WELCOME TO EAST GRINSTEAD TOWN
Good evening and a warm welcome to our Friday night game against league newcomers AFC Croydon Athletic, and we hope our visitors enjoy their visit and we wish them well for the rest of the season.
After two good performances last Saturday's home defeat to Step 5 Redhill was hugely disappointing, although we can't complain that they deserved to progress to the first qualifying round of the FA Cup.
As Drew mentions in his notes. we were a couple of key players short who hopefully will be back tonight. It won't be easy against AFC, who have started the season well.
At least the Friday night kick-off will give us an extra 24 hours to prepare for next Monday's Bank Holiday trip to Sevenoaks - we shall see! Finally, best wishes for a speedy recovery to Mr East Grinstead Richard Tramontin, who hasn't been in good health in recent weeks. We hope Richard is on the mend soon.
COME ON YOU WASPS!
LEAGUE DIVISION TABLE | 23-24
POSTEAM PDWDLFAGDPTS
1Sittingbourne 11005053
2Beckenham Town11003123
3Deal Town 11003123
4Sevenoaks Town11003123
5Herne Bay 11003213
6Hythe Town 11002113
7Sheppey United11002113
8Merstham 11001013
9Ramsgate 11001013
10Ashford United10103301
11Erith Town 10103301
12East Grinstead Town10100001
13Margate 10100001
14Littlehampton Town100123-10
15Phoenix Sports100112-10
16Three Bridges 100112-10
17AFC Croydon Athletic100101-10
18Steyning Town100101-10
19Burgess Hill Town100113-20
20Eastbourne Town100113-20
21Lancing 100113-20
MANAGER’S NOTES
We welcome everyone for tonight’s Friday night fixture against newly promoted AFC Croydon.
Everyone is probably aware of the high profile takeover at the club (Wilfried Zaha and Stormzy are their owners) while Danny Young, who previously helped Leigh Dynan, is also part of the set-up and is no doubt heavily involved in the amazing recruitment they managed last year to gain promotion and more so over this summer.
With Jermaine McGlashan at the helm they will no doubt be very competitive in this league and will be looking to upset plenty of rivals the way.
We are off the back of last week's disappointing exit from the FA Cup, although Redhill were worthy winners. I think individual errors at key moments cost us dearly. It’s very early in the season and with one win, draw and loss we can’t dwell too much on the result and I’ve told the lads they have got two games over this busy Bank Holiday to put last week right.
We will hopefully have a couple of players back this week. Charlie and Adonis should return but we are then without a couple through holidays so will have plenty to think about in terms of selection for two games in four days.
As ever the lads and myself thank all the fans and ask again for your continued support over the bank holiday.
Best wishes, Drew
FIXTURES & RESULTS
PAST PROGRAMMES
I have a couple of programmes for games played in the past on the same date as this evening's match. And first up is East Grinstead v Pagham on Saturday 23 August 2008 in the top division of the Sussex County League.
The photo on the front cover shows Dave Gellatly hoping to win a header as the match ball drops. And in the background we can see today's 2024 team manager Drew Cooney waiting to see what is going to happen next. Commercial manager Lee Quinn, programme editor Bruce Talbot and our then team manager Steve Norris all want to talk about our FA Cup win on the previous Saturday away to Wealden (now better known as AFC Uckfield)a win that came after our first two league games had only produced one point. Good lengthy match reports of both the FA Cup match and the 3-3 draw that gave us our only league point make excellent reading.
The FA Cup report tells us that goals from Simon Funnell, Nick Sullivan, Dave Gellatly and Miles Neville had helped to put us 4-1 up at half-time with keeper Lee Whibley helping when he saved a Wealden penalty after just five minutes. The second half had been a different story with Wealden getting back to 43 – but we just about held on.
An unusual feature of the programme was the inclusion of a single piece of paper which contained the Chairman Richard Tramontin's club notes. The programme itself also included some club notes – but not the correct ones!
With all clubs having played two games the programme's league table didn't mean very much, though Pagham were one of the six teams that had won both of their opening games. So we would have been very pleased with our 2-1 win with both of our goals coming from Michael Belli.
Moving on a few years to our first season in the Isthmian League I have the programme for East Grinstead v Worthing on Saturday 23 August 2014. This would be our third home league match.
Richard Tramontin's chairman's notes thanks all those who had complimented us on our
facilities – with a lot of hard work having been carried out in the last few years. He hoped that the facilities would encourage some volunteers to come forward to help with the work needed to get things ready for our matches. Richard also reminds us that we had last played Worthing some seven years ago in the Sussex Senior Cup – a match Worthing had won 2-0 on their own ground.
Our team manager when we were promoted was Simon Funnell and in his notes he talks about the four games we had already played. The main lesson he had learned was that at this level you could not let your standards slip for a second – we had done so in a couple of our games and in so doing what could have been a couple of draws turned out to be two defeats.
The programme's league table shows us with four points from our four games which was exactly what Worthing had achieved. And we had both scored five goals and conceded seven – we were placed above them in alphabetical order and they won 1-0.
Lester Medcalf
The cover from our game ten years ago today v. Worthing.
AFC CROYDON ATHLETIC
MEET THE SQUAD
Amadou Tangara
An experienced goalkeeper who has been a fans favourite wherever he has played during his career. Previous clubs include Dulwich Hamlet, Horham, Margate and Leatherhead.
Junior Savane
Played an important part in the late season run in having joined in March from Holmesdale. Comfortable in the back line he was also a threat going forward and on the overlap.
Marcel Elva-Fountaine
Joined just before the start of the season having previously played for the likes of Lewes on loan whilst being at Aldershot Town. An attacking full back.
Adam Ahmed
Previously at Aldershot Town, he joined following the arrival of the Manager last October. Last season he made a total of 13 appearances.
Daryl Siaw
He was a colossus in the centre half position having spent time in midfield in the earlier part of last season. The play-off final victory was his second successive success and third promotion in three seasons having previously played at Walton & Hersham.
Michael Kamara
Player/Coach he provided important cover for the team throughout the season bringing his experience and ability to the team just when it was needed.
Michael Phillips
An influential player who has had plenty of success, not just being a key part of Croydon’s play-off success last season but also enjoying back to back National League Trophy successes with Wealdstone and Maidstone United in recent years.
Cian McCarthy
Made a huge contribution to our successful season and on a personal level lifted the Supporters’ Player of the Year award.
Nya Kirby
Midfielder who spent last season playing for Oxford City in the National League before joining the Rams.
Gus Sow
Former Leatherhead player who was born in Liberia. He appeared for England U16s whilst at the Crystal Palace Academy.
Mekhi Savage
Joined from Epsom & Ewell having been with AFC Whyteleafe previously.
Olalekan Osideko
A tricky winger who proved an important part of the success last season.
Alpha Diallo
Another arrival from Leatherhead who made 38 appearances last season helping them to the play-off final.
Tom Collins
A deadline day signing last season, he added strength and guile to the front line as well as scoring some important goals.
Shamal Edwards
He joins from Farnham Town where he spent 18 months scoring 36 goals in 63 games and finished their joint top scorer in last season’s campaign.
Richard Pingling
Another end of season signing, the striker had an immediate impact as he managed to reach double figures despite only playing 13 games.
Kadell Daniel
Joining from Margate he brings a wealth of experience having started his career at Crystal Palace. A Guyana international.
Brandon Pierrick
Club captain who is as influential off the field as he is on. His 21 goals from 48 appearances played a key role in promotion.
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Ever thought of volunteering to help your local
football club?
There are many different volunteer roles in non-league football and Isthmian League football clubs need your help with them.
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The Trident Leagues and Pitching In’s online Volunteer Hub is the place where you can find opportunities and contact your local football club.
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Please visit Pitchinginvolunteers.co.uk to find out more
Photography by
SQUAD STATS
TODAY’S Teams
EAST GRINSTEAD FCAFC CROYDON ATHLETIC
Matte Pierson cc
Oli Cash cc
Paddy Curran cc
Adonai DaCruz cc
Brissi Iwen-Kuwaku cc
Tom Cadman cc
Alex Filipe Andrade cc
Glenn Wilson cc
Matty Weaire cc
Kieran Humpherston cc
Matt Daniel cc
Michael Wilson cc
Ricardo Thompson cc
Ollie Spinks cc
Toch Singh cc
Charlie Harris cc
Connor Tighe cc
Alex Nunes cc
Salami Al-Amin cc
Camron Lawson cc
Omar Folkes cc
Abdoulaye Coulibally cc
Manager: Ian Nicolls
Colours: Amber & Black
Amadou Tangara (GK) cc
Milo Dean (GK) cc
Junior Savane cc
Marcel Elva-Fountaine cc
Adam Ahmed cc
Darryl Siaw cc
Michael Phillips cc
Cian McCarthy cc
Michael Kamara cc
Nya Kirby cc
Gus Sow cc
Mekhi Savage cc
Alpha Diallo cc
Olalekan Osideko cc
Shamal Edwards cc
Richard Pingling cc
Kadell Daniel cc
Brandon Pierrick (Capt) cc
Manager: Jermain McGlashan
Colours: Maroon
The Isthmian Football League strongly supports the FA statement that there should be a zero tolerance approach against racism and all forms of discrimination. Accordingly any form of discriminatory abuse whether it by reason of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion and belief, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, sex and sexual orientation or any other form of abuse will be reported to The Football Association for action by that Association.”
The FA 0800 085 0508 Kick it Out 020 7253 0162
The Isthmian League and all Member Clubs in the League are committed to promoting equality by treating people fairly and with respect, by recognising that inequalities may exist, by taking steps to address them and providing access and opportunities for all members of the community.
Next HOMe GAMe
DEAL TOWN
Saturday August 31, kick off 3pm
Referee: Harry Wood
MATCH OFFICIALS
Assistant Referee: Pete Andrews
Assistant Referee: Adan Saige
ROLL OF HONOURS
SUSSEX COUNTY LEAGUE: Division Two champions 2007–08 Baldwin Cup winners 1951–52
MID-SUSSEX LEAGUE: Champions 1901–02, 1936–37
Montgomery Cup winners 1911–12, 1912–13
SOUTHERN AMATEUR LEAGUE: Division Three champions 1931–32
SUSSEX RUR CUP: Winners 2003–04
This matchday programme was created online via www.matchday-programmes.co.uk