East Grinstead Town v Cray Valley PM Jan 14 2023

Good afternoon and a warm welcome to those of you who have made the trip from North Kent in support of today's visitors.

The form guide suggests a tough 90 minutes, but we have bloodied some big noses here at the Court already this season and, in this division this season, can any result be predicted with certainty? True, you'd probably expect Ramsgate to beat Faversham but other than that?

A repeat of the spirited performance here on Jan 2 when we beat Chichester 3-2, and again last Saturday when we were unlucky not to take something from the trip to Chatham, will be just the ticket.

Come on the Wasps!

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

Front cover photo: Daniel Uchechi in action against Sevenoaks a few weeks ago.

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17Lancing2064102335-1222

18Sittingbourne1945101929-1017

19Corinthian1934121432-1813

20Faversham Town1922151749-328

Up to and including January 10

MANAGER’S NOTES

We welcome everyone back for today's game against high flying Cray Valley.

They are currently second in the league and top of the form guide, unbeaten in their last six games. We know today's game will be very tough. I thought after playing them earlier in the season they were the best team we had played and that day they completely played us off the park in the first half at their place. We gathered ourselves in the second half but didn’t do enough to get anything from that game.

Recent form has been better but we know as a group we need to start putting a run together. We came off a good result against Chichester and a 3-2 win and then headed to a really tough away game at another one of the league's top teams in Chatham.

We changed the shape to suit them and I thought we were excellent from start to finish and deserved at least a point if not three. But, as I told the lads, as well as they did we still came away with nothing and we find ourselves in this middle group of teams all on 23 points, knowing that with a win and other results going our way we can jump up four or five places.

All in all, as I mentioned, we just need to get some back to back wins under our belt and me, Ian and Sarge all believe we can kick on a cement a top half finish.

As ever the lads and the management team appreciate everyone’s support

DREW COONEY

especially at home. We need to make the OHOB a really hard place for teams to come and try and get something and your backing helps us do that. So make sure you're behind the lads from the first whistle today.

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 Cray Valley PM.

We extend a warm welcome to Tommy Osborne, his players and staff, the Millers’ officials and supporters, as well as to today’s referee Will Briers and his assistants Harvey Ransome and Dane Johnston and trust you all enjoy your short stay and our hospitality.

The Millers are on a rich vein of form having dropped only two points in the last eight matches which was a surprising 0-0 draw at Corinthian. Their last two matches were a 2-0 win at home against league leaders Ramsgate and before that a 4-0 win at VCD Athletic. They currently sit in third spot, six points behind Ramsgate with a game in hand.

We last played the Millers in the second match of the season at The Artic Stadium when it ended 1-0 to the home side. Drew and the lads will be hoping for a repeat of last season’s win here at East Court when we won 5-3.

I am never happy coming away from a match in which we lose but I must admit that last Saturday’s performance away at Chatham Town left me feeling very positive even though we lost to a bullet header from our former striker Seidou Sanogo after we gave away a needless free kick. We did more than enough to earn at least a point, particularly from our second-half performance.

A special mention for our travelling fans who were vocal in their chanting and support even amongst a total crowd of 682. The Chatham supporters were very complementary after the match and said they really enjoyed the chanting and good-humoured banter. Well done guys and I know you will be totally behind the lads this afternoon.

It’s all very tight around us in the league and we are one of five teams on 23 points followed by Three Bridges and Lancing on 22 with Sittingbourne, Corinthian and Faversham Town occupying the bottom three places on 17, 13 and eight points respectively.

We are away at Sittingbourne on Tuesday 17th (ko 7.45pm) and then have two consecutive home matches – Faversham Town on Saturday 21st and Hythe Town Tuesday 24th - we end January on Saturday 28th at Sevenoaks.

The Under 18s are here next Thursday against Carshalton Athletic and again the following Thursday the 26th against Aldershot Town (both 7.30pm kick off)s.

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

Enjoythematch RichardTramontin(Chairman)

Photo courtesy of Stuart Gibson

FIXTURES & RESULTS

AUGUST

HOME GAMES IN CAPITALS, USED SUBS IN BRACKETS, NUMBERS IN BRACKETS = GOAL SCORER

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-PlacidCascoe06-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 CityHPISEdiv3-2PiersonParkerStrakerM.WalshGreen 1WilsonGreenwoodBriggsAndersonUchechiDaniel 1UnwinFolkesWilliams 1 07/01/23Chatham TownAPISEdiv6820-1PiersonSavaneParkerUnwinGreenWilsonDanielGreenwoodWilliamsUchechiM.WalshBriggsAndersonStraker 14/01/23Cray ValleyHPISEdiv 17/01/23SittingbourneAPISEdiv 21/01/23Faversham TownHPISEdiv 24/01/23Hythe TownHPISEdiv 28/01/23Sevenoaks TownAPISEdiv

FEBRUARY

04/02/23CorinthianHPISEdiv 11/02/23Littlehampton TownAPISEdiv 14/02/23Three BridgesHPISEdiv 18/02/23LancingAPISEdiv 25/02/23Burgess Hill TownHPISEdiv

MARCH

04/03/23Sheppey UnitedAPISEdiv 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

EastGrinsteadTownFC

PROGRAMMES FROM THE PAST

We’re into the middle of January and I’m going to have a look – helped by the programmes - at a couple of our games played on or about today’s date in the past

We start with East Grinstead v Mile Oak on Saturday 13 January 2007. A Sussex County League Division Two match with the front cover of the programme showing Ben Burns in action in our away kit.

Programme editor Bruce Talbot welcomes our visitors with a recall of our visit to Mile Oak for the reverse fixture in October – a match which we just about won 3-2. We were helped by Mile Oak missing two of the three penalties they were awarded.

The notes continue with disappointing news of two defeats in our Christmas matches – 1-0 at near neighbours Lingfield and then, in heavy rain with a very strong wind blowing straight down the pitch, we lost 5-2 away to Westfield (just outside Hastings). I remember the Westfield match. We had the wind behind us in the first half and goals from James Horner and Ben Burns saw us 2-0 up – which could have been 3-0 with our last shot of the first half hitting the bar. Westfield then dominated the second half - and we had a player sent off –and eventually they got the goals that won them the match.

Chairman Richard Tramontin’s notes also reflect on those two lost games but more importantly he tells us that “things have started to move forward again with our ground improvements”. The improvements would be needed to meet the new FA grading requirements and Richard had spent a lot of time talking to the local authority and submitting a number of grant applications. As this was our first home match of 2007 we had a couple of looks back at 2006. For example a reminder that in the 2005/06 season we had won only once and drawn just once in games against teams who finished above us. However off the pitch our programme had been voted the best in Sussex.

The league table shows that Mile Oak were

13th while we were sixth – though if we had won those two Christmas games we would have been second. It was another game we didn’t win – but we didn’t lose it either as it ended 2-2. I do know we left it late before we scored - Jez Tobin with 15 minutes left and then our 2023 manager Drew Cooney scoring in the very last minute.

Ben Burns in action in that 5-2 Christmas defeat at Westfield

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10

We move on five years for East Grinstead v Midhurst on Saturday 14 January 2012 for a first round match in the Brighton Charity Cup. The programme shows John Sinclair on the front. This was our first – and so far our only –appearance in this Brighton competition.

For once the autumn and winter weather had been kind to us and we had already played 30 of our 38 league matches - with 15 Saturdays still to come. We had in fact played more league matches than anybody else with on average most teams having played 25 or so. Three Bridges and Chichester on the other hand had each played just 21 matches.

Both Richard Tramontin and team manager Simon Funnell talked about the two recent away defeats – against Lingfield and Three Bridges – especially in the light of four wins in December. As so often if things had been just a little bit different we might have come home with at least a point.

However we get a very full match report for the Three Bridges game which has little doubt that the better team had won.

Back to the Midhurst game. They were in the County League second division. It would have been good if the programme had included a division two league table – but it didn’t. However, we are told that Midhurst were bottom of division two with 14 points from their 21 games.

The division one league table shows us in 12th place (with five more defeats than wins). So no great surprise that we had a comfortable 4-1 win with goals from Ben Burns, Michael Death, Dave Gellatly and Ben Chick.

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

The unmistakable John Sinclair gets forward.

CRAY VALLEY PM

ADE ADEYEMO

Tall striker “Toks” first signed for Valley in the summer of 2020. With 14 goals in over 50 appearances for the club, Ade’s versatility provides a range of options in front of goal.

JULIEN ANAU

A box to box midfielder, the 28 year old Frenchman joined Valley in October 2022 looking for full fitness after an injury ravaged career. Jules’ career has seen him play in Spain and Ireland after leaving his homeland.

DAN BENNETT

Attacking midfielder Dan joined Valley from Carshalton Athletic in July 2022. A constant goal threat, Dan spent four years at Farnborough in the National League South before serving Merstham, Kingstonian and Carshalton.

SONNY

BLACK

Hard working midfielder Sonny joined Valley from VCD Athletic last summer. The former Crystal Palace youngster won promotion from the Isthmian League South-East Division with Walton Casuals in 2017/18

CONNOR DYMOND

Club captain. Former Crystal Palace youngster Connor has become the linchpin of the Millers rear-guard since joining in 2020. His combative style of leadership has been a feature of over 70 appearances for the club.

DENZEL GAYLE

Pacy striker Denzel made his 200th appearance for the Millers at the end of last season having joined from Erith & Belvedere in 2017.

HASSAN IBRAHIYM

Former Barnet youngster Hassan joined The Millers from Ashford United in November 2019. A hardworking midfield powerhouse, Hass has scored 19 times in over 80 games for Valley.

CHRIS LEWINGTON

Goalkeeper Chris joined The Millers in the summer of 2021 – keeping ten clean sheets in his 40 appearances last season.

AYO MAJEK

Midfielder Ayo, 23, joined Valley in September 2022 having spent last season with Marlow in the South Central Division, for whom he made

17 appearances. Ayo appeared for Molesey prior to Valley.

VINNIE MEDHURST

Former Gillingham academy defender. After a spell at Ramsgate, he started this season with SCEFL side Welling Town and joined the Millers in November 2022.

MITCHELL NELSON

33 year old defender Mitchell joined Valley in December 2022 from Isthmian League Premier side Lewes.

Lambeth-born, Nelson has enjoyed an illustrious career and won the South-East Division Championship with Cray Wanderers in 2018/19.

KIKI OSHILAJA

Central defender Kiki joined Valley last summer after being named as VCD Athletic’s Player of the Year in 2022. Tall and pacy, Kiki was a member of the Carshalton Athletic squad that won the Isthmian League South Division in 2017/18.

KERSHANEY SAMUELS

Midfielder Kershaney joined Valley last summer from Isthmian League Premier Division side Kingstonian. The former Dulwich Hamlet, Worthing and Carshalton Athletic man was an integral part of Merstham’s squad that reached the Isthmian League Play-Off final in 2019.

CEM TUMKAYA

Tall centre back who has made over 200 appearances since making his Millers debut aged 16. A valued member of the SCEFL Championship winning side in 2018/19, Cem appeared in the FA Vase final in 2019.

visitors recent league forM

TODAYS Teams

EAST GRINSTEAD FCCRAY VALLEY PM

Matte Pierson

Junior Savane cc

Tariq Straker cc

Lewis Unwin cc Harrison Parker cc Glenn Wilson cc

Matthew Daniel cc Andrew Briggs cc Sam Williams cc Charlie Greenwood 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

cc

Chris Lewington cc

Thomas Chambers cc Barney Williams cc Ali Tumkaya cc Denzel Gayle cc Sonny Black cc Adam Coombes cc

Kershaney Samuels cc Mitchell Nelson cc Daniel Bennett cc Ade Adeyemo cc Connor Dymond cc

Vinnie Medhurst cc Ayo Majekodunmi cc Hassan Ibrahiym cc Julien Anau cc

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

FAVERSHAM TOWN

Saturday, January 21, 2023 Kick off 3pm

MATCH OFFICIALS

Assistant Referee: Harvey Ransome

VS Fin A l sCORe

EAST GRINSTEAD FC

Manager: Tommy Osborne Colours: Blue ........ vs ........

TODAY’S OTHER GAMES

Burgess Hill Town vs Chichester City Corinthian vs Beckenham Town Faversham Town vs Chatham Town

Lancing vs Haywards Heath Town Ramsgate vs Sittingbourne

Sevenoaks Town vs Ashford United Sheppey United vs Hythe Town

Assistant Referee: Dane Johnston

CRAY VALLEY PM

VCD Athletic vs Three Bridges Whitehawk vs Littlehampton Town

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