterday as they had a charity game before raising money for hospice in weald.
It must have been fun in that coach going down Palesgate Lane especially if they came from the bottom up as you have to drive through the brook known locally as the watersplash.
I assume by club house you mean the tea bar in the ground? That isn't the club house. The club house is 100 yard down the road by the entrance to the car park and has a double bar. One side of which has recently had a refit.
I made it back from the Amex to see the second half and what I saw I agree with your assessment. Was a tough even game which Crowborough probably just shaded.
atfc village
Well-known member
Overseas this weekend. IOW Div 1 2nd place WAB Sports 3 1st place Ventnor 1 . Entrance free ,Programme no ,snacks ,Tea ,Coffee and soup avaliable. Sadly no official linespersons. A lively encounter actually a good game . A plus at this level there was some cover ,but the pitch sloped all 4 ways . Ground 347 and my 13th on the Island
ManOfSussex
We wunt be druv
I see Hastings United and Danny Bloor have parted company tonight. Reduced playing budget and the ground problems means big problems at the Pilot Field. 
- Apr 5, 2014
- 26,352
Did you get the train to Brading ?
atfc village
Well-known member
No I bought a 48 hour bus ticket for £18.50
AZ Gull
@SeagullsAcademy @seagullsacademy.bsky.social
I actually played at Brading Town, 6 or 7 years ago, in my final season of senior football. Hampshire Cup game, against a side three(?) levels above us. We treated it as a massive adventure, including overnight stay after the game, and many, many beers.
Had an unusually good afternoon in goal, and very much against the run of play, we won the game 2-1. Tidy ground, and must say Brading were great hosts, and very magnanimous in defeat - more than can be said for the knot of 4 or 5 elderly gents, who gave me dogs' abuse from the one small stand, for the duration of the second half.
stewart12
Well-known member
- Jan 16, 2019
- 1,950
Ground number 53 was Southwater for a Division 2 Cup game against their local rivals TD Shipley.
Unfortunately I've been copping a bit of flack online from raging Southwater fans as I was a bit SCATHING about this place. Perhaps I didn't explain myself properly so I'll try here
It's part of a large sports ground with a cricket club and tennis courts on site as well as two football pitches. It's all quite polished and neat and is surrounded by new builds in one of north Sussex's most well heeled towns
Admission for this game was £0 but it seems like they charge for league games which to be frank takes the absolute mick
In terms of the actual ground it's quite basic even by Division 2 standards really, with a rope separating off one side which the fans are confined to. The third team were actually playing a game on the pitch next door which was actually possibly more entertaining. The pitches are literally side by side so people were watching both (the third teams gave kicked off an hour earlier). Both pitches seem in good condition and it's flat (unlike Jarvis Brook last week!). Like I said though, this place is basic even by comparison to their peers. (The feedback I'm getting from them keeps going on about how great their pitches are which I don't really give a f*** about !)
The clubhouse is big but is essentially a social club which is what most people seemed to be there for. Ultimately for the purpose of what I'm doing this is always a bit of a red flag and just isn't my cup of tea whatsoever. Another issue is that to be honest everyone seemed quite unfriendly. I'm sure it's great if you're a member and you're there all the time but I just didn't feel welcome there whatsoever. Just got the impression that it was very much for the members and not for the football crowd- which would be fine if they were explicit about this. There didn't seem to be any hot drinks available at all and when my father in law asked about them it was like he was talking in a foreign language. I THINK there were some available in a corridor by the changing rooms but this was in no way advertised and no one was manning it. Criminally, no Bovril also....again just seems like somewhere where if you know the place it's fine but for a first time visitor it wasn't very accessible
Anyway, I've caught a bit of flack and been accused of "slander" for daring to suggest that the staff are unfriendly. All I'll say is that they were unfriendly to me....I'm sure they're great otherwise (but I've been to 52 different grounds THIS YEAR so I am aware of what friendly and unfriendly looks like)
Anyway, the game was quite flat and ended 2-1 to the hosts
I did ground number 54 today for the WSL game between Brighton and Leicester but that's not really for this thread. Was running out of opportunities to see Crawley this year so bit the bullet and got it ticked off
Still no 0-0's now with just 3 grounds remaining, starting to get nervy
Unfortunately I've been copping a bit of flack online from raging Southwater fans as I was a bit SCATHING about this place. Perhaps I didn't explain myself properly so I'll try here
It's part of a large sports ground with a cricket club and tennis courts on site as well as two football pitches. It's all quite polished and neat and is surrounded by new builds in one of north Sussex's most well heeled towns
Admission for this game was £0 but it seems like they charge for league games which to be frank takes the absolute mick
In terms of the actual ground it's quite basic even by Division 2 standards really, with a rope separating off one side which the fans are confined to. The third team were actually playing a game on the pitch next door which was actually possibly more entertaining. The pitches are literally side by side so people were watching both (the third teams gave kicked off an hour earlier). Both pitches seem in good condition and it's flat (unlike Jarvis Brook last week!). Like I said though, this place is basic even by comparison to their peers. (The feedback I'm getting from them keeps going on about how great their pitches are which I don't really give a f*** about !)
The clubhouse is big but is essentially a social club which is what most people seemed to be there for. Ultimately for the purpose of what I'm doing this is always a bit of a red flag and just isn't my cup of tea whatsoever. Another issue is that to be honest everyone seemed quite unfriendly. I'm sure it's great if you're a member and you're there all the time but I just didn't feel welcome there whatsoever. Just got the impression that it was very much for the members and not for the football crowd- which would be fine if they were explicit about this. There didn't seem to be any hot drinks available at all and when my father in law asked about them it was like he was talking in a foreign language. I THINK there were some available in a corridor by the changing rooms but this was in no way advertised and no one was manning it. Criminally, no Bovril also....again just seems like somewhere where if you know the place it's fine but for a first time visitor it wasn't very accessible
Anyway, I've caught a bit of flack and been accused of "slander" for daring to suggest that the staff are unfriendly. All I'll say is that they were unfriendly to me....I'm sure they're great otherwise (but I've been to 52 different grounds THIS YEAR so I am aware of what friendly and unfriendly looks like)
Anyway, the game was quite flat and ended 2-1 to the hosts
I did ground number 54 today for the WSL game between Brighton and Leicester but that's not really for this thread. Was running out of opportunities to see Crawley this year so bit the bullet and got it ticked off
Still no 0-0's now with just 3 grounds remaining, starting to get nervy
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stewart12
Well-known member
- Jan 16, 2019
- 1,950
Thank you, bit gutted I missed out on the proper clubhouse to be honest! I would definitely like to return as I really liked the ground (it's just very far from me!) so will be sure to check it out next time
Since1982
Well-known member
I wandered down to see Burgess Hill Town v Ashford United yesterday. A fairly non-descript first half until just before the break when we were treated to a fabulous 22 man brawl which ended with a deserved red card for both teams. Ashford took the lead in the second half before a mad 2 minutes when they scored an own goal to put the hosts level and then a 17 yo BH player hit a screamer to make it 2-1. With a late start due to a lovely act of remembrance then added time for the brawl and various other stoppages the final whistle eventually went at 5.05pm. Great entertainment.
Where are you posting to get flack from the Southwater fans?
Marty McFly
Seagulls Over Canada
I saw your IG post and found them all a tad precious. Keep the reviews coming!