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

[stewart12]

I was at the Hastings game today too, but Spoons in Bexhill and then The Pilot Field? You just won East Sussex.

having never been to Bexhill before, let alone the spoons I was sandwiched in a tiny table in the corner with screaming children nearby. It was only on my way out when I went to the toilet that I discovered that they have a luxurious ROOF TERRACE

 

[stewart12]

No idea when they will start playing matches at home again but looks as though they are laying a 3G pitch as well as other significant upgrades:-

great thank you- really hope it's done by the end of december!

 

[Insel affe]

I mentioned previously that when I saw Whitehawk in a pre season friendly I assumed he was a spanish/italian lothario trialist who was simply turning out for them to get fit before getting noticed by a better side. He is a really classy player

Really bizarre taking him off, he did not seem to me to get a knock or anything, also Emmanuel Mensah was terrific in the first half, faded and then came alive again after Lewes went ahead.

 

[Arthur]

Crowborough 3-5 Bexhill

Bonkers game. Bexhill went 1 up after about 15 minutes. Another crazy goalkeeping mistake (different keeper though). Diagonal ball across the box which was too deep to cause any great issues with a defender there. Keeper comes charging out gets there after the Bexhill player who heads it over him but the keepers momentum sees him go straight through the striker. Nailed on penalty which was dispatched.

The rest of the half was all Crowborough until about a minute for half time. Long ball over the top Bexhill number 9 gets there before Tom Boddy who tackle not only misses the ball but the player as well. Said number 9 has a heavy touch so goes down in stages in one of the worst dives I've ever seen live. Only the Bexhill bench were the only people in the ground (including the two Bexhill fans stood next to me) people who didn't see it as a dive. I think a couple of the bench were booked for their protests along with the player for simulation. Crowborough promptly went up the other end and scored a scrappy goal after the third attempt of a goalmouth scramble.

Second half more of the same from Crowborough and they went in front just after the restart with a cooly taken shot into the bottom corner. You thought at that point there would be only one winner. 25 or so minutes to go a bizarre incident happened. Bexhill made a sub. Crowborough PA announcer tries to announce it but says "coming on number 5.....hang on there is no number 5 on the team sheet". The lino is equally confused which prompted a mothers meeting between the Bexhill bench, ref, lino and said number 5. Took a minute or two to sort out I'm guessing the lad just picked up the wrong shirt. Of course then the obvious happened. Number 5 was brilliant, gets the equaliser, upsets the local old boys....."shouldn't be on the field ref!!" etc etc.

Crowborough then huffed and puffed and got caught twice in the space of a few minutes with a long ball over the top. The diving number 9 getting both to complete his hattrick. The fifth goal was a cracker, shot from the edge of the box into the bottom corner. Crowborough got a consolation in stoppage time but were guilty of not taking their chances which I'm reliably informed was the same issue on Saturday.

 

[jackalbion]

Yep, agreed
although the early substitution of Whelpdale did change things and to me seemed odd.
apart from that my first visit to the dripping pan, very pleasant.
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You've managed to catch me with a big number 5 on my back there.

 

[jackalbion]

I mentioned previously that when I saw Whitehawk in a pre season friendly I assumed he was a spanish/italian lothario trialist who was simply turning out for them to get fit before getting noticed by a better side. He is a really classy player

Hes also on a southern rail advert on instagram all the time.

 

[Professor Plum]

Bank holiday double header today

Originally aimed to go first to Eastbourne United, but I'd completely missed that they seem to be doing up their ground so they're not playing there. Does anyone know when they're due back?!

Anyway had just enough time to high tail it over to Little Common for ground number 40. Made it just in time for kick off

My first ever visit to the town of Bexhill this. What an odd ground. It's right on the edge of town in the Little Common area in north west Bexhill. The ground is part of a large recreation ground with the football pitch fenced off from the rest (but you can 100% watch from outside). Forgot to say this was a SCFL Premier League clash with Lingfield

The ground has 3 separate stands which are all behind one goal...and nothing else!

The clubhouse is shared with the cricket club and isn't bad but a bit bland. NO BOVRIL AGAIN!!!!

Overall it reminds me of Billingshurst but with everything behind one goal instead of on one side. Quite basic for an SCFL Premier ground

Game finished 1-1 in a very scrappy game of limited quality to be honest. Maybe the players hadn't quite woken up yet

Then, via a trip to Bexhill weatherspoons, it was on to the Pilot Field, home of Hastings United for their Isthmian Premier League clash with Folkestone Invicta.

WHAT. A. GROUND.

It's up there with the best that Sussex has to offer for sure, of course dominated by the huge 100 year old main stand, with covered terraces at each end (one of which is much bigger than the other).

Great little clubhouse with various kiosks dotted around.

Cracking little atmosphere as well.

Folkestone won 2-1, scoring early in each half before Hastings got one back with a penalty...they struggled to break down the visitors though.

Anyway, two of my longest trips done and numbers 40 and 41 down. Quite knackered now though

My plan was to go to both Eastbourne games. United and Town. Like you I didn’t know United are playing in Newhaven at the moment so made a wasted journey without enough time to make it to Fort Rd. At least got to the Town game later vs Burgess Hill but for some reason didn’t enjoy it much. Sometimes I’m just not in the mood. Town had a player sent off in the first half when they were already 0-1 which pretty much ended it as a contest. Final score 0-3. As anyone who’s been to Saffrons knows, it’s a nice setting for a match, overlooked by the fine Victorian town hall.

 

[stewart12]

My plan was to go to both Eastbourne games. United and Town. Like you I didn’t know United are playing in Newhaven at the moment so made a wasted journey without enough time to make it to Fort Rd. At least got to the Town game later vs Burgess Hill but for some reason didn’t enjoy it much. Sometimes I’m just not in the mood. Town had a player sent off in the first half when they were already 0-1 which pretty much ended it as a contest. Final score 0-3. As anyone who’s been to Saffrons knows, it’s a nice setting for a match, overlooked by the fine Victorian town hall.

yes when we got to the ground there was a few people there. I then checked on the SCFL website and it did indeed say that it was Newhaven but not sure other than that how publicised it was, United's instagram doesn't give much mention of ground redevelopment for example but hey ho. We ended up giving an old boy a lift to Little Common- he'd come down from London by train to go to a game and obviously hadn't heard about the venue change.

 

[Guinness Boy]

You've managed to catch me with a big number 5 on my back there.

I presume the feller with the straw boater and waistcoat is a Whitehawk ultra from Swanborough Drive?

 

[Insel affe]

You've managed to catch me with a big number 5 on my back there.

I did see you arrive, I am your stalker

 

[Rock Lobster]

Bank holiday double header today

Originally aimed to go first to Eastbourne United, but I'd completely missed that they seem to be doing up their ground so they're not playing there. Does anyone know when they're due back?!

Anyway had just enough time to high tail it over to Little Common for ground number 40. Made it just in time for kick off

My first ever visit to the town of Bexhill this. What an odd ground. It's right on the edge of town in the Little Common area in north west Bexhill. The ground is part of a large recreation ground with the football pitch fenced off from the rest (but you can 100% watch from outside). Forgot to say this was a SCFL Premier League clash with Lingfield

The ground has 3 separate stands which are all behind one goal...and nothing else!

The clubhouse is shared with the cricket club and isn't bad but a bit bland. NO BOVRIL AGAIN!!!!

Overall it reminds me of Billingshurst but with everything behind one goal instead of on one side. Quite basic for an SCFL Premier ground

Game finished 1-1 in a very scrappy game of limited quality to be honest. Maybe the players hadn't quite woken up yet

Then, via a trip to Bexhill weatherspoons, it was on to the Pilot Field, home of Hastings United for their Isthmian Premier League clash with Folkestone Invicta.

WHAT. A. GROUND.

It's up there with the best that Sussex has to offer for sure, of course dominated by the huge 100 year old main stand, with covered terraces at each end (one of which is much bigger than the other).

Great little clubhouse with various kiosks dotted around.

Cracking little atmosphere as well.

Folkestone won 2-1, scoring early in each half before Hastings got one back with a penalty...they struggled to break down the visitors though.

Anyway, two of my longest trips done and numbers 40 and 41 down. Quite knackered now though

Little Common have done well to get where they are to be fair to them, it doesn't feel that long ago when the clubhouse had just been built and the main pitch just had some dugouts.

They had to play at Eastbourne United for a couple of seasons as the local council weren't too keen on allowing them to enclose the main pitch.

I was at the Hastings game, Folkestone defended well and Hastings were guilty of giving the ball away far too easily, far too often. Glad you enjoyed your visit.

 

[amexer]

A question for oldies on here.
I recently met up with someone i was at junior school with. He reminded me our Fathers took us to Wish Park to watch Hove Town. Assume it was good non leauge standard as they put up a tarpaulin round pitch and charged to watch. He said Jim Parks played for them.

 

[Kuipers Supporters Club]

Loxwood vs. Petersfield tonight in the battle of two sides who have made undefeated starts.

After the woeful standard at Alfold yesterday, seeing the quality on display today gave me hope for the SCFL.

Two excellent teams, playing quick, aggressive and real high quality football.

A 1-1 draw was a fair result. Petersfield took the lead through an excellent strike before this hosts levelled shortly afterwards.

A really lovely ground, especially on evenings like tonight with the sun shining. One decent stand, which would cater for 100 and then standings around 3/4 of the pitch. There was also a covered low terrace behind the goal.

A decent crowd too (easily three figures at a guess). Lovely bar area and hospitality as well.

 

[Boys 9d]

A question for oldies on here.
I recently met up with someone i was at junior school with. He reminded me our Fathers took us to Wish Park to watch Hove Town. Assume it was good non leauge standard as they put up a tarpaulin round pitch and charged to watch. He said Jim Parks played for them.

Hove Town were originally called Hove White Rovers (white shirts) and played in the Sussex County League which is why they were able to charge admission. They disbanded as the Albion were at that time on the up and up and the amateurs lost supporters and the club became unviable.

 

[Kuipers Supporters Club]

No Arsenal for me this weekend, instead I’ll be at the ‘local derby’ that’s Horsham YMCA vs. Roffey.

Both have only lost one of their first five and I’m expecting a good game and a half decent crowd as well.

Gorings Mead is a lovely set up, with a proper stand and then, on the opposite side, now where the dugouts are, another terrace.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

You've managed to catch me with a big number 5 on my back there.

Second half more of the same from Crowborough and they went in front just after the restart with a cooly taken shot into the bottom corner. You thought at that point there would be only one winner. 25 or so minutes to go a bizarre incident happened. Bexhill made a sub. Crowborough PA announcer tries to announce it but says "coming on number 5.....hang on there is no number 5 on the team sheet". The lino is equally confused which prompted a mother’s meeting between the Bexhill bench, ref, lino and said number 5. Took a minute or two to sort out I'm guessing the lad just picked up the wrong shirt. Of course then the obvious happened. Number 5 was brilliant, gets the equaliser, upsets the local old boys....."shouldn't be on the field ref!!" etc

 

[Cowfold Seagull]

No Arsenal for me this weekend, instead I’ll be at the ‘local derby’ that’s Horsham YMCA vs. Roffey.

Both have only lost one of their first five and I’m expecting a good game and a half decent crowd as well.

Gorings Mead is a lovely set up, with a proper stand and then, on the opposite side, now where the dugouts are, another terrace.

Good man, well said! This is an encounter we have been looking forward to for some time at YM Being a local derby they are two teams with a healthy dislike for one another. Potentially it will be a feisty affair, but hopefully a good open game of folotball too.

For those of you tempted to come, (and l hope that you do), please come early, as car parking space could be at a premium. The car park for our games against Newhaven and Broadbridge Heath was full a while before kick off.

 

[Kuipers Supporters Club]

No Arsenal for me this weekend, instead I’ll be at the ‘local derby’ that’s Horsham YMCA vs. Roffey.

Both have only lost one of their first five and I’m expecting a good game and a half decent crowd as well.

Gorings Mead is a lovely set up, with a proper stand and then, on the opposite side, now where the dugouts are, another terrace.

YMCA 1 - 1 Roffey

YM have one of the best set ups in the SCFL and today was no different, but only a crowd of approximately 100 from what I counted.

Roffey had the better of the first half with YM making a few mistakes at the back as they went 1-0 up.

YM then equalised in short order with a lovely strike to make it 1-1 before half time.

Second half was a different story and all YM, who really should’ve won the game. Bizzare moment in the second half when YM missed a stonewall penalty, most in the ground though the ball had gone in but by the reactions of both teams, you could tell it had hit the stantion and then side netting.

YM pushed for a winner, but couldn’t find it. There was a lot of niggly incidents which boiled over at FT with an incident involving both benches.

Two good sides who will be in and around the play offs this season and a lovely bar area as well. Even had a pint of YM beer after the game.

 

[The Lemming Stomper]

Weird that Southends match at Fylde was postponed after their train at Euston was cancelled...

Not heard anything like this before, shirley a coach of the wheeled variety the way forward

 

[Cowfold Seagull]

Weird that Southends match at Fylde was postponed after their train at Euston was cancelled...

Not heard anything like this before, shirley a coach of the wheeled variety the way forward

Well coaches can break down too you know.