[Football] The Non-League Football Thread- 2023/24 Edition

[Lenny Rider]

Should be a fascinating year for the Sussex Non League scene.

How will Eastbourne Borough fare as a ‘full time’ club?

Will Worthing still be able to mix it in the play off picture alongside the likes of Yeovil, Torquay and Maidstone?

Whitehawk have recruited strongly, Bognor’s young side could come of age, Lewes will be there or thereabouts as will Horsham, so who comes out as the top Sussex club in the Isthmian Premier?


And unfortunately how long before Crawley rejoin the Non League ranks?

 

[A1X]

 

[Eeyore]

Peacehaven off to a flyer, winning 3-2 away at Raynes Park, good to see that evergreen journeyman, A Trialist get on the scoresheet at his age, he’s got to be well over 60

I remember him playing for the Albion in the late 70s. I think he played cricket for Sussex too. And rugby for Quins.

 

[Ali_rrr]

Should be a fascinating year for the Sussex Non League scene.

How will Eastbourne Borough fare as a ‘full time’ club?

Will Worthing still be able to mix it in the play off picture alongside the likes of Yeovil, Torquay and Maidstone?

Whitehawk have recruited strongly, Bognor’s young side could come of age, Lewes will be there or thereabouts as will Horsham, so who comes out as the top Sussex club in the Isthmian Premier?


And unfortunately how long before Crawley rejoin the Non League ranks?

Should be interesting for EBFC. The new owner (as they all do) is saying the right things and the new kits by Errea are very nice. Got a big sponsor too for the level they're playing at.

Ex Albion Yasir Kasim has also just signed for them.

 

[Cowfold Seagull]

Should be interesting for EBFC. The new owner (as they all do) is saying the right things and the new kits by Errea are very nice. Got a big sponsor too for the level they're playing at.

Ex Albion Yasir Kasim has also just signed for them.

Sporting a nice new kit is all very well, but it's how they perform on the pitch that counts.

 

[Ali_rrr]

Sporting a nice new kit is all very well, but it's how they perform on the pitch that counts.

They have made some excellent signings for the level they're playing at, but they have almost replaced the whole team barring 2 or 3 players. Mark Beard has a big job on his hands but if he gets them all playing, it could be a very good year.

 

[Arthur]

Anyone know when the county league fixtures are out?

 

[Dick Knights Mumm]

Couple of games today with the far better being Burnham 4-3 Slough Town.

Back in Brighton next week so any recommendations or favoured options from Steyning, Loxwood, Horsham YMCA or Roffey?

Whitehawk are at Steyning on Saturday 3pm ko. Should be a good one.

 

[Dick Knights Mumm]

Anyone know when the county league fixtures are out?

I think they wait for the Isthmian etc to announce theirs.

 

[Dick Knights Mumm]

Whitehawk are at Steyning on Saturday 3pm ko. Should be a good one.

Change of plan. The Barrowmen are unable to put out a team (some bug I think) but Whitehawk are using the Steyning ground for a hastily re-arranged friendly with a team from the Wessex League.

 

[patchamalbion]

Whitehawk are at Steyning on Saturday 3pm ko. Should be a good one.

Think this is likely, that or Loxwood.

 

[Arthur]

FA Cup/Tophy/Vase draws done https://www.thefa.com/news/2023/jul...d-draws-fa-cup-vase-trophy-youth-cup-20230707

 

[carlzeiss]

Massive all Sussex derby for Three Bridges at Home to Crawley Down Gatwick on Saturday 5th August in the Emirates FA Cup extra preliminary round , looks to be the pick of the draw as far as I can tell

EMIRATES FA CUP EXTRA PRELIMINARY ROUND
SATURDAY 5 AUGUST 2023
WINNERS RECEIVE £1,125 LOSERS RECEIVE £375


Bury Town v Biggleswade United
Yaxley v Wroxham
Gorleston v Heacham
Ipswich Wanderers v Histon
Redbridge v New Salamis
St Panteleimon v Witham Town
East Thurrock United v Frenford
Shefford Town & Campton v Maldon & Tiptree
Leighton Town v Basildon United
Enfield v Coggeshall Town
Ardley United v Ascot United
Chipstead v Peacehaven & Telscombe
Sittingbourne v Jersey Bulls
Broadbridge Heath v Sheerwater
Tunbridge Wells v Uxbridge
Pagham v East Grinstead Town
Littlehampton Town v Erith & Belvedere
Sutton Common Rovers v Burgess Hill Town
Lancing v Rusthall
Horndean v Portland Utd
Three Bridges v Crawley Down Gatwick 1
Ashford Town (Middx) v AFC Uckfield Town
Westfield v Fisher
Merstham v Raynes Park Vale
Phoenix Sports v Eastbourne United
Lingfield v Sevenoaks Town
Saltdean United v Badshot Lea
Hollands & Blair v Ashford United
Southall v Chichester City
Paulton Rovers v Thatcham Town

EMIRATES FA CUP PRELIMINARY ROUND
SATURDAY 19 AUGUST 2023
WINNERS RECEIVE £1,444 LOSERS RECEIVE £481


Stowmarket Town v Desborough Town or Potton United
Wellingborough Town or Long Melford v Felixstowe & Walton United
Bury Town or Biggleswade United v Yaxley or Wroxham
Ipswich Wanderers or Histon v Dereham Town or Walsham Le Willows
Corby Town v Lowestoft Town
Norwich United or Woodbridge Town v Gorleston or Heacham
Shefford Town & Campton or Maldon & Tiptree v West Essex or Crawley Green
St Panteleimon or Witham Town v Stanway Rovers or Harpenden Town
Buckhurst Hill or Brantham Athletic v Northwood
Brightlingsea Regent v Stansted or Stotfold
Walthamstow v Leverstock Green or White Ensign
Leighton Town or Basildon United v Enfield or Coggeshall Town
East Thurrock United or Frenford v London Lions or Barton Rovers
Brentwood Town v Kings Langley
Bowers & Pitsea v Woodford Town or Hertford Town
Grays Athletic v Redbridge or New Salamis
Heybridge Swifts v Cockfosters or Barking
Wokingham & Emmbrook or Cinderford Town v Binfield
Chalfont St Peter or Wallingford & Crowmarsh v Marlow
Ardley United or Ascot United v Mangotsfield United or Royal Wootton Bassett Town
Sittingbourne or Jersey Bulls v Knaphill or AFC Varndeanians
Eastbourne Town or Faversham Town v Merstham or Raynes Park Vale
Broadfields United or Snodland Town v Chertsey Town
Ramsgate v Bexhill United or North Greenford United
Corinthian or Bedfont Sports Club v Herne Bay
Wembley or Bearsted v Southall or Chichester City
Sheppey United v Holmesdale or Midhurst & Easebourne
Lingfield or Sevenoaks Town v Abbey Rangers or Colliers Wood United
Littlehampton Town or Erith & Belvedere v Sporting Bengal United or Stansfeld
Phoenix Sports or Eastbourne United v Broadbridge Heath or Sheerwater
Corinthian Casuals v Tunbridge Wells or Uxbridge
Sutton Common Rovers or Burgess Hill Town v Hassocks or Erith Town
South Park (Reigate) v Leatherhead
Epsom & Ewell or Horsham YMCA v Metropolitan Police
Balham or Steyning Town Community v Chipstead or Peacehaven & Telscombe
Saltdean United or Badshot Lea v Lancing or Rusthall
Hollands & Blair or Ashford United v Beckenham Town
Pagham or East Grinstead Town v Hythe Town
Three Bridges or Crawley Down Gatwick v Hanworth Villa
Hilltop or Redhill v Ashford Town (Middx) or AFC Uckfield Town
Lordswood or Egham Town v Cray Valley (PM)
Athletic Newham or Tooting & Mitcham Utd v Westfield or Fisher
Hartley Wintney v Shepton Mallet or Sherborne Town
Horndean or Portland United v Brockenhurst or Fleet Town
Wimborne Town v Paulton Rovers or Thatcham Town

 

[Leekbrookgull]

Just reading The Eastbourne Herald and Borough going full time is this genuine because if so it will surely cost a fortune?

 

[Cowfold Seagull]

Just reading The Eastbourne Herald and Borough going full time is this genuine because if so it will surely cost a fortune?

Yep it's really happening, more about this on here if you scroll back a few pages.

 

[Eeyore]

Massive all Sussex derby for Three Bridges at Home to Crawley Down Gatwick on Saturday 5th August in the Emirates FA Cup extra preliminary round , looks to be the pick of the draw as far as I can tell

Are Whitehawk in the 1stQ proper then ?

 

[Monkey Man]

They have made some excellent signings for the level they're playing at, but they have almost replaced the whole team barring 2 or 3 players. Mark Beard has a big job on his hands but if he gets them all playing, it could be a very good year.

Looks like they’re aiming for automatic promotion given the calibre of signings and this time they wouldn’t be certs for relegation if they do make the National League.

It’s been a few years since I watched National South football but there normally seems to be a bunch of teams that are pretty much on a par and then maybe a couple that stand out. Let’s see how the all-new Borough side gels.

 

[Leekbrookgull]

Saw the piece by Lenny but the costs must be huge and are we talking about a genuine fan/follower here or someone here for the long haul?

 

[Vatican Citys No.2 Keeper]

Saw the piece by Lenny but the costs must be huge and are we talking about a genuine fan/follower here or someone here for the long haul?

Looking at his social media, seems he's a Hove-based entrepreneur who's possibly been inspired by the Wrexham story to invest in Eastbourne, but whether he's had any links/love for the club before that, I'm not sure. Always hard to say how long the types who immediately pump the kind of money he is putting into the club will stick around for (see Lewes and Whitehawk for what happens for when they do pull the plug).

Re what @Lenny Rider said about Worthing. It will definitely be tougher for us to compete this year given the quality of the sides that have dropped down - can see it being Yeovil and Eastbourne (if it clicks) competing for automatic promotion, but I think challenging for the play-offs should still be the aim.

On paper our squad is better than the one that finished last season, and of the players we thought might leave, only losing Harrison Male is a godsend, and getting Roco Rees in is a great replacement. Says a lot that the likes of Rye and Colbran could probably have taken a little more money to make a step up but are sticking with the project Hinsh has going on. Luer, Luque, Klass, Felix and Wheeler are all good additions - many with experience at this level and in higher leagues - and getting Jesse Starkey and Jake Robinson back are like two new singings themselves. Hopefully Gary Elphick joining the coaching staff helps improve the defensive side of things, as that was where we lacked at times last year.

 

[Colonel Mustard]

Interesting stuff at Eastbourne Borough, my nearest 'big' non-EFL club. I plan to watch them when I can i.e. when Albion aren’t at home.