Bostik Supporters Predictions 18/19: Hayes & Yeading United

We asked supporters of our Bostik League clubs to preview the new season, reflect on the old and predict the final outcome. Their predicted 1-20 (or 22) will be worked into a final table which you will see just before the big kick off.

Corey Eaton gives us a tour of Hayes & Yeading United, and offers to buy you all a double bacon and cheese burger with optional onions.

1. What was your favourite moment of last season?

I can’t pick one favourite moment. There are a few, so I’ll give you three:

Seeing us beat Arlseley Town 9-1 away from home, albeit they finished bottom but the day out was brilliant and the ground was one of the best I’ve seen as this level.

Going to Beaconsfield the second from last league game of the season stands out. Both sides miss penalties and see red. The match however, finished 10 v 9 and we scored a penalty in the last ten to secure a 1-0 victory.

Beating AFC Rushden & Diamonds away 1-0 was brilliant. Our manager got everything tactically spot on and the result was deserved.

2. And your worst moment?

Ashford Town away- a 4-0 defeat. It has to be one of the lowest points in the clubs history and is certainly the worst ever game I’ve witnessed live. There aren’t enough words to describe the performance. We had an early goal ruled out for offside and from there it just went downhill. Nothing went our way, they had an outfield player in goal for most of the second half and I don’t think we even tested him!

Then the week after we managed to beat AFC Rushden & Diamonds at home 1-0 and that kick started a nice little run!

3. How will you do this season?

I’d like to hope we’d go up as champions. We’ve kept the majority of the squad that we ended last season with, so I’m pretty confident we can do it. We were so close last season and I think we have it in us to go the one extra step - opposition players I’ve seen out and about say we were the best team in the league after the new year. The results showed that as well.

4. Which matches are you most looking forward to going to- and why?

After our FA Cup visit there last season, I’m looking forward to seeing us play FC Romania again. Their fans were different class last season and it really made for a good game. The Cheshunt ground was one of the better grounds I went to last season and the clubhouse was quite good too.

5. What is your favourite away ground?

Having done all of the away grounds in our league last year, the teams with the best grounds either got relegated or transferred!

The ground I’m looking forward to visiting most is Imperial Fields, of Tooting & Mitcham United. The big terrace behind the goal is certainly impressive. From inside and outside the ground in general doesn’t look like a ground that should be hosting football at this level.

6. Who do you consider your biggest rivals- and why?

I wouldn’t say we have a real rivalry with anyone in this league, we are a friendly family club who just enjoy giving the opposition keeper some banter for 90 minutes! That said, we do have a local derby against Uxbridge. For some fans (including myself) it’s more of a home game and I’ll admit we do get a decent following when we play at Honeycroft.

Hopefully next season we will do better than we did last season there- we lost 3-0!

7. What advice would you give to any away supporter visiting you for the first time?

Just chant for your team during the game. There weren’t enough teams who did that last season. It’s nice to have support come down who sing, otherwise their only noise is from the dugout.

And try out our double bacon and cheese burger (with onions if you like them too) at the burger van. It’s delicious!

8. Who is your favourite player of all time (for your club)- and why?

With the hundreds of players I’ve seen come in and out at Hayes & Yeading it is pretty hard to decide on just one, but if I can have only one it would be Ram Marwa, from back when we were in the Conference South & Premier. He oozed class and his technique was second to none. Some of the goals he scored as well, for a midfielder, were exceptional.

Can I have another? Another midfielder, Luke Williams- he was only a teenager when he first signed. He was soon a wanted player but stayed loyal to us and played about 170 games for us from 2011-2016.

9. Who will be in the top five at the end of the season?

Hayes & Yeading (C), Bracknell Town, Westfield, Waltham Abbey, Cheshunt