A Big Bostik (South East) pre-season, part seven: Ashford United to Horsham

By Ian Townsend

An eight-part guide to the - currently announced- pre-season fixtures involving our clubs. Part seven takes us South East.

Ashford United

Last season the Nuts and Bolts participated in their first Bostik league campaign following promotion, and overall their side made less impact on the pitch than their supporters did off it! The forthcoming season, given the quality of the signings made by manager Gary Alexander, may deliver an entirely different outcome.

Faversham Town pre-season programme

Faversham Town pre-season programme

Pre-season looks like this:

  • Bromley Saturday 7th July 2018 | 11:00am | Homelands
  • Leatherhead Tuesday 10th July 2018 | 7:45pm | Homelands
  • Barking Saturday 14th July 2018 | 3:00pm | Homelands
  • Chatham Town Tuesday 17th July 2018 | 7:45pm | Away
  • Sporting Club Thamesmead Saturday 21st July 2018 | 3:00pm | Away
  • Margate Tuesday 24th July 2018 | 7:45pm | Homelands
  • Tilbury Saturday 28th July 2018 | 3:00pm | Homelands
  • Beckenham Town Tuesday 31st July 2018 | 7:45pm | Away
  • Folkestone Invicta Saturday 4th August 2018 | 3:00pm | Homelands

Cray Wanderers

Wands came agonisingly close to promotion last season, leading the South Division regularly before falling to Walton Casuals in the Playoff semi-final; but as all at Hayes Lane would tell you, it’s their application to build a new ground that’s the priority at the moment. Hopefully City Hall will be delivering a positive outcome to their planning application in the near future.

Haywards Heath Town: 2016-17 double winners

Haywards Heath Town: 2016-17 double winners

They’ve a comprehensive pre-season programme, including a match against landlords Bromley.

  • Mon 9th July vs SC Thamesmead: A: 7.45pm
  • Wed 11th July vs. Great Wakering Rovers: H: 7.45pm
  • Sat 14th July vs. Bromley: A: 12.30pm
  • Mon 16th July vs Welling Town: A: 7.45pm
  • Wed 18th July vs. Grays Athletic: A: 7.45pm
  • Sat 21st July vs Cray Valley PM: A: 1.30pm
  • Tues 24th July vs Punjab United: A: 7.45pm
  • Fri 27th July vs. Chatham Town: A: 7.45pm
  • Tues 31st July vs. Canvey Island: A: 7.45pm
  • Sat 4th August vs. Chipstead: A: 3pm

East Grinstead Town

Last season wasn’t great for the Wasps, but manager Matt Longhurst has made some rather impressive signings over the summer. Perhaps 2018/19 might be their best campaign yet? Preseason looks like this- and they also host two matches for professional neighbours Crawley Town.

A Massive set of flags!

A Massive set of flags!

July

  • Sat 7 Burgess Hill Town (h) 12.30pm
  • Tues 11/ Wed 12 K Sports (a) 7.30pm (date depending on England's World Cup progress)
  • Sat 14 Woking (h) 3pm
  • Tues 17 Fisher Athletic (a) 7.45pm
  • Sat 21 Whitehawk (a) 3pm
  • Tues 24 Lordswood (a) 7.45pm
  • Thurs 26 Eastbourne Town (a) 7.45pm
  • Sat 28 Sutton Athletic (a) 3pm

August
  • Fri 3 Lewes (h) 3pm
  • Sat 4 Tonbridge Angels (h) 3pm
  • Tues 7 South Park (a) 7.45pm

Faversham Town

Nineteenth place last season perhaps wasn’t what the Salters Lane fans expected, but there’s an optimism that next season will be better! We’ve attached the poster for the pre-season campaign, but the highlights look to be matches against Gillingham and Tonbridge Angels.

Greenwich Borough

A few members of the Lardy Army

A few members of the Lardy Army

Borough won’t have to play Corinthian-Casuals in the new campaign, and for that they will undoubtedly give thanks as the side in pink and brown have ruined their chances in the playoffs two seasons in a row! They’ll have to manage without striker Jack Barham, who departed for Barnet, but Borough will still expect to be a force in the forthcoming season. Third time lucky? There’s only one way to find out!

  • Met Police FC vs Greenwich Borough FC 14th July 2018 (Away) 12:00 noon Kick Off
  • Greenwich Borough FC vs Shebu FC Oldstars 22nd July 2018 (Home) 3:00 pm Kick Off
  • Greenwich Borough FC vs Tooting & Mitcham FC 24th July 2018 (Home) 7:45 pm Kick Off
  • Greenwich Borough FC vs Cray Valley FC 26th July 2018 (Home) 7:45 pm Kick Off
  • Erith Town FC vs Greenwich Borough FC 27th July 2018 (Away) 7:45 pm Kick Off
  • Greenwich Borough FC vs Leyton Orient FC 30th July 2018 (Home) 7:45 pm Kick Off £5.00
  • Chipstead FC vs Greenwich Borough FC 07th August 2018 (Away) 7:45 pm Kick Off
  • Rebel FC vs Greenwich Borough FC 08th August 2018 (Away) 7:45 pm Kick Off

Guernsey

Everybody’s favourite away trip- unless it’s on Boxing Day or at New Year- the Green Lions had to cope with the loss of prolific Ross Allen last season- and a large number of injuries. They put their faith in youth and rallied well, finishing the season in eighteenth place.

Sadly their pre-season schedule is not yet on their website. We’ll add it when it arrives!

The Wasps Army- not ambivalent about Three Bridges

The Wasps Army- not ambivalent about Three Bridges

Hastings United

Whisper it, but Hastings United might well be amongst the favourites for promotion this year. Their youthful side came together brilliantly towards the end of last season, scoring for fun and making many Bostik League watchers sit up and take notice, and with the majority of that side still in place and some good new additions, perhaps this may be their year! You can watch them in pre-season as follows (and there are so many games you will be spoiled for choice!):

  • Sat 7th Jul 11:00 Hastings United FC U23s Away
  • Match to be played at Bexhill College TN40 2JG on the 3g pitch. Match time changed, kick off will now be at 11 am.
  • Tue 10th Jul 19:30 Westfield Away Match to be played at the Parish Field TN35 4SB.
  • Wed 11th Jul 19:45 AFC Ashford Athletic Away Match to be played at Sandacres Sports & Social Club TN25 4PE.
  • Sat 14th Jul 13:00 Little Common Away Match to be played at Bexhill College TN40 2JG on the 3g pitch.
  • Tue 17th Jul 19:45 Newhaven Away Match to be played at the Trafalgar Ground BN9 9DA.
  • Wed 18th Jul 19:45 AFC Uckfield Away Match to be played at The Oaks TN22 5QL.
  • Sat 21st Jul 15:00 Kingstonian Home
  • Mon 23rd Jul 19:45 Rochester United Away Match to be played at The Strood ME2 3TU.
  • Tue 24th Jul 19:45 Lewes FC Home All Ticket
  • Sat 28th Jul 13:00 Walton Casuals Away Match to be played at Waterside KT12 2JP.
  • Mon 30th Jul 19:45 Eastbourne United Home
  • Tue 31st Jul 19:45 Eastbourne Town Away Match to be played at Saffrons BN21 1EA,

Haywards Heath Town

Many Haywards Heath Town supporters will be approaching their first Bostik League campaign still believing it should be their second- it’s a long story- but it will be a new ground for many of our supporters, who should look forward to the trip because they will be made very welcome. Shaun Saunders boys line up as follows:

JULY 2018

  • Sat 07, 13:00 H Eastbourne Town FC
  • Sat 14, 13:00 H Crowborough Athletic FC
  • Tue 17, 19:45 A Whitehawk FC
  • Sat 21, 15:00 A Hassocks FC
  • Tue 24, 19:45 A Newhaven FC
  • Sat 28, 15:00 A Burgess Hill Town FC

AUGUST 2018
  • Tue 07, 19:30 A Brighton & Hove Albion U23's

Herne Bay

There were moments last season where, had Bay been able to find some consistency, you’d have thought they’d be challengers for the playoffs. However they managed only to be consistently inconsistent- but perhaps this may be their season?

  • Sat 14, 15:00 A Walton Casuals
  • Sat 21, 15:00 H Canvey Island
  • Tue 24, 19:45 A Clapton
  • Thu 26, 19:45 H Bromley
  • Sat 28, 15:00 H Basildon United

Horsham

The Hornets will start the new season at Lancing FC, but will be very much focused on their return home, their new ground at Hop Oast on the outskirts of the town moving forward at speed. They might even- say it quietly- have the keys before Christmas. Pre-season includes a trip to the Cornish seaside!

  • 09/07/18 HORSHAMV HORSHAM YMCA
  • 14/07/18 HORSHAMV LANGNEY WANDERERS
  • 17/07/18 BURGESS HILL TOWNV HORSHAM
  • 21/07/18 DORKING WANDERERSV HORSHAM
  • 24/07/18 HORSHAMV AFC PORTCHESTER
  • 28/07/18 NEWQUAYV HORSHAM
  • 31/07/18 HASSOCKSV HORSHAM
  • 04/08/18 TOOTING & MITCHAMV HORSHAM

Where next?

A Big Bostik (South East) pre-season, part eight: Hythe Town to Whyteleafe An eight-part guide to the - currently announced- pre-season fixtures involving our clubs. Part eight concludes Bostik South East.
Four for Bowers, one for Hall, and a new Oysterman New arrivals at the Len Salmon, the Belmont Ground and Recreation Way

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