Sussex Non-League podcast - episode 5 | The season is up and running
Matt Pole is joined by Sussex sport gurus Steve Bone and Mark Dunford.
The National League South, Isthmian Premier and Isthmian South East seasons get underway this Saturday, with 16 teams across the three divisions hoping to bring glory back to Sussex.
Every fortnight we will give you the lowdown on our sides in the National League South, the Isthmian League, and the Southern Combination Football League, and also bring you exclusive interviews with the great and good of non-league football in Sussex.
The National League South, Isthmian Premier and Isthmian South East seasons get underway this Saturday, with 16 teams across the three divisions hoping to bring glory back to Sussex.
Every fortnight we will give you the lowdown on our sides in the National League South, the Isthmian League, and the Southern Combination Football League, and also bring you exclusive interviews with the great and good of non-league football in Sussex.
Transcript
00:00Welcome to our first Sussex non-league podcast of the 2024-25 campaign,
00:06where we aim to bring you all the latest from the county's non-league scene.
00:10Every fortnight, we'll give you the lowdown on our sides of the National League South,
00:14the Isthmian League and the Southern Combination Football League,
00:17and also bring you exclusive interviews with the great and good of non-league football in Sussex.
00:22I'm Matt Pohl, and I'm delighted to be joined by Sussex sports guru Steve Bone and Mark Dunford.
00:26Thank you very much for joining me, chaps.
00:28The National League South, Isthmian Premier and Isthmian South East seasons get underway this Saturday,
00:34with 16 teams across the three divisions hoping to bring glory and success back to Sussex.
00:39But the SCFL Premier and SCFL Div 1 campaigns have already got underway, Mark, haven't they?
00:44Who are the early runners and riders in these respective divisions, albeit after two games?
00:49Yeah, it's crazy. I mean, I've just come back off holiday and they've already played two games,
00:53FA Cup games and everything. So, yeah, it's hard to keep up.
00:57But, yeah, no, it's, yeah, it's an interesting start.
01:00We've got five teams who have played 2-1-2 and that's Horsham YMCA, Haywards Heath Town,
01:05Petersfield Town, who, yeah, the new team, I think they came from the Wessex League yesterday.
01:11So, I don't know why they've moved over, but Peacehaven and Towscombe and Hassox.
01:16So, they're the teams that have got the 100% record so far.
01:20And at the other end of the table, we've got AFC Vardini and Saltdine United,
01:24Shoreham and Little Common, who have lost all their games.
01:27So, but it's, yeah, it's good to see the likes of Horsham and Haywards Heath Town up there.
01:32Hassox, Hassox did well, really well last year.
01:34I think Haywards Heath Town, people sort of tipped them to go back, straight back up last year
01:38after being relegated from Ishmere and South East, but they didn't.
01:42So, but I'm sure they've got big ambitions this year.
01:45But, yeah, so it's an interesting start in the Premier and in Division One,
01:49which seems to have had an invasion from Surrey teams.
01:52We've got quite a few Surrey sides in there, including Dorking, Chessington and Hook United,
01:57Godalming Town, Banstead Athletic, Rygate Priory, et cetera.
02:02So, there's plenty there, but Forest Row, Billingshurst and Seaford Town,
02:06and sorry, Worthing United all having 100% starts as well.
02:10So, Seaford Town in their games have scored seven, letting none,
02:14but Forest Row are at the top with scoring nine and letting in zero.
02:17So, yeah, good start from Forest Row there.
02:20So, yeah, I'm not sure of the ins and outs of who's tipped to do really well in Division One this year.
02:26But, yeah, it's a good start for those teams and I'm sure they'll be up there.
02:30So, Seaford over the last couple of years have been really pushing on
02:33and they've got some good football people there.
02:35So, yeah, I've tipped them to do quite well this year.
02:39Absolutely. And you've mentioned we're two games in already,
02:43but I think the season started in July, which I think is madness, isn't it?
02:47Far too early for a football season to be kicking off, isn't it, chaps?
02:50Absolutely. August is too early for a football season to kick off.
02:53So, July, utterly, utterly ridiculous.
02:56There should not be a football kicked until the last cricket ball has been bowled, in my opinion.
03:00But that means it wouldn't start until September.
03:02So, I understand the logistics of that. But, yeah, it's too early, too early.
03:07I always think July, you know, as far as football teams go,
03:11July should be for a bit of light training.
03:14August should be for some friendlies.
03:16Start the leagues on the first Saturday in September.
03:19There's plenty, plenty of time, you know, and finish it on the first Saturday in May
03:24or something like that. I'm sure that's possible.
03:27Nobody wants football leagues to start at the end of July, in my opinion.
03:31But they do. So, we're stuck with it. So, we'll get on with it.
03:35And the teams that have started well won't be complaining, will they?
03:40Not at all. And we'll all be complaining when there's no football to fill the papers in February
03:44when it's Hammond Harbour rain to two months solid. So, maybe a blessing and a curse starting in July.
03:49But moving to the Isby and South East, Sussex boasts eight teams in that division,
03:54with new boys Stenning and Eastbourne Town joining Broadbridge Heath, Burgess Hill,
03:58East Grinstead, Lansing, Littlehaven and Threebridges at step four of the non-league pyramid.
04:04Sussex Derby's account for one third of our sides going into the season,
04:07meaning Steve Bone will have his work cut out getting the papers filled once again.
04:11But how are our teams shaping up, Steve, ahead of the new campaign?
04:14Who should we be keeping an eye on?
04:17Yes, it's going to be very competitive. Although Sussex Derby's, they just add an extra edge to it.
04:24The number of Sussex teams in that division has just been creeping up over the years.
04:28What's interesting is that we generally every year we see a team, sometimes two,
04:33go up from the SEFL into the Isby and South East.
04:36And the ones that have gone up in recent years have all done quite well.
04:39They've all held their own.
04:41The only Sussex team to be relegated from Isby and South East in recent years is Hayward's Heath Town,
04:46and they didn't go up and come straight back down.
04:49They had a few years there. But you look at Lansing, Littlehampton and more recently Broadbridge Heath,
04:55they've all gone up from the SEFL sort of into the unknown, first time at that level,
05:00and they've all done OK, which actually makes it difficult to predict,
05:05because you're looking at Stenning and Eastbourne Town going into that division this year.
05:10It won't be easy for them, but you would think they've got every chance of holding their own.
05:15Eastbourne Town in particular have been at Isby and South East level before,
05:19so I think they'll do OK. They'll have people at the club.
05:21They may not have players who know that level, but there'll be people at the club that know what's needed.
05:28And Jude MacDonald, the manager, has been involved at that level before too.
05:34Of the teams that were already there, I think Burgess Hill are going to have a good season.
05:39They've recruited really well. They've got Jay Lovett back as co-manager with Gary Manson.
05:46They moved very early to retain the players they wanted to retain.
05:51They've also added, just to name a few, Ben Perk, the ex-Hastings and Lansing striker.
05:58Bobby Price, who you will know well from Horsham, Horsham full-back gone there.
06:03A couple of defenders from Whitehawk who have been playing at the higher level, Step 3.
06:07And Brandon O'Neill from Three Bridges as well, which was quite an eye-catching signing.
06:13So, I think Burgess Hill, they were sort of mid-table. They were quite inconsistent last year.
06:18I think they're going to have a real go.
06:20Lansing have had to do a lot of rebuilding after management.
06:24Quite a number of players have moved on.
06:26They could find it hard, but Jamie Hollis, manager there now.
06:30So, they'll be looking to get a good start.
06:34Littlehampton struggled last season.
06:37They were in danger of relegation until quite near to the end.
06:41But I think they'll be better again.
06:43They've concentrated more on rebuilding the team this summer.
06:46Mitch Hand and George Gaskin are still in charge down there.
06:49So, yeah, like I say, very competitive.
06:52Then you've got the likes of Three Bridges, East Grinstead, who, again, difficult to predict.
06:59Three Bridges are ground-sharing with Chatham for a little while.
07:04That's going to hit them. That's not going to be easy for them.
07:06First half of the season.
07:11But, yeah, lots of Sussex interest there.
07:13It'll be fascinating to see how the early weeks of the season go.
07:17Yeah, you mentioned it there, Steve, about Three Bridges ground-sharing with Chatham.
07:21As someone who was born in Chatham, that's a good hour away from where I am.
07:25Plus Three Bridges is half an hour extra.
07:27On top of that, it's madness.
07:29I can't believe they've not been able to find anywhere closer.
07:32Surely that will impact the first half of the season, won't it?
07:34Because I think they're there until December, is that right?
07:39I believe so at this stage, yeah.
07:41Yeah, it's odd.
07:42I'm sure they would have explored other options closer to home.
07:46But they obviously couldn't make any of those work.
07:49It's going to be difficult for the staff and players to keep traipsing over there.
07:55And you wonder how many fans are going to make the effort.
07:58That's the worry.
08:00They'll have a hard core of home fans who do.
08:03But it's a long way, isn't it?
08:05It's a long way to go, especially for a Tuesday night game.
08:08You think about going over there in the rush hour and coming back late.
08:13Horrific.
08:14It's going to be hard for them.
08:17I suppose if they want to look for a good sign from a precedent,
08:23then Chichester City last season spent the first half of the season playing home games at Bognor.
08:29Not the same distance, but still the idea of not being able to play at your home ground.
08:34And actually did okay.
08:36Picked up some points there and then flourished when they went back home to the point where they got promoted.
08:43Three Bridges will have to try to take some inspiration from them.
08:47Absolutely.
08:48Fingers crossed they get home back as soon as possible.
08:51It's nothing major.
08:52It's a pitchery lane, isn't it, Steve?
08:54It's nothing to be concerned about too much, is it, Three Bridges?
08:58I think so, yes.
08:59I think that's the way.
09:02They had a big fundraising push for a 4G and then I think they finally got the money and it all approved.
09:10So that's what they're having done.
09:12Ah, I see.
09:13Well, fingers crossed they get back to their home as quickly as possible.
09:16But taking a look at the Istvanian Premier, six Sussex sides will clash in the Istvanian Premier this season.
09:22Horsham will be hoping to ease the pain of last season's playoff semi-final defeat by going one better in 2020-25.
09:29Easy for me to say.
09:30Well, Chichester City will be competing at Step 3 for the first time in the club's history after earning promotion via the Istvanian South East playoffs.
09:38Hastings, Lewis and Whitehawk all have new managers, while Bognor will be looking to improve when last season's 10th place finished.
09:44When you look at it there, Steve, it's shaken up to be an intriguing season.
09:48How do you think our sides will fare?
09:51Quite a few of our teams, I reckon, could be in the mix for the playoffs.
09:55Yes, we seem to have had a couple of seasons in the Istvanian Premier where all the Sussex teams have been much of a muchness.
10:03They've all been sort of hovering around the playoff zone but not quite getting in there.
10:08Horsham last season were the exception to that, they did get in the playoffs.
10:11But teams like Bognor, Lewis, Hastings, they've all been quite strong but they've just not quite had that ingredient to get them in the top five during the season and stay there.
10:23So it's a case of who can do that this year and who can't.
10:26I actually think this year's going to be a bit different and I think the six Sussex teams in there are going to be a little bit more spread out.
10:32Can't see them all being in that same bracket.
10:36I would place Horsham as the favourites of those six to do well and I think Horsham will get in the playoffs quite comfortably.
10:46Don't necessarily think they'll win the title but I think they might be in the race for a bit if there's no runaway leader.
10:53And I think Bognor will do quite well as well. Bognor have had a few years now.
10:56They've been back in the Ispian Premier for about six seasons after a year in National South.
11:01It's been frustrating at times because they've looked to have a good squad a couple of times in recent seasons and it's not quite worked out for them.
11:12I think maybe this is the year they've kept most of the players they want to.
11:16They've added a couple as well.
11:18Interesting signing there is Callum Barlow who's stepping up to Bognor from Step 5 at Eastbourne.
11:25It'll be interesting to see how he does. He's got a bit to prove.
11:28But I think Bognor will have a real good go in the playoffs.
11:31Hastings won't be far away.
11:33Difficult to judge Hastings because we know what Danny Blore's done in the past.
11:36He's done very well at Eastbourne Borough and at other Sussex clubs.
11:40But he's not managed at Step 3 for a little while so it might take him a little while to find his feet at that level.
11:48But he's got a good squad as well. He's got David Rodari for a start.
11:51If he's on form he'll probably score 30 goals. Gives you a chance, doesn't it?
11:56Lewis have had a real rebuild.
11:59The whole club really has had a rebuild over the summer.
12:04I think they might take a little time just to get going.
12:08Whitehawk I think could be up there with Hastings and Bognor.
12:12Could be challenging.
12:14The aim for Chichester City is to stay up.
12:18If you offered them one above the relegation zone now they'd take it.
12:22They're in a division which is full of clubs much bigger than them in terms of budget and infrastructure.
12:31But people said that about Chichester last year.
12:33They didn't give them much chance of promotion then.
12:35They proved them wrong.
12:37There's such a spirit at Chichester that you wouldn't bet against them staying up.
12:43And maybe do a little bit more than staying up.
12:46As with the Eastern and South East, it'll be fascinating to see how it all pans out.
12:51Very tough to call.
12:53David Rodari, Hastings striker, formerly of Crawley.
12:58Do you remember much about his time at the Reds? How did he perform?
13:01I think he only started one game.
13:04Had a couple of subs appearances at Crawley.
13:06Never really found his place there, I don't think.
13:11Because he came on the back of that famous game where he scored eight goals, I think it was.
13:16And everybody was raving about him.
13:18Thought he might be this great find.
13:20I think it was John Yemsey signed him.
13:23But he never really did it.
13:26I've watched him. I saw him for Crawley.
13:29And I've watched him, I think, in two Senior Cup finals now.
13:32And I've never seen him score a goal.
13:35But every time I read about him playing in a game, he's scored a goal.
13:38So, yeah, it was a shame it never worked out for him.
13:42You've got a bad luck charm.
13:44Maybe I am, yeah.
13:46But what I will say is that I've spoken to him a couple of times and he just seems like an incredibly nice bloke.
13:51So, I wish him all the best this year.
13:53And hopefully he can fire Hastings up and get them up to the next division.
13:57Absolutely.
14:02While we're talking about this, what would your assessment of Horsham be?
14:05Because you speak to Dom quite a lot.
14:07Is he confident or is he a little bit wary for the new season?
14:12I think Dom's always one to never get ahead of himself.
14:15So, I got a few quotes online this week about where he's run the rule over all the Istvian Premier sides this season.
14:21He's basically said that the Istvian Premier is as strong as it's ever been.
14:26Last season, Hornchurch, who won the title, won it by 21 points.
14:29They basically had it sewn up by Christmas, more or less.
14:34Myself and Dom have agreed that we can't see that happening this year.
14:37He said he'd be quite happy if Horsham were in the mix, as it were.
14:41I think playoffs is definitely the aim.
14:43But when you look at some of the sides that are still in there, you've got...
14:46Dartford have come down from the National League South.
14:48I think Bill and Ricky are quite heavily tipped to do well.
14:51Chatham, obviously, played a finalist last year.
14:55So, yeah, it'll be interesting to see.
14:57They've recruited really well.
14:58A lot of people with know-how at the league.
15:00Two ex-Lewis lads they've brought in as well.
15:03And they open with two Sussex Derbys away at Hastings on Saturday and Chichester on Tuesday.
15:10But I believe that they've been trumped in the Sussex Derby stakes, Steve.
15:14Isn't there a team who've got three back-to-back Sussex Derbys?
15:18Hastings have got three Sussex Derbys to start with.
15:22So they're obviously at Horsham on Saturday.
15:25They then play the next tour against Whitehawk and Bognor.
15:29I forget which order those two are in now.
15:31So that's unusual.
15:35I said to Danny Bloor, is that good or bad?
15:37And he doesn't mind either way, really.
15:39It's a bit of a cliche, but he says, you know,
15:41you've got to play them at some point, home and away, along with all the other teams.
15:44So bring them on.
15:46And, you know, if you can get sort of seven points from nine from three games like that to start the season,
15:51you're off to a flyer, aren't you?
15:53You're on the front foot.
15:54You're up in the table and you've beaten a couple of your rivals already.
15:58So I think Hastings would probably be quite happy to get a point from Horsham tomorrow.
16:06But, you know, we'll see how it pans out.
16:10Absolutely. And you've just reminded me, obviously, commiserations to Horsham,
16:14what with so many Derbys seem to be front-loaded this season,
16:17their New Year's Day fixture season travel down to Dover.
16:20So if you manage to get down there for New Year's Day, blimey, good luck to you.
16:24Yeah, you may as well be in France.
16:26But, yes, best of luck to all our sides in the Isbjorn Premier and finally,
16:31we'll take a look at Worthing and Eastbourne Borough,
16:34who will once again be flying the flag for Sussex in the National League South.
16:38The Reds were hoping to go one better under new manager Chris Agatha and friend of the podcast,
16:43Chris Agatha, after last season's player final defeat.
16:46But they'll have to do so without 43-goal forward Olly Pearce,
16:49who has joined ex-Rebels boss Adam Hinsherwood at York City.
16:53Borough, meanwhile, will be hoping for a less stressful campaign after last season's brief flirtation with relegation.
16:58Yeah, a bit of an odd one, really, both of these, Steve.
17:01How are both sides looking ahead of the new season?
17:03It's going to be difficult, I think, for Worthing to replicate last season's success,
17:08I think, as 43 goals would be a miss, whoever you are.
17:12Yeah, I think that is the big worry for Worthing and their fans as they start the new season.
17:19They've done so well in each of their first two seasons at this level,
17:23play-off semi-final the first year, play-off final the second year.
17:28But I spoke to Chris Agatha this week and he said if he had the squad that he's got, plus Olly Pearce,
17:37he'd be getting out of the deck chair, putting a sombrero on,
17:40and he'd be laughing, basically, because he would know that he's got all the ingredients there
17:46to really go for the title or another play-off place.
17:50But because they've lost Olly Pearce, and Joe Felix as well, don't forget,
17:54who was quite an important player last year, sort of right wing back and attacking right-sided player,
17:59he's also gone to York.
18:02Pearce, in particular, is a big loss, and he's brought in a couple of strikers.
18:07He's brought Jake Hutchinson in, who we know has played for a couple of our clubs,
18:13and he's this week, or in the last 24 hours or so, he's also signed Harrison Smith,
18:19who is quite a big, powerful Stevenage forward, young forward, I think he's about 19,
18:25who he knows from his time at Stevenage.
18:27So he's added some firepower, but it's not easy to replace those goals.
18:33You're either looking for one player who you know is going to score you 25,
18:39or you're looking for a couple who are going to get sort of 15, 20 each,
18:43and then others weighing in as well.
18:45You've got people like Danny Cashman there, who you know will weigh in with goals as well.
18:50I think it will be hard.
18:51I think Worthing will do okay, but I don't think they're going to be necessarily in that top
18:56two or three, and I don't necessarily think they're going to be sort of certs for the play-off
19:02all the way through, which they pretty much were last season.
19:06Whereas Eastbourne Borough, I think most would agree they are going to have a better season
19:11than they had last year.
19:13Turned into a real relegation struggle.
19:15Looked odds on to go down at one stage when the games were running out
19:18and they had a couple of away defeats.
19:20They turned it around.
19:21Adam Murray did a fantastic job over the second half of the season.
19:27Seems to have built a very strong squad.
19:29Still adding to it now.
19:31They've made a couple of sort of more signings this week,
19:35and I think expectations and hopes very high there,
19:39and I can see Eastbourne Borough a real good go for the playoffs.
19:43Don't think they'll win the title personally.
19:46Kevin Anderson, who does a lot of work for us on Eastbourne Borough,
19:49has done his sort of runners and riders for National South this week,
19:53and he reckons Eastbourne Borough are one of five title contenders.
19:58The other ones being, can I remember them now,
20:01Boren Wood, Oki, who have had problems last season but seem to have stabilised.
20:09Daw King, who have come down again,
20:11and Maidstone, who were strong last year and a bit distracted by their cup run.
20:16Kevin puts Eastbourne Borough in that bracket,
20:19and I think that's probably about right.
20:21Fair bit of money being spent at Eastbourne Borough,
20:24but it didn't work out last year as they hoped.
20:29This year could be their year.
20:32It'll be exciting to see.
20:34Very exciting to see.
20:35Just going back to Worthing,
20:37they've got a situation where they're going to be playing away first few games,
20:41because of the ground improvements.
20:44I think it's six of the first nine at the moment they're due to have.
20:48Obviously, when I covered Steve when he was off,
20:52I spoke to Agatha about it, and he seemed quite relaxed about it,
20:55because, again, you've got to play these games anyway.
20:58But what it does benefit, it does give them,
21:00I think they get a run of home games over the Christmas period
21:03and the beginning of January,
21:05which part of the season you'd rather play a load of away games
21:09rather than home games.
21:10They don't have to travel around Christmas.
21:12It's perfect for them.
21:14If they have a good start and they, like we say,
21:17win two or three of those away games at the beginning of the season,
21:20it gives them a good foundation.
21:22If they've got a strong home record, which they normally do have,
21:25then they can push on in the new year.
21:28So, yes, no interesting times.
21:30It'll be very exciting.
21:32Before we move on to the final part of our podcast,
21:35all three of us are going to get quite brave,
21:37and we're going to stick our necks in the line
21:38and predict the highest finishing team in Sussex in each division.
21:41And obviously, we'd like to note that if we don't pick your club,
21:44we don't have anything against you.
21:45It's just a bit of fun.
21:47Feel free to make fun of us because, yeah,
21:50it could all go terribly wrong.
21:51So, starting with SCFL Division 1, we'll start with you, Mark.
21:55Who have you tipped to, I suppose, it won't be the highest finishing team,
21:58but you're tipping to win the title, I guess?
22:01I'm going to go for Billingshurst.
22:02They've had a good start,
22:04and it's mainly based on the fact that I know people that live there
22:08and Olly Berry, who used to work for us,
22:10has something to do with it as well.
22:11So, I'm going for Billingshurst to show support to them.
22:14Solidarity.
22:15Yeah.
22:16Yes, absolutely.
22:17Steve, how do you see it?
22:19Well, I just hope Olly Berry's watching this
22:22and that your prediction has been worthwhile.
22:24I don't even know if he's still involved with the club,
22:26but I'm sure he is.
22:27I see him tweeting everything he wants.
22:29I'm pretty sure he still is, yeah.
22:31I'm going to go with Worthing United,
22:35who have been there or thereabouts for a couple of years,
22:39got into the playoffs.
22:41They certainly got into the playoffs this year,
22:43just gone, lost to Wick in the semifinal.
22:46I think they may have been in the playoffs the year before as well,
22:49but I can't quite remember that far back.
22:50That's too long ago.
22:51But, yeah, good set-up down there,
22:53good sort of youth section,
22:56good infrastructure at the club.
22:58I'm going to, hopefully not tempting fate,
23:01I'm going to tip them for the title and promotion to the Premier.
23:04Absolutely.
23:06I'm going for AFC Upfield Town.
23:08Billy Wood is down there and he has overhauled the squad
23:14and they have brought in some proper good players,
23:16some that will probably be good enough for the SCFL Prem,
23:18let alone the SCFL Div 1.
23:20So I'm predicting big things from AFC Upfield
23:23and my prediction is they might win this at a canter,
23:26but we will see.
23:28Speaking of the SCFL Premier,
23:30we'll start with you, Steve, this time.
23:32Who do you see lifting the trophy at the end of the season?
23:35No big surprise really, going to go with Hayward Heath.
23:39I think they, I thought they would do a little bit better than they did last season.
23:43They had to change a manager halfway through.
23:46Naim Ruan took over halfway through, did quite well
23:50and seems to have, he's boosted his backroom team,
23:53he's made some good signings over the summer.
23:55They started quite well through in the FA Cup as well.
23:59I can see them having a strong season
24:02and if you can be consistent over the season in that league,
24:07you've got every chance.
24:08The title run last year was interesting, went to the very end,
24:12I think, went to the last game pretty much
24:14and stunning, eventually edged out Newhaven.
24:17But I can see Hayward Heath getting a little lead
24:19and maybe sewing it up with a few games to spare this year.
24:23Mark, I think you have a similar opinion, sorry, aren't you?
24:27I completely agree.
24:28Yeah, he's a good manager, Naim.
24:30He, because obviously before COVID, he had a really good season with Lansing
24:34and then COVID sort of screwed them over, as it were.
24:37So, yeah, I think he's a good manager and he's got some good players there.
24:42And yeah, I agree with Steve, I think they might win it at Canter.
24:46I'm going to go against the Green.
24:48I'm going to go for last season's beaten playoff finalists, sorry, at Newhaven
24:53and I believe that they've brought in a former Brighton,
24:56have they had been striker just recently, Steve?
24:59Yes, they've brought in Jake Robinson, who was on Brighton's books
25:04in Adam Hinsherwood's days and was a big signing for Worthing two years ago,
25:09this time two years ago, and did his ACL half an hour into the season
25:14and has never really, I'm not saying he's never got over that,
25:17he's clearly fit again, but he never got his way back
25:20into that Worthing team and played regularly.
25:22His brother, Luke, I hope I've got that right, is already at Newhaven,
25:27so it's watch out for the Robinsons at Fort Road.
25:32He could score loads in that division, couldn't he?
25:34Yeah, I know that I've got a friend who did both his ACLs
25:40and it takes a lot to recover from, so if he can get fit and fire in,
25:45I reckon Newhaven could really, really, really, really
25:48bow for promotion this season.
25:49But looking at the Esmean South East, I must admit,
25:53I found this one quite difficult to predict, Steve.
25:56I'll make my pick in a minute, which you derided somewhat
25:59when I made my choice.
26:02So, yeah, I'm not as certain on this one, but who do you reckon
26:05will finish highest, not necessarily win the title out of Sussex teams?
26:10I'd go for Burgess Hill.
26:13I think they're going to have a really good go.
26:15Yeah, they might win the title, actually.
26:18You've got, obviously, you've got Ramsgate again,
26:22who are going to, you would think, would be strong again,
26:25having just missed out last year.
26:28But I'm going to go Burgess Hill to be the top Sussex team there
26:32by quite a few places, possibly.
26:35And before we move on to Mark, Ramsgate had a bit of a spot of bother
26:40with former manager Lewis, Lewis manager Tony Russell, didn't they, Steve?
26:43I don't know if you remember.
26:44He was there for a week and then he left, didn't he?
26:46We're not quite sure why.
26:47Yeah, not sure what went on.
26:49But he took over there at the end of last season
26:52after they had a few changes.
26:54And I think on the day they were due to play their first friendly,
26:58he resigned.
27:01And there was a bit of turmoil for a while.
27:05Don't know, can't claim to know the ins and outs of it,
27:09what was behind it, and haven't seen a lot about it since, actually.
27:12They've obviously sort of moved on from that
27:15and they're ready to go again.
27:17And I'm sure Tony will end up somewhere else if he hasn't already.
27:20But, yeah, straight on.
27:22Maybe he tried to ring the players and he claimed they didn't ring him back.
27:25So, yeah.
27:29Moving swiftly on.
27:34Mark, who have you gone for then?
27:36Highest discipline South East side or potential title winners?
27:39For all the reasons Steve said earlier about the fact
27:42that they made some good recruitments.
27:44Jay, love it there.
27:46Yeah, I think Burgess Hilltown will do it as well.
27:50Because I remember when I was sort of focusing on the mid-Sussex Tynes area
27:54and Burgess Hill went up from the County League with Ian Chapman
27:57up to the thing.
27:58And I think this could be the sort of best season since then for them.
28:02So, yeah, I'm going for Burgess Hilltown.
28:05Come on, up the hillions.
28:06Up the hillions.
28:08I've gone for Lansing, and that was based solely on what they did last season.
28:11But, as Steve said, they've lost their manager and all their players, basically.
28:16Not to say that they might be better than what they did last season.
28:20The majority of them.
28:22I'd also like to say best of luck to Broadbent Sheath as well.
28:25As the former custodian of the County Times sports pages,
28:28I'd like to wish all the Horsham-based teams the best of luck this season.
28:32So, I'm up the bears.
28:34In the Istvan Premier, what do you reckon, Mark?
28:38Who do you reckon will be the highest-finishing Sussex team
28:40and who do you think might go up?
28:42Oh, God, I haven't prepared the highest-finished Sussex team.
28:45Who's in the Istvan Premier?
28:47Who have we discussed?
28:48Hastings.
28:49I'm going to go.
28:50Hastings is the highest-finishing one.
28:51I think Danny Bloor will do a good job.
28:53We know his record.
28:55He's pretty good.
28:56So, I'm going to go for that.
28:57But I think Chattentown, and this is solely based…
28:59I know they beat Horsham last year, didn't they?
29:03Mainly based on the fact that Scott Lindsay has managed there
29:07and everything he touches turns to gold.
29:09So, I'm going with Chattentown.
29:12Steve, what do you reckon?
29:16I'm going for Horsham to be the highest Sussex team in the division
29:21and to go up through the playoffs.
29:24Ooh, I'd take that straight away.
29:26And I think Bognor might get into the playoffs as well.
29:32Well, I've gone for Hastings for the reason that Mark has mentioned.
29:36I think Danny Bloor is a canny appointment,
29:40and the only reason I'm not tipping Horsham is I don't want to be seen
29:43as a joner.
29:44So, yeah, I'm going to tip Horsham to get relegated,
29:46and obviously they're going to win the league if I say that.
29:49And I have a feeling that Billericay Town are probably going to win
29:53the league this season.
29:54It'll be one of Billericay or Dartford.
29:56As Dominic said when I spoke to him, it will be a very tightly contested team.
30:00So, I reckon you could throw a blanket over six, seven, eight teams,
30:04and that'd probably be quite a good prediction as to who's going to go up.
30:07So, it'll be very exciting.
30:09And finally, the National League South.
30:12Worth in all, Eastbourne Borough, Mark.
30:14Who do you think will finish highest,
30:16and can you see either of them getting promotion or both?
30:20I think Eastbourne Borough stand a better chance just because, I mean,
30:23we had Simon Leslie on this podcast, didn't we,
30:26and just listening to him speak about the project and everything.
30:30He was particularly praising of the manager, Adam Murray, wasn't he, as well?
30:34So, I think Eastbourne Borough, obviously it was a bit of a poor season,
30:41but I think it's going to follow exactly the same pattern
30:44as what happened with Crawley Town.
30:46They had these new owners come in, massive ideas.
30:49First season went disastrously,
30:52and they escaped just on the last couple of weekends.
30:55And then the next season, it all came together,
30:57and I think that's what's going to happen with Eastbourne Borough this year.
31:00Worthing, I think, could sneak into the play-offs.
31:02I mean, Chris Daggett's, again, another person we've had on this podcast,
31:05and I think it was just literally a couple of weeks before
31:08he was named as Worthing manager, wasn't he?
31:10He was still Hastings manager when we spoke to him.
31:13I think he's a good coach, and he's a very well-respected coach as well.
31:17So, I think he's going to do a good job with them.
31:19But, yeah, missing Ollie Pearce is obviously a big thing for them.
31:23So, I think they could sneak into the play-offs,
31:25but I think Eastbourne Borough are the team to watch in that division this year.
31:29Steve, where do you see it?
31:31Yeah, similar view, really.
31:33I think Eastbourne Borough straight into the play-off semi-finals
31:36by finishing second or third.
31:38I think Worthing will be around sort of seventh, eighth,
31:44which is quite an important sort of divide,
31:47because you finish seventh, you're in the play-off qualifiers.
31:50You finish eighth, you're back in the National South for another year.
31:53But I think it will be harder for Worthing this year.
31:55But it'd be nice to have them both going for it throughout the season.
32:00There'll be a couple of good derbies between them to come as well.
32:03So, we're looking forward to that.
32:04And, yeah, good luck to them and to all the teams we've mentioned.
32:08Absolutely, yeah.
32:09I think that it's a toss of a coin, really, between Worthing and Borough.
32:13I really couldn't call it.
32:14I've gone for Borough, but, yeah, I can see both of them finishing the play-offs.
32:18And it'd be good for us if there was a play-off final of Borough.
32:22We will see.
32:23Best of luck to all the clubs this season who are competing in their respective divisions.
32:27And, finally, as customary for the non-league podcast,
32:29each of us will pick our game of the week, where we select a fixture involving a Sussex club
32:33that we think you should keep an eye out for.
32:35Mark, starting with you, what have you gone for this weekend?
32:39I've gone SCFL Premier and I've gone for New Haven versus Horsham YM.
32:44So, Horsham YM, as we said earlier, they're top of the table at the moment after the two games, winning both.
32:50New Haven have lost a game already, but, as you've said earlier,
32:53with the signing of Jake Robinson and that, it's going to be very, very interesting.
32:59And they will be up there, New Haven, I'm sure, when it comes to the end of the season.
33:04So, yeah, quite a big one early on there, a bit of a top-of-the-table six-pointer.
33:09After three games, it's the most competitive league in the world.
33:12Yeah, absolutely.
33:14Steve, where do you reckon we should be putting our attention this weekend?
33:20I'm going to send people to Oaklands Park.
33:24It's been Premier, Chichester City against Canberra Island.
33:28Chichester's first game at this level ever.
33:31It'd be nice if they could get a big crowd in there, get behind them.
33:34Crowds at Chichester, even when they've been doing well, haven't always been as good as they could be.
33:40Bognor away on Saturday, so maybe a few Bognor fans who aren't going away might get down there.
33:45It'd be really interesting to see how Chichester adapt to the new level.
33:48I hope they get some early points, give them a bit of heart,
33:51and home form is going to be important to them again.
33:55They've got their 4G pitch down there now and they've adapted to that well.
34:00So, yeah, it could be a big afternoon down at Oaklands.
34:04Yeah, best of luck to them.
34:06I've gone, as probably to the surprise of nobody,
34:08Hastings v Horsham on Saturday and this has been Premier.
34:11A massive opening game between, I think, two of the teams who could really, really, really go for promotion.
34:17I'm incredibly excited about Horsham this season, despite earlier tipping them for relegation because I don't want to be seen as a curse.
34:24Some of the players they've brought in, especially they brought in a player from Formula E,
34:28it's called Ola, and I do apologise, I think it's Olegon Waminde.
34:32I think his name is. He looked very, very exciting.
34:35It's just all shaping up to be an incredibly excited season and I can't wait for it all to get started.
34:39And don't forget, sussexworld.co.uk forward slash sport and our newspapers are the best place to get your Sussex non-league coverage,
34:47despite what other newspapers and websites will have you believe.
34:52And thank you very much for joining us, as everyone listening.
34:55And thank you very much for joining me this week, Mark and Steve.
34:59We'll see you in two weeks time, I think.
35:03Thank you all for listening. And, yeah, we will see you then.