East Grinstead Town v Littlehampton Town 29/10/22

Good afternoon and welcome to our visitors from Littlehampton, regular opponents of ours in our County League days. Every game is important of course, but a glance at the league table shows just what a difference three points could make to a clutch of teams from VCD Athletic in fourth down to Burgess Hill in 14th, with just six points separating ten clubs.

After two successive wins over Lancing and Three Bridges, then a dream start against Ramsgate when we took an early lead it's been disappointing to not get anything from the last two matches, but the overall signs are encouraging.

Finally, the draw for the Sussex Senior Cup 2nd round takes place at 5.45pm today and it's where we enter the competition.

East Grinstead Town FC is an unincorporated Community Amateur Sports Club.

1Ramsgate107212091123

United9621156920

Town9621157820

4VCD Athletic115241214-217

5Whitehawk8440114716

6Beckenham Town85121310416

7Sittingbourne104241210214

8Chichester City934298113

9East Grinstead Town104151113-213

10Hythe Town8332106412

11Cray Valley PM9333911-212

12Littlehampton Town933389-112

13Lancing103341215-312

14Burgess Hill Town932488-11

15Three Bridges93061115-49

16Haywards Heath Town102351318-58

17Sheppey United822479-25

18Sevenoaks Town721457-27

19Faversham Town8117819-114

20Corinthian10118519-144

Up to and including October 25

We welcome everyone back for today’s home fixtures against newly promoted Littlehampton.

The lads have had a tough couple of weeks against what’s likely to be two of the league title favourites in the way of Ramsgate and Whitehawk. I think when you look at both the games we have to be disappointed not to have come away with a point in both of them.

After taking the lead against Ramsgate at home we let them back in the game at vital stages and after pushing for an equaliser, after going 2-1 down, conceded a third goal which killed the game

Away last week to Whitehawk was more of the same, we more than matched them for the first 45 mins and were unlucky not to have gone in 1-0 up after we had a goal disallowed for offside. The second half playing up the hill took its toll and if I am honest I think we ran out of steam. They got there first goal and then scored a second in the later stages of stoppage time.

There were lots of positives to take from both games and the fact that both myself, Ian, Sarg and the lads were so disappointed with both results show how far we have come in a short space of time. As I say, both these teams will no doubt be fighting for the league title and promotion honours

We know today’s game will be very tough. Littlehampton are very well supported and will prove a good test for us as we attempt to get us back to winning ways. As always we thank you all for your continued support and look forward to seeing you all after the game

DREW COONEY

Goodlucktous,Drew

Photo courtesy of Stuart Gibson

Good afternoon everyone and welcome to The OHOB Community Stadium for today’s Isthmian League South East Division match against Littlehampton Town and we warmly welcome their players, management, officials and supporters.

A special welcome as well to today’s referee Gerry Heron and his assistants Daniel Head and Daniel Cooper.

Mitchell Hand and George Gaskin’s Littlehampton Town won promotion for the first time to the Isthmian League this season after a superb year in the Southern Combination Football League (or as we knew it ‘in old money’, the Sussex County Football League) and reaching the FA Vase Final at Wembley.

After their first nine games at Step 5, of which 6 have been away, they are in 12th spot with 12 points, three places below Wasps with one point less and a game in hand. Their last match was a 1-0 win away at Sittingbourne, thanks to a first half goal from Lewis Jenkins.

The last time the two clubs met was in the Sussex County League in our promotion winning 2013/14 season. Littlehampton finished two points below Wasps and were the only side to do the double over us that season. Drew Cooney, George Gaskin and Mitchell Hand, today’s three managers, all played in those matches – Drew had to be carried off in the first match with an ankle injury after 15 minutes – his Littlehampton counterparts fared better with George Gaskin scoring in both and Mitchell Hand in one. Drew will be looking for his side to turn the tables with three points this afternoon!

Wasps lost their last two league matches against Whitehawk and Ramsgate following wins against Three Bridges and Lancing, which themselves followed two losses - it would be ideal to follow the same pattern and now get two more wins - today and away at Faversham Town next Saturday.

Following our trip to Faversham we then host Harry Hudson’s Sevenoaks Town here on Saturday 12th November, followed by two Saturday away fixtures to Corinthian and VCD Athletic.

Jay De Vito’s Under 18s are in action here on Thursday evening against Chipstead in the league and the following Monday, 7th November, in the rearranged League Cup tie against Lewes, following the abandonment of the original match last week following a nasty injury to our 15-year-old keeper Ben Taylor. Andy Willis’ and Grant Hearn’s Under-23s then host Faversham Town here on Thursday 10th November. All three matches kick off at 7.30pm

I would like to thank you all for coming along this afternoon and whatever the outcome of the 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

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-2022RamsgateHPISEdiv 201 1-3PiersonF.WalshM.WalshPeranaParkerWilsonDanielBriggsAnderson 1CornwellPrice-PlacidUchechiUnwinSargent 18-Oct-2022LeatherheadHVT11191-1PiersonClarkeM.WalshUnwinParkerGarnerEverettAbieFolkesCascoe-NewmanPrice-PlacidWilliamsAkabuoguBuchananSargent 22/10/22WhitehawkAPISEdiv3510-2PiersonF.WalshStrakerPeranaParkerWilsonCornwellBriggsAndersonDanielM.WalshEverittPrice-PlacidCascoe29/10/22Littlehampton TownHPISEdiv

NOVEMBER

O5/11/22Faversham TownAPISEdiv

Sevenoaks TownHPISEdiv12/11/22

19/11/22 CorinthianAPISEdiv 26/11/22 VCD AthleticAPISEdiv

DECEMBER

03/12/22Beckenham TownHPISEdiv

10/12/22SittingbourneAPISEdiv

17/12/22Hythe TownHPISEdiv 26/12/22Haywards Heath TownAPISEdiv

JANUARY

02/01/23Chichester CityHPISEdiv

07/01/23Chatham TownAPISEdiv

14/01/23Cray ValleyHPISEdiv 21/01/23Faversham 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

Beckenham TownAPISEdiv VCD AthleticHPISEdiv 15/04/23 22/04/23

PROGRAMMES FROM THE PAST

It’s been a few years since we last played Littlehampton and I’ve been through my collection to pull out a couple of programmes for past games against them.

We go back a number of years for East Grinstead v Littlehampton on Saturday 19 February 1994 in Division One of the Sussex County League. Our programme in those days was a pretty decent one and was of course produced without the benefit of much of today’s technology.

Both teams were in the middle of the league with Littlehampton 9th and ourselves tenth, though we had played a couple of games more. The programme says that we had both “had an up and down sort of season” though Littlehampton’s two most recent games had seen them score five goals in each match. We had taken four points from our two most recent games, which came after a rather barren January when we had taken just one point from four games – and we’d only scored one goal.

We are reminded that not that long ago in season 1990/91 Littlehampton had won more or less every competition that they entered.

Even in the FA Vase they reached the semifinals (a performance they bettered in 2021/22 when they reached the final) and they reached the first round proper of the FA Cup before losing to Northampton Town.

The programme had very full and excellent match reports of our three most recent first team games. We’re also told that our Under 18s had recently played their first game in two months – a Cup match at Three Bridges. It had ended up 1-1 and was abandoned in extra time as the weather got worse. Afterwards it was discovered that there should not have been any extra time.

Let’s get back to the game against Littlehampton. We had already played the away match in September when goals by Colin Oakes and Steve Norris gave us a 2-1 win. And here at East Court the pitch cut up very badly but goals from Steve Hatswell – his first in four years – and Steve Banks – his first ever first

team goal – gave us a 2-0 win.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 11

This was the cover we used for all programmes in 1993-94.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10

We move on a few years for East Grinstead v Littlehampton on Saturday 6 October 2007, though this time in division two of the County League – can someone remind me who our player is on the front cover of the programme?

The programme talks a lot about our previous Saturday’s game at home to Lancing when we had most of the game but found goals difficult to come by. But when it looked as if Lancing would perhaps hold on for a goal-less draw Simon Funnell scored with some 15 minutes to go – and it was the only goal. Manager Steve Norris – the same Steve Norris who scored down in Littlehampton in 1994 – was pleased with the patience shown by our players.

He also mentioned that it was the first time in seven games that we had not conceded a goal –perhaps very much helped by Drew Cooney (the same Drew Cooney managing us in 2022) returning to our defence?

The programme carries a lot of information about the forthcoming Fireworks Display which would once again take place at the ground. And with Christmas not that far away our Commercial Manager Lee Quinn talked about Monopoly madness. However, he didn’t as yet know if the football club would feature on the Monopoly board itself – did we?

The match? The programme’s league table shows us in second place with a 100% six wins in six games while Littlehampton are fourth with five wins and one defeat in their six games. If you had arrived five minutes late you would have missed the first two goals – both to Littlehampton.

It took us some while to get back into the game and it was still 2-0 at half-time. However early in the second half Mannie Neville scored. With 15 minutes to go substitute Simon Tadman equalised and in the last few minutes Marc Pelling put his head among flying boots to win the game for us.

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

the

LITTLEHAMPTON TOWN

James Binfield

Nicknamed ‘Bins’ our man between the sticks is one of the friendliest guys in the changing room. Formerly at Pagham, Binfield allows the team to play from the back or he can set up an attack.

Lewis Jenkins

Working with his centre-half team-mate Jordan Clark, Jenkins helped make a formidable defence last season and has also been known to score a few goals too. A hardworking member of the squad.

Jordan Clark

Joined the team last year and became one of the most dependable players in the group. Captain, leader and always in control of the players around him.

Dion Jarvis

Fast, direct and a goal scorer. Has played at the back and in the midfield but is at his best on the left side of the pitch terrorising defences with his pace and attacking prowess.

Lucas Pattenden

One of the younger members of the squad and it’s impossible not to notice this winger’s pace. There is nothing less than 110 per cent commitment to going forward and he never gives up.

Shay Wiggans

A long-time Gold, Shay is rock solid in defence and always reliable. He gives his all and is not shy off the pitch; a big character who isn’t afraid to speak his mind.

Scott Packer

After a long injury Scott returned to the squad last year following a few seasons where he played for other teams including Shoreham. He’s jokingly known as the team’s James Milner…

Mitchell Hand

Has been with the team for a number of years and was arguably the best left back in the

County League. Today he is joint manager of the club along with his good friend George Gaskin.

Scott Kirkwood Joined halfway through last year and is by far the most experienced player in the squad. He came into the team and added a lot of quality to the midfield. Was unlucky to miss the FA Vase final at Wembley in May through suspension.

George Gaskin

A long-time Gold, George has consistently been one of our top scorers and is never under pressure in front of goal. Highly respected and now joint manager alongside Mitch Hand.

Liam Hendy

Over the summer Hendy signed for the Golds having spent a decade playing for Sussex side Lancing and most recently as captain too. He joins the squad along with his defensive partner Will Berry.

Joe Benn

Last season was one Joe Benn will never forget. He was top scorer in the league and in all competitions amassed an incredible 60 goals in a Littlehampton Town shirt, even though he spent time on the sidelines with injury.

Scott Faber

to the squad this season and proving to be a good midfield player with goals in him.

visitors recent league forM

TODAYS

VS

EAST

Matte Pierson

Fintan

Tariq

Lewis Unwin

Harrison Parker

Glenn Wilson

Matthew Daniel

Andrew Briggs

Miles Cornwell

Daniel Uchechi

Tahjae Anderson

Max Walsh

Thibault Abie

Omar Folkes

Aaron Clarke

Reece Price-Placid

Shea Cascoe

Oliver

TOWN

Lewis Jenkins

Dion Jarvis

Scott Faber

Liam Hendy

Jordan Clark

Lucas Pattenden

Scott Kirkwood

George Gaskin

Joe Benn

Luke Donaldson

Marshall Ball

Tarun Rohilla

Scott Packer

Dave Herbert

Josh Short

Manager: G.Gaskin & M.Hand

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

SEVENOAKS TOWN

Saturday, November

Kick

TODAY’S OTHER

Chatham

Haywards

Sittingbourne

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