VS BURGESS HILL TOWN
ISTHMIAN LEAGUE | SOUTH EAST DIVISION WEDNESDAY 2ND APRIL 2025 | KICK OFF 7.30PM
EAST GRINSTEAD TOWN FC
The Vistavis Community Stadium College Lane | East Grinstead | RH19 3LS
Tel: 01342 325885
FROM THE CHAIR
Good evening everyone and welcome to the Vistavis Community Stadium for tonight’s Isthmian League South East Division match against Burgess Hill Town. I would like to extend a warm welcome to the Hillians’ officials, management, players and supporters as well as this evening’s referee Harry Yellen and his assistants Stephen Matthews and Michael Hill. I trust everyone enjoys their brief stay and our hospitality.
We have been in a poor run of form lately and since beating Beckenham Town here three weeks ago, have only won one of the five subsequent matches which was away at Hythe Town. Drew will be demanding an improvement from the lads tonight and will be looking to avenge the narrow 2-1 defeat in the reverse fixture at Leylands Park in September.
We are in 16th place with 44 points after 36 matches. After their defeat last night at Beckenham Town, Phoenix Sports, who occupy the last relegation place, could still finish on the same points as us if they win all their five remaining matches and we don’t pick up any points in our six games – however, Phoenix’ goal difference is 19 worse.
Tonight’s visitors are in third spot and are virtually guaranteed a play-off place as they can only be theoretically caught by Beckenham Town outside of the top five who could finish on the same 80 points as Burgess Hill currently have but the Hillians have a 20 better goal difference.
We travel to Sheppey United on Saturday and then host Sittingbourne here the following Saturday – makes a change not having a midweek match!
We could really do with a kit person for the last three away matches following the loss of Robbo who has relocated., so if anyone can lend a hand (doesn’t include washing the kit by the way!), please do get in touch. Thank you all for coming along this evening and whatever the outcome of the match, I trust everyone enjoys their visit to East Court and I wish you all a safe journey home.
OWNERSHIP STATEMENT
In accordance with the Football Association's Rule 2.13 (publication of ownership) in relation to Step 1 to Step 6 Clubs within the National League System East Grinstead Town FC is an unincorporated association / members club and a Community Amateur Sports Club (reg no CASC 02270).
Followuson:
ClubManagement:
Chair & Treasurer: Richard Tramontin
Secretary & Vice chair: Brian McCorquodale
Senior Football Officer: Steve Norris
Head of Recruitment: Matt Wheeler
Commercial Manager: Steve Norris
Club Welfare Officer: Brian McCorquodale
Disability Welfare Officer: Stuart Gibson
Safety & Facilities Officer: Barry Bryant
Bar Manager: Stuart Gibson
Press Officer: Bruce Talbot
ED&I Officer: Andy Dodson
FootballManagement
Manager: Drew Cooney
Assistant Manager and Team Coach: Ian Nicholls
Assistant Team Coach: Steve Sargent, Matt Wheeler
Physiotherapist: Kit manager:
Disability Team Manager:
Youth Coordinator & Development:
Under-18 Managers:
Under-16 Amber Manager:
Under-16 Black Manager:
Under-14 Manager:
Under-12 Amber Manager:
Under 12 Black Manager:
Under 11 Manager:
Shannon McEvoy Vacant
Ant Bowler
Jay De Vito
Lewis McDonnell & Kevin Wright
Lewis McDonnell
Nigel Leach
Sean Clarabut
Ted Symes
Tom Butcher
Ben Payne
FROM THE Dugout
THE AIM IS TO FINISH THE SEASON STRONGLY
Good evening everyone.
Tonight we face Burgess Hill who will no doubt to be one of the favourites to gain promotion this season through the play-offs. They have really invested well from front to back and, added to this experience, they have some great young players from their successful youth set-up.
Yet again I’m having to apologies for Saturday's performance! Flat from the very off and littered yet again with individual mistakes. For the past month we have been a team that rather than carrying one or two individually poor performances have completely faltered as a whole squad.
The drop off in form and energy some could be put down to nearly six weeks of back to back Saturday and midweek games. We haven't got the biggest squad and if you add a couple of suspensions and the absence of Glenn Wilson, Matt Weaire, Tom Cadman and Charlie Harris in some really key games, it means we have come up well short as a group.
We met on Monday night to go through several areas we think we need to improve both pre match, during the match and recovery. The lads and the management team took a lot of good positive information on board and we are all very clear on how we want to finish the season off, hopefully starting tonight.
We thank you all as ever and ask for your full support both home and away in these last four weeks of the season.
Drew
BURGESS HILL TOWN TheAwayEnd
BURGESS HILL - THE PAST DECADE
In 2012/2013 there was an upturn in the Hillians’ fortunes. The club returned to their original green and black colours. Former Brighton & Hove Albion player and coach Ian Chapman was appointed as manager, and he guided the Hillians to eighth place in the table. 2013/14 saw the Hillians achieve their highest ever finish in the pyramid, when they came sixth in the Isthmian South table and just missed out on the play-offs by one point. The newly formed under-21 side finished third in the Ryman League whilst the youth team, under former favourite Ashley Carr, had their most successful season ever. They won the Ryman Youth League and the Sussex County Youth Cup. Two ladies teams were also introduced as part of Burgess Hill Town FC and they enjoyed mid table finishes in their first season.
In 2014/15 the Club enjoy the greatest season in their history. Ian Chapman’s side were unbeaten in the league until mid-March and went on to win the title by 11 points and gain promotion to the Ryman Premier League for the first time. They also equalled their best FA Cup run, eventually losing away to Dartford in the fourth qualifying round but having gained a memorable 3-1 victory at Sutton United in the previous round. In the FA Trophy, the club reached the second round, finally losing at home to Dartford. In the previous round the team had beaten Aldershot Town of the National League 1-0 away.
A confident start to the Hillians first season in the I Premier Division before Christmas saw the team eighth in the league, but a disappointing second half saw them finish in 20th position. The club avoided relegation due to Farnborough being relegated for financial irregularities. The following two seasons saw the Hillians avoid relegation on the last day of the season to keep its premier division status although the next season the club were relegated and returned to Division One South where, after a few Covid-hit years, they have remained since.
There is a feeling of optimism around the Club with Gary Mansell and Jay Lovett installed as joint managers as the Hillians look to improve on recent seasons. With new owners and a more community feel about the club, the future looks bright.
BURGESS HILL FACTFILE
Founded: 1882
Ground: Leylands Park
Capacity: 2,500
Record attendance: 2,005 v AFC Wimbledon – 30th April 2005
Nickname: The Hillians
Best FA Cup performance: 4th Qualifying Round 1999/00, 2006/07,2014/15 & 2016/17, 2017/18
Best FA Trophy performance: 2nd Round proper 2003/04, 2004/05 & 2014/15
Record club appearances: Paul Williams 499
Record club goals: Steve Harper 200, Ashley Carr 179
Biggest win: 12-0 v Saltdean United: 2001/02 Sussex County League
Burgess Hill Town FC Honours
Isthmian Division One South Champions – 2015
Sussex County League Division 1 champions: 1976, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2003
Sussex County League Division 2 champions: 1975
Floodlit Cup winners: 1997, 2000
The Sussex Royal Ulster Rifles Charity Cup winners: 1992, 2000
John O’Hara League Challenge Cup winners: 1974, 1980, 1998, 1999
Sussex Senior Cup winners: 1884, 1885, 1886
Sussex County League Division 2 Cup: 1974
Roy Hayden Trophy: 2003
Norman Wingate Trophy: 2002
Isthmian Under 23s Central Division winners: 2018
Suburban League winners: 2007
Sussex County Reserve Section champions: 1978, 1980, 1983, 1985, 1990, 1992
Sussex County Reserve Section Cup winners: 1983, 1990, 1993, 1999, 2003
Sussex Intermediate Cup winners: 1977
Mid Sussex Senior Cup winners: 1993, 1997, 2002
Sussex Junior Cup winners: 1890
Isthmian Youth League winners: 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016
Isthmian League Youth Champion of Champion winners: 2014
Sussex County Youth League champions: 1984, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2003, 2005, 2013, 2024
Sussex County Youth League Cup winners: 1998, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2013
Sussex Youth County Cup winners: 1977, 1984, 1992, 2000, 2005, 2011, 2012, 2013
Mid Sussex League champions: 1901, 1904, 1940, 1947, 1957
Montgomery Cup winners: 1940, 1957
Mowatt Cup winners: 1946
ACHIEVEMENTS
Honours include the London League Championship in 1927-28 and runners-up in 1930- 31. Unfortunately, the club folded in 1969 merging with Bromley FC. The club was subsequently re-formed and joined the London Spartan League in 1975 and enjoyed some early success being runners-up to Fisher Athletic in the Spartan League Senior Division in 1977-78.
Town also reached two Spartan League Cup Finals, losing to Welling United and Farnham Town. More recent successes have been two previous appearances in the Kent League Cup Final in 1984-85 and 1992-93 and runners-up to Maidstone United in the Kent League Premier Division in 2005-06. After three previous unsuccessful attempts in 1981/82, 2004/05 and 2007/08, Becks finally secured a victory in the Kent Senior Trophy after a 4-0 win over Ashford United.
FIXTURES & RESULTS
AUGUST
Sat 3 AugAGlebeFA Cup EP2-0192Folkes, Tighe
Sat 10 AugAMargateIsthmian South East0-0402
Sat 17 AugHRedhillFA Cup P1-3193Spinks
Fri 23 AugHAFC Croydon AthleticIsthmian South East2-1228Lawson, Weaire
Mon 26 AugASevenoaks TownIsthmian South East2-2107Harris, Daniel
Sat 31 AugHDeal TownIsthmian South East2-3124Daniel, Tighe SEPTEMBER
Tue 3 SepHMersthamVelocity Cup 20-1115
Sat 7 SepAHartley WintneyFA Trophy 1Q1-2163Harris
Tue 10 SepHBroadbridge HeathIsthmian South East1-293Folkes
Sat 14 SepAPhoenix SportsIsthmian South East2-186Daniel, Weaire
Sat 28 SepABurgess Hill TownIsthmian South East1-2415Humpherston OCTOBER
Tue 8 OctANewhavenSussex Cup 21-1Harris
East Grinstead Town win 7-6 on penalties
Sat 12 OctASteyning Town CommunityIsthmian South East3-2110Andrade Filipe, Tighe, Folkes
Tue 15 OctHAshford UnitedIsthmian South East1-3113Tighe
Sat 26 OctAThree BridgesIsthmian South East1-066Christmas NOVEMBER
Sat 2 NovHErith TownIsthmian South East0-4123
Tue 5 NovABroadbridge HeathIsthmian South East2-4107Daniel, Tighe
Sat 9 NovHPhoenix SportsIsthmian South East4-2101Harris, Humpherston, Christmas, Daniel
Tue 12 NovHLancingSussex Cup 30-277
Sat 16 NovAAshford UnitedIsthmian South East0-3434
Sat 30 NovHLancingIsthmian South East1-3119Jabbie DECEMBER
Tue 3 DecHRamsgateIsthmian South East2-1102Lovatt 2
Sat 14 DecAHerne BayIsthmian South East2-1374Thompson, Harris
Tue 17 DecABeckenham TownIsthmian South East2-2182Tighe, Harris
Thu 26 DecAEastbourne TownIsthmian South East1-1309Tighe
Sat 28 DecHMargateIsthmian South East0-2210
JANUARY
Sat 18 JanALittlehampton TownIsthmian South East1-0278Harris pen
Tue 21 JanASittingbourneIsthmian South East0-3189
Sat 25 JanALancingIsthmian South East6-2263Lovatt 3, Daniel 2, Tighe
FEBRUARY
Sat 15 FebHSteyning Town CommunityIsthmian South East0-1139
Tue 18 FebHSheppey UnitedIsthmian South East2-196Daniel, Humpherston
Sat 22 FebARamsgateIsthmian South East1-21208Tighe
MARCH
Sat 1 MarHThree BridgesIsthmian South East0-1220
Tue 4 MarHHythe TownIsthmian South East2-195Own goal, Lovatt
Sat 8 MarAErith TownIsthmian South East0-0107
Tue 11 MarHBeckenham TownIsthmian South East2-1121Gibson, Daniel
Sat 15 MarHHerne BayIsthmian South East0-4164
Tue 18 MarAMersthamIsthmian South East0-9356
Sat 22 MarAHythe TownIsthmian South East1-0287Tighe
Tue 25 MarHSevenoaks TownIsthmian South East1-3116Harrison
Sat 29 MarHLittlehampton TownIsthmian South East0-3123
APRIL
Wed 2 AprHBurgess Hill TownIsthmian South East7.30pm
Sat 5 AprASheppey UnitedIsthmian South East3pm
Sat 12 AprHSittingbourneIsthmian South East3pm
Sat 19 AprADeal TownIsthmian South East3pm
Mon 21 AprHEastbourne TownIsthmian South East3pm
Sat 26 AprAAFC Croydon AthleticIsthmian South East3pm
TEAM LINE UP
EAST GRINSTEAD TOWN
Mattie Pierson
Warren Colman
Tom Cadman
Michael Wilson
Matthew Weaire
Glenn Wilson (C)
Charlie Harris
Connor Tighe
Alex Andrade Filipe
Omar Folkes
Matthew Daniel
Kieran Humpherston
Will Hoare
Luke Harrison
Harrison Parker
Charlie Gibson
Brady Ayoola
Chris Ojemen
Colours:
HILL TOWN
Sittingbourne
EAST GRINSTEAD TOWN HISTORY
Programmes from the Past by Lester Medcalf
We'll have a look at a couple of programmes for games played in the past in the first few days of April. I'll start with Crowborough v East Grinstead on Monday 1 April 2013 – it was a Sussex County League division one match on Easter Monday with an 11.00 kick-off. There was lots of colour inside the programme but not a great deal to read with the club news taking up a page but rather buried in the back half of the programme. Mind you the opening words of that page make great reading from our point of view. “ I hope we see a good game today as we need to play a lot better than we did when we played East Grinstead away just after Christmas. To lose 7-0 is never nice and is especially hard when it is against our local rivals.” Our goals in that 7-0 win were Ben Chick with a couple and the others coming from Sam Schaaf, Marc Pelling, Michael Belli, Sam Cane and a Crowborough defender.
The club news continues with a report of a Crowborough game away to Lancing – though it was played in early March. Crowborough were 2-0 up at half-time and could have been better if the Lancing keeper hadn't stopped a penalty. Lancing scored early in the second half and then the Crowborough keeper also saved a penalty. Ten minutes from time Lancing equalised and with the ref about to blow his final whistle Lancing scored the winner.
The programme's league table shows us in eighth place with Crowborough a further eight places below us. A cold windy day saw Mark Zydonik's cross fooling everybody as it dropped into the goal to put us ahead and further goals from Dave Gellatly and Sam Schaaf gave us a 3-0 win.
SAFE - JUST BEFORE A EASTER MONDAY THRASHING
A few years later and we have another Easter Monday game East Grinstead v Hastings on Monday 2 April 2018 in the Isthmian League.
All of the articles in the programme – whether by programme editor Bruce Talbot, Manager Matt Longhurst or Chairman Richard Tramontin – celebrate the fact that we now have enough points to avoid relegation following our recent win at home to Ashford United. Bruce Talbot in particular points out that we probably have one of the smallest budgets in the league and so are to be congratulated in maintaining our place in the league – for the fourth time since we joined the league in 2014. Richard Tramontin also reminds us that we had played the away match down in Hastings on New Year's Day and had lost 3-1. Marcus Elliott scoring for us (he had moved to Lewes in early March). We have a match report (and lots of photos) from that important recent 3-2 win against Ashford United – though the programme calls them Ashford Town who play in the South Central Division of the Isthmian League. Alex Gaggin was in a goalscoring run and continued it with two first half goals. Ashford pulled a goal back half-way through the second half but Charlie Postance made the game safe with a late goal - though Ashford scored again just before the ref blew his final whistle. The programme's league table confirms that we are safe from relegation while Hasting are in tenth place. Just as well we had made things safe as Hastings thrashed us 7-1 – our goal from Stephane Bombelenga.
