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

[stewart12]

Glad to see you are planning a visit to see us at Gorings Mead next month!

looking forward to it!

 

[Crispy Ambulance]

Number 9 for AFC Uckfield, Jeremy Tudor-Pole, I wonder if he is related to Edward Tudor-Pole (Eddie Tenpole) singer, actor and tv presenter.

Definitely a nice ground and clubhouse at Steyning, I went there a couple of years back to watch Newhaven.

Apparently, Uckfield are re-naming their refreshment area in honour of their #9.

That’s right, they’re calling it ….,,,Wunderbar!!

 

[BN9 BHA]

The media whore was at it again on Tuesday!!

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Anyone at the game and be kind enough to share their thoughts on it? @jackalbion @BN9 BHA ??

I didn’t go.

 

[jackalbion]

The media whore was at it again on Tuesday!!

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Anyone at the game and be kind enough to share their thoughts on it? @jackalbion @BN9 BHA ??

Thought it was a decent game for a 1-1. Newhaven I thought were the better team overall and were unlucky not to score a couple more. Crowborough seemed quite an industrial side for a team in first in the league, seem to be able to score goals out of nowhere, but there wasn’t really too many standouts for Crowborough. Understand from a friend they’ve had a few injury problems. Newhaven are always an exciting team to watch in the SCFL in my opinion, have a set of very good forwards and are always explosive going forwards so I wasn’t surprised to see their goal come from a drilled Alfie Rogers Free Kick. Crowborough’s goal came out of nowhere, and from a Newhaven mistake so I expect they’ll be the happier side of the two. On a separate note, I actually found myself sat a few seats along from a current Brighton striker (easy work out who it was if you connect enough dots) who definitely did not want to be spotted considering he had a snood pulled up over his nose as well as his hood up for the whole game. It did make me laugh that during half time my friend came up to me and preceded to slag off a couple members of the squad, but luckily not the man sat within earshot. Becoming a hub for player spottings with Billy Gilmour there last week.

Both Crowborough & Newhaven do impress me more than Broadbridge Heath and Crawley Down did last season, will be interesting to see who takes the league, Haywards Heath picking up form and of course Steyning always look decent. Good there is a proper play off this season not the inter step nonsense.

 

[keaton]

No doubt that 3g is essential for "non league" sides to prosper now however the down side is that no matter how flipping freezing cold it is the match is almost certain to go ahead

Indeed. Lewes don't have 3g but with the new pitch and drainage I spend a lot of time in the winter cold and or wet thinking we could be doing this on Tuesday night in March or April

 

[jackalbion]

Travelling to Warrington tomorrow to see them play Southport, they've got a very inconspicuous pitch inspection at 10am despite temperatures being is the positives all night, have burscough lined up if all goes awry.

 

[BN9 BHA]

On a separate note, I actually found myself sat a few seats along from a current Brighton striker (easy work out who it was if you connect enough dots) who definitely did not want to be spotted considering he had a snood pulled up over his nose as well as his hood up for the whole game.

Do you think he was wearing a snood over his nose and had his hood up because the temperature was -2 or whatever? I hate the cold and if I had gone to this match I would have been wrapped up exactly the same

He’s definitely been spotted there before btw.

 

[jackalbion]

Do you think he was wearing a snood over his nose and had his hood up because the temperature was -2 or whatever? I hate the cold and if I had gone to this match I would have been wrapped up exactly the same

He’s definitely been spotted there before btw.

Well it was cold, although I got the vibe he wanted it on the downlow.

 

[Superphil]

Like many games last night, my intended destination of Littlehampton Town was a victim to the elements so I ended up at the Peter Bentley Cup tie between two SCFL Premier League sides Steyning Town and AFC Uckfield Town.

Steyning are, of course, a fine club. Definite community feel and everyone is extremely friendly. A decent crowd considering the conditions, bolstered slightly by the u23 side having a team meeting in the clubhouse before the game.

Speaking of which, the clubhouse has had a bit of a refurb since my last visit and is now surely in the elite tier of Sussex clubhouses. It really is top notch for a club that size. Sadly I was driving so didn't get a chance to sample the drinks selection but it's a great venue.

If you've not been, the Shooting Field is a neat and tidy ground which has surely been revolutionised by the installation of the artificial pitch which is such a game changer for clubs at that level. Most of the crowd congregated on the West (?) side of the ground which boasts two seated stands and some standing areas. I sat in one of the seated stands for much of the first half but the cold (-2 degrees) meant that I felt I wanted to stretch my legs a bit.

Steyning won the game very easily in the end with a 6-0 win. I think it was only 1-0 at half time though so Uckfield did hold their own for most of the first half. Definitely tired as the game went on though. Steyning play some really, really good football which is really great to see.

Only downside- NO BOVRIL!!!!!!!!!!! Thankfully, I'd brought with me a flask of my own which saw me through to half time. Bought a hot chocolate for the second half.

Admission was £7

Would highly recommend a trip to Steyning.

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That turnstile is from the Goldstone Ground.

We’ll be there tomorrow when AFC Varndenians visit. I concur the beverage choice is decent in the club house, very decent scran too.

 

[jackalbion]

Well Warrington got called off so I am now off to the former home of Craig Noone Skelmersdale United, to watch Pascal Chimbonda’s side take on Longridge Town.

 

[Cowfold Seagull]

That turnstile is from the Goldstone Ground.

We’ll be there tomorrow when AFC Varndenians visit. I concur the beverage choice is decent in the club house, very decent scran too.

Give Sally Gunnell my regards if she makes an appearance, her two sons Finlay & Marley Bigg often turn out for Varndeanians, and she goes along to support them.

A very personable and modest lady, invited her into the boardroom for half time hospitality at Gorings Mead when she visited, but politely declined the offer.

 

[Whitechapel]

Ollie Pearce is on some run of form for Worthing. 13 goals and 5 assists in 9 games.

They’re up to second now, no chance of catching Yeovil but 2nd or 3rd is a huge boost for the play-offs.

He scored again today in a 1-0 win away to Tonbridge.

He’s scored more goals since the start of December than anybody else in that league has managed all season. Ridiculous.

 

[HalfaSeatOn]

Planned on going to Broadbridge Heath v Three Bridges which fell to a lunch time P-P. Instead went to a West Sussex Football League cup match where there was a lot of honest endeavour on a barely playable pitch.

 

[carlzeiss]

He scored again today in a 1-0 win away to Tonbridge.

He’s scored more goals since the start of December than anybody else in that league has managed all season. Ridiculous.

Worthing had a let off today when Tonbridge Angels usually reliable spot kick taker Lewis Gard sent an 80th minute penalty heavens bound but it was the 200 plus rebels fans that were celebrating at the end a hard earned 3 points .
Attendance of 1337 .

 

[Sirnormangall]

Tight match at Lancing today, home side losing 0-1 to Cray Valley who are 2nd in the table and maintained their 100% away record. Lancing matched them throughout and came close to equalising. Hopefully they will stay in touch in the promotion chase.

 

[Questions]

Up the Rebels

 

[BN9 BHA]

I went to Newhaven v AFC Uckfield this afternoon, Newhaven gave Uckfield a one goal head start and then put six past them. Top of the league

 

[Dick Knights Mumm]

A good afternoon at The Shooting Field. AFC Varndeanians are a young side that competed well in the first half, but a second goal just before half time to retake the lead set the pattern for the second half. Varndeanians have some good young players who are at a different stage than the Barrowmen who are a very, very good side on good form.

Marley Bigg scored the V goal in front of his mother. Paul Rogers was also watching his lad. A decent crowd.

 

[BN9 BHA]

A good afternoon at The Shooting Field. AFC Varndeanians are a young side that competed well in the first half, but a second goal just before half time to retake the lead set the pattern for the second half. Varndeanians have some good young players who are at a different stage than the Barrowmen who are a very, very good side on good form.

Marley Bigg scored the V goal in front of his mother. Paul Rogers was also watching his lad. A decent crowd.

Very neat

 

[Rock Lobster]

Yesterday I watched Bexhill United narrowly lose to Haywards Heath which was a fair result. Fair play to Haywards Heath fans getting behind their team behind the goal.