Bostik 17/18- a season in review: October

On the pitch

October started with a midweek programme, during which Burgess Hill Town scored five goals at home to Kingstonian, only for Staines Town to do better, getting seven at Tooting- whilst in the North Division Canvey Island were scoring six at Tilbury. Then 7th October was Non League Day, and the big match was at Billericay, who were hosting another team who had started the season in great form, Hendon. Seven goals later, and the Blues had triumphed 4-3.

Burgess Hill must have entered their match with Lowestoft Town with confidence, but on this occasion they were on the wrong end of a five goal thrashing, whilst another match at Tooting saw seven goals- but this time the Terrors got four of them to defeat Worthing. Our North and South Division clubs were beginning their FA Trophy campaigns, and three of our sides were involved in the highest scoring matches of the round- Cray Wanderers walloping an injury-hit Horsham 8-0 whilst Shoreham were falling 7-1 at Egham Town.

Billericay maintained their momentum over the rest of the month, but were somewhat distracted by the FA Cup, needing two matches to defeat FA Trophy Finalists Brackley Town, and this gave Dulwich Hamlet and Hendon the chance to go ahead of them in the table- although of course the Blues had many games in hand. Wins over Needham Market, Harlow Town and Burgess Hill Town, along with a draw with Staines Town, saw Hamlet three points clear of Hendon by the end of the month- six clear of Billericay.

Dereham Town were perhaps unexpected leaders of the North Division as the month drew to a close, but four of the eventual top six were already occupying those places. The South Division saw Lewes four points clear of Sittingbourne, and again four of the top six would eventually occupy promotion or playoff places at the end of the campaign.

The 4th Qualifying Round of the FA Cup saw Heybridge Swifts defeat Haringey Borough at Coles Park to earn a First Round trip to Exeter City- Borough would perhaps claim revenge in the Playoffs- whilst Leatherhead would also get to the First Round- and a match with Billericay Town- courtesy of victory at Margate. Folkestone Invicta, Enfield Town and Burgess Hill Town bowed out.

Worthing, newly back at Woodside Road after their pitch was successfully repaired, finally managed to win a match.

As the month came to an end, Heybridge Swifts warmed up for their trip to Exeter by knocking Tonbridge Angels out of the FA Trophy, whilst Sittingbourne also beat higher level opposition in Merstham.

Off the pitch

The month started with some sad news, as Damien Scannell of Tonbridge Angels was forced to retire from football due to injury.

There were a number of managerial changes. Firstly, Needham Market’s Mark Morsley left the boardroom for the dugout to join AFC Sudbury as manager, whilst Aveley manager Terry Spillane left Parkside, eventually replaced by Brightlingsea Regent manager James Webster. Tilbury were next, losing manager Gary Henty, before Craig Edwards left Kingstonian, eventually being replaced by Whyteleafe’s Leigh Dynan.

Merstham renamed Moatside as ‘The Specsavers Stadium’ provoking many, many obvious jokes, and continuing the renaming theme Harrow Borough announced that their ground would be known as The Rogers Family Stadium in honour of Chairman Peter Rogers and his family. Lewes manager Darren Freeman admits to a love of opera in our Bostik Friday Interview.

Harry Wheeler at Billericay Town, Tom Loizou of Haringey Borough and James Bracken were announced as the winners of September’s Mitre Manager of the Month awards.

Andy Ward of Wingate & Finchley was announced by the FA as Isthmian Groundsman of the year, and in a Bostik Friday Interview Hendon manager Gary McCann paid fulsome tribute to the fans:

"The supporters know what I’m working with, they know the difficulties, they know the efforts that everyone at the club makes because they are the club. They appreciate me and I appreciate them. I’ve always stuck with them, and they’ve always stuck with me through success and difficulties. That is a bit unique, I suppose, and I never stop being grateful. I’m really lucky- I don’t think any manager, anywhere, gets the support that I get."