AFC Uckfield Town vs East Preston Matchday Programme
vs EAST PRESTON FC
24.09.24 | SOUTHERN COMBINATION LEAGUE DIVISION ONE | 19:30
AFC Uckfield Town 2024/25
Eastbourne Road, Ridgewood, Uckfield, TN22 5QL
Chairman Billy Wood
Secretary Michelle Wright
Treasurer Natasha Leppard
Welfare Officer Nick Bignell
Committee
Billy Wood, Michelle Wright, Natasha Leppard, Nick Bignell, Paul Wright, Simon Heffer, Adrian Saunders, Mally Jones, Jackie Newton, Barry Newton, Kate Bignell, Steve Green, Jon Wood, Duncan Bennett, Jack Walker
Media & Programme Editor
Ant Scott
ascottmedia@outlook.com
First Team Mens
Manager Billy Wood
Assistant Manager Alex Harris
First Team Coaches Luke Carter, Nick Bignell & Ant Scott
Goalkeeper Coach Robert Barden
Physio Sam Piper
First Team Women
Manager Jon Wood
Coaches Nick Rawlinson & Keith Rathborn
Development
Under 23s Manager Luke Carter
Under 18s Manager Mally Jones
AFC Uckfield Town strongly supports the FA statement that there should be a zero tolerance approach against racism and all forms of discrimination.
Accordingly any form of discriminatory abuse - whether it by reason of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion and belief, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, sex and sexual orientation or any other form of abuse will be reported to The Football Association for action.
WELCOME TO THE NEW OAKS
Welcome to The New Oaks for this evening’s Premier Sports Southern Combination League Division One fixture against East Preston.
We extend a warm welcome to the players, officials and management of tonight’s visitors, and hope they enjoy our hospitality before, during and after the game this evening.
The Oaks will be looking to bounce back after bowing out of the SCFL Division One League Cup on Saturday, following a narrow 1-0 defeat to Forest Row.
Having made changes to the starting line up, Billy Wood’s side were narrowly beaten with a sole effort from Jhon Castillo in the second half proving to be the difference here at The Oaks.
Tonight’s game is the fourth home game in the last five outings for Billy Wood’s side, who will be hoping for three points tonight.
East Preston have had a strong start to the new season, with one league defeat in their seven games so far - that coming at home to Banstead Athletic earlier this month.
They bowed out of the Peter Bentley League Cup last time out - losing 5-3 away at Premier side Wick.
Josh Irish scored a hat-trick for the hosts, whilst Jack Marney and Zion McLeod got the goals for EP at Crabtree Park.
Our Under 23s returned to action on Thursday night - also in cup action, this time the Sussex FA Under 23 Cup. Montpelier Villa raced into a 3-1 lead at the break, but a brace from Tyler Wood and Keaton Blackford’s effort saw Uckfield come from behind to force penalties.
But unlike the First Team, the Under 23s prevailed on spot kicks - with Bayly Wright scoring the decisive penalty to win the tie 4-2 and progress to the second round.
We hit the road on Saturday when we visit Banstead Athletic. Kick off is 3.00pm, and your support would be much appreciated. We return home on October 5th when we face Montpelier Villa.
Enjoy tonight’s game, and get behind the lads!
#AFCUT
BILLY WOOD
WELCOME TO A NEW ERA AT AFC UCKFIELD TOWN
Good evening and welcome to The Oaks as we return to Southern Combination Division One league action.
A warm welcome to the staff, players, committee and hopefully a few fans of East Preston, and we hope you have a safe journey home after the game.
Having bowed out of the RUR Charity Cup, Sussex Senior Cup and then the SCFL Division One League Cup, we are left to focus on our league campaign - which was ultimately the priority this season.
Only four of our last nine matches have been in the league, and now alongside the Peter Bentley League Cup, we will be looking to make good progress in the weeks ahead.
The recent cup games have given us the opportunity to rotate the squad and give everyone minutes on the pitch, and now we go into the games ahead with an almost fully fit squad and it’s down to us to choose the best available team.
Shout out to the Under 23s progressing in the Sussex U23
Cup, coming back from 3-1 down to take Montpelier Villa to penalties.
At 3-3 going into the shoot out I was confident the lads would deliver and they did. Love it!.
Thank you to the continued transformation of The Oaks, the new doors are in overlooking the pitch (or under looking it from the angle) and the continued investment on infrastructure will pay dividends in the long run.
It’s on us to keep investing, the pitch we spent a lot on in the summer and will have treatments throughout, however know it’s more of a next summer job to get a ‘carpet’ laid here at The Oaks.
Let’s get behind the boys tonight and let’s hope we can return to winning ways.
Billy Wood
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We award grants and work with partners to deliver outstanding grassroots football facilities across England.
Search Football Foundation to find out more.
LEAGUE STATS
TABLE, FIXTURES AND RESULTS FROM DIVISION 1
ONE TABLE
SATURDAY 21 SEPTEMBER
SATURDAY 21 SEPTEMBER
Chessington & Hook vs Alfold
Copthorne vs Banstead Athletic Oakwood vs Seaford Town
SATURDAY 14 SEPTEMBER 2024
SCFL DIVISION ONE | SIDLESHAM REC | ATT: 71
INFINITY FC
OWN GOAL 9’
AFC UCKFIELD TOWN
TATE 30’, MARTIN 36’
AFC Uckfield Town showed great character to come from behind to win on the road on Saturday.
Billy Wood’s side fell a goal behind early on at Infinity, but Ryley Tate’s first goal for the Oaks and Connor Martin’s diving header saw the visitors prevail at Sidlesham Rec.
Looking to bounce back following defeat on penalties to Little Common in midweek, things didn’t get off to a great start for the Oakmen when Ashley Harris’ corner came off an Uckfield player and beat Harry Howes.
The hosts then could have doubled their lead, but Uckfield bounced back and went close themselves when Joe Hasler fired just over.
And they were level on the half hour mark when Ellis Wright won possession before Hasler’s low ball in found Tate, who fired low into the bottom corner for his first goal of the season.
Things then got even better for the visitors just six minutes later when a great cross from Macca Stiles on the right picked out Martin, who produced a fine
(GK) FREDDIE FIRMAN
LINCOLN PEPALL
JOSH HAZELL
JOE WARREN
SAUL THORPE
PERRY EASTON
TOM TIERNEY
HARRY FOX
ASHLEY HARRIS
MARK SMITH
TANATSWA KANJANDA
SUBS USED
ANGELO HARRIS
HARLEY TAYLOR
CHARLEY BROOK
LEWIS EDWARDS
LAURIE MCINTOSH
HARRY HOWES (GK)
MACCA STILES
ED OVENDEN
ARCHIE CAREY
JIMMY HOLMAN
RYLEY TATE
JOE HASLER
ELLIS WRIGHT
LEON TURNER
CONNOR MARTIN
AARON LOFTUS
SUBS USED
ZAC BIGNELL
TYLER PEARSON
LEON WRIGHT
TYLER WOOD
diving header to give Freddie Firman no chance in the Infinity goal.
Hasler was denied from adding to Uckfield’s advantage not once but twice in the second half, before some stout defending saw Billy Wood’ side secure three points.
FIXTURES & RESULTS
SAT 05 H MONTPELIER VILLA
SAT 12 A DORKING WANDERERS B
TUE 15 A LITTLE COMMON [PBLC 2] SAT 19 A ALFOLD SAT 26 H MILE OAK NOVEMBER
SAT 02 H ARUNDEL
SAT 09 A COPTHORNE
SAT 16 H SELSEY
SAT 23 A OAKWOOD
SAT 30 H WORTHING UNITED DECEMBER
SAT 07 H STORRINGTON
SAT 14 H ALFOLD
SAT 21
THUR 26 A FOREST ROW
SAT 28 H GODALMING TOWN
JANUARY
SAT 04 H COPTHORNE
SAT 11 A BILLINGSHURST
SAT 18 A SEAFORD TOWN
SAT 25
FEBRUARY
SAT 01 A MONTPELIER VILLA
SAT 08 H INFINITY
SAT 15
SAT 22 A REIGATE PRIORY
MARCH
SAT 01 H CHESSINGTON & HOOK UNITED
SAT 08 A ARUNDEL
SAT 15 H DORKING WANDERERS B
SAT 22 H BANSTEAD ATHLETIC
SAT 29 A MILE OAK
APRIL
SAT 05
SAT 12 A EAST PRESTON
SAT 19 A WORTHING UNITED MON 21 H FOREST ROW
SAT 26 A GODALMING TOWN
E WRIGHT CRITTENDEN TURNER B WRIGHT HARPER LOFTUS 1 L WRIGHT, TSHINGOMA, TOURAY, WOOD
PEARSON E WRIGHT CRITTENDEN TURNER LINDSEY LOFTUS BLACKFORD, STILES
PEARSON E WRIGHT CRITTENDEN TURNER LINDSEY 1 LOFTUS MARTIN, TOURAY 1, B WRIGHT
CRITTENDEN FOWLER TURNER B WRIGHT LINDSEY 1 LOFTUS HOLMAN, MARTIN 1, PEARSON, E WRIGHT, L WRIGHT
HASLER 1 E WRIGHT CRITTENDEN TURNER MARTIN LOFTUS HARPER, PEARSON, TOURAY
PEARSON E WRIGHT CRITTENDEN TURNER TOURAY LOFTUS B WRIGHT, STILES, RWABIGWI 1, TSHINGOMA, FOWLER
HASLER 1 E WRIGHT CRITTENDEN TURNER BIGNELL LOFTUS RWABIGWI, FOWLER, PEARSON, L WRIGHT
HASLER 2 E WRIGHT 2 CRITTENDEN 1 TURNER MARTIN OVENDEN BIGNELL, STILES, PEARSON, B WRIGHT, FOWLER
HASLER E WRIGHT CRITTENDEN 2 TURNER 1 MARTIN LOFTUS BIGNELL, B WRIGHT, PEARSON, E WRIGHT
TATE 1 HASLER E WRIGHT TURNER MARTIN 1 LOFTUS BIGNELL, PEARSON, L WRIGHT, WOOD
HASLER PEARSON E WRIGHT CRITTENDEN FOWLER BIGNELL TURNER, MARTIN, B WRIGHT, TOURAY, LOFTUS
CRITTENDEN TURNER MARTIN OVENDEN WALSH LOFTUS B WRIGHT, WOOD, HARPER, TOURAY
SCFL REVIEW
DIVISION TWO TABLE
UNDER 23s
SOUTHERN COMBINATION UNDER 23 LEAGUE EAST TABLE
NLP COLUMN
THE LATEST COLUMN FROM THE NON-LEAGUE PAPER
HOW many times do you hear about the next Jamie Vardy? Everyone is on the look-out for the diamond in the rough who could be a lottery ticket to super stardom.
What the Leicester City striker has achieved since leaving Fleetwood Town all those years ago – a Premier League title and appearances at major tournaments with England – is comic book stuff.
It’s guaranteed there will be a handful of players playing Non-League football this weekend who will be playing in the Premier League or Championship in the very near future.
The reality is there will be many more dreams that aren’t realised. But that doesn’t mean it ends there. And there are some pretty inspiring stories when it comes to the world of coaching.
You may have seen recently that Andy Mangan, promoted into the Football League with Accrington Stanley, Fleetwood Town and Tranmere Rovers, was on the verge of joining the coaching staff at Real Madrid!
Anyone who has ever met Mangan will be able to tell you what a lively, bubbly character he is and how much he loves football.
Mangan, the story goes, impressed Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti’s son Davide on their Pro Licence course and they wanted to take the current Stockport County coach to the Bernabeu.
Frustratingly for Mangan, the move has fallen through because of a work permit. But his time will surely come.
NLP columnist – and former professional footballer –Gregor Robertson, wrote about Mangan’s rise in last week’s paper.
Gregor highlighted how football has finally caught up to the idea that the best coaches aren’t always the people who have been at the top in their playing days. It does, however, show, the levels former players can potentially reach.
Gregor talks about Anthony Barry – who played for Wrexham, Fleetwood Town and Forest Green in NonLeague – and all he has achieved since hanging up his playing boots.
“To master the art of facing audiences, he had taken it upon himself to give talks and coach in a Liverpool prison, in schools. He even hired a presentation coach and joined a speakers’ club,” Gregor writes.
“A few years later, he was Paul Cook’s assistant coach at Wigan Athletic, and the youngest member on the Pro Licence course with the FA. With the likes of Frank Lampard and Michael Carrick in his cohort, he knew he had to do something different to stand out. The dissertation he produced — The Undervalued Set Piece, for which he studied 16,380 throw-ins — did just that, earning him the class’s top mark when he graduated.
“When Lampard was handed the Chelsea job, he gave Barry the chance of a lifetime too. And so began a remarkable journey, from Champions League glory to the Bundesliga and Bayern Munich with Thomas Tuchel, and a World Cup and Euros with Belgium and Portugal respectively alongside Roberto Martinez.”
It’s incredible to see how much Barry is achieving at the elite levels of the game and all credit to him.
So the question isn’t just who is the next Jamie Vardy, but who is the next Anthony Barry?
Award
programme
PLAYER SPONSORS
SPONSOR YOUR FAVOURITE UCKFIELD PLAYER FOR 2024/25 SEASON!
GOALKEEPER HARRY HOWES
DEFENDER ARCHIE CAREY
FORWARD TYLER PEARSON
FORWARD LEON TURNER
FORWARD TYLER WOOD
DEFENDER LEON WRIGHT
DEFENDER JIMMY HOLMAN
MIDFIELDER ELLIS WRIGHT
FORWARD ALAGIE TOURAY
DEFENDER MACCA STILES
MIDFIELDER RYLEY TATE
DEFENDER OLLIE FOWLER
MIDFIELDER BAYLY WRIGHT
DEFENDER AARON LOFTUS
MANAGER BILLY WOOD
ASSISTANT ALEX HARRIS
MIDFIELDER BRYAN TSHINGOMA
MIDFIELDER JAMIE BLACKFORD
GOALKEEPER MATT WALTON
DEFENDER SHANE HARPER
MIDFIELDER NICK PARSONS
MIDFIELDER JAKE LINDSEY
COACH LUKE CARTER
COACH NICK BIGNELL
Founded: 1966
Nickname: EP
Home Ground: The Lashmar
Manager: Kevin Raynor
Colours: Black & White
Last Season: 17th (18)
SCFL Division One
2024/25 LEAGUE STATS
VISITORS
WELCOME TO EAST PRESTON
East Preston F.C. was originally formed in 1947, but unfortunately folded within ten years. However it was reformed, as the present club , in 1966 when it was elected to the Worthing League.
The club remained in Division Three until 1990/91 when they gained promotion once again, this time as runners up to Ifield. However they lasted just one season before being relegated back the following year. After a couple of near misses they finally achieved promotion again at the end of the 1994/95 season.
Paola was appointed manager, to start the most successful period in the clubs history.
The club ran away with the Division Two title in the 2011/12 season, securing promotion before any other senior side in the country, and also claiming the League and Cup double , beating local rivals Littlehampton 5-1 in the Division Two Cup final.
In 1997/98 promotion to Division One was achieved for the first time in the club’s history. The club aquitted itself well for two seasons, finishing fourth in 1999/2000, before a season of crisis saw them relegated in 2000/01. Recovery however, was swift and East Preston were immediately promoted back to the top flight. Following a season of consolidation, 2003/04 saw East Preston once again a force in the top division, finishing third behind Chichester City United , and just missing out on the runners up spot on goal difference to Rye and Iden United.
2004/05 saw the club reach the third qualifying round of the F.A. Cup, eventually bowing out to Billericay Town. For the start of the 2011/12 season Dominic Di
In the 2012/13 season East Preston finished third in Division One, an in 2013/14 won the Division One title by 17 points, but were denied entrance into the Ryman League due to not meeting the ground grading requirements. In October 2014/15 Dominic Di Paola left for Hastings United and the successful team broke up. A period of upheaval followed and the team finished 11th in the League.
Promotion back to the Premier Division was achieved the following season, a fitting way to celebrate the clubs 50th Anniversary after being reformed.
Recent seasons have seen East Preston hold their Premier status, albeit with a reprieve from relegation following the curtailment of the 2020/21 season however the team were relegated to Division One at the end of the 2022/23 season. In recent years the club have developed a large Youth section.
