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

[keaton]

Lewes vs Chatham 2-0

A scorching day at the Pan. I was expecting the worst here, as Chatham were strong last year and made the play offs. But the Rooks came away with brilliant opening day result. Neither team looked particularly organised, but both Lewes goals were well taken, and I never felt like Chatham looked like scoring from open play. The only scare was when Chatham were awarded a late penalty, but Toby Bull made an excellent save to deny them.

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I think we do look more organised than we have done for a while. New keeper has been excellent in every game and Warren and Enkh look very good

 

[Braggfan]

I think we do look more organised than we have done for a while. New keeper has been excellent in every game and Warren and Enkh look very good

I think its still early days, and hopefully this win will gain them some confidence. One of the biggest positives for me was that we really didn't look like conceding in open play against a team who were strong last year.

 

[Kuipers Supporters Club]

Alfold 2 - 1 Dorking Wanderers Reserves

First round of the Peter Bentley Cup and a bit of a surprise result.

About 50 in attendance.

 

[stewart12]

For a bonus ground I went to Newcastle Blue Star vs West Allotment Celtic in the Northern Football League Division One last night.

The ground has been completely renovated in recent years and doesn't seem to really have a name other than "Scotswood Sports Centre". It's in the West End of Newcastle on the Denton/Scotswood border. I'm up here visiting my mum who lives in neighbouring Fenham so it was an easy walk to get there

It's in a natural dip so you get a lovely view of the ground as you approach. The general branding is with loads of signage on the external walls including a lovely "gannin along the Scotswood Road" mural.

Entry was £6 which I bought in advance.

For a ground at this level- SCFL Premier equivalent, it's great. There's two fairly large seated stands on either side, and two covered standing areas. One of which is in the ground floor of a two story "VIP area" in the corner.

The clubhouse is a large marquee along one side of the ground and is named after the late great Sir Bobby Robson. It's pretty big with a good drinks selection and I decided to nurse a bottle of Newcy Broon for the duration of the game (partly because it's so f***ing hard to drink).

Loads of Newcastle United stuff here, I wonder if they use this ground for something as well. Plenty of signed shirts of Toon legends and the hotdog van is called "Keegan's Hotdogs". And of course, as is the dress code here, those that aren't topless were wearing Newcastle shirts (Blue Star also wear black & white).

I wonder if this lot were originally a Brewery team as the blue star, I believe, represents the 5 original breweries in the city.

Anyway, the game was a bit of a one sided affair with Blue Star winning 4-0. My favourite player was a gangly, languid attacker called "Reidy" who had grey hair and a wand of a left foot. Seemed popular with the locals (from what I could understand- the accents were proper working class Geordie)

Anyway, I'd highly recommend here if you're ever in the area, can't believe I've not been here before!

Back to Sussex in time for the Saturday fixtures

 

[Sirnormangall]

Went to Haywards Heath again last night. A hard fought 1-0 win over Crowborough, their strongest test so far. Haywards Heath were the stronger team in the first half but Crowborough pressed strongly after the break and were denied by a couple of great saves by Bromage (Russell’s son?). Heath yet to concede in their 4 league matches so far.

 

[Commander]

Went to Haywards Heath again last night. A hard fought 1-0 win over Crowborough, their strongest test so far. Haywards Heath were the stronger team in the first half but Crowborough pressed strongly after the break and were denied by a couple of great saves by Bromage (Russell’s son?). Heath yet to concede in their 4 league matches so far.

I was there as well. Thought Heath rode their luck at times. Bromage is a class keeper.

I don’t understand why these clubs don’t get bigger attendances. In a football mad country like this one, it’s a tenner to get in, £5 a pint, and the standard of football is pretty good. What else is there to do in Haywards Heath on a Tuesday night? It’s a decent size town (population 40,000 ish) you’d think they’d easily be able to muster up 500-800 people every week.

 

[Braggfan]

I think we do look more organised than we have done for a while. New keeper has been excellent in every game and Warren and Enkh look very good

Another great win last night for Lewes. 1-0 away to Bognor. Excellent start so far.

 

[jackalbion]

Saw the hawks in competitive action for the first time for a 1-0 loss to Hastings. In reality it was a 0-0 if it wasn't for a foul/keeper mistake from a corner. Some exciting players in both sides, but I don't think the Hawks have quite jelled yet. Hastings look incredibly well organised by Bloor, will be interesting to see how they get on, they certainly take their chances. Late equaliser was chalked off, which I'm convinced was onside, but that's refereeing at that level, its final (which is sometimes quite nice instead of VAR). I did notice that Potters Bar who lost 8-0 to Dover at the weekend, managed to beat Dartford 1-0, odd league.

 

[MattBackHome]

Superb scenes at the MKM Arena / Nyecamp last night as Lewes made it 2 from 2. Really enjoyable and competitive match, and my first sight of all the new players.

Bull excellent in goal once again but I have found my new Rooks hero in Matty Warren, who appears to be some sort of Captain Fantastic superman. Loved it.

 

[attila]

Anyone ITK at Southwick know about progress at OBW? Looks pretty slow going to me, and I'm keen to get back down when it reopens. @attila?

Greetings from Edinburgh. First look at NSC for a while. Our attempts to save Southwick FC sadly failed, so longer involved in any way. I do know that the development is ongoing but no idea how long it will take. Youth football continues, but the old SFC, established 1882, is no more.

 

[Durlston]

Went to Haywards Heath again last night. A hard fought 1-0 win over Crowborough, their strongest test so far. Haywards Heath were the stronger team in the first half but Crowborough pressed strongly after the break and were denied by a couple of great saves by Bromage (Russell’s son?). Heath yet to concede in their 4 league matches so far.

Do you think they stand a good chance against Deal Town in the FA Cup on Saturday? Thought about popping along to Hanbury Park. It's great that they've got home advantage because that's a fair distance.

 

[Kuipers Supporters Club]

Alfold 2 - 1 Dorking Wanderers Reserves

First round of the Peter Bentley Cup and a bit of a surprise result.

About 50 in attendance.

Official attendance says 71

That means so far:

Pagham* - 98
Alfold - 71
Banstead** - 38

* Pagham v Petersfield was reversed on the day of the game which will have impacted the crowd.

** Banstead play in Chessington.

 

[jackalbion]

Official attjednace says 71

That means so far:

Pagham* - 98
Alfold - 71
Banstead** - 38

* Pagham v Petersfield was reversed on the day of the game which will have impacted the crowd.

** Banstead play in Chessington.

Only getting the big games then?

 

[AZ Gull]

... Haywards Heath were the stronger team in the first half but Crowborough pressed strongly after the break and were denied by a couple of great saves by Bromage (Russell’s son?). ...

He is.

Was in the Albion youth system until being released at the end of his U-14 schoolboy season in the summer of 2015.

 

[carlzeiss]

Saw the hawks in competitive action for the first time for a 1-0 loss to Hastings. In reality it was a 0-0 if it wasn't for a foul/keeper mistake from a corner. Some exciting players in both sides, but I don't think the Hawks have quite jelled yet. Hastings look incredibly well organised by Bloor, will be interesting to see how they get on, they certainly take their chances. Late equaliser was chalked off, which I'm convinced was onside, but that's refereeing at that level, its final (which is sometimes quite nice instead of VAR). I did notice that Potters Bar who lost 8-0 to Dover at the weekend, managed to beat Dartford 1-0, odd league.

Looks like a fumble rather than a foul on the Whitehawk keeper on this clip

 

[Sirnormangall]

Do you think they stand a good chance against Deal Town in the FA Cup on Saturday? Thought about popping along to Hanbury Park. It's great that they've got home advantage because that's a fair distance.

Yes HH play some nice football and I think they could win. Unfortunately I won’t be there

 

[Sirnormangall]

I was there as well. Thought Heath rode their luck at times. Bromage is a class keeper.

I don’t understand why these clubs don’t get bigger attendances. In a football mad country like this one, it’s a tenner to get in, £5 a pint, and the standard of football is pretty good. What else is there to do in Haywards Heath on a Tuesday night? It’s a decent size town (population 40,000 ish) you’d think they’d easily be able to muster up 500-800 people every week.

I hear Kevin Green (ex Steyning) was at HH last night. Is he back in management?

 

[jackalbion]

Looks like a fumble rather than a foul on the Whitehawk keeper on this clip

Inclined to agree there, seemed contentious at the time. Would’ve helped our defender not booting it in his own net mind.

 

[Mellor 3 Ward 4]

Saw Horsham YMCA v Pagham on Tuesday evening.

Pagham won 2-0, deservedly so.

 

[alanfp]

Of interest to Worthing fans, perhaps:

National League South
Slough Town 2 v Chelmsford City 1
last Saturday (10th August)

Very much a game of two halves. Chelmsford on top in the first half and comfortably 1-0 up at HT. Slough warmed up though and bossed the second half.

A lovely ground. Very smart and well kept. Very short queues for food and drinks with a good choice of beers including the very local "Windsor and Eton" brew. II was told that the gourmet burgers were very good too. A model non-league set-up IMHO.

Really welcoming to away fans, of which I was one - had a great chat with one of their stewards after the game who told me a little about the club as I was waiting to board our coach.