- 2 days ago
Matt Pole is joined by Sussex sport guru Steve Bone - and for a change, it’s just the two of them chewing the fat!
This weekend sees six non-league divisions, which involve our sides from Sussex, get underway.
In this episode, Matt and Steve preview the opening weekends in the National League South, Isthmian Premier, Isthmian South East, Isthmian South Central, the SCFL Premier, and SCFL Division 1, before making fools of themselves as they predict who will finish highest in those aforementioned leagues.
This weekend sees six non-league divisions, which involve our sides from Sussex, get underway.
In this episode, Matt and Steve preview the opening weekends in the National League South, Isthmian Premier, Isthmian South East, Isthmian South Central, the SCFL Premier, and SCFL Division 1, before making fools of themselves as they predict who will finish highest in those aforementioned leagues.
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SportsTranscript
00:00Welcome to another episode of the Sussex Non-League podcast where we take a look at all the latest goings-on at grassroots football across the county.
00:07I'm Matt Pohl and on this edition I'm joined by Sussex sport guru Steve Bone and for a change it will just be the two of us having a chin wag.
00:16This weekend sees six non-league divisions which involve our sites from Sussex get underway.
00:21In this episode we will preview the opening weekends in the National League South, Isthmian Premier, Isthmian South East,
00:27Isthmian South Central for the first time ever, the SCFL Premier and SCFL Division One before we make absolute idiots of ourselves as we predict who will finish highest in those aforementioned leagues.
00:39But we will start in the FA Cup where 25 sides from Sussex took part in the extra preliminary round last weekend.
00:45There is glory for some while others fell at the first hurdle.
00:48Steve, which of our clubs advanced to the extra preliminary round and who will they face in the preliminary round which I believe is on the 16th of August?
00:56It is. Yes, there was the usual array, you know, with any round in the FA Cup you get an array of stories of joy and agony, don't you?
01:06And in Sussex we had plenty of those, plenty of both really, and we're left with 10 Sussex teams in the next round which I'll come to in a bit.
01:15But just to run through what happened last Saturday and the winners first of all, and headline makers really were Seaford Town I think.
01:22They created a new FA Cup record by playing their first tie in the competition for 114 years, which is a record for the Cup.
01:33Incredible really, they just hadn't been at a high enough level to play in the Cup for all that time.
01:39They're now back at step five obviously for the season ahead.
01:44And before Saturday they'd never won in the FA Cup either.
01:47They've now put that right as well because they beat Sutton Athletic down at the Crouch last weekend, 1-0.
01:56Great day for the club, real sort of sense of history.
01:59I think even just playing in the FA Cup again was probably enough for them, but to win and then they're now through to another home tie in the next round.
02:06So brilliant for them.
02:09Also successful last weekend were Haseks who beat Rainers Lane at home.
02:15Ocean YMCA who won in one of the Sussex derbies, they won at Pagan.
02:19Three Bridges won in another of the county derbies, they beat Shoreham.
02:22So they're through.
02:24Stedding Town had a great game.
02:27Colin Bowman went to Bad Shot Lee to cover them for us in his new series, Bowman on the Road, which you can see on Sussex World.
02:34Do have a look at that.
02:36It was 3-3 after about 20 minutes, I think, or certainly very early.
02:40And Stedding went on to win 6-3.
02:42So a bit of a crazy one there, but they've come through that and done really well.
02:47Eastbourne United had quite a notable win.
02:49They went to East Grinstead Town who are a step above them.
02:53Step four against step five.
02:54And Eastbourne United actually won 4-1 against the Wasps.
02:58So good win for them.
02:59Crobra Athletic drew away to Punjab last Saturday, but won the replay at home in midweek.
03:07Littlehampton Town, like Stedding, went away from home and found the goal touch.
03:11They won 5-2 at Hive Town.
03:14Bexhill United are through.
03:16They beat Shearwater 3-1 with a 16-year-old among the goal scorers.
03:21So a nice story there.
03:24And in the other Sussex derby, Lansing beat Crawley down Gatwick 1-0.
03:28So plenty of Sussex sides through.
03:30Quick look at the ones who didn't make it through.
03:32Eastbourne Town drew with Ashford Town and then lost 3-2 in the replay.
03:37Peacehaven and Towskine also drew at home in the first game.
03:41They drew with Harefield, lost 3-2 as well in the replay.
03:45AFC Van Denians lost at home to Tootie and Mitcham.
03:49Newhaven went out at South Park.
03:52Wick lost, gave a good account of themselves, but lost at home to VCD.
03:58Broadbridge Heath lost at home to Cobham.
04:00Ruffey went out at AFC Croydon Athletic.
04:04East Grinston, as we've mentioned, they lost to Eastbourne United.
04:07Haywood's Heath Town are out.
04:08They lost to Ashford.
04:09Forest Row went out at Rains Park Vale.
04:12Little Common drew with Southall in the first game on Sunday.
04:16Lost at Southall in the replay, 3-0 on Wednesday night.
04:21Midhurst lost 1-0 at home to Knapp Hill.
04:24And I think that is pretty much the whole of the last round summed up for our Sussex teams.
04:29So it leaves us with 10 ties to look forward to in the preliminary round,
04:33which as you said is 16th of August.
04:35Quickly run through them.
04:36Quite a few of our teams at home, which is good.
04:39So you've got Bexhill against Rains Park Vale.
04:42Hackney Wick against Bognor.
04:43Bognor come into the next round.
04:46It would be an interesting trip for them.
04:48Hassex against Beckenham.
04:50Hastings against Harrow Borough.
04:51Lansing against Harefield.
04:53Littlehampton against North Greenford.
04:56Seaford, who we talked about, the historic win that they now look to go a little bit further.
05:00They're at home to AFC Whiteleaf.
05:03Eastbourne United away to Sheppie.
05:05Stenning at home to Hendon after their good win in the last round.
05:08And we do have a Sussex derby, another one for three bridges, three bridges against Walsham YM.
05:14So 10 games there to look forward to next weekend.
05:17And there are another seven, I think, Sussex non-league sides who are not in the Cup yet,
05:23but will come in.
05:24Basically, the Step 2 and Step 3 clubs will come into the Cup during the qualifying round.
05:29So, yeah, plenty of Sussex interest in there still.
05:31And hopefully a few of those teams will get through a few more rounds yet.
05:36Yes, absolutely.
05:37And best of luck to all those teams who are looking forward to a preliminary round game on the 16th of August.
05:41Moving on to league matters.
05:43This Saturday sees the moment all non-league fans have been waiting for the start of the 2025-26 season.
05:49We will start our opening day round up in the National League South,
05:51which contains three of our sides, Worthing, Eastbourne Borough and newly promoted Horsham.
05:55So, Steve, who do the trio kick off their respective campaign against?
06:00And do you think we could potentially see a clean sweep of successes?
06:04No.
06:05I don't think we're going to.
06:07I don't want to be negative or downbeat, but I don't think all three will win on the opening day.
06:13There we go.
06:13I've said it.
06:14I'm sorry.
06:14Sorry to those I'm not predicting to win.
06:17The two of them have got tough away games, you see.
06:19Horsham style at Chelmsford City.
06:21That's not really where you would want to start in your first season at step two, I don't think.
06:27No.
06:27A, because it's a very difficult place to go.
06:30And, you know, no disrespect to Chelmsford and the good people of Chelmsford City.
06:35It's not the most glamorous tie they could have had.
06:38Probably, if they were going to be on the road, maybe they'd have rather been going to Torquay or something like that.
06:43Yeah.
06:43Or one of the less fancied teams.
06:45But I think Chelmsford will probably be quite strong this year.
06:47So, tough start for Dom and the lads at Chelmsford.
06:51And I think there's going to be many games this season where Horsham will be happy to grind out a point.
06:57And I think that will be well.
06:59Similar story, really, for Eastbourne Borough.
07:03I'm just getting the feeling that Eastbourne Borough could do with another week or so before the season started.
07:08I think there's still three or four players probably short of where they want to be with their squad.
07:14Matt Gray has pretty much said as much.
07:17You know, he said, we're still working hard to bring people in.
07:20It's not easy.
07:21He's new to the job himself.
07:23And it's not an easy kickoff for them.
07:25Either they go to Farnborough, over to Hampshire to face Farnborough, who, again, they're not one of the top sides in the division.
07:34But they're one of those that could be going for the playoffs, something like that.
07:38So, Eastbourne Borough are probably another side who would be happy to pick up a point on the first day.
07:43I think that one of our three Sussex teams in this league that will want to get three points on the opening day, and I think they will, is Worthing.
07:52They're home to Bath City.
07:53But Bath, you'd probably put in that same bracket as Farnborough and Chelmsford, actually, in that, you know, they've got a chance.
08:00They're not one of the biggest spenders.
08:03They're not probably going to run away with the title or anything, but they'll be solid.
08:06They'll be good.
08:07They'll be hard to beat.
08:07But Worthing, I've had a good pre-season, training four times a week instead of two.
08:12Chris Agatha, very upbeat about how they're looking, you know, how far ahead of where they were last year, they are this year.
08:20So, I would go for Worthing to be the first Sussex team to pick up maximum points in that division.
08:26Yeah.
08:27I mean, you speak to Dom regularly.
08:29What would you say about Horsham going to challenge?
08:32Well, yeah, it's funny she mentioned that.
08:34I think on the whole, Dom has described that opening month, I think, of the National League South as a baptism of fire.
08:40Because once they've come back from Chelmsford, they've got the small matter of a West Sussex derby against Worthing to come, which will be a hell of a game.
08:49And I think at the end of the month, they play Eastbourne Borough.
08:53And the start of September, they are playing Torquay.
08:56So, if you wanted to have any idea of the scale of the challenge that Horsham are going to face this season in the National League South,
09:03if you look at that opening month and think, core blimey, this might be a rocky road.
09:07But in past seasons, Horsham have been notoriously slow starters.
09:12So, I hope that they kind of muddle their way through that first month.
09:16And as they get up to the speed and rigour of…
09:18A couple of wins, isn't there?
09:19Yeah.
09:20Yeah, step two.
09:21They kind of embed themselves in the league.
09:23Chatting to Dom, I think he said that survival alone would be a great season for Horsham at National League South.
09:30And I couldn't agree more when you look at the calibre of teams in there, like Dagenham.
09:34We've mentioned Torquay.
09:35I think Salisbury are owned by a Kuwaiti millionaire or billionaire or something like that.
09:41So, yeah, interesting season.
09:44We should also mention that Horsham have won four trophies in their last four games.
09:48They picked up the Sussex Community Shield against Sussex, winning 1-0.
09:53The big one, as Dom would no doubt tell me, before absolutely thumping Biliriki 6-0 in the Isthmian League Charity Shield.
09:59So, they've had an almost perfect start to the season, if you think them as competitive games.
10:04But best of luck to all three of our sides in this season.
10:07They've done the quadruple already, Horsham.
10:11They can just stick their feet up for the rest of the year now, can't they?
10:14Yeah, absolutely.
10:14Everything else is a bonus now for them, isn't it?
10:17Yes, best of luck to Horsham and best of luck to Worthing and Eastbourne Borough this season and the National League South.
10:23Moving on to the Isthmian Premier, that also gets underway this weekend with four of our teams.
10:27Chish the City, Lewis, Whitehawk and newly promoted Burgess Hill Town.
10:30The new season actually gets underway on Friday night when Avery entertain Brentwood Town.
10:34But Chai, the Rooks, the Hawks and the Hillians all kick off on Saturday.
10:39Who will these four be meeting on the opening day, Steve?
10:41It seems, typing out the teams in the division this year, it seems like we're quite light on Sussex teams by usual standards.
10:49I think we had six last year from Sussex.
10:52We've lost three of those.
10:54One to promotion, two to relegation and only gained one Burgess Hill Town.
11:00So we're down to four.
11:01But nevertheless, there are four teams that I think will compete well in this division.
11:06So the kick-off for each of them this Saturday is like this.
11:12We've got Chichester City at home to Folkestone.
11:15Lewis at home to Hashtag United.
11:18Burgess Hill are going to Potter's Bar.
11:20And Whitehawk are going to Ramsgate.
11:22So I would say that of those four, probably Lewis have got the best chance there of a winning start.
11:30Brad Pritchard, obviously the manager down there now, he's going to be a guest on this podcast fairly soon, we hope as well.
11:37So he'll be telling us how he's been getting on.
11:40Like a lot of our clubs, he's had a lot of squad building to do this season, this closed season rather.
11:47A lot of new players have gone in there, but they've made some notable signings.
11:53Jordan Maguire drew one of them, a very experienced player who I think would do well for them.
11:58If they can get a good start, do you remember last year that under Craig Nelson, they had a flying start?
12:03They were top as well.
12:05So Brad will be looking for something similar.
12:08So I think they might get off to a winning start.
12:10I think it's going to be harder for the others though.
12:13Let's look at the two away teams.
12:15The two of our teams were away.
12:16Whitehawk at Ramsgate.
12:18Ramsgate are very much on the up, you know, being promoted, having threatened to get promoted for quite some time.
12:25But they will, I'm sure, do well this season.
12:28So that'll be a tough one for Whitehawk.
12:30Again, they'd be happy to come away from there with a point.
12:33Ramsgate, by the way, I know it was only a friendly, but beat Hastings 5-0 in a friendly last weekend.
12:39So they're obviously, you know, they're finding a bit of form already, scoring goals.
12:43So it'll be hard for the Hawks.
12:44Burgess Hill going to Potter's Bar.
12:47Good, good, good kind of sort of test for them in their first game, really.
12:53Burgess Hill, of course, are going to play five or six games away from home to start the season because their 3G pitch is not ready yet.
12:58But it is nearly ready.
13:01And I think 9th of September, Burgess Hill play their first home game.
13:05They'll be going to Potter's Bar.
13:06Bit of an unknown quantity.
13:08I mean, Burgess Hill are the unknowns, aren't they?
13:11Like Chichester were last year.
13:12Yeah.
13:13Do you think Burgess Hill will surprise a few teams this year?
13:16Yes.
13:16There'll be teams playing them thinking, oh, these have just come up.
13:19We should be able to beat these easily.
13:21But actually, we've got a good solid team, solid squad.
13:24They've kept most of last season's squad and added quite well to it as well.
13:29Another three signings actually this week.
13:31So they've added six new signings, I think, in total.
13:34But first day away to Potter's Bar, you'd be happy with the point, wouldn't you?
13:38Yeah.
13:38I've started for Chichester City at home to Folkestone.
13:41Folkestone are very much one of the sort of bigger spenders, I think, in this division,
13:48or apparently so.
13:49You know, a lot of clubs who are called big spenders deny it, don't they?
13:52They say, no, we only spend a pittance.
13:54But I don't know what Folkestone are saying.
13:56But there's a few full-time teams in this division this season,
14:00which I've spoken to Daba at Chichester City about.
14:03That's just going to make it harder for teams like Chichester,
14:06clearly not full-time, and are on lower budgets.
14:09It's going to make it harder for them to compete.
14:11Just to finish sixth last year, they'll do well to do that well again.
14:17And I think, you know, if they kick off with a draw against Folkestone,
14:20that's probably not a bad start for them.
14:22Yeah, absolutely.
14:23You mentioned full-time teams in the Isthmian Premier.
14:26That just seems ridiculous to me, Steve.
14:28I don't know about you.
14:29It's how, you know, clubs wouldn't be doing it
14:34unless they thought they could make it work and make it sustainable.
14:38But you can't do it on attendances and sort of general revenue.
14:44You've either got to have a very well-off owner or chairman,
14:49or you've got to have a big-name, big-money sponsor on board
14:53who you're pretty sure is going to stay with you long-term.
14:56I'd be interested to know how clubs at that level –
15:00it's funny that so many at that sort of level seem to have gone full-time
15:03at the same time.
15:05It's been happening more at national –
15:06we've talked about it, haven't we, at national south level.
15:09More and more of those teams at the top end of that are full-time now.
15:12And for some, that's worked well.
15:14For others, they've still underachieved.
15:16Worthing have moved to a sort of hybrid model.
15:19They're halfway to go full-time,
15:22training twice as much as they did last year.
15:24But at step three, it's just, you know, a few years ago,
15:26you'd never have thought it possible, would you?
15:27So, the clubs who are full-time at step three
15:32clearly think they shouldn't be at step three for very long
15:35and will want to be moving on up.
15:37But if there is five clubs at step three who are full-time,
15:42they're not all going to go up.
15:43You know, three of them are going to fail this year,
15:46to be blunt about it.
15:47So, what happens then?
15:49You know, how long do you stay full-time without making that step up?
15:52So, yeah, it'll be very interesting to see how the Isthmian Prem shapes up.
15:57There's bound to be a few of the clubs you'd expect to be at the bottom at the top
16:01and vice versa.
16:03Always the case.
16:05Yes, absolutely.
16:06And I just hope the full-time teams who don't go up survive the season
16:10and they're not left in financial ruin.
16:12There's always that worry, isn't there, with those finances.
16:15Yeah.
16:16Good luck to you.
16:16Yes, absolutely.
16:19Moving on to the Isthmian South East now.
16:21That division features heavy Sussex representation this season.
16:24We know less than seven teams competing in the 22-team division.
16:28I hope I've got all these, and I apologise if I haven't,
16:30but I've counted and triple-counted the script to make sure there are seven names
16:33in this, Steve.
16:34Broadbridge Heath, East Princeton Town, Eastbourne Town, three bridges.
16:37New boys, Crowborough Athletic and Hassex, as well as Hastings United,
16:41who have dropped down from the Isthmian Premier,
16:43will duke it out at step four this season.
16:44Lots of Sussex interest in that, and hopefully seven names there, Steve.
16:48Do we have any Sussex derbies to look forward to at the Sardom campaign
16:52and any of those lucky seven off to Jersey near the start of the season?
16:57No, there's no trips to Jersey just yet.
17:01In fact, Jersey's first game is a nice trip to Margate.
17:05Where would you rather start your season than Margate?
17:08Make a weekend of it by the seaside.
17:10But no, we've got two Sussex derbies among the fixtures for the opening weekend.
17:15So we've got Broadbridge Heath against Crowborough and three bridges against Eastbourne Town.
17:21Both quite intriguing.
17:22It'll be interesting to see how Crowborough start.
17:25They're kind of following in Broadbridge Heath's footsteps, in a way,
17:29in coming up from step five to step four.
17:32Broadbridge Heath have done well and have been quite stable at that level.
17:35Crowborough will hope to be the same, but that's a difficult first game for them, really.
17:42Broadbridge Heath, as we said, did lose in the FA Cup last weekend,
17:45so Crowborough might think it's a good time to play them.
17:49Three bridges against Eastbourne.
17:50Three bridges have been very strong in this division last two seasons.
17:53Made the playoffs in 24.
17:55Lost to Chai, of course, in the final.
17:58And were just off the playoffs last year.
18:01Should do well again, really.
18:02A couple of decent signings down there.
18:06They will fancy themselves at home to Eastbourne Town, I think, on the first day.
18:12Elsewhere, on Saturday, we've got East Grinstead going to AFC Whiteleaf.
18:19We've got Hastings United kicking off against a home to Erith Town.
18:23Hastings have actually got three home games in the first week
18:26because they play Eastbourne Town in midweek.
18:30I think it's on Wednesday was due to be at Eastbourne Town,
18:33but Eastbourne Town are still installing some new floodlights.
18:36So that has been switched to Hastings.
18:37So it gives Hastings two home games at the pilot field to kick off with,
18:41which could be a little advantage for them.
18:43They've then got an FA Cup tie against Harrow, as we've said the following weekend.
18:47And who haven't I mentioned?
18:51There's one other team, isn't there, that I haven't mentioned,
18:55and it is...
18:58Oh, Haseks.
18:58How could we forget Haseks?
19:01Historic day at Haseks in store.
19:03First ever game at Step 4 in their 123 years.
19:07They're home to Herne Bay.
19:08They had a nice sort of dress rehearsal for it last weekend in the FA Cup.
19:12The ground is looking splendid.
19:13We've had some nice pictures through from Phil Westlake,
19:16showing how spick and span the ground is.
19:17They're more than ready for this.
19:20You know, they knew for half of last season they were going to go up to Step 4.
19:23They've strengthened the side.
19:24James Westlake has got a good squad together there.
19:27You wouldn't bet against them kicking off with a win against Herne Bay this weekend.
19:32Absolutely.
19:32Best of luck to all those teams in that division this year.
19:34And staying in Step 4 and in a first for the pod,
19:38we will be running the rule over the Isthmian South Central,
19:40which contains West Sussex neighbours Bogner, Egestown and Little Ampton Town.
19:44The Rocks dropped into the South Central following relegation from the Isthmian Premier last season,
19:48while the Golds have been moved laterally from the Isthmian South East.
19:51All uncharted territory for both sides, Steve.
19:54Who do the Rocks and Golds begin their first ever Isthmian South East Central campaigns against?
19:59And do we think, probably a little bit more to discuss in depth later on,
20:03but do we think they'll be up there come the end of the season?
20:06It's so hard to predict because we know, I must confess,
20:09I know nothing about this division outside of a few teams.
20:11No, there's a lot of new teams and new places to visit for both Bogner and Little Hampton.
20:17There's more teams in that division that they don't know than teams they do know.
20:21There's a lot of Hampshire, sort of South East Hampshire sides in there
20:24where there will have been links between various clubs.
20:28You know, they'd have played friendlies or cup ties.
20:30Equally, managers and players would have gone between the two.
20:33You know, you're looking at clubs like Horndeen, Porterston,
20:36Bullockfields, Fairham Town even.
20:38You know, in terms of mileage, they're not very far away.
20:42And in fact, some of those trips for Bogner and Little Hampton
20:44will be nearer than if they're going to Bexhill or Hastings.
20:47So, I think as we've said on here, I don't think either of those clubs mind too much
20:53being in that division.
20:54The first weekend takes Bogner over to one of those Hampshire sides.
20:59AFC Portchester, just been promoted.
21:03I think they had a good FA Cup replay win in midweek.
21:07They scored a goal that has gone a bit viral as well.
21:10A chap called Lee Wart scored a great goal for them,
21:14which if people want to look it up on Twitter, you can do.
21:18It's a great control and finish.
21:20So, Bogner will have to look out for him.
21:22So, hard start for Bogner.
21:24Bogner sort of going into step four from above.
21:27Portester into step four from below.
21:30You kind of think Portester's tails will be up there.
21:33Bogner will have to be solid there not to get a beating.
21:38But I've added a lot of new players in the past two or three weeks as well.
21:43So, a good bit of competition for places now, I think, in the Bogner squad.
21:48Little Hampton don't play until Sunday.
21:51I think that is because the sports field is obviously still cricket ground
21:55and football ground at this time of year.
21:57Yeah, but they kick off at home to Ascot United,
21:59who I've got some of those Hampshire sides I know a little bit about.
22:03Ascot United, I know nothing about.
22:05I know they play near Ascot Racecourse and that's about the extent of my knowledge.
22:12As to how strong they are or how strong they're expected to be,
22:15I don't really know.
22:17I'm sure Little Hampton will have done more homework on it than me.
22:21They're kicking off at home.
22:23And, again, you know, if you're opening FA Cup game,
22:27is a little sort of step into the first league game,
22:31as it can be for some.
22:33Little Hampton will hope that's the case.
22:34Spoke to Vich Hand this week.
22:35He said they've really been struggling to score goals through pre-season.
22:39They went to Hyde Town in the FA Cup on Saturday and scored four in the first half.
22:43So, maybe they found that goal touch at just the right time.
22:47We'll find out on Sunday.
22:48Yes, absolutely.
22:49Best of luck to both Bognor and Little Hampton for those opening games.
22:52And, finally, for our opening day round-up,
22:54the SCFL Premier and SCFL Division I both get underway this weekend.
22:5820 teams will juke it out for the SCFL Premier Crown
23:01and promotion into the Isthmian League,
23:02while 18 sides will be gunning for SCFL Division I glory.
23:06Steve, we won't go for a full blow-by-blow in each division,
23:10but which are the standout fixtures from the opening weekend
23:12in these two divisions?
23:12And is anybody lucky enough to be away at Guernsey in the SFL Premier?
23:18Yes.
23:19Yes, I haven't got anybody off to Jersey,
23:22so there'll be no plane share arrangement.
23:25But Wick, the Dragons, are off to Guernsey for the weekend,
23:31and I think they're relishing the trip as well.
23:35You'd rather be going over there and doing all the flying
23:38and travelling this time of year.
23:39And in the middle of winter, wouldn't you,
23:41or on a Tuesday night in December or something.
23:43So, probably a good time to be going.
23:46And Wick, despite that defeat last week,
23:49had a good season.
23:50It was their first season back in the SCFL Premier last year,
23:53and they did okay.
23:54They held their own.
23:55They'll be looking to go a little bit better this year.
23:58And if you can go to Guernsey and win.
24:00I think Guernsey will be very hard to beat at home
24:02because of all the circumstances surrounding it.
24:06You know, there's a lot of travelling to do before you actually get out
24:09on the pitch, isn't there, for the away team.
24:11But maybe Wick will go over there and fancy their chances.
24:15Just pick out a couple of other fixtures from the opening weekend.
24:20Lansing, we've got, of course, Dean Cox back as manager.
24:23We've got a whole new squad.
24:24I think they've signed 22, 23 players or something in the summer,
24:28basically because they were starting from zero.
24:30So, good win against Crawley Down Gatwick in the FA Cup last weekend,
24:34and they're at home to promoted Forest Row.
24:37First up in the league, they should win that.
24:40You know, that's the sort of team they've got to be putting away
24:42if they're going to be at the top this season.
24:45And I think they probably will win that.
24:49Similarly, for Haywards Heath, you know, Haywards Heath were,
24:52it was a two-horse race last season, if you remember,
24:55for a little while between them and Asics.
24:57Haywards Heath then fell away, but still made the playoffs.
25:00They'll be expected to be strong again.
25:02Kev Green has got a good squad together there, some good signings.
25:06And they're at home to Seaford Town, also promoted as champions
25:12of Division I from last season.
25:14So, they will be thinking that's a game they need to sort of set the tone
25:19for the season with and get off to a good win.
25:22But, you know, as we've said, difficult division to call that.
25:26So, early games will be important for teams just to get a little lead at the top
25:31or a little, you know, we'll see if there's a pack of four or five teams again
25:35who go away at the top there over the first few games
25:38and maybe stay there for the whole division.
25:40Absolutely.
25:43Are you ready to make a fallout yourself, Steve Bone?
25:47I suppose we should, shouldn't we?
25:48Yeah, we should.
25:49If we don't do ourselves, somebody else would do it.
25:52Excuse me.
25:53Yeah, we should be sounding a little bit less begrudging about this.
25:55But, yeah, Steve and I are now going to predict who will finish,
25:58not necessarily top of the divisions, but who will be the leading Sussex club
26:01from the National League South down to the SCFL Division I.
26:05We will start with the National League South.
26:08And I have a feeling that we might pick the same team here, Steve.
26:10Who have you gone for?
26:12I'm going for Worthing.
26:13Yes, I'm also.
26:14They just seem, they seem in a better sort of place at the moment.
26:20I mean, you know, I might change my mind if Eastbourne sign five superstars
26:24between now and the end of August.
26:27But I think as things stand at the moment, Worthing,
26:30you can see Worthing finishing top three or four again.
26:33I'm not saying they're going to win the title.
26:35I think the title will be very hard.
26:36You know, you've got your Dagenham and Torquay.
26:38And some people say Maidenhead will be strong.
26:41And, you know, other teams who didn't quite make it last year.
26:44But I would say Worthing will be the highest of the Sussex sides
26:48in that division, followed not too far behind probably by Eastbourne Borough.
26:53You know, they're strong and they should do well again after last year.
26:57And I think Horsham are probably looking at mid-table,
27:00maybe lower mid-table, something like that.
27:02I know Chris Agata disagrees with us on that.
27:05He thinks they're playoff contenders.
27:08Horsham themselves don't think they're playoff contenders.
27:11But so that would be my one, two, three.
27:14Yours, similar?
27:15I absolutely bang on, Steve.
27:17Yeah, I think that Worthing will definitely be in and amongst the playoffs.
27:22I think Eastbourne Borough might be up there,
27:24but might fall just short of the playoff places.
27:26We've discussed at length of the quality of this year's National League South.
27:30And you look at some of the names in there,
27:32I think it might be tough going for them this season.
27:36Horsham could be anything from mid-table to one place above the relegation zone for me.
27:41The only thing I fear about for Horsham is that I do worry that Horsham's squad
27:45may not be big enough at this stage.
27:47Maybe a few lone signings may come into season progresses or prefer the first game of the season.
27:52But, yeah, I might have to disagree with Chris Agata about saying they're playoff hopefuls.
27:57But I'm happy to be surprised, Steve.
27:59More than happy to be surprised.
28:01I can just add a bit of info into this as well from Kevin Anderson,
28:07who covers Eastbourne Borough for us.
28:08He's done a sort of team-by-team guide, which you can read if you're over that way
28:13in the Eastbourne Herald on Friday.
28:16It will also go on Sussex World as well.
28:19And he – so he's divided all the 24 teams.
28:22They're either tail-enders, glancing over shoulders, looking up, in other words, contenders,
28:29or title chasers.
28:30He's three – he's only picked out three teams as title chasers.
28:35Okay.
28:36Torquay, Dagenham, and Maidenhead.
28:39He puts Worthing and Eastbourne into the looking-up category,
28:44and he puts Horsham in the glancing over shoulders category.
28:48So he doesn't think they're going to go down, but he thinks they will have a –
28:51they'll have to work hard to make sure they don't.
28:53For the record, his tail-enders are Dover, Slough, Tunbridge, and Hampton, Richmond.
29:00And he did the same last year, and he wasn't 100% right,
29:06but he watches a lot of football in that division, so he knows his stuff.
29:10Yes, absolutely.
29:11And I think the majority of the clubs, if you ask them now,
29:12if they take those positions, Horsham, Eastbourne, Borough, and Worthing,
29:15I think they'd be more than happy with that.
29:17But best of luck for those three teams for the coming season.
29:21Now we're moving on to the Isthmus League Premier, and I must admit, Steve,
29:23I struggled with this because I really think it could be one of the four.
29:28What do you reckon?
29:29It is difficult.
29:30You could make a case for any of those four to be the top side of that division.
29:35I'm going to go for Burgess Hill, and I think I might have alluded to this
29:39on a previous podcast.
29:41I just think they've got a bit of upward momentum.
29:44They've got good joint managers.
29:45You know, Jay and Gary have done a great job at Burgess Hill
29:48over the last couple of years.
29:51Jay has been at this level with them before.
29:54They've signed signings like Perez, the ex-Eastbourne player, Rocco Rees, the ex-Worthing keeper.
30:03Some more additions this week.
30:05I just think they might be this year's Chichester City in that they might have a good run top half
30:12and just flirt with the playoffs.
30:14But I also think any of the other three, Chichester, Whitehawk or Lewis, could do the same.
30:23I'm going to place Lewis as the second highest Sussex team in that division.
30:29Chichester third, Whitehawk fourth.
30:31But I don't think any of them will go down, and I don't particularly think any of them will be
30:35in the relegation fight as the season goes on.
30:39Hopefully not.
30:40But as we've said, with some full-time teams in there now, it becomes harder to predict.
30:47But I think all our Sussex sides will do well.
30:51It'll be fascinating to see which of them holds their own the best, really.
30:55Yeah, absolutely.
30:56I've seen quite a lot of people put Burgess Hill down as getting relegated, but I can't see that happening, to be honest.
31:02No, no.
31:04No.
31:04I mean, in terms of what I've gone for Lewis, I think that it's – I don't really know if they'll challenge for the playoffs.
31:12But like you said, I don't think any of them – any of our Sussex sides will, by the same token,
31:16I don't think necessarily any of them will be stuck in a relegation battle.
31:20I like the signing of Jordan McGrew-Dryer.
31:23I think that's a proper signing for Lewis.
31:27Yeah, I mean, them finishing the highest Sussex team may well be them finishing 11th or something like that.
31:35Yeah.
31:36I don't know.
31:37I really don't know.
31:38It's one I struggle with most.
31:39It is coming.
31:40Yeah, absolutely.
31:41Best of luck to those teams.
31:43We've covered ourselves enough there in saying we don't know what we're talking about and we haven't got to.
31:47We've said a lot without really giving an opinion, Steve.
31:51We'll be, yeah, politicians of us yet.
31:55It's been League South East now.
31:57A plethora of Sussex teams to choose from.
32:00Again, it's another one I sort of struggled with.
32:03I'd be interested to hear who you went for.
32:04Well, for me, it's between Three Bridges and Hastings in terms of which of those seven Sussex sites is going to be the highest place.
32:14And I'm going to go for Three Bridges.
32:16I think Three Bridges will be in the playoffs.
32:20Might even get a home playoff, something like that.
32:23Hastings, I think, will do okay.
32:25It will do well.
32:26They've got Brad Barry as captain.
32:28They've got some Dean Gunner experience at that level.
32:31They've made some good signings.
32:32Some good local lads have come back to Hastings, having gone away and played for other clubs.
32:36That's what Lee Carey is trying to do down there.
32:39But I spoke to Lee Carey this week and he's saying, you know, people who think we're going to be one of the big spenders in the division are not right
32:47because we've got a lot of stuff going on off the pitch.
32:50There's a lot of work he's doing at the pilot field.
32:52We have to set money aside for that because that's all going to start quite soon.
32:59So he said, don't expect us to be throwing money at this and at the squad.
33:03We've got to be sustainable.
33:06So, you know, that's a little note of caution, I think, for the Hastings fans.
33:11But they are a very well-supported club and at step four they should be at least top half.
33:16As for the others, again, difficult to predict.
33:19I think Broadbent Chief and Eastbourne Town both did really well last year and will do again.
33:22I can see either of them, you know, either of them could have a little go at the playoffs, possibly, but would be happy with the top half.
33:30East Grinstead as well.
33:32I mean, they were bottom half last year, but that could easily turn into a better campaign for them.
33:38I don't know much about the ins and outs down there.
33:41Haseks and Krobera, probably the first question you have to ask about Haseks and Krobera is, you know, can they stay up?
33:48I certainly think both can.
33:51And I'm going to say that I think both will, actually.
33:54I think they're not – neither of them are clubs who are sort of surprised to be going up to this level.
34:00You know, I think they've got – there's a lot of preparation gone in both those clubs into the season ahead.
34:07I think they might both be bottom half, but I think they'll be OK at the end of the season.
34:14Yes.
34:14Let's say your dog doesn't sound like he agrees with your predictions, Steve.
34:17He does, yes.
34:18Is that the equivalent of being heckled on a podcast?
34:21Yes.
34:21He always used to interrupt my phone calls with Danny Blore when he was at Hastings.
34:26And Danny then thought he must be a Hastings fan.
34:29So he's probably heard me mention Hastings United and he wants to go to the pilot field and see a game.
34:37Oh, brilliant stuff.
34:38Yes, I'm with you there on Three Bridges and Hastings – Hastings were so close to staying up last season.
34:45So, so close to staying up last season.
34:48And by the same token, if Three Bridges, I think, hadn't have been grand sharing at Chatham for the first –
34:52I think it was the first half of the season last season, I think they had been well amongst it for the playoffs.
34:58Yeah, absolutely.
34:59So I think it's between those two for me.
35:01And if – because you've said Three Bridges, I'll stick my neck out and say Hastings.
35:04But, yeah, you do make good points that if a lot of money is going towards renovating the ground,
35:09I think it might be harder to compete with some teams.
35:11For example, I think Jersey Bulls aren't short of a few quid.
35:15I think they would be my favourites to go up.
35:18But, yeah, I mean, I hope none of our sides get relegated.
35:24But you just don't know, do you?
35:26I just hope that it's –
35:28There's seven of them in there.
35:30Yeah.
35:31I don't know.
35:32And last year, you know, if you go to the division above last year,
35:37who'd ever have thought that Hastings and Boller would be relegated from the Isthmian Prem last year?
35:42We didn't see that coming, did we?
35:43No.
35:44We probably didn't see Lansing's relegation at step four either.
35:49So there'll probably be one or two that we don't think will struggle, they actually will.
35:54But hopefully they'll all keep their heads above water.
35:57Yes.
35:58Well, I did predict Lansing to finish highest, I think, didn't I, in the Isthmian League South East?
36:02So, yes.
36:03And I think you predicted Hastings to be our top team in the third three.
36:06So that's how much you know.
36:09Yes.
36:10I apologise to everyone.
36:11I predicted to do well this season.
36:13It's like the kiss of death I've just given there.
36:15But I'm sure you'll all be fine.
36:18Isthmian League South East, Isthmian League South Central, sorry.
36:21So not used to doing it.
36:22I've completely forgot the name of the division.
36:23Only two teams to choose from, Steve.
36:26Bognor or Littlehampton.
36:28Again, because I know very little about the division, I've gone for Bognor based on the fact that they've come down from the division above.
36:35Yeah.
36:36I don't know how you see it.
36:39Yeah.
36:39Same as you.
36:40I think Bognor will be, I think Bognor could well be in the playoffs.
36:44I don't think they'll win it.
36:45I think that there'll be one or two teams there that come through and we don't necessarily know about at the moment that will be strong.
36:53But I think I can see Bognor being in the playoffs.
36:56Littlehampton, I think, will do okay.
36:58Yeah.
37:00I think they'll rise to the challenge of the new trips and the new clubs that they're playing.
37:05It's a bit of a cliche, but clubs won't like going to Littlehampton.
37:11You know, they'll get a hard game there.
37:12So it's an unusual sort of set up there.
37:16So I think Littlehampton will be safely mid-table.
37:19Bognor, I think, top five at the end of it.
37:22Yeah, couldn't agree more.
37:24Moving on to the SCFL Premier.
37:26I've gone for Hayworth Heath Town as I think they'll be the highest finishing Sussex team in that division.
37:33But I'm caveating that with thinking, I reckon Guernsey might win that division.
37:37Because, again, like Hastings and the Eastman League Premier, they came ever so close to staying up in the Eastman South Central last season.
37:43I think it'll be between Guernsey and Hayworth Heath for me, Steve.
37:51Yeah, you see, I knew you were going to ask me this, and I still don't know what I'm going to say as the answer.
37:56Because there's so many potential teams there that could win the title or get in the playoffs.
38:03I'd quite like Eastbourne United to do well again.
38:09And I think they've got all the new facilities at the Oval now, which kept them away from there for part of last season.
38:16And when they went back, they were really strong.
38:18They had a very strong end to the season and just lost in the playoffs at the end.
38:22The playoff final, I think they got to.
38:24So I'm tempted to go with Eastbourne United.
38:27I think Stenning will have a good go at going back up.
38:30But yeah, Lansing, I think Lansing will do well, but it's almost too new a squad to expect them to be flying and to do everything at once and be an overnight success.
38:43Hayworth Heath, I would agree, under Kev Green, have got a great chance.
38:48Horsham YMCA might surprise, sorry, Horsham YM, as they now are, might surprise a few as well.
38:54But as you say, Guernsey, you can't rule out Guernsey from the title race.
39:00Crawley down Gatwick, you know, I'm just looking down the list and I'm seeing more as I look down it.
39:07It'll be a strong title race, good race for the playoffs and some good teams won't go up, basically, I think, in that division.
39:14Yeah, I think we're in for a long time.
39:16At the end of all that waffle, I'm going to say Eastbourne United for the title.
39:21I just think that we don't want Guernsey winning it, do we, Steve?
39:25I think from a purely selfish point of view, that would be a bit of a damp score for us.
39:29It did used to be the Sussex League and we still think of it as that, don't we, even though it's widened out a bit.
39:34But we do want a Sussex winner of it, really.
39:37Yeah, absolutely.
39:38And dropping down finally into SCFL Division One, I've gone for Arundel.
39:43Well, they finished eighth in 2023-24 and will play a semi-finalist in 2024-25.
39:49So I'm going to back them or curse them, whatever way you look at it, as going one better and lifting the title this season.
39:56Steve, who are you tipping?
39:58Yeah, they've definitely got a chance.
40:00I think Salt Dean, having gone down, will probably be pretty strong.
40:05I think AFC Uckfield, we thought they were going to do really well last year.
40:12It didn't quite work out, but they were still there or thereabouts in the playoff race.
40:19I've got a bit of a soft spot for Worthing United.
40:22Nice club down there.
40:25You know, they're always a bit in the shadow of Worthing, obviously, the much bigger club down there.
40:30But they actually do very well at Division One.
40:32They're quite consistent, so they might have a go.
40:36But no, I think if pushed, I would probably go for Salt Dean.
40:44And finally, as is tradition, we come to our games of the weekend.
40:48Steve, what have you gone for?
40:50I have a feeling that we might pick the same game.
40:52I have a feeling.
40:53I think I know what you're going to pick, and I'm not going to pick the same one.
40:57I'm going to go for Portchester against Bognor in the Isthmian South Central Division.
41:03I just think that's a classic first game of the season.
41:06Promoted side against relegated side.
41:09Relegated side not even in the division they thought they might be in.
41:12There are a lot of unknowns there.
41:17Portchester have got quite a sort of vociferous home support.
41:21Bognor have got a good away following, so it'll be a big crowd there.
41:24Great atmosphere.
41:24It could be something like 3-3, I think.
41:28It should be a classic.
41:29Yes, absolutely.
41:32Haseks-Herm Bay for me.
41:33It has to be.
41:34It's going to be a great occasion for Haseks.
41:37Herm Bay are no slouches.
41:40I think they were in and around the playoffs, potentially, last season.
41:44Yeah, Haseks, as we already mentioned, it's their first ever game at this level.
41:48Considering they had the league wrapped up in March,
41:50it's an absolutely unbelievable achievement for Haseks to be at this level.
41:54And I think they're still – they would be classed as an amateur team, Steve?
41:59They – I don't know how you define it exactly.
42:02I think they are looking at some sort of player payment system this season
42:08because of the travelling and all the other commitments that are involved.
42:12But certainly, you know, if you're looking at – if you did a league table of budgets
42:17in that division, they would be right down there at the bottom
42:19because they're not going to be – they haven't suddenly got loads of money.
42:22They're not suddenly going to change their outlook.
42:25You know, they've got this far without paying players.
42:27Yes.
42:27So, they don't want a complete change from that, that's for sure.
42:31Yeah.
42:31Good luck to everybody there for a good day on Saturday.
42:34Yeah, absolutely.
42:36Great.
42:37It's going to be a great occasion.
42:38Best of luck to Haseks and they go against Hernd Bay.
42:40And best of luck to all our teams who kick off their campaigns this Saturday.
42:45Well, I think that'll wrap it up for this bumper opening day edition, Steve.
42:48Thank you very much for joining us.
42:50And you can catch up with all the latest sports news covering everything
42:52we have talked about today at sussexworld.co.uk forward slash sport.
42:55And keep your eyes out for future editions of this podcast
42:59where we hope to have guests from the likes of Eastbourne Borough,
43:01Lewis, Three Bridges, Stenningtown, Hayward Teeth and much, much more.
43:05Thank you very much for listening and or watching
43:08and we will catch up with you very, very soon.
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