VS EASTBOURNE TOWN
PITCHING IN ISTHMIAN LEAGUE | SOUTH EAST DIVISION SATURDAY 30 AUGUST 2025 | KICK OFF 3PM
EAST GRINSTEAD TOWN FC
The Vistavis Community Stadium College Lane | East Grinstead | RH19 3LS
Tel: 01342 325885
BUZZ FROM THE NEST
A warm welcome to this afternoon's games to our visitors, the match officials and, of course, our own supporters.
Four games in is still a bit early to call today a 'six pointer' but bearing in mind we are currently the bottom two teams it can't be stressed the importance from our perspective of getting points on the board to give confidence to our young squad.
I didn't think Sevenoaks played better football than us on Monday but they were physical and well organised - so a typical team at this level. They also took advantage of the two mistakes we made. If we can cut out those errors we can definitely get results at this level.
It was great so see so many faces turn up to remember Darty before the game, led by his brother Roger. They reflected the high esteem he was held in both as a player and a person.
It's another home game next Saturday in the preliminary round of the FA Trophy against South Central outfit Binfield. Three points today would give us a massive confidence boost ahead of what is sure to be another tricky game.
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:
FROM THE Dugout
Good afternoon everyone and welcome to today’s game against Eastbourne Town. We are yet to get off the mark in the league. Four defeats in the first four games has been a brutal start!
After a great showing away at Sittingbourne last Saturday we hoped to take further steps in the right direction against Sevenoaks on Monday and earn ourselves our first points. But after a fairly even first half, mistakes were punished midway through the second half and then again late on.
I can keep using the same excuses of us having a young and new squad, but I let the lads know after the game on Monday that mistakes at this level get punished so we need to learn fast and eradicate them from our game. I have complete faith in the lads to do this.
We welcome back Dan Cadman, Alex and Luke Harrison this weekend, which is just as well as we look to have lost both Finlay and Joe for at least 4-6 weeks. The lads are still in good spirits and after a really positive training session on Thursday we’re looking forward to showing the best version of ourselves today. Confidence is still high – we know we are good enough to compete at this level but we also acknowledge the need to get points on the board.
Thanks again for all your support and I must mention the great turnout in honour of the late Dave Dart on Monday. It was great to see so many old faces down at the club.
Good luck to us.
STANDINGS LEAGUE
FIXTURES & RESULTS
2 Aug H Eastbourne United FA
Sat 9 Aug A Whyteleafe Isthmian South East 0-5 321
Tues 12 Aug H Three Bridges Isthmian South East 1-4 190 Daniel Sat 23 Aug A Sittingbourne Isthmian South East 1-2 262 Rawlins
Mon 25 Aug H Sevenoaks Town Isthmian South East 0-2 219
Sat 30 Aug H Eastbourne Town Isthmian South East 3pm
SEPTEMBER
Sat 6 Sep H Binfield FA Trophy 1st Q 3pm
Sat 13 Sep A Faversham Isthmian South East 3pm
Tue 16 Sep H Hassocks Isthmian South East 7.30pm
Sat 20 Sep A Broadbridge Heath Isthmian South East 3pm
Sat 27 Sep H Deal Town Isthmian South East 3pm
OCTOBER
Sat 4 Oct A Beckenham Town Isthmian South East 3pm
Sat 11 Oct H Crowborough Athletic Isthmian South East 3pm
Tue 14 Oct A Hassocks Isthmian South East 7.45pm
Sat 18 Oct H Ashford United Isthmian South East 3pm
Sat 25 Oct A Sheppey United Isthmian South East 3pm
NOVEMBER
Sat Nov 1 H Hastings United Isthmian South East 3pm
Sat Nov 8 A VCD Athletic Isthmian South East 3pm
Tue 11 Nov A Three Bridges Isthmian South East 7.45pm
Sat Nov 15 H Merstham Isthmian South East 3pm
Sat Nov 22 A Margate Isthmian South East 3pm
Sat 29 Nov H AFC Whyteleafe Isthmian South East 3pm
DECEMBER
Sat 6 Dec A AFC Croydon Athletic Isthmian South East 3pm
Sat 13 Dec H Herne Bay Isthmian South East 3pm
Sat 20 Dec A Eastbourne Town Isthmian South East 3pm
Sat 27 Dec H Jersey Bulls Isthmian South East 3pm
JANUARY
Sat 3 Jan A Sevenoaks Town Isthmian South East 3pm
Sat 10 Jan H Erith Town Isthmian South East 3pm
Sat 17 Jan H Broadbridge Heath Isthmian South East 3pm
Sat 24 Jan A Crowborough Athletic Isthmian South East 3pm
FEBRUARY
Sat 7 Feb A Deal Town Isthmian South East 3pm
Sat 14 Feb A Ashford United Isthmian South East 3pm
Sat 21 Feb H Sheppey United Isthmian South East 3pm
Sat 28 Feb A Hastings United Isthmian South East 3pm
MARCH
Sat 7 Mar H VCD Athletic Isthmian South East 3pm
Sat 14 Mar A Herne Bay Isthmian South East 3pm
Sat 21 Mar H AFC Croydon Athletic Isthmian South East 3pm
Sat 28 Mar A Erith Town Isthmian South East 3pm
APRIL
Sat 4 Apr H Sittingbourne Isthmian South East 3pm
Mon 6 Apr A Jersey Bulls Isthmian South East 3pm
Sat 11 Apr H Faversham Isthmian South East 3pm
Sat 18 Apr A Merstham Isthmian South East 3pm
Sat 25 Apr H Margate Isthmian South East 3pm
TEAM LINE UP
EAST GRINSTEAD TOWN F.C. EASTBOURNE TOWN
Rex Porter n n
Neo Wooster n n
Yashua Smith n n
Alex Andrade Filipe n n
Dan Cadman n n
Tom Cadman n n
Matt Weaire n n
Jay Richardson n n
Ollie Deurell Benito n n
Tyler Grant
Luke Harrison
George Griffiths
Powell Ukah
Warren Colman
Finlay Lovatt
Kian Price
James Laws
Liam Trevatt
Brady Ayoola
Joe Hasler
Terrique Hall-Anderson n n
Matt Daniel n n
Omar Folkes n n
Ollie Rawlins n n
Mason Saunders n n
Christopher Winterton (C) n n
Nathan Hover n n
Jack Murphy n n
Jimmy Holman n n
Harvey Mapstone n n
Samuel Parker n n
Lucas Rodrigues n n
Eliot Jenks n n
Sonny Walsh n n
Oliver Davies n n
Marcin Ruda n n
Harvey Greig n n
Edward Ratcliffe n n
Harry Simmons n n
Alfie Simmons n n
James Waters n n
NEXT HOME MATCH
Binfield
3pm Saturday September 6 2025
MATCH OFFICIALS:
Referee: Teddy Osborn
Assistant Ref: Jerahl Hall
Assistant Ref: Oliver Storey
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 on today's date. First up is a Sussex County League division two match East Grinstead v Lingfield on Monday 30 August 1999. Chairman at the time was Bruce Talbot (he was also the Secretary). Matt Gardner was listed as the Programme Editor (though I suspect that Bruce was also heavily involved in producing it).
Bruce's Chairman's notes welcome Lingfield but tell us that that they had suffered a setback on the day before the season started when their manager resigned. Perhaps no real surprise that they had so far lost all three of their league matches.
Bruce goes on to tell us that the September fixtures have just been published and our first team had home games on each of the 4 September Saturdays. This was the season when we did not have any floodlights – they had been stolen during the previous season and had not yet been replaced. So the fixtures man had to give us lots of home games before the afternoons got dark.
We have a match report of our previous Saturday's (home) match in the league cup first round against Portfield, who were then in division one. A poor back pass from one of our defenders in the first half had been taken advantage of, though the same player - Simon Rolfe – equalised for us in the second half. Extra time was needed and Portfield took advantage of it to win 2-1.
The programme's league table doesn't mean too much as teams had played only two or three games. We had won one game and lost one and I've already told you about Lingfield. We had much of the game but couldn't get the ball into Lingfield's goal and it ended up 0-0.
RAYNES PAIN
We move on a number of years for a look at the programme for East Grinstead v Raynes Park Vale on Saturday 30 August 2014 in the FA Cup. The front cover of the programme shows the Cup itself. Chairman Richard Tramontin's notes remind us that this will be the third time we have met Raynes Park Vale in FA Competitions in the last few years. Two years ago it had been in the FA Vase – a 4-4 draw here at East Court with Raynes Park winning the replay 2-1 – and four years ago the FA Cup draw had us playing away to Raynes Park – where we had won 4-1 (with a hat-trick from Liam Baitup). Richard and manager Simon Funnell both talk about our visit to the Channel Islands on the previous Monday bank holiday to play Guernsey. The players had met at Gatwick by 6.45 to be ready for the 8.30 plane to Guernsey for a 1.00 kick-off. However, the plane coming over from Guernsey early in the morning struck a bird and it was about midday before it was ready to leave Gatwick. The kick-off had to be put back of course and we went 1-0 down in the first minute of the game. But two goals in the last minute of the first half put us ahead and we ended up winning 4-2. We then had a bit of a dash to catch the last flight of the day back to Gatwick. Back to the Raynes Park Vale FA Cup game – not a match that I saw. Goals from Sam Schaaf and Steve Sargent were matched by Raynes Park Vale in a 2-2 draw with the replay taking place three days later. We were level at 1-1 after 90 minutes after Layton Schaaf had scored for us. However, one of our players had been sent off and we found the extra 30 minutes hard work. Raynes Park scored an extra time goal which we weren't able to counter and it ended up 2-1 to Raynes Park.
MEET THE 2025-26 SQUAD
Rex Porter
Goalkeeper Rex joined us from Bromley in the summer on a season-long loan. At 17 he already has the physical attributes to be a good keeper.
Neo Wooster
Midfielder is a product of the Dorking FC academy and has gained first team experience at Dorking and Lancing last season.
Alex Andrade Filipe
Experienced defender who joined the club in 2023 and has made more than 70 appearances since then.
Dan Cadman
Younger brother of Tom and, like his sibling, a full-back. Previous clubs include Haywards Heath and Burgess Hill Town. Tom Cadman
Tom is a versatile player who has played for multiple clubs at this level and above including Burgess Hill, Whitehawk and Haywards Heath. Into his second spell with the Wasps, for whom his dad and grandfather also played.
Matt Weaire
Central defender who joined the club in July 2023. Was a youngster with Brighton and Colchester United before spells in non-league at Lewes and Cray Wanderers.
Jay Richardson
After being in our youth system, Jay has been part of the Dorking Wanderers academy and made several first team appearances at the club as well as on loan at both Bognor and Steying. An imposing central defender, Jay’s dad John also played for the club.
Ollie Deurell Benito
Another summer signing, Ollie played youth football for Kingstonian and London South Lions last season.
Tyler Grant
Defender Tyler made his first-team debut last season aged 16 having come through the club’s youth system.
Luke Harrison
Midfielder Luke joined the club in November 2024 having previously played for Horsham YMCA and Worthing.
George Griffiths
Former Burgess Hill midfielder who joined the club in pre-season. Previous clubs also include Wimborne Town.
Powell Ukah
Another summer addition to the squad, Powell’s previous clubs include Banstead Athletic and Corinthian Casuals.
Warren Colman
Industrious midfielder who joined the club from Horley Town at the end of 2024 and quickly established himself in the team, making 22 appearances in the second half of last season.
Finlay Lovatt
Skilful attacking midfielder who was in Leyton Orient’s academy and had two years as a pro with Bromley in the National League. Has also played for Dulwich Hamlet and Beckenham Town amongst others before joining the Wasps in 2024.
Kian Price
Midfielder Kian joined the first-team squad this summer, having come through the club’s youth system.
James Laws
Another product of Dorking Wanderers’ academy, attacking midfielder James scored against Crawley Town in our preseason friendly in July.
Liam Trevatt
Midfielder Liam joined the club this summer, having previously played for Reigate Priory.
Joe Hasler
Another product of Dorking Wanderers’ academy, striker Joe played 18 games for Lancing last season on loan.
Terrique Hall-Anderson
Former Charlton midfielder now in his third spell with the Wasps.
Matt Daniel
Matt joined the club in 2022 from Lancing and became a regular last season when he also chipped in with some important goals, finishing as top scorer in the league with 14 in 2023/24 before scoring ten times in the league last season. Has also played for Horsham YMCA.
Omar Folkes
Powerful striker who joined Wasps in 2022 and has become a regular member of the squad, contributing three league goals last season. Former clubs include Merstham and Three Bridges. His hold-up play is among the best in the league and he chips in with the odd goal as well.
Ollie Rawlins
Striker Ollie played for Cray Wanderers and Steyning last season on loan from Dorking Wanderers, before joining the Wasps this summer.
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