Supporters Predictions 22-23: The Final Outcome- South East Division

During the past month, supporters answering questions for the Pitching In Isthmian Supporters Predictions feature have also been asked to predict the finishing positions of every club in the Division containing their team. We’ve already published their views on just about everything you can think of, and now we have the moment that causes the most pre-season controversy- the final predicted tables. You can be sure that these will be pinned on many a dressing room wall this weekend, particularly at those clubs predicted to struggle!

Next up, the Pitching In Isthmian South East Division.

The departure of Hastings United into our Premier Division was both deserved and entirely unexpected- and you think that, after being so close last season and during the last previous campaign we actually managed to finish, that this season will be Ashford United’s chance for glory. Only one of our predictors placed the Nuts and Bolts outside the top five, with twenty five percent of them actually placing them first.

Haywards Heath Town, placed in second place, actually had more predicted first place finishes than Ashford United. The reason they finished second in our final table was that our supporters were either convinced that Heath would win the title or placed them in mid table! We’re not sure why they should divide the crowd in this way, but hey, we only do the maths!

The rest of the play off places, you think, will be made up by Whitehawk, newly strengthened under the guiding hand of promotion specialist Shaun Saunders, closely followed by Cray Valley PM and Ramsgate. You suggested that Burgess Hill Town, Sevenoaks Town and Chatham Town would just miss out on a tilt at the end of season lottery.

At the other end of the table, you predicted Sussex misery. You were quite certain that East Grinstead Town and Lancing would finish in the bottom two, with barely room to slide a cigarette paper (other types of less lethal paper are available) between the two of them. Above your apparently doomed duo, you suggested that Three Bridges and Faversham Town would finish in the relegation play off positions- having to fight to stay up with a match against a second placed Step Five side. Hythe Town were predicted to just escape that calamity.

So there you have it! Now, time for our sides to get out there are prove our predictors right- or, as is most likely, wrong!

We’d just like to say a big thank you to all those who participated- a record number this year. This has been the sixth pre-season we have run these features, and they have never been more popular- either for participants or for those who enjoy reading them. Football is, more than anything, about supporters- and our league is lucky enough to be blessed with some of the very best. Have a marvellous season, which we hope brings you everything you wanted for your club.

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