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

[stewart12]

Loving your reviews. Any chance you can watch my lads team Worthing United? Big game Saturday v Wick

thank you,

my plan is to go to Worthing United next tuesday!

 

[Deanbha]

thank you,

my plan is to go to Worthing United next tuesday!

Excellent, see you at the match.

 

[jackalbion]

Off to Maidstone tomorrow to watch Torquay again, think this could be a very toxic away end following their 4-0 loss to St Albans at the weekend. Lots of calls for the manager to go as they are the lowest ranked professional club, and to make things worse, the rumoured replacement for Gary Johnson... his son Lee.

 

[Whitechapel]

Off to Maidstone tomorrow to watch Torquay again, think this could be a very toxic away end following their 4-0 loss to St Albans at the weekend. Lots of calls for the manager to go as they are the lowest ranked professional club, and to make things worse, the rumoured replacement for Gary Johnson... his son Lee.

Eastbourne and Havant have both gone pro in the last couple of years haven’t they? Understand why their fans are pissed off though. Must be frustrating to see Yeovil bounce back so easily.

 

[stewart12]

I'm going to be at the Sussex Senior Cup Quarter Final clash between Littlehampton Town and Bognor Regis Town tomorrow night

The Arun derby under the lights, can't wait

 

[stewart12]

Excellent, see you at the match.

what's the parking like at Worthing United. Hard to tell on google maps...

 

[BevBHA]

Becoming a hub for player spottings with Billy Gilmour there last week.

Might be related to the fact that Evan Ferguson’s girlfriend is the assistant managers daughter

 

[jackalbion]

Eastbourne and Havant have both gone pro in the last couple of years haven’t they? Understand why their fans are pissed off though. Must be frustrating to see Yeovil bounce back so easily.

I think Eastbourne and Havant are 'Hybrid' whatever that means.

 

[Krafty]

what's the parking like at Worthing United. Hard to tell on google maps...

When I visited, I parked along Lyons Way, right next to the ground. No issues at all.

 

[MattBackHome]

Ground number 7 last night and it was Broadbridge Heath. This was for the Isthmian South East clash with Three Bridges,

This is a bit of a hidden gem so sit tight.

I can't quite explain it but this place just feels right.

Firstly, the ground is located in what can only be described as a leisure and sports CITY. Alongside the ground there is an athletics stadium, often dubbed the "Withdean of the North" (which I believe was the clubs previous home?), 5 a side pitches, a brand new leisure centre and even an indoor bowls venue. Incredible facilities for a small place like Broadbridge Heath. There's absolutely loads of free parking as you can park at the bowls club. Very easy for me to get to as it's just off the A24.

Admission was £10, about right for this level. They gave me a free programme as it had the wrong date on it (was this game re-arranged?)

The ground is very new, and unlike Chichester, just feels like it has a bit of character.

There is a small covered seated stand on the far side which I did take refuge in. The seats were comfortable but the view was a bit hampered by the Perspex panel on either side....I think maybe the dugouts were also a bit close. There is also a very cute covered terrace behind one goal which sadly went unused for most of the game.

The clubhouse is exactly how you do a new clubhouse right. Very, very impressed. They've crammed in a pool table, dartboard, sofas and several tables without it feeling cramped in any way. A spectacular touch was a screen showing live score updates from the division and an up to date league table. Not seen that at any other non league ground. I wasn't drinking but I noticed that they had a good beer selection. They've clearly put a lot of effort into this place and they've done a great job.

Bovril was £1.50....no pepper available sadly.

The match itself was played at a high tempo and the home side won 3-0. This was a bit of a surprise as they were below Three Bridges in the league. There seemed to be a lot of hatred for the Three Bridges manager and the entire subs bench would taunt him whenever Broadbridge Heath scored. At full time he stormed off without shaking anyones hand. Not sure of what the narrative was there.

In summary this is how you do a small, new ground right. Very impressed

Site of the greatest save I've ever seen in the flesh, against your mob back in 2020. Lovely ground, and decent pub/kebab selection between there and Three Bridges!

 

[Deanbha]

what's the parking like at Worthing United. Hard to tell on google maps...

We do have parking in the ground which is limited. Most people park in Sainsburys at the top end nearest the ground. Or you can park in the road leading up to the ground.

 

[Horsham Gull]

Taking a trip down to Horndean vs broadbridge heath tomorrow 3rd time lucky to try and play this fixture what can go wrong

 

[stewart12]

Ground number 9 of the year was Littlehampton Town's "Sportsfield" last night for the Sussex Senior Cup CLASH with Arun neighbours Bognor Regis Town

It's a bit of an odd, quirky ground and do you know what? I like it.

Firstly, the football ground is part of a larger sports COMPLEX and in reality the primary use is the cricket pitch which actually overlaps with the football pitch. There is also tennis courts A CROQUET CLUB (the first football/croquet crossover so far) and apparently a stoolball club.

The fact that it's multi purpose does have a knock on effect to the football ground....largely because it hampers how much it can be developed with the north side of the ground (which overlaps with the cricket pitch) unable to have anything permanent built on. As a result, the layout is a bit odd and everything is on the south side. This side houses 3 separate stands. The central one is a beautiful seated stand with old school wooden benches and BEAUTIFUL concrete dugouts. This stand is flanked by two covered standing areas. Otherwise the other 3 sides are exposed standing. It's quite ramshackle, a bit unfinished but it does have a certain charm.

Admission was £10- as "LA" are a Isthmian South East club this is about right and on par with others in the division.

The clubhouse is MILES from the pitch and again, isn't exclusively for the football club. It's pretty big and very old school- feels a bit like you're at an old pub. It has a lot of character though and I liked it, very different from others I've been to this year.

Before the game they were absolutely BLASTING out the oddest pre match music I've ever heard, especially as it was from a quite ropey sound system. They had Butterfly by Crazytown, then Last Resort by Papa Roach which was faded seamlessly into a DANCE REMIX OF WONDERWALL.

The game itself was massively affected by the elements, with a hurricane blowing directly from one end to the other. Littlehampton went 2-0 up including a superb first goal, Bognor got one back towards the end of the half and looked set to get an equaliser in the second half with the wind behind them but....absolutely crumbled. LA got one on the break and starting running rampant and unbelievably won 6-1.

Overall, I did enjoy The Sportsfield. It's unique at least. It could undoubtedly do with a SPRUCE up though

 

[Mellotron]

Before the game they were absolutely BLASTING out the oddest pre match music I've ever heard, especially as it was from a quite ropey sound system. They had Butterfly by Crazytown, then Last Resort by Papa Roach which was faded seamlessly into a DANCE REMIX OF WONDERWALL.

I'm gutted that I didn't join you in time to hear this.

 

[AmexRuislip]

A handy little tool for all you NL buffs.

 

[Commander]

A handy little tool for all you NL buffs.

Would be much better if it included every fixture and you could filter by date!

 

[AmexRuislip]

Would be much better if it included every fixture and you could filter by date!

Fill yr boots

 

[keaton]

Lewes suffered another home defeat. Didn't play badly but not helped by an ridiculous own goal from close to the half way line. And a red card for foul and abusive language towards another player, something I've never heard of previously and would lead to most games finishing at 5 a side

 

[Horsham Gull]

Taking a trip down to Horndean vs broadbridge heath tomorrow 3rd time lucky to try and play this fixture what can go wrong

Spoke too soon got battered 4-0

 

[Rock Lobster]

A rather lacklustre performance from Hastings saw them lose 2-0 to Horsham. Another tough test awaits on Saturday with the visit of Lewes, who are another team Hastings have struggled against in recent years. Let's hope the weather gods play ball or a few more might be in the Old Town on Saturday afternoon for the start of the Fat Tuesday festival...