Pitching In Isthmian League- supporters predictions 2021-22: Dereham Town

By Ian Townsend

We’re heading North- or if we’re following the compass, east- and we’re flying in to visit those Magpies of Dereham Town. Alfred Barnard needs at least two goals for joy.


We asked supporters of our Pitching In Isthmian 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. Alfred Barnard is a big fan of the Essex Riviera in the winter.

1. Thinking about last season- what there was of it- were there any highlights for you?

On the field, we enjoyed a 3-0 win at Heybridge Swifts to maintain our good record against them in this league (10 wins, 2 draws, 2 losses) but we never really got our season going in any competition. Our academy celebrated another fine season by becoming Junior Premier League national champions.

Dereham Alfred Barnard

Dereham Alfred Barnard

Off the field, we continued to develop our community engagement initiatives. I’m particularly pleased with the club’s partnership with The Daisy Programme (a local charity which supports victims of domestic abuse) - their logo is worn proudly by our First Team on the front of their shirts.

2. Moving on to your current squad- which players do you think will make a big impact during the 2021-22 campaign?

The management team has done well during the summer to recruit several players with experience of playing at a higher level and I think they will only add to the squad’s sense of purpose. One new arrival is Sam Mulready who joins from Soham Town Rangers - he’s always played well against us and has scored many goals in this division so I’m hoping he will bag plenty this season.

3. Realistically, how do you think you’ll do this season?

This will be our ninth season since we won promotion to Step 4. Our highest finish was 7th place in our first two seasons and I think this must be a realistic target for the new season.

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

We have yet to visit Hullbridge Sports even though this will be their third season in this division (last year’s game was rubbed out by Covid and their ground was unfit the year before so the fixture was played at Bowers and Pitsea), so this was one I looked for when the dates for the new season were published. I was not so happy to find this round trip of 210 miles has been arranged for New Year’s Day! A fortnight later I shall be able to enjoy a trip to the only other ground I have yet to visit in this division, Basildon Utd. Ah, the lure of the Essex Riviera in January …

5. What is your favourite away ground?

I’m happy anywhere which has a grass playing surface and which isn’t surrounded by a running track.

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

We don’t really have rivalries against other clubs in this division. This is partly owing to geography (our nearest league opponents, Bury Town, are 40 miles away and the majority of clubs are over 100 miles distant) and partly to the high turnover of clubs (only 5 clubs have been league opposition every season since we joined in 2013 - Aveley, Heybridge Swifts, Maldon and Tiptree, Romford, Tilbury).

We have, of course, developed rivalries with a number of local clubs over many years. I do believe Norfolk football is on the up and that some of our neighbours will be knocking on the Step 4 door shortly.

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

Do make sure your road atlas is reasonably up to date! There are two Derehams in Norfolk and it’s only relatively recently that the maps stopped showing us as East Dereham. If you end up in West Dereham by mistake you will probably have a very nice day but they do not have a football ground or a pub and you will be 26 miles from Aldiss Park.

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

As a gentleman of a certain age, I grew up watching robust Number 9s playing a direct style of football - Danny Wright is a local lad who was cast in this traditional mould. It has been a pleasure charting his career since leaving us 14 years ago, in which time he has been banging goals in for, it seems, almost every club in the National League and League 2. Danny is now in his late 30s and on the scoresheet for Torquay Utd.

Another local legend is Willy Ollis - an attacking full-back with lightning pace who turned down some lucrative offers and spent many seasons as a crowd favourite.


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

Canvey Island, AFC Sudbury, Bury Town, Tilbury, Aveley

Look out for the final predicted tables later this week!

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Where next?

Win a family holiday- just for watching your club! The Pitching In Isthmian League kicks off again on Saturday- and although you won't need an incentive to watch, we've got one!
Pitching In Isthmian League- supporters predictions 2021-22: Tilbury You’ve seen the North Division predicted table, but how does Tilbury supporter Ben Pearce expect his team to do? See below.

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