East Grinstead Town v Burgess Hill Town 25 Feb 2023

EAST GRINSTEAD TOWN FOOTBALL CLUB

TheOHOBCommunityStadium|College Lane|EastGrinsteadRH193LS

Telephone : Website : 01342325885

www.egtfc.co.uk

STAFF DIRECTORY

Chairman & Treasurer: Richard Tramontin

Vice Chairman & Secretary: Brian McCorquodale

Safety Officer: Barry Bryant

Media Manager: Bruce Talbot

Bar Manager & Webmaster: Stuart Gibson

First Team Manager: Drew Cooney

U23s Joint Managers: Andy Willis Grant Hearn

U18s Manager: Jay De Vito

Player Representative: Drew Cooney

Facilities Manager & Head of Youth

WELCOME TO EAST GRINSTEAD TOWN

Good afternoon and welcome to everyone who has made the trip from Burgess Hill, for yet another Sussex derby!

It was a shame our unbeaten run had to end at Sittingbourne on Tuesday. Even with ten men we might have got a point from the game but it again showed that we have become hard to beat – and that the league is as competitive as ever. It would be a wise man who looked at the table and predicted who will get promoted and into the play-offs.

I thought the last home game was a good advert for Step 4 football. In the end we were probably felt happy with a point given how strongly Bridges fought back in the last 30 minutes. Mind you, we ought to have scored more goals in the first half.

Anyway, Burgess Hill arrive under new – and for us familiar – management. We wish them well after today for the rest of the season. We need as many Sussex clubs in the league as possible, not least to cut down on travelling!

East Grinstead Town FC is a verified Community Amateur Sports Club.

LEAGUE DIVISION TABLE | 22 - 23

4Whitehawk26137645242146

5Ashford United28128845321344

6Sevenoaks Town27135942311144

ROLL OF HONOUR

SUSSEXCOUNTYLEAGUE:

DivisionTwochampions2007–08

BaldwinCupwinners1951–52

MID-SUSSEXLEAGUE:

Champions1901–02,1936–37Montgomery

Cupwinners1911–12,1912–13

SOUTHERNAMATEURLEAGUE:

DivisionThreechampions1931–32

SUSSEXRURCUP:

Winners2003–04

RECORDATTENDANCE

2006vLancing-FAAmateurCup,1947

Round–17thJanuary2015

www.egtfc.co.uk

7Hythe Town2713593127444

8Sheppey United2712784840843

9Cray Valley PM26117843281540

10Chichester City26101063730740

11Littlehampton Town27106113539-436

12East Grinstead Town26104122935-634

13Lancing2895143649-1332

14VCD Athletic2887133450-1631

15Three Bridges2586113842-430

16Sittingbourne2778123033-329

17Burgess Hill Town2778123642-629

18Haywards Heath Town2777133455-2128

19Corinthian2746172041-2118

20Faversham Town2846183063-3318

Up to and including February 21

Development: Andy Willis EastGrinsteadTownFC @egtfcwasps

Who We Are

MANAGER’S NOTES

We welcome everyone back for today’s game against Burgess Hill. A familiar face to many from our club is now in their dugout in Matt Longhurst. I know Matt well from playing under him for several seasons here at East Grinstead so I have no doubt that he will be keen to get Burgess Hill back on track in the league. Our five-match unbeaten run came to an end on Tuesday night away at Sittingbourne. I think many people have overlooked what a tough place that is to go on a Saturday let alone a Tuesday night, not helped by the fact we had four players missing from the previous games. It was a frustrating night all round. At 0-0 at half-time I thought we had more than enough to go on and take all three points, but we just did not get going in the second half and got drawn in to a very physical and long ball game. They scored a great goal from outside the box and we then had Harrison sent off and a penalty conceded to go 2-0 down.

Even then we had two or three glorious chances to get back in the game and Omar missed a penalty. But I said to the boys after we just need to ‘park’ that result and forget about it and make sure we put it right over the next two home games and start another unbeaten run.

We lost Charlie Greenwood on Monday who decided after his short spell with us to join Kingstonian in the league above. We wish him all the best and thank him for the part he has played this season. On a more positive note we have signed Matty Astle from Tunbridge Wells. I tried to get Matty in pre-season but we couldn’t quite get that done, so I am really pleased to have him in for today’s game. I’m sure that with his energy down the right-hand side he will

DREW COONEY

become a fans’ favourite. Other good news is Tommy Summerfield is back in training this week which is massive for us with the last two months of the season to come for him to stamp his mark on the season. We are currently sitting 12th in the league and still have one or two games in hand over most of the teams around us so we need to get back to winning ways again as soon as possible and put another run together. We have a motto for the boys at the moment: ‘If we can’t win the game, don’t lose it’ so we will be working towards that again over the coming week or so. We know we have a very tough March ahead so getting as many points now is vital if we are to finish around out target position. We thank you as always for all your support and look forward to seeing as many of you at the next two home games. Goodlucktous!Drew

Photo courtesy of Stuart Gibson

CHAIRMAN’S NOTES

Good afternoon everyone and welcome to The OHOB Community Stadium for today’s Isthmian League South East Division match against Burgess Hill Town.

We extend a warm welcome to everyone who has made the short journey from Burgess Hill as well as to today’s referee Will Briers and his assistants Scott Orchard and Cliff Junior Angol. We trust you all enjoy your short stay and our hospitality.

It’s been all change at Burgess Hill recently. Three weeks ago It was announced that after 17 years at the helm, Kevin Newell was stepping as aside as Chairman - Director and General Manager, John Rattle had resigned and that Vince Alfieri, founder and chairman of Burgess Hill Town Juniors was taking over with a new board of Directors. Two weeks later, the Hillians parted company with their manager Jay Lovett and his management team after their first win in ten matches. On Monday Matt Longhurst who is well known here at East Grinstead was appointed First Team Manager.

Our impressive run of five unbeaten matches which included three wins came to an end on Tuesday evening at Sittingbourne. We conceded in the 56th minute and then again 13 minutes later which saw Harrison Parker sent off – I must admit I was one of many including some local supporters who thought that the Brickies’ forward was offside before he raced into the box and a clash of legs saw him go down and Harrison saw red. We had a chance to get one back with a penalty kick of our own later which would have made things interesting, but Omar Folkes’ powerful spot kick hit the underneath of the bar, bounced the wrong side of the goal line and was subsequently cleared.

That was the lads’ tenth match in five weeks, and we have Tuesday night fixtures after both today’s match and next Saturday’s fixture, so tired legs and some injuries are inevitable.

A special thanks go out to all our supporters who always get behind the lads. Travelling to the likes of Sittingbourne on a Tuesday evening shows a great passion and it’s truly appreciated.

Wasps remained in 12th spot with 34 points from 26 games, five points more than today’s visitors who have played one more match and sit five places below us in 17th spot, one point ahead of Haywards Heath Town who in turn are 10 points clear of the bottom two clubs Corinthian and Faversham Town.

Burgess Hill have lost their last two matches at Hythe and at home to Sevenoaks following their 2-0 win against Haywards Heath. We last met at the start of October when the Hillians won thanks to a Dan Perry shot in the 70th minute from the edge of the box which took a massive deflection off Harrison Parker’s block and looped high over Matte Pierson and fell just under the crossbar.

Wasps host Cray Valley here on Tuesday evening (ko 7.30pm) and then travel for the first time to Sheppey United next Saturday. We then host Hythe Town on Tuesday 7th March and then go back to the Kent coast the following Saturday at Ramsgate.

Next Thursday, our Under 23s host Bexhill in the quarter-finals of the Sussex Under 23s County Cup (ko 7.30pm). Your support would be most welcome. The winners will play either Hastings United or Broadbridge Heath

Whatever the outcome of this afternoon’s match, I trust everyone enjoys their visit to The Community Stadium and I wish you all a safe journey home.

Enjoythematch

RichardTramontin(Chairman)

Photo courtesy of Stuart Gibson

FIXTURES & RESULTS

AUGUST

06-Aug-Hollands & BlairHFACupe1431-0PiersonF.WalshStrakerUnwinGreenWilsonDaniel 1BriggsCornwellUchechiM.WalshAndersonCascoe-Newman

13-Aug-2022Chatham TownHPISEdiv2161-0PiersonF.WalshStrakerUnwinParkerWilsonDanielBriggsAnderson 1CornwellM.WalshUchechiPeranaPreece-Placid

16-Aug-2022Cray ValleyAPISEdiv900-1PiersonF.WalshStrakerUnwinParkerWilsonDanielBriggsAndersonUchechiPrice-PlacidCornwellM.WalshAbie

20-Aug-2022LancingAFACupp1474-1PiersonF.WalshStrakerUnwinParkerWilsonDaniel 2BriggsCornwellUchechi 1Anderson 1M.WalshClarkePreece-Placid

27-Aug-2022Ashford UnitedAPISEdiv2862-2PiersonClarkeStrakerPeranaParkerWilsonPrice-PlacidBriggsCornwellUchechiM.WalshDaniel 1Abie 1Folkes

29-Aug-2022Haywards Heath TownHPISEdiv2702-1PiersonF.WalshStrakerUnwinParkerWilsonDaniel 1BriggsCornwellUchechiAnderson 1FoakesM.WalshPrice-Placid

SEPTEMBER

03-Sep-Beckenham TownHFACup12452-2PiersonF.WalshStrakerUnwinParkerWilsonDaniel 1BriggsCornwellUchechiAnderson 1FoakesPrice-PlacidCascoe-

06-Sep-Beckenham TownAFACup11981-3PiersonClarkeStrakerUnwinParkerWilsonPrice-PlacidBriggsFolkesAbleM.WalshDaniel 1

13-Sep-2022WroxhamAFAT1q1311-4PiersonF.WalshClarkeUnwinCooneyWilsonDaniel 1BriggsAndersonM. WalshPrice-PlacidCascoe-Abie

17-Sep-2022Sheppey UnitedHPISEdiv2360-1PiersonF.WalshStrakerUnwinParkerWilsonPrice-PlacidBriggsCornwellUchechiAndersonM.WalshFolkesPerana

OCTOBER

01/10/22Burgess Hill TownAPISEdiv4530-1PiersonF.WalshStrakerUnwinParkerWilsonDanielBriggsCornwellUchechiAndersonPrice-PlacidPeranaM.Walsh

08-Oct-2022LancingHPISEdiv2372-0PiersonF.WalshStrakerPeranaParkerWilsonDaniel 1Briggs 1CornwellPrice-PlacidM.WalshA.ClarkeAndersonAbie

11-Oct-2022Three BridgesAPISEdiv1493-2PiersonF.WalshStrakerPeranaParkerWilsonDanielBriggs 1AndersonPrice-PlacidM.WalshCornwellClarkeUnwin

15-Oct-2022RamsgateHPISEdiv2 0 11-3PiersonF.WalshM.WalshPeranaParkerWilsonDanielBriggsAnderson 1CornwellPrice-PlacidUchechiUnwinSargent

18-Oct-2022LeatherheadHVT11191-1PiersonClarkeM.WalshUnwinParkerGarnerEverettAbieFolkesCascoe-NewmanPrice-PlacidWilliamsAkabuoguBuchananSargent 22/10/22WhitehawkAPISEdiv3510-2PiersonF.WalshStrakerPeranaParkerWilsonCornwellBriggsAndersonDanielM.WalshEverittPrice-PlacidCascoe29/10/22Littlehampton TownHPISEdiv1850-1PiersonGarnerStrakerPeranaParkerWilsonDanielBriggsAndersonUchechiM.WalshF.WalshFolkesEverett

NOVEMBER

O5/11/22Faversham TownAPISEdiv2 6 11-3PiersonF.WalshStrakerM.WalshParkerWilsonDanielBriggsAnderson 1UchechiPrice-PlacidEverettUnwinCornwell

12-NovSevenoaks TownHPISEdiv2323-0PiersonF.WalshStrakerUnwinParkerWilsonDaniel 1NewmanAnderson 1UchechiBriggsEverettWilliams 1

19/11/22CorinthianAPISEdiv1121-1PiersonF.WalshM.WalshUnwinParkerWilsonDanielEverettWilliams 1UchechiAndersonBriggsFolkes

26-NovVCD AthleticAPISEdiv954-3ParkerSavaneStrakerUnwinPeranaWilson 1EverettBriggs 1Williams 1AndersonM.Walsh 1Folkes 1UchechiAbie

DECEMBER

03/12/22Beckenham TownHPISEdiv1820-2PiersonSavaneStrakerM.WalshPeranaWilsonEverettBriggsAndersonUchechiWilliamsParkerFolkesDaniel

26/12/22Haywards Heath TownAPISEdiv3480-2PiersonSavaneStrakerUnwinParkerWilsonDanielBriggsWilliamsGreenwoodM.WalshUchechiAndersonFolkes

JANUARY

02/01/23Chichester CityHPISEdiv2123-2PiersonParkerStrakerM.WalshGreen 1WilsonGreenwoodBriggsAndersonUchechiDaniel 1UnwinFolkesWilliams 1

07/01/23Chatham TownAPISEdiv6820-1PiersonSavaneParkerUnwinGreenWilsonDanielGreenwoodWilliamsUchechiM.WalshBriggsAndersonStraker

28/01/23Sevenoaks TownAPISEdiv1711-3PiersonParkerStrakerUnwinGreenWilsonDaniel 1GreenwoodWilliamsM.WalshBriggsAndersonUchechi

FEBRUARY

04/02/23CorinthianHPISEdiv1521-0PiersonBriggsUnwinParkerGreenWilsonAndersonGreenwood 1WilliamsUchechiM.WalshStrakerLawrenceDaniel

07/02/23Faversham TownHPISEdiv1051-0PiersonSavaneStrakerParkerGreenWilsonUnwinAbieDanielGreenwood 1FolkesBriggsM.Walsh

11/02/23Littlehampton TownAPISEdiv2221-1PiersonSavaneStrakerUnwinGreenParkerDanielGreenwoodWilliams 1M.WalshBriggsFolkesAnderson

14/02/23Three BridgesHPISEdiv2211-1PiersonBriggsStrakerParkerGreenWilsonDanielGreenAnderson 1FolkesAbieUnwinWalshPerana

18/02/23LancingAPISEdiv1691-0PiersonUnwinStrakerAbieGreenParkerDanielBriggsWilliamsUchechiM.Walsh 1AndersonFolkes

21/02/23SittingbourneAPISEdiv1210-2PiersonUnwinStrakerAbieGreenParkerDanielBriggsAndersonM.WalshFolkesPeranaLawrenceUchechi

25/02/23Burgess Hill TownHPISEdiv

28/02/23Cray ValleyHPISEdiv

MARCH

04/03/23Sheppey UnitedAPISEdiv

07/03/23Hythe TownHPISEdiv

11/03/23RamsgateAPISEdiv

18/03/23WhitehawkHPISEdiv

25/03/23Ashford UnitedHPISEdiv

APRIL

01/04/23Hythe TownAPISEdiv

08/04/33SittingbourneHPISEdiv

10/04/23Chichester CityAPISEdiv

15-AprBeckenham TownAPISEdiv

22/04/23VCD AthleticHPISEdiv

APRIL

PROGRAMMES FROM THE PAST

Helped by the programmes that we produced I’m going to talk about a couple of games played in the past in the last few days of February.

First up is East Grinstead v AFC Uckfield on Tuesday 26 February 2013 in division one of the Sussex County League with Michel Belli on the front cover – he and the opposing player on the cover look a bit squashed. Michael these days plays for Crawley Down (and I believe is their captain). They are currently top of the Sussex County League and so will be in the running for a place in the Isthmian League next season.

Richard Tramontin’s notes remind us that two of our players – Sam Schaaf and George Hillier-Jones – had actually played against us for AFC Uckfield when we had played there in September. Indeed Sam had scored AFC Uckfield’s equalising goal in a 2-2 draw.

Manager Simon Funnell is pleased with the team’s recent form with just one league defeat since early October – and this defeat came in our first match against one of the better teams after horrible weather had meant no games for five weeks.

The programme has full match reports on a couple of those recent games which we had won by the odd goal – the most recent win coming from an 89th minute free kick from John Sinclair.

The league table shows that AFC Uckfield were struggling and were second from bottom – though new management had seen them win their most recent match 4-0 - only their third league win of the season. On the other hand we were in eighth place. And AFC Uckfield made it difficult for us, even though Sam Schaaf made up for the above equalising goal by scoring after some 10 minutes.

Early in the second half we did manage

another goal and it was a rather special one. Full-back Kieran Wilson had been with us for four years and was still to score – but today was the day as he put us 2-0 up. He was to later miss a golden opportunity for another goal. But 2-0 turned out to be enough.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

Michael Belli on the cover back in 2013 when we beat AFC

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10

And moving on a year we have East Grinstead v St Francis Rangers on Tuesday 25 February 2014, again in division one of the Sussex County League. The programme wasn’t one of our usual ones with just 8 pages (but no adverts) and was to be the first programme produced for us by Anthony Scott.

Richard Tramontin’s notes remind us that we had drawn 1-1 in the away match with St Francis in September with Matt Geard scoring our goal. He also makes a brief comment on the previous Saturday’s match down in Shoreham – our first match in four weeks –with manager Simon Funnell also saying very little about it

However, we do get a full match report. A lumpy bumpy pitch plus a swirling wind were a large feature of the match. A successful penalty kick by Sam Schaaf half-way through the first half was followed by an early second half goal from Dave Gellatly and everybody was happy travelling back home.

The programme’s league table shows us in fourth place – with a couple of games in hand over two of the three teams above us – while St Francis were sitting in the middle of the table

Goals from Sam Schaaf, Marc Pelling and Aaron Watson gave us a comfortable 3-0 win.

If you’ve had your memory jogged by this article then I’d be happy to hear from you at lestermedcalf@btinternet.com.

BURGESS HILL TOWN

HILLIANS IN THE 21st CENTURY

The new millennium season saw Hillians take the County League championship with the team remaining unbeaten in the league until April; the club also had its best ever run in the FA Vase only being beaten after extra time by eventual finalists Tiptree United in the last eight, before a then club record attendance of 1598. With plans being laid for Southern League football, club directors, Gary Croydon and Eddie Benson appointed Danny Bloor as manager for season 2002–2003. The club was rewarded with yet another championship, the fifth in seven seasons.

Gary Croydon took over the Hillians again as the club entered the Southern League for the first time. After just missing out on the play offs, Burgess Hill Town moved over to the Isthmian League after the restructuring of the non-league pyramid.

For the next few years, the club established itself as a Ryman League club with a few midtable finishes and twice just avoiding relegation. In 2011/12 with the Hill struggling and with seven games to go manager Simon Rowland was sacked and goalkeeping coach John Rattle was put in charge. The club survived relegation with victories in the last two games of the season against Whitstable Town and Dulwich Hamlet.

For the following season Hillians returned to their original green and black colours. Former Brighton & Hove Albion player Ian Chapman was appointed as manager, and he guided the Hillians to eighth place.

In 2013/14 the Hillians achieved their highest ever finish in the pyramid, finishing sixth and just missing out on the play offs by one point and 2014/15 saw the club enjoy the greatest season in their history. Chapman’s side were unbeaten in the league until mid-March and went on to win Ryman League Division One South title by 11 points and gain promotion to the Ryman Premier League for the first time. They also equalled their best FA Cup run, eventually losing away to Dartford in the fourth qualifying round but having gained a memorable 3-1 victory at Sutton United in the previous round. In the FA Trophy, they beat

Aldershot Town of the National League 1-0 before losing narrowly to Dartford.

A confident start to the Hillians’ first season in the premier division saw the team eighth in the league, but a disappointing second half saw them finish in 20th position. The club avoided relegation due to Farnborough being relegated for financial irregularities. The following two seasons saw the Hillians avoid relegation on the last day, but they did enjoy excellent runs in the FA Cup and in both seasons narrowly missing out on the first round.

After four seasons in the premier division, the club were relegated in 2019. The season was full of mixed emotions, with the long-standing management team of Ian Chapman and Stuart Tuck leaving the club after six very successful years. Ian was replaced by ex-Lewes manager Simon Wormull. Under Wormull the team also reached the Sussex Senior Cup for the first time in some 30 years but lost 2-1 to Bognor Regis Town in extra time at the Amex Stadium. The 2019/20 season started off with a 7-2 opening day victory over Hythe Town. Unfortunately, disappointing results followed, as well as early exits in both the FA Cup and FA Trophy, which saw Wormull depart in late October. Jay Lovett was appointed as First Team Manager the following month and guided the club to successive mid-table finishes. Earlier this month Lovett left the club and was replaced by ex-Wasps and Ramsgate manager Matt Longhurst.

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SQUAD STATS

TODAYS Teams

EAST GRINSTEAD FC BURGESS HILL TOWN

Matte Pierson cc

Dean Perana cc

Tariq Straker cc

Lewis Unwin cc

Harrison Parker cc

Glenn Wilson cc

Matthew Daniel cc

Andrew Briggs

Sam Williams cc

Matty Astle cc

Max Walsh cc

Daniel Uchechi cc

Tahjae Anderson cc

Omar Folkes cc

Ryan Green cc

Thibault Abie cc

Manager: Drew Cooney

Colours: Amber & Black

Referee: Will Briers

Will Huffer cc

Reggie Ward cc

Martyn Box cc

Connor Tighe cc

Dan Cadman cc

Josh Spinks cc

Kieran Rowe cc

Lewis Finney cc

Dan Perry cc

Kai Brown cc

Max Miller cc

Lewis Croal cc

Hayden Skerry cc

George Brown cc

Brad Santos cc

Harry Pollard

Manager: Matt Longhurst

Colours: Yellow

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.”

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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

CRAY VALLEY PM

Tuesday, February 28, 2023

Kick off 7.45pm

TODAY’S OTHER GAMES

Ashford United vs Littlehampton Town

Chatham Town vs Sittingbourne

Chichester City vs Beckenham Town

Cray Valley PM vs Lancing

Haywards Heath Town vs Corinthian

Hythe Town vs Three Bridges

MATCH OFFICIALS

Assistant Referee: Scott Orchard

VS Fin A l sCORe

GRINSTEAD FC

Assistant Referee: Cliff Junior Angol

BURGESS HILL TOWN

Ramsgate vs VCD Athletic

Sevenoaks Town vs Faversham Town

Whitehawk vs Sheppey United

This matchday programme was created online by www.matchday-programmes.co.uk