[Football] The Non-League Football Thread- 2024/25 Edition

Marty McFly said:

I saw your IG post and found them all a tad precious. Keep the reviews coming!

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BN9 BHA said:

Where are you posting to get flack from the Southwater fans?

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stewart12 said:

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

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Kuipers Supporters Club said:

Ignore the flack you’re getting, a lot of people love your reviews!

And you’re not the first person to say that about that social club.

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Kuipers Supporters Club said:

I went to Loxwood v Crowborough.

Already been here this season but came back and the demise of Loxwood since their manager and most of the team have left is very sad.

Early this season they played Petersfield in one of the most entertaining, intense 1-1 draws I’d seen in the SCFL.

Yesterday, they were a shadow of that side, 1-0 down at half time and just fell apart in the second, eventually losing 6-0 to a well organised Crowborough side who were good, but made to look a lot better than they are.

Basically the whole Loxwood team had changed, I recognised 3/4 players.

Loxwood is a lovely ground with good facilities and a nice clubhouse and I’d recommend a visit to anyone.

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stewart12 said:

On my Sussex Groundhoppers Instagram account

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Since1982 said:

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.

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HalfaSeatOn said:

Listened to Anfield game on radio BBCSx while watching Southwick complete a comfortable 5-2 away win in a Sussex cup competition.

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amexer said:

I thought they had folded

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stewart12 said:

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

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Krafty said:

Which 3 grounds do you have left?

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stewart12 said:

Saltdean, Seaford and Eastbourne United

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Deanbha said:

Seaford v Worthing utd in a few weeks time. Top of the table clash.

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JJ McClure said:

After losing to Crowborough last weekend it was back to winning ways for Hassocks on Saturday as they try and keep pace with leaders Haywards Heath.
Comfortable 5-0 win over Newhaven. The game was effectively over at half time as Hassocks led 4-0 at the break including a great finish for the opener from Jack Troak.
Highlights here although the video says 02.10.24 rather than 02.11.24

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JJ McClure said:

After losing to Crowborough last weekend it was back to winning ways for Hassocks on Saturday as they try and keep pace with leaders Haywards Heath.
Comfortable 5-0 win over Newhaven. The game was effectively over at half time as Hassocks led 4-0 at the break including a great finish for the opener from Jack Troak.
Highlights here although the video says 02.10.24 rather than 02.11.24

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Tim Edwards64 said:

Opener was from Jamie Wilkes. Troaky returning from injury

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BevBHA said:

What on earth has happened to newhaven this year?

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AZ Gull said:

That 17-year-old BH player (he was actually 18 back in September) is Joe Overy, who spent his U-9 and U-10 seasons in the academy at Albion.

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