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

[stewart12]

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

Already done Arundel. Lovely ground

 

[BN9 BHA]

 

[Roadrunner]

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

Looking forward to this one. Littlehampton have bluffed their way to this stage of the Trophy for the first time in their history via two penalty shootout wins and an admittedly great win against Sporting Bengal. They've flattered to deceive this season, despite making some promising signings (although one has already departed in the shape of Alex Laing) and I've no idea how strong of a line up they will be able to field. Entirely of their own making; Littlehampton's 'robust' style of play led to them having two men (correctly) sent off in the last round so, presumably, suspensions will be a factor.

 

[Change at Barnham]

Some photos from Littlehampton's 0-1 home defeat to Barton Rovers in the FA Trophy 3rd qualifying round.
An entertaining enough game but somewhat lacking in quality.

A link to a Flickr album: Littlehampton Town v Barton Rovers

 

[Change at Barnham]

Saturday 5th October
Isuzu FA Trophy 3rd Qualifying Round
Sittingbourne 2 Bognor Regis 1
Potters Bar Town 2 Whitehawk 1
Leatherhead 1 Hastings Utd 2
Lewes 6 Bracknell Town 3
Leiston 1 Horsham 1 (Horsham win 4-3 on pens)
Littlehampton Town 0 Barton Rovers 1
Chichester City 2 Herne Bay 0

National League South
Chelmsford City 4 Eastbourne Borough 2
Worthing 0 Maidstone Utd 2

Isthmian South East Division
Burgess Hill Town 4 Beckenham Town 2
East Grinstead Town 0 Merstham 1
Eastbourne Town 2 Erith Town 1
Lancing 1 Margate 2
Sevenoaks Town 0 Three Bridges 4

 

[stewart12]

Ground number 48 was the Colwell Ground, home of St Francis Rangers for their SCFL Division 2 clash with Ferring

Funny little place this with the former mental health hospital looming large over it. For this league it's not bad but needs some TLC, but I imagine days like today where the crowd was a mere 15 paying £3 a pop don't really boost the coffers

Facilities wise it's not actually bad for the league. There's a fairly big seated stand and a covered standing area on one side with cracking views of the large Victorian behemoth opposite

Clubhouse is very small and is just a tea room really. No Bovril on offer but a tea was £1.

Special shout out to the one bloke who seemed to be running the whole ground himself as he was manning the gate and serving the teas. Very friendly as well

The game was quite poor quality really but completely changed just before half time when the home sides number 9 decided it was an opportune moment to practice some MMA moves. Could have been very very nasty had his team mates not intervened as he had an opponent on the floor and was just about to seriously punch him before he was stopped. After getting sent off he had a proper tantrum and was kicking stuff all over the place. Apparently he'd been bitten by his opponent but no one saw this

Despite being down to 10 men the home side actually took the lead early in the second half and to be honest were probably the better side.

Ferring did manage to equalise and thought they'd won it when they capitalized on a defensive mix up to go 2-1 up.

However with about 5 minutes to go their very moody and lazy striker got himself sin binned for dissent and as if by magic the home side equalized in the last minute of the game. What a prat, but to be honest Rangers deserved at least a point especially their absolutely superb number 6.

Anyway, quite a crap ground, crap game and crap crowd, onto the next one, got 9 left starting with Saltdean next week

 

[Sirnormangall]

Ground number 48 was the Colwell Ground, home of St Francis Rangers for their SCFL Division 2 clash with Ferring

Funny little place this with the former mental health hospital looming large over it. For this league it's not bad but needs some TLC, but I imagine days like today where the crowd was a mere 15 paying £3 a pop don't really boost the coffers

Facilities wise it's not actually bad for the league. There's a fairly big seated stand and a covered standing area on one side with cracking views of the large Victorian behemoth opposite

Clubhouse is very small and is just a tea room really. No Bovril on offer but a tea was £1.

Special shout out to the one bloke who seemed to be running the whole ground himself as he was manning the gate and serving the teas. Very friendly as well

The game was quite poor quality really but completely changed just before half time when the home sides number 9 decided it was an opportune moment to practice some MMA moves. Could have been very very nasty had his team mates not intervened as he had an opponent on the floor and was just about to seriously punch him before he was stopped. After getting sent off he had a proper tantrum and was kicking stuff all over the place. Apparently he'd been bitten by his opponent but no one saw this

Despite being down to 10 men the home side actually took the lead early in the second half and to be honest were probably the better side.

Ferring did manage to equalise and thought they'd won it when they capitalized on a defensive mix up to go 2-1 up.

However with about 5 minutes to go their very moody and lazy striker got himself sin binned for dissent and as if by magic the home side equalized in the last minute of the game. What a prat, but to be honest Rangers deserved at least a point especially their absolutely superb number 6.

Anyway, quite a crap ground, crap game and crap crowd, onto the next one, got 9 left starting with Saltdean next week

I hope your suspension and exhaust system survived the journey down the lane to their ground

 

[Sirnormangall]

I went to Haywards Heath again today. They are a very good side at this level and play a neat possession based game. They’ve conceded only 4 league goals but seem to lack a cutting edge which makes every game seem like hard work. This match against Shoreham was no exception. Haywards Heath dominated the first half ( the most one sided game you’re likely to see) but only scored once. The second half was completely different and Shoreham made a good game of it, but 1-0 to the home side.

 

[HalfaSeatOn]

How low do people go in non league? I quite enjoy the West Sussex Premier League and know there is an East equivalent. (Step 12). You get snippets of quality but mainly honest endeavour.

 

[stewart12]

I hope your suspension and exhaust system survived the journey down the lane to their ground

It was brutal

 

[stewart12]

How low do people go in non league? I quite enjoy the West Sussex Premier League and know there is an East equivalent. (Step 12). You get snippets of quality but mainly honest endeavour.

I go down to SCFL 2

 

[BN9 BHA]

How low do people go in non league? I quite enjoy the West Sussex Premier League and know there is an East equivalent. (Step 12). You get snippets of quality but mainly honest endeavour.

I watch Newhaven and I do know they are in the SCFL Premier, but a fellow spectator turned to me yesterday at the home game v Pagham and said this is no better than Sunday league……I had to laugh and agree.

Newhaven 1 Pagham 0
There is a skate park / BMX park behind one of the goals at Newhaven, I really hope non of the kids got knocked off their bike or skateboard by flying footballs yesterday afternoon.

 

[S.T.U cgull]

How low do people go in non league? I quite enjoy the West Sussex Premier League and know there is an East equivalent. (Step 12). You get snippets of quality but mainly honest endeavour.

Will quite often find better players in the top division of these leagues & Mid Sussex Prem than SCFL - Less travel & training requirements make a difference

 

[Change at Barnham]

The SNLF website - Catch A Match

Tuesday 8th October (7.45pm unless stated)

Sussex Senior Cup 2nd Round
Chichester City vs Horsham
Littlehampton Town vs Peacehaven & Tel
Crawley Down Gatwick vs Pagham (7.30pm)
Eastbourne Utd vs Storrington (7.30pm)
Lancing vs Mile Oak (7.30pm)
Whitehawk vs Broadbridge Heath
Burgess Hill Town vs Crowborough Athletic (7.30pm)
Haywards Heath Town vs Midhurst & Easebourne
Newhaven vs East Grinstead Town
Hastings Utd vs Shoreham
Eastbourne Borough vs Little Common
Roffey vs Eastbourne Town (7.30pm)

National League South
Worthing vs Welling Utd

Isthmian Premier Division
Billericay Town vs Dartford
Canvey Island vs Cray Valley PM
Dover Athletic vs Bognor Regis

Isthmian South East Division
Deal Town vs Sittingbourne
Herne Bay vs Steyning Town
Margate vs Three Bridges
Merstham vs Erith Town

Division One Challenge Cup 2nd Round
East Preston vs Montpelier Villa (7.30pm)

Peter Bentley Cup 2nd Round
Forest Row vs Lingfield (7.30pm)

Aldershot Senior Cup 1st Round
Tadley Calleva vs Godalming Town

Southern Combination Challenge Cup 2nd Round
Chessington & Hook vs Cobham

Wednesday 9th October (7.45pm unless stated)

Sussex Senior Cup 2nd Round
AFC Varndeanians vs Brighton & Hove Albion Under 21’s

 

[amexer]

Never knew Eastbourne had 3 senior non league teams

 

[BNthree]

Never knew Eastbourne had 3 senior non league teams

Does seem disproportionate to the size of the place!

 

[BN41Albion]

Does seem disproportionate to the size of the place!

Far smaller places have professional league teams - some in the top league over the years!

 

[amexer]

Far smaller places have professional league teams - some in the top league over the years!

understand that but would they not have a better chance of league football if they pooled resources

 

[Peacehaven Wild Kids]

understand that but would they not have a better chance of league football if they pooled resources

I assume you don’t support one of the three clubs in question

 

[stewart12]

understand that but would they not have a better chance of league football if they pooled resources

There's a few multi team towns in Sussex if you're doing from SCFL 2 upwards. My reckoning:

Eastbourne: 3 (Borough, Town, United)
Littlehampton: 2 (Littlehampton Town & Wick)
Horsham: 4 (Horsham, Horsham YMCA, Roffey and Copthorne who share with Horsham)
Worthing: 3 (Worthing, Worthing Town & Worthing United)
Lancing: 2 (Lancing & Montpelier Villa (sharing))
Brighton & Hove: 6 (Albion, Whitehawk, Varndeanians, Brighton Electricity, Saltdean, Mile Oak)
East Grinstead: 2 (EG & Forest Row (sharing))
Haywards Heath: 2 (HH & St Francis Rangers)
Crawley: 3 (Crawley, Oakwood & Three Bridges)
Bexhill: 2 (Bexhill & Little Common)
Crowborough: 2 (Crowborough & Jarvis Brook)