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

[Vatican Citys No.2 Keeper]

Of all the repeat away days I expected to be doing in the same calendar year with Worthing, a second trip to Plymouth Parkway was not one I was expecting, but that's what the FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round has thrown up!

Went down there in January as it was one of the multiple grounds that Truro played games at during that season.

 

[jackalbion]

Went to Varndeanians against Loxwood, 3-1 victory for the Vs, very impressed by them, last night amongst quite a lot of non-league within the last few weeks, have seen it alluded to on this thread a few times, the Loxwood social media team was scathing of the referee, who I thought had one of the best games I've seen of any ref at this level in a while, very strange, maybe they didn't like that they were losing. Was quite comedic the official in the stand demanding someone else took the penalty when it was given, which of course they duly missed.

 

[hart's shirt]

The 4th Qualifying Round draw was kind to Horsham.

If they can get past 8th tier Margate at home tonight, they'll face another 8th tier side at home in Gorleston.

 

[stewart12]

Went to Varndeanians against Loxwood, 3-1 victory for the Vs, very impressed by them, last night amongst quite a lot of non-league within the last few weeks, have seen it alluded to on this thread a few times, the Loxwood social media team was scathing of the referee, who I thought had one of the best games I've seen of any ref at this level in a while, very strange, maybe they didn't like that they were losing. Was quite comedic the official in the stand demanding someone else took the penalty when it was given, which of course they duly missed.

Certainly not the first time this season that the Loxwood social media team have been openly critical of refs during games. I'll be honest, I find them to be quite a difficult club to like

I was impressed with Varndeanians on Saturday as well, big improvement from last season

 

[Commander]

Going to go and have a look at Hassocks this evening. They've had a great start to the season.

 

[jackalbion]

Certainly not the first time this season that the Loxwood social media team have been openly critical of refs during games. I'll be honest, I find them to be quite a difficult club to like

I was impressed with Varndeanians on Saturday as well, big improvement from last season

I can understand if they ref genuinely had a mare, but this ref was really on his game, strange.

 

[Dick Knights Mumm]

I can understand if they ref genuinely had a mare, but this ref was really on his game, strange.

I dunno. Best not to criticise the refs from a social media platform, definitely not during the game. They’re an easy, but usually the wrong, target. That challenge might not have looked so bad if the player hadn’t rolled around. It is possible the ref or the assistant had a better view of the offside. Anyway just don’t post in the heat of the moment.

 

[jackalbion]

I dunno. Best not to criticise the refs from a social media platform, definitely not during the game. They’re an easy, but usually the wrong, target. That challenge might not have looked so bad if the player hadn’t rolled around. It is possible the ref or the assistant had a better view of the offside. Anyway just don’t post in the heat of the moment.

Oh yeah definitely, I have done social media for clubs, and I've been told to not mention the referee at all. However I was more saying if there was some interesting decisions, which could have gone either way, I could understand it, but there was nothing of the sort in this game.

 

[Change at Barnham]

Tuesday night results:

FA Cup 3rd qualifying round replay
Horsham 2 Margate 0

Sussex Senior Cup
Steyning Community 1 Bognor Regis Town 6
Lewes 3 Three Bridges 1

Isthmian Premier Div
Hastings United 3 Chatham Town 2
Chichester City 0 Dulwich Hamlet 0

Isthmian SE Div
Littlehampton Town 2 Lancing 2
Burgess Hill Town 0 Sittingbourne 2

 

[Eeyore]

The 4th Qualifying Round draw was kind to Horsham.

If they can get past 8th tier Margate at home tonight, they'll face another 8th tier side at home in Gorleston.

Nice away trip to Birmingham City in the first round... or Curzon Athletic. I love the FA Cup at that stage.

 

[Change at Barnham]

The 4th Qualifying Round draw was kind to Horsham.

If they can get past 8th tier Margate at home tonight, they'll face another 8th tier side at home in Gorleston.

For anyone who doesn't know the Non-League Pyramid......

Horsham are in the 7th tier of the Pyramid (or Step 3 in Non-League)
So Gorleston are only one tier below them. (Step 4 Isthmian North Div)

 

[Dick Knights Mumm]

Tuesday night results:

FA Cup 3rd qualifying round replay
Horsham 2 Margate 0

Sussex Senior Cup
Steyning Community 1 Bognor Regis Town 6
Lewes 3 Three Bridges 1

Isthmian Premier Div
Hastings United 3 Chatham Town 2
Chichester City 0 Dulwich Hamlet 0

Isthmian SE Div
Littlehampton Town 2 Lancing 2
Burgess Hill Town 0 Sittingbourne 2

Yep, a tough old night for Steyning. We didn’t play badly it’s just that Bognor were very good (despite a number of injuries). On that display it’s a massive jump to the Isthmian Premier. And a good turnout from the Rocks faithful who enjoyed their evening. We’ll dream of the Amex for next season ……….

 

[Arthur]

Crowborough 5-0 Saltdean

Wasn't going to bother with this. The weather was minging and I needed to be up at a sparrows fart for work (hence the post at this ridiculous time) but the news that came out just before kick off that we had re-signed Henry Muggeridge forced me to don my raincoat and have a wander down. Henry will be well known to many for stints at Whitehawk and Lewes as well as a couple of years (yes when we had money) for the Crows. For those of you that don't know Henry is Crowborough manager Sean's son and also manages one of the Crowborough youth sides so he has never really left the club but it's great to see him back on the pitch for us.

As I mentioned above the weather was horrid so the first 15 minutes was a pretty frantic scrappy affair. Saltdean looked dangerous down the left their winger was pretty rapid. Getting the ball to stop on the very greasy surface was the issue for both teams.

Crowborough got the break through on 20 minutes in with an absolute cracker of a free kick which was bent into the top corner from 25 yards. Then the moment that changed the game. Steve Smith through one on one, it looked like he'd knocked it too far but the Saltdean defender still took him out. Free kick just outside the box and a red card. Couldn't really moan about it (but the Saltdean bench did) as dem de rules. Resulting free kick was brilliantly saved by the keeper who went on to make a couple more great saves as Crowborough made the extra man count.

10 minutes before the break Crowborough made it 2 with a bit of soft goal given the saves the lad had made, cross to the back stick and a free header by Smith.

Then just before the break another talking point and IMO should have resulted into another red card. Ball was played down the wing keeper came rushing out but was beaten to the ball by Vowels who went to chip it over him. The keeper handled it right in front of the lino. In my eye Vowels was away and would have gone on to score so it should have been another red card. Was only yellow. The referees assessor agreed with the ref that the player still had a lot to do given it was closer to the half way line and right on the touch line. He did add the mistake he made was not to allow play to continue. Hey-ho would have been harsh on Saltdean as they were battling hard and to go down to 9 when there hadn't really been a bad tackle in the game, which given the conditions was remarkable.

Second half was more of the same Crowborough got a third early on but then the game went pretty stale for half an hour. It only really came to life again when Crowborough went down to 10 temporarily with a sin binning. Crowborough woke up again and scored twice in a few minutes when it was 10v10.

Credit to Saltdean, they could have rolled over and it been a cricket score but they battled to the end. Think it could be a long season for them though. Crowborough seem to have found some form after a poor (result wise) August. Scored 6 and 5 twice and not conceding a goal in 5 games. 167 in attendance which given the weather was superb.

 

[Dick Knights Mumm]

Crowborough 5-0 Saltdean

Wasn't going to bother with this. The weather was minging and I needed to be up at a sparrows fart for work (hence the post at this ridiculous time) but the news that came out just before kick off that we had re-signed Henry Muggeridge forced me to don my raincoat and have a wander down. Henry will be well known to many for stints at Whitehawk and Lewes as well as a couple of years (yes when we had money) for the Crows. For those of you that don't know Henry is Crowborough manager Sean's son and also manages one of the Crowborough youth sides so he has never really left the club but it's great to see him back on the pitch for us.

As I mentioned above the weather was horrid so the first 15 minutes was a pretty frantic scrappy affair. Saltdean looked dangerous down the left their winger was pretty rapid. Getting the ball to stop on the very greasy surface was the issue for both teams.

Crowborough got the break through on 20 minutes in with an absolute cracker of a free kick which was bent into the top corner from 25 yards. Then the moment that changed the game. Steve Smith through one on one, it looked like he'd knocked it too far but the Saltdean defender still took him out. Free kick just outside the box and a red card. Couldn't really moan about it (but the Saltdean bench did) as dem de rules. Resulting free kick was brilliantly saved by the keeper who went on to make a couple more great saves as Crowborough made the extra man count.

10 minutes before the break Crowborough made it 2 with a bit of soft goal given the saves the lad had made, cross to the back stick and a free header by Smith.

Then just before the break another talking point and IMO should have resulted into another red card. Ball was played down the wing keeper came rushing out but was beaten to the ball by Vowels who went to chip it over him. The keeper handled it right in front of the lino. In my eye Vowels was away and would have gone on to score so it should have been another red card. Was only yellow. The referees assessor agreed with the ref that the player still had a lot to do given it was closer to the half way line and right on the touch line. He did add the mistake he made was not to allow play to continue. Hey-ho would have been harsh on Saltdean as they were battling hard and to go down to 9 when there hadn't really been a bad tackle in the game, which given the conditions was remarkable.

Second half was more of the same Crowborough got a third early on but then the game went pretty stale for half an hour. It only really came to life again when Crowborough went down to 10 temporarily with a sin binning. Crowborough woke up again and scored twice in a few minutes when it was 10v10.

Credit to Saltdean, they could have rolled over and it been a cricket score but they battled to the end. Think it could be a long season for them though. Crowborough seem to have found some form after a poor (result wise) August. Scored 6 and 5 twice and not conceding a goal in 5 games. 167 in attendance which given the weather was superb.

Great report.

 

[BN9 BHA]

Great report.

Agree, especially at 4.58 AM

 

[Arthur]

Agree, especially at 4.58 AM

Don't get used to it!

 

[Peacehaven Wild Kids]

Don't get used to it!

About five years ago I went to Peacehaven midweek despite starting work at 04:30 the next day. I held out till about 88 minutes but as we were 3 nil down leaving then meant I’d get six hours kip.

Yep, it finished 3-3

 

[Change at Barnham]

Link to: Sussex Non-League Football website

As a hobby I often take photos of local non-league games. On my travels I've met a keen local non-league fan called Trevor Knell who has set up the above website.
It's well worth a look and IMHO worth book marking.

There is a brilliant link to a section called Catch A Match. It updates twice a week with all the non-league games being played in the next few days by Sussex clubs.

The link above will show you this weekends games for our Sussex clubs......

Saturday 5th October (3pm unless stated)

Isuzu FA Trophy 3rd Qualifying Round
Sittingbourne vs Bognor Regis
Potters Bar Town vs Whitehawk
Leatherhead vs Hastings Utd
Lewes vs Bracknell Town
Leiston vs Horsham
Littlehampton Town vs Barton Rovers
Chichester City vs Herne Bay

National League South
Chelmsford City vs Eastbourne Borough
Worthing vs Maidstone Utd

Isthmian South East Division
AFC Croydon Athletic vs Hythe Town
Burgess Hill Town vs Beckenham Town
East Grinstead Town vs Merstham
Eastbourne Town vs Erith Town
Lancing vs Margate
Sevenoaks Town vs Three Bridges

Southern Combination Premier Division
AFC Varndeanians vs Hassocks
Loxwood v Eastbourne Utd
Haywards Heath Town vs Shoreham
Horsham YMCA vs Saltdean Utd
Lingfield vs Crawley Down Gatwick
Little Common vs Petersfield Town
Midhurst & Easebourne vs Bexhill Utd
Newhaven vs Pagham
Roffey vs Crowborough Athletic
Wick vs Peacehaven & Tel

Southern Combination Division One
AFC Uckfield Town vs Montpelier Villa
Alfold vs Dorking Wanderers B
Arundel vs Oakwood
Chessington & Hook vs Billingshurst
Godalming Town vs Copthorne
Mile Oak vs Selsey
Reigate Priory vs East Preston
Seaford Town vs Infinity
Storrington vs Banstead Athletic
Worthing Utd vs Forest Row

 

[Tim Over Whelmed]

Ground number 45 was Rustington for their SCFL 2 clash with Upper Beeding

A fairly standard division 2 ground, which actually seems to be more like a social club that happened to have a football game going on next to it. The clubhouse is pretty good and one of the best in that league actually and much of the crowd were hanging out there and had half an eye on the game

Outside there's metal rails on two sides and rope on the other two. Otherwise it's just a park really. There is some outdoor gym equipment on one side giving Rustington the most shredded fanbase in the SCFL.

Rustington join the Bovril Hall of Fame by providing the brown nectar in a mug- joining Midhurst and Hailsham in that elite group. Pepper was also available but a succulent cup of Bovril did cost £2 which is above the going rate

The game was an absolute bloodbath and the home side set the tone by going 1-0 up after 2 minutes and didn't relent from there. It was 4-0 up at half time but it was the second half where they unleashed hell, and ended up winning 11-1, a score line that flattered the visitors to be honest

Pop along to Arundel FC, we have Bovril and fantastic cheeseburgers!!

 

[Change at Barnham]

Littlehampton Town v Barton Rovers in the FA Trophy for me and my camera.