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Pre-season might still be going on for another week and a half but my little flurry of games are done with the real stuff beginning next weekend. We’ve certainly seen it all over the past few weeks or so, waterlogged pitches, moaning of games being played behind closed doors, cancellations late in the week but also some fantastic summer weather alongside the wet stuff.
I’ve taken in a few games in the last few weeks but not overdone it to be honest and now it’s less than seven days until the campaign gets underway for some Step 5 clubs.
It’s a slight surprise that most or indeed all aren’t getting a game in before the Emirates FA Cup kicks off their season. It was only about three years ago that clubs were pleading with their leagues to be able to get one if not two games in before the cup match to ensure they were able to be ready to give a good account of themselves with minutes under their belts but not the case for the majority this year.
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My first watch was at Steyning Town as they hosted Burgess Hill Town. Both teams were in the same division last season, but relegation for the former and promotion for the latter gives quite a gap. I actually saw the corresponding league fixture last year in which Burgess Hill ran out comfortable 3-0 winners.
Joined by Pete Stone for this one and a catch up around Worthing and Barnet during the evening for us two, Hill notched five this time. Both sides, as has been evident across the last month, were missing players and difficult to gauge the fortunes of either so early in July despite the good look on paper.
Good to see The Barrowmen management pair of Mike Hamm and Darren Budd, putting together a decent coaching staff and squad, if they all gel should make for an interesting season.
The weekend took me to Wick, a chance to see how Crabtree Park has been transformed a bit over the summer. A new seated stand that arrived last season has meant the existing area is now a covered terrace, much needed and flanking the opposite side of the pitch, new fencing around the perimeter and plans for much more moving forward.
That’s the thing with this game, you can’t stand still for too long or clubs stagnate and others with ambition overtake. Pete Clarke joined me for this one, himself being lured into a role at the club to enhance the matchday experience that little bit more.
Having pitched most of their pre-season against Wessex clubs, the Dragons ran out 6-3 winners against Romsey Town on a blazing hot afternoon having been 2-0 down at half time. Like the sides above, Lee Baldwin was missing around five or six players that afternoon and his side struggled first half to get to grips with their impressive opponents.
A good half time talk turned the game around with a higher press and opportunities taken, effective without talisman striker Josh Irish.
The following Tuesday evening was a venture out east and where the rest of the SNLF (Sussex Non League Football) boys had been last season I headed to Ringmer AFC, somewhere I’d driven through countless times but never stopped for the football.
When I moved down to the county some 19 odd years ago they were always one of the top County League sides. A long rebuild as a new club has finally got them back to within one promotion of the Premier Division and what a facility and clubhouse they have there.
I’d call it pushing the boundaries to wherever they want to go, space to expand, a thriving set up across men’s, women’s and youth football. On the night they had a good test from Kev Green’s Haywards Heath side, took the lead but Heath stormed back, five without reply.
Hospitality from Ringmer was excellent, and the opposition gave me chance to catch up with Kev, Dan Viggers and Alex Gathern after the match on how things are shaping up for them. They’ll be expected to win that division, at the very least be in the mix, potential is there off and on the pitch.
The final game was on Saturday, a trip up to one of my programme column clubs Cray Valley PM. The Millers are back in the service again this season (if you’re not sure what it is and might be interested, drop me a line) and taking on National League Woking was like for some of the others a good test, no point if you’re going to take the easy routes before getting underway, you won’t learn much about your players in that respect.
Friends on both sides of the camp, Simon Bassey assistant manager for the Cards, Steve McKimm and Barry Moore on home turf although the former away on holiday. Your contact book can never be big enough in non-league, ever.
I managed to catch up with both before kick off to find out how things were going so far, plenty still do were the words pretty much but time still to tweak and get the necessary in the building. A 3-1 win for Woking to take away, a decent sized crowd despite the worry of the weather, rain clouds giving way to summer sun once again early in the first half.
A chance meeting you can generally find across games all season, this one was no exception with AFC Croydon Athletic’s Danny Kedwell and James Dunne watching along, one of Danny’s boys in the Woking colours.
Quietly optimistic about their chances this season in the Isthmian South East Division, Dunney of course asking me about Barnet’s expectations this coming year as he always does, chatting about football at all levels you just can’t beat it!
One thing about these games is I’ve not made too much of the football itself, more around the people involved and those watching alongside me. Once the proper stuff gets underway it becomes all consuming as it should be, take the opportunities when you can.
So, that part is a wrap for me. The Southern Counties East Premier Division get’s underway next weekend and there is no toss up between a pre-season friendly or a competitive league fixture. I did a couple of years ago watch a league game and then trotted off to a pre-season game midweek after.
It felt pretty strange because others were underway playing for points so certainly not something to entertain again for me! And with the FA Cup taking centre stage the following weekend, the remainder of the league programme to kick off seven days later it’s time to go again, boy that break didn’t last long…..
