Welcome to the new ‘Monday Moment’ column. Each week I’ll be taking a look back at the last seven days in non-league football and picking out what you might have missed or something that makes a great thought provoking choice.
The only way to view this new column and at least seven more blogs per month is via a paid subscription, either monthly or annually. However coming soon I am aiming to move platforms in order to give you the opportunity to read individual articles if that’s more to your liking.
But, if you can’t wait for that to happen why not take advantage of some great non-league writing whilst not breaking the bank at the same time:
The content below was originally paywalled.
The last 100% record in the English football pyramid finally came to an end at the weekend as Haywards Heath Town in Sussex lost a league game for the first time. Despite having a fixture reversed to their own ground Heath lost 2-1 to Roffey, the only side other than Eastbourne Borough and Ashford Utd to beat Kevin Green’s side in competitive action, Roffey adding this one to their cup win over the Heath earlier in the season.
It’s fair credit I always feel for any side much lower down that have less contact time together than illustrious rivals that can put these kind of runs on the board. As they say though, time to start another one, beginning this Wednesday with one of their two games in hand.
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It’s always refreshing to see managers stepping up the non-league ladder and getting off to good starts. So far Billy Rowley is putting National League Yeovil Town back on the right track after some successful years at Walton and Hersham. Likewise it started well for Scott Bartlett at Eastleigh having put Weston-Super-Mare on the map other than for its pier.
Sometimes you find clubs drop off with replacements unable to maintain the heights of others, but no such trouble here with Weston still very much in the mix for the National League South title and into the FA Cup 3rd Round for the first time ever whilst Walton are eight points clear one step lower in the Southern League Premier South Division and at the weekend knocked out National League Sutton Utd from the FA Trophy by four goals to one.
You can also add into that list Reece Prestedge at Isthmian South East Division Sittingbourne. When Ryan Maxwell left a few weeks ago to take charge at Welling Utd the Brickies were in mid-table seemingly unable to find the form that took them to over 100 points last season and just behind Ramsgate only to lose out in the play-offs.
Since Prestedge took over on 17th November his side are seven games unbeaten with six of those being wins and only second placed AFC Whyteleafe have a better record over that seven game period. The Brickies are now in the final play-off spot with just over half of the season left to play, who wouldn’t bank on them being involved in the final five once again by the end of April?
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Harry Hugo and Kayne Steinborn-Busse. Chairmen of Farnham Town and Bracknell Town, both competing in the Southern League where Walton & Hersham are. Recently, they were visited by Location Football ahead of their clash on Saturday 27th December.
Both divide opinion, take some pelters on social media as well but it’s an interesting listen from two chairmen at Step 3 who are pushing to go higher.
Harry is very transparent on social media about plenty around Farnham Town, Kayne isn’t shy to share his opinion despite having to sack quite a few managers in the last few months alone!
You can find the video here on You Tube: Football Owners Square Off Against Each Other
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Enjoy the next seven days of football in the non-league world, no doubt there will be plenty going on to get through next Monday.
