2018: YOUR most memorable moments

Another year has come to an end, and what a footballing year it was! Promotions, playoff campaigns, cup runs- moments of camaraderie and moments of sadness. We asked you for your highlights, and as always you didn’t disappoint. So here are your highlights of 2018.

We’ll start- and you won’t be surprised- with the promotion of Dulwich Hamlet. Evicted from their own ground and playing at Tooting & Mitcham United’s Imperial Fields, it looked as if the odds were stacked against them, but- of course- they overcame adversity and delivered their Hollywood ending with a penalty shootout win over Hendon. And many, many of you celebrated with them.

Forward The Hamlet Podcast, posting a clip of that final penalty, summed it up thus:

‘Forget about my favourite Bostik League moment of the past 12 months... this was the best moment of the past 5 years of my life.’

Another Hamlet supporter recounted how he flew from New Zealand for the game, whilst Peter Bowers summed up the feelings of the neutral, stating:

‘Dulwich Hamlet finally getting promotion after the pain they have been through. A great club with decent people.’

Promotion recollections were, of course, high on the list of favourite memories. Sam Edwards recounted Billericay’s promotion, but most of the attention went to Potters Bar Town, Carshalton Athletic, Lewes and Haringey Borough.

For Lewes FC, Ash- otherwise known as Rookmeister, the matchday Twitter commentator for the Rooks- wasn’t only delighted with promotion, but with the success of the club’s under 18 side, youth cup winners last season. In the Red corner of the Bostik South, and representing Carshalton Athletic, Christian Kemble remembered the match where the Robins clinched promotion against Whyteleafe, winning a game which kicked off late when the referee was delayed on his commute from Albania (yes, really) and saw the Robins go 3-1 down before roaring back to win 4-3. Chris Bushe weighed in here, too, suggesting that Athletic absolutely deserved their promotion, and were the ‘best footballing side in the division.’

Christian also gave a mention to Christie Pattisson’s goal against Tonbridge Angels rather more recently.

Haringey Borough memories came thick and fast. Matt Rider’s top moment was ‘winning the play off final to the premier. And it's not really a moment, but the fact lots of us were unsure how we'd get on and we're now top over Christmas and into the new year! An overall brilliant year for us.’ Borough recollections were added to by Mike O'Donoghue, who was particularly thankful that the club were finally able to defeat Heybridge Swifts at the fourth time of asking to reach the Playoff Final, whilst Borough manager Tom Loizou also contributed his thoughts, explaining:

‘The last 5 minutes of commentary on Back of the Net, Haringey Borough FC v Canvey Island in the Bostik play-off final- the 3rd goal scored perfectly on side and the reality of the Borough getting promoted sinks in, too hard for one of the commentators to accept. Then the Bell End (the Borough singing collective) turn the volume up.’

(To be fair to the Back of the Net crew, I thought it was offside too- and even after watching it again and again on video still think that! But it made not one jot of difference. The best team won, and in truth not one of the media personnel present, even those from Canvey, disputed that the outcome was correct- Ian).

Another club promoted from the North Division were Potters Bar Town, and Karen Pond recounted her joy at the victory at Barking which secured that promotion. It truly was a marvellous day for the Bararmy, whilst AFC Hornchurch’s moment had already arrived, as Peter Hay recounts:

‘AFC Hornchurch winning at Witham to secure promotion the Bostik Premier League. Seeing the players celebrate with Jimmy McFarlane was emotional- and also the sportsmanship of James Beardwell, shaking all supporters hands as we left was a nice gesture. A fantastic day out.’

But you didn’t have to be promoted to have a good time. Brentwood Town get two mentions, one from Dave Weller, celebrating 3-0 victory over a previously unbeaten Bowers and Pitsea, and the other for the image you see embedded in this article, which shows a young fan consoling the Town keeper after a last-gasp cup defeat to Dulwich Hamlet.

Escaping relegation was a positive, too. Romford fans all had memories of last season’s great escape, and both Mike Woods and Derek Robinson expressed their joy at that moment. Derek explained, ‘The Great Escape. Two minutes from being virtually relegated and The Mighty Boro made the most of their reprieve.’

New grounds also brought happiness. Dorking Wanderers fan Les Freeland was delighted that the club got to move to Meadowbank, and another Wanderer, this time of the Cray variety, was delighted with the more recent news that the Wands had a new ground to look forward to. Darren explained:

‘The best moment of 2018 was getting the go ahead for a new ground at Flamingo Park. Without this, the club would have been in real trouble, but now the Wands can push on in 2019 both on and off the pitch.’

Newly promoted Bracknell Town have had a great start to their time in the South Central Division, but Robins fan Neil Graham’s best memory was of their matches against Bognor Regis Town in the FA Trophy, ‘Both teams giving it 110%, playing quality football. A great advert for non-league footy.’

A number of fans of newly promoted clubs were just delighted to be here. John Rea of Haywards Heath Town summed up those feelings, when he said:

‘Joining the league with Haywards Heath Town - what an amazing adventure so far and so many friendly faces and welcomes at all the grounds we have visited so far. The journey to Guernsey was certainly the main highlight of the season so far.’

And a Sevenoaks Town supporter who didn’t give a name looked back to 18th August, the date of his side’s first match in the league, and explained that there were ‘Good games every week in the Bostik League.’ Well we’re delighted to be of service!

Joel Russell and Noah Horwood were satisfied with progress at Folkestone Invicta and Bishop’s Stortford, respectively. Joel explained that Invicta had reached the Playoffs ‘despite the odds,’ last season and were making good progress in this campaign, whilst for Noah the highlights were two wins over local rivals Harlow Town.

Brightlingsea Regent fan Alan Wright was happy with a draw. He went back to the 28th April, and the last game of the season for Regent, in front of more than a thousand fans at Worthing.

‘2-1 down and had 2 sent off, so playing with 9- when Aaron Condon wins a penalty which Billy Hunt tucks away to earn us a point. Many of our supporters had made a weekend of it staying in a local guest house and the support was superb.’

Enfield Town fan Joe Fulton explained that his best moments were the home match with Tonbridge Angels and an equaliser at Billericay Town- as you can imagine, goals against Billericay feature quite highly throughout- whilst Angels blogger ‘Tonbridge Tales’ recounted victory over the champions back in March, whilst another Angels fan, Wink Tompkinson, added, ‘And Tamplin’s face as World’s Greatest on the tannoy was played.’

Herne Bay fan Ken Dixon’s favourite moment was rather recent. ‘Whitstable Town 0 Herne Bay 4 on 8th December 2018- It was our first clean sheet of the season, and a first win since September following eight consecutive league defeats.’

Former Northwood Manager Dean Barker had moments of joy at both the Woods and at his former club, Wingate and Finchley.

‘Wins away at play off finalists Dulwich Hamlet FC and Hendon FC.A draw away at champions Billericay Town FC with them equalising in the 97th minute was a good effort. Winning the U23 League and two cup finals. Beating Chelsea FC and beat Tooting 4-3 having been 1-3 down.’

That’s some list, Dean!

We’ll leave 2018 with two very different emotional moments. Firstly, Worthing fan Ollie Kendall explained how he introduced his son to our beautiful game. ‘I convinced my wife it was a good idea to take our son aged 6 to a midweek game at our rivals, Lewes. Losing 3-2 with 10 men, we scored 2 goals in the closing minutes to seal an epic victory- and had one very tired, but happy boy the next day.’ There’s a story which will be told for years and years.

Finally, however, the recollections of Cally Heybroek seemed the appropriate way to end this brief review.

‘My moment would be Barking FC V AFC Hornchurch, because it was the last match I was ever going to see with my dad Pete Butcher. He raced there with me in the car, full of excitement because it was what he loved the most. Thank you for the special welcome to my dad, and hopefully he will always be remembered with love at AFC Hornchurch just like he is remembered with love everywhere else. I hope the Bostik league have many more successes built out of wonderful talented people like he was.’

2018 has taken a number of our Bostik League stalwarts. It is right that we remember them today, and also to remember that, without their tireless efforts, born from the love of their clubs and our game, we wouldn’t have such wonderful memories to share. Our love goes out to those we’ve lost and those who continue, like us, to mourn them- and our love and thanks goes also to those who continue to make our league a success.

Now, off into 2019, together!