VS STEYNING TOWN COMMUNITY
ISTHMIAN LEAGUE | SOUTH EAST DIVISION SATURDAY 15TH FEBRUARY 2025 | KICK OFF 3PM
EAST GRINSTEAD TOWN FC
The Vistavis Community Stadium College Lane | East Grinstead | RH19 3LS
Tel: 01342 325885
FROM THE CHAIR
Good afternoon everyone and welcome to the Vistavis Community Stadium for today’s Isthmian League South East Division match against Steyning Town Community FC.
I would like to extend a warm welcome to all the Barrowmen’s officials, management, players and supporters as well as this afternoon’s match referee David Spain and his assistants Gulam Damji and Thomas Reed. I trust everyone enjoys their brief stay and our hospitality.
Well hopefully the weather has eased up and we can finally play our first home match of 2025!
The last match Drew Cooney’s Wasps played was three weeks ago at Lancing where we secured an emphatic 6-2 win - Finlay Lovatt netted a first-half hattrick, then Matt Daniel a second-half brace and Connor Tighe scoring the fifth goal. A similar performance would not go amiss today.
We have only played 24 league matches and currently sit in 16th spot with 31 points, 15 points clear and with five matches in hand over today’s visitors who currently occupy the bottom spot with 16 points chasing Hythe Town (17pts), Phoenix Sports (18pts), Lancing and Littlehampton Town both on 21 points. They took an early lead and were holding high flying and in form Sittingbourne Town at home 1-1 last Saturday until the 77th minute when they conceded what proved to be the winning goal. Four days earlier they beat Broadbridge Heath 2-0 away after a run of three consecutive defeats. The last encounter between today’s two teams was in October when Wasps won 3-2 thanks to an opening goal from Alex Andrade-Felipe and a brace from Connor Tighe. Wasps are at home again next Tuesday when we host Sheppey United. Next Saturday we travel to League leaders Ramsgate before another three consecutive home matches against Burgess Hill, Three Bridges and Hythe Town.
OWNERSHIP STATEMENT
In accordance with the Football Association's Rule 2.13 (publication of ownership) in relation to Step 1 to Step 6 Clubs within the National League System East Grinstead Town FC is an unincorporated association / members club and a Community Amateur Sports Club (reg no CASC 02270).
Followuson:
ClubManagement:
Chair & Treasurer: Richard Tramontin
Secretary & Vice chair: Brian McCorquodale
Senior Football Officer: Steve Norris
Head of Recruitment: Matt Wheeler
Commercial Manager: Steve Norris
Club Welfare Officer: Brian McCorquodale
Disability Welfare Officer: Stuart Gibson
Safety & Facilities Officer: Barry Bryant
Bar Manager: Stuart Gibson
Press Officer: Bruce Talbot
ED&I Officer: Andy Dodson
FootballManagement
Manager: Drew Cooney
Assistant Manager and Team Coach: Ian Nicholls
Assistant Team Coach: Steve Sargent, Matt Wheeler
Physiotherapist: Kate Moss
Kit manager: Adam Robinson
Disability Team Manager: Ant Bowler
Youth Coordinator & Development: Jay De Vito
Under-18 Managers: Lewis McDonnell & Kevin Wright
Under-16 Amber Manager: Lewis McDonnell
Under-16 Black Manager: Nigel Leach
Under-14 Manager: Sean Clarabut
Under-12 Amber Manager: Ted Symes
Under 12 Black Manager: Tom Butcher
Under 11 Manager: Ben Payne
FROM THE Dugout
THE START OF A BUSY PERIOD...
Welcome everyone for today’s fixture against Steyning Town, at the start of a very busy period for us. The run of postponements at home has been very frustrating, but I know the club was doing some work this week on the two problem areas on the pitch to make sure we can start playing at home again. We had a really positive December and January. Back-to-back Saturday wins started with a hard fought three points down in Littlehampton where we had to play 80 minutes with ten men.
We then had a really hard fixture the following midweek against my league favourites Sittingbourne where the final score of 3-0 flattered the hosts, as we were well in the game from start to finish. Decisions didn’t go our way on the night, but the lads put a hell of a shift in.
We then went away to Lancing a fortnight ago. The home team have beaten us twice this season at home in both league and cup so the boys and I were fired up to put this right. We started the game really positively and we led 3-2 with an hour played thanks to a great hat-trick by Fin Lovatt.
We then made some changes with 30 minutes to go and the lads who came on were absolutely fantastic and if I’m honest gave us a real lift and helped us add three more goals for an emphatic 6-2 win. The squad is really starting to buy into our work ethic mentality, and I believe that the recent additions of Luke Harrison, Will Hoare and Warren Colman have lifted the rest of the lads to work tirelessly in every game we play.
We know this is going to be a really tough match today and we are going to be playing SaturdayTuesday-Saturday for the next few weeks (weather permitting).
But with 11 of our remaining 18 games at home we have an opportunity to continue to climb the table. One thing is sure, we will need everyone to be ready to play.
As ever we thank all the fans who have travelled away for the last three away games. Your noise and support is unmatched and is vital to the lads. More of the same this afternoon please.
Thanks again, Drew
Drew
STEYNING TOWN COMMUNITY TheAwayEnd
Steyning Town Football Club was established in 1892 and was originally called Steyning. The club became founding members of the West Sussex Football League in 1896, joining the junior division.
The club joined Division Two of the Brighton, Hove & District League for the 1919–20 season, remaining in Division Two until the end of the 1933–34 season when they finished as champions and gained promotion to Division One. The club spent three seasons in the top division of the league before being relegated, but they finished as champions two seasons later in the 1938–39 campaign but were not promoted
After World War Two, the club was still playing in Division Two of the Brighton League until the end of the 1951–52 campaign when they gained promotion. The 1963–64 campaign saw the club gain promotion to Division Two of the Sussex County League.
For the next 17 seasons, Steyning stayed in Division Two until they gained promotion as champions to Division One at the end of the 1977–78 campaign. In the 1984–85 season they reached the quarter-finals of the FA Vase but managed to claim silverware when they won the Division One title for the first time. The following seasons, the club retained the league title and completed a treble by winning the Sussex Senior Cup and League Cup.
Steyning then left the league, to become one of the founder members of the Wessex Football League in 1986. They later joined Combined Counties Football League before returning to the Sussex County League second division. They went down to Division Three at the end of the 1996–97 campaign before winning promotion back to Division Two at the fifth attempt in 2002.
In 2013, Steyning Town FC merged with the Steyning Strikers (Juniors) to become Steyning Town Community FC with 18 teams from men down to under-6s and two girls’ teams. On 16 October 2015, the club opened its new 3G pitch at the Shooting Field ground.
The 2023-34 season was a historic one for our men's first team. Kev Green and his management team of Dan Viggers and Danny Wood won the Southern Combination Premier Division and the Peter Bentley Cup making it another double-winning season to earn promotion to the Isthmian League.
The resignation of Green in the summer meant a return to the helm for previous manager Gerry Murphy, who installed Alex Gathern, the ex-club captain, as his assistant.
The club now have over 450 registered players. We also have England Club Two Star status. We are a true community club.
FIXTURES & RESULTS
AUGUST
Sat 3 AugAGlebeFA Cup EP2-0192Folkes, Tighe
Sat 10 AugAMargateIsthmian South East0-0402
Sat 17 AugHRedhillFA Cup P1-3193Spinks
Fri 23 AugHAFC Croydon AthleticIsthmian South East2-1228Lawson, Weaire
Mon 26 AugASevenoaks TownIsthmian South East2-2107Harris, Daniel
Sat 31 AugHDeal TownIsthmian South East2-3124Daniel, Tighe SEPTEMBER
Tue 3 SepHMersthamVelocity Cup 20-1115
Sat 7 SepAHartley WintneyFA Trophy 1Q1-2163Harris
Tue 10 SepHBroadbridge HeathIsthmian South East1-293Folkes
Sat 14 SepAPhoenix SportsIsthmian South East2-186Daniel, Weaire
Sat 28 SepABurgess Hill TownIsthmian South East1-2415Humpherston OCTOBER
Tue 8 OctANewhavenSussex Cup 21-1Harris
East Grinstead Town win 7-6 on penalties
Sat 12 OctASteyning Town CommunityIsthmian South East3-2110Andrade Filipe, Tighe, Folkes
Tue 15 OctHAshford UnitedIsthmian South East1-3113Tighe
Sat 26 OctAThree BridgesIsthmian South East1-066Christmas NOVEMBER
Sat 2 NovHErith TownIsthmian South East0-4123
Tue 5 NovABroadbridge HeathIsthmian South East2-4107Daniel, Tighe
Sat 9 NovHPhoenix SportsIsthmian South East4-2101Harris, Humpherston, Christmas, Daniel
Tue 12 NovHLancingSussex Cup 30-277
Sat 16 NovAAshford UnitedIsthmian South East0-3434
Sat 30 NovHLancingIsthmian South East1-3119Jabbie DECEMBER
Tue 3 DecHRamsgateIsthmian South East2-1102Lovatt 2
Sat 14 DecAHerne BayIsthmian South East2-1374Thompson, Harris
Tue 17 DecABeckenham TownIsthmian South East2-2182Tighe, Harris
Thu 26 DecAEastbourne TownIsthmian South East1-1309Tighe
Sat 28 DecHMargateIsthmian South East0-2210
JANUARY
Sat 18 JanALittlehampton TownIsthmian South East1-0278Harris pen
Tue 21 JanASittingbourneIsthmian South East0-3189
Sat 25 JanALancingIsthmian South East6-2263Lovatt 3, Daniel 2, Tighe
FEBRUARY
Sat 15 FebHSteyning Town CommunityIsthmian South East3pm
Tue 18 FebHSheppey UnitedIsthmian South East7.30pm
Sat 22 FebARamsgateIsthmian South East3pm
Tue 25 FebHBurgess Hill TownIsthmian South East7.30pm
MARCH
Sat 1 MarHThree BridgesIsthmian South East3pm
Tue 4 MarHHythe TownIsthmian South East7.30pm
Sat 8 MarAErith TownIsthmian South East3pm
Tue 11 MarHBeckenham TownIsthmian South East7.30pm
Sat 15 MarHHerne BayIsthmian South East3pm
Sat 22 MarAHythe TownIsthmian South East3pm
Tue 25 MarHSevenoaks TownIsthmian South East7.30pm
Sat 29 MarHLittlehampton TownIsthmian South East3pm
APRIL
Sat 5 AprASheppey UnitedIsthmian South East3pm
Sat 12 AprHSittingbourneIsthmian South East3pm
Sat 19 AprADeal TownIsthmian South East3pm
Mon 21 AprHEastbourne TownIsthmian South East3pm
Sat 26 AprAAFC Croydon AthleticIsthmian South East3pm
TEAM LINE UP
EAST GRINSTEAD TOWN F.C. STEYNING TOWN COMMUNITY
Mattie Pierson nn
Warren Colman nn
Tom Cadman nn
Michael Wilson nn
Matthew Weaire nn
Glenn Wilson (C) nn
Finlay Lovatt nn
Charlie Harris nn
Connor Tighe nn
Alex Andrade Filipe nn
Omar Folkes nn
Matthew Daniel nn
Kieran Humpherston nn
Will Hoare nn
Luke Harrison nn
Terlochan Singh nn
Colours: Amber & Black
SEAN AGUN nn
JACK BARNES nn
FINLAY CHADWICK nn
NATHAN DA COSTA nn
ROSS EDWARDS nn
ROCCO GAMBLIN nn
CAVAN GRATWICK nn
DAN HOWICK nn
EDGARAS KAZLAUSKAS nn
HARVEY KILLICK nn
LUCAS MURRAIN nn
CALUM POLITT nn
JOE RADLEY-MARTIN nn
ETHAN ROBERTS nn
ELLIOTT ROMAIN nn
NATHAN STROOMBERG nn
HARRY SHOOMAN nn
NEXT MATCH
Sheppey United
Tuesday 18th February 2025
7.30pm
MATCH OFFICIALS:
Referee: David Spain
Assistant Ref: Gulam Damji
Assistant Ref: Tom Reed
EAST GRINSTEAD TOWN HISTORY
Programmes from the Past by Lester Medcalf
I have a couple of programmes for games played in the past on more or less the same date as this afternoon's match. First up is East Grinstead v Selsey on Saturday 14 February 2004 in division onethe top division - of the Sussex County League.
Bruce Talbot's programme notes welcome our visitors from the deep south of Sussex with a reminder that we had been down to Selsey for our away league match in October and had been well beaten 3-0.
For us however there was ”a fantastic achievement” to be celebrated as we had recently reached our first cup final in 25 years - having beaten Oakwood in the semi-final of the RUR Charity Cup. Not surprisingly the programme gives us a very busy match report as well as Bruce Talbot's notes. The semi-final wasn't a great game but we had started in the best possible way with Kris Trevor chipping the ball over the opposition keeper's head inside the first minute to give us a very early lead. Our defence looked very solid for most of the game and we made the semi-final safe some ten minutes from the end with Steve Banks producing one of his towering headers.
The final would be played towards the end of March at the home of the Sussex County FA in Lancing. Would we hire a coach for our supporters? Decision had still to be made.
Perhaps not a surprise that our following league match – away to Rye three days after the semi-final – we lost 2-0. However it was our first league defeat in 6 games.
Back to our Selsey visitors who, since that win against us, had found things difficult and they were now second from bottom in the league. We were doing OK in seventh place. The Selsey goalkeeper was at his 100% best but was unable to stop Adam Dart and Steve Banks scoring in the first 30 minutes or so. Selsey did pull a goal back ten minutes into the second half but 2-1 to us was how it ended.
UP AGAINST A BRICKIES' WALL
Moving on a few years we have East Grinstead v Sittingbourne on Tuesday 16 February 2016 in the Isthmian League, though you might find the date difficult to find from the programme we issued. Richard Tramontin's tells us that “I hope you will appreciate that rather then scrapping the programme that was printed for Saturday's postponed home match we have produced a four page update” which was to go alongside Saturday's programme produced for a match against Chipstead. The four page update didn't give the date of the Sittingbourne match while the programme for the Saturday match against Chipstead said that it was being played on February 16 – I've just finished working out that the programme for the Saturday Chipstead match should have said Saturday February 13.
There's not much to read in the four page update. A welcome to the Brickies from Sittingbourne as well as to the match officials and a quick comment on Sittingbourne's recent form. They had played and lost on the Saturday but had taken seven points from their three games before then - which meant they had overtaken us, though we did have a couple of games in hand. We did have a league table showing Sittingbourne in 17th place and us three places further down (with 24 teams in the league) – a good match for one of us to win. However, we had been in a bad run with our 6 games since Christmas producing just a single point. And things didn't get any better as Sittingbourne went home with a 2-0 win. If you’ve had your memory jogged by this article then I’d be happy to hear from you at lestermedcalf@btinternet.com.
WINNING FEELING ON THE ROAD
Warren Colman (above) and Camron Lawson (below) in action in the wins over Littlehampton Town and Lancing respectively. Photos by Stuart Gibson.
MATCH ACTION
