ISTHMIAN LEAGUE | SOUTH EAST DIVISION SATURDAY 15 NOVEMBER 2025 | KICK OFF 3.03PM
EAST GRINSTEAD TOWN FC
The Vistavis Community Stadium College Lane | East Grinstead | RH19 3LS
Tel: 01342 325885
BUZZ FROM THE NEST
Good afternoon and thanks for giving up some of your Saturday afternoon to come and support your local club. Positives have been as rare as wins this season but one thing that is trending upwards are our attendances. Considering our form (6pts out of the last 84 since you asked) that is pretty remarkable and I think down to our much better social media activity. Thanks in particular to Karl Cullen for his helping in creating and posting. Imagine the fun he'll have when we get back to winning ways.
Anyway we push on. Andy and Grant are working their wotsits off to improve the squad and the players are desperate for the win that can kick-start the season. Let's hope it comes today against Merstham.
Enjoy the game - and thanks for your support.
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
On behalf of everyone at East Grinstead Town, I'd like to extend a warm welcome to you all for today's game against Merstham. We also extend greetings to the players, staff, and fans of Merstham FC who have made the journey to join us at the Vistavis Community Stadium.
It has been a challenging start, with results hard to find. We are working very hard to recruit players, and in the next few weeks we will see a few more join us. The players will definitely improve us, and we are also working hard at training to improve fitness and we've been working on our shape and the defensive side of our game.
Patience is the key, and we know where we need to recruit the players we need, it just takes some time. Bear with us.
There are two new additions to the squad from last week. Midfielder Mo Waheleye, who joins us from Horndean and Sutton Common Rovers, and Olu Shobowale, who played at Three Bridges on Tuesday and impressed at left back. Olu had previously played at Barnet, Southend and Billericay and we welcome both to the club.
A few players have moved on including Jay Richardson, Powell Ukah,and Tom Unsworth, and we wish them all the best for the future.
Let's support the team today and make it a memorable match. Your support has been tremendous, and great support always energises the players. Together, we can push for the result we need. Enjoy the match!
Grant & Andy
Grant&Andy
STANDINGS LEAGUE
MONDAY 3 NOVEMBER 2025 EMBARGOED UNTIL 12PM
Trident Leagues to support National League’s 3UP Day of Action
The Trident Leagues (Isthmian League, Northern Premier League and Southern League) are supporting the National League’s 3UP Day of Action and will change all fixtures on Saturday 15 November to kick-off at the later time of 3.03pm.
That means 104 games, 208 teams across 12 divisions who stand in solidarity with the National League’s 3UP campaign – which already has the backing of its 72 clubs and 93% of supporters across the football pyramid – is aiming to gain a third promotion place into the EFL.
The move will see the Trident Leagues stand together with the National League in asking the EFL to Put Football First and grant a third promotion place from Step 1 – something we feel would benefit the entire National League System.
A joint statement from the Trident League said: “We (Isthmian League, Northern Premier League and Southern League) fully support the National League’s 3UP campaign.
“We believe an additional promotion place to the EFL is essential for the future of the National League Pyramid, so all league matches played on Saturday 15 November will kick-off at 3.03pm.”
Phil Alexander, National League interim CEO said: “We are pleased to have the backing of the Trident Leagues for our 3UP campaign Day of Action on November 15.
“It’s a powerful gesture that demonstrates what we’ve said from the start that getting 3UP will benefit English football as whole.
“It means we will now have 232 clubs and 232 sets of fans and communities across in every corner of the country, all together in solidarity fighting for what we feel is right. Together we can Put Football First.”
FIXTURES & RESULTS
12 Aug H Three
SEPTEMBER
20 Sep H VCD
18 Oct H Ashford United
21 Oct A Faversham
25 Oct A Sheppey United
28 Oct H Deal Town
NOVEMBER Sat Nov 1 H Hastings United
Nov 4 A Broadbridge Heath
Nov 8 A VCD Athletic
11 Nov A Three Bridges Isthmian South
Sat Nov 15 H Merstham
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
Daniel O'donovan
Tommy Seale
Olubiyi Shobowale
Luke Leppard
Jay Richardson
Arron Hopkinson
Curtis Gayler (C)
Scott Faber
Dan Perry
Kieron Pamment
Camron Lawson
Thomas Unsworth
Tariq Richards
Omar
Jhon Murillo-Castillo
EAST GRINSTEAD TOWN HISTORY
PROGRAMMES FROM THE PAST BY LESTER MEDCALF
I’m going to share with you a couple of programmes for past matches played in the middle of November. We’ll start by going back to a Sussex County League division one match - division 1 then being the top County League division - East Grinstead v Ringmer on Saturday 14 November 2009. Programme editor Bruce Talbot - still in charge of the programme in 2025 - gets us under way when talking about a “really rich vein of form with 6 wins in our last seven games.” However, only two of these seven games had been league matches with lots of different cup matches making up the other five matches. One of our two league matches had, though, been our away match against Ringmer - a game we had won 5-1 with goals from Simon Funnell, Ben Burns, John Sinclair, Martin Crane and Daniel Evans.
Manager Steve Johnson also talks about the recent run though “injuries continue to affect us” with 5 players having to miss the last of our recent games.
Richard Tramontin’s chairman notes talk briefly about that 5-1 win. It had happened at a time when the Ringmer club’s future was in serious doubt - all its directors having announced their resignation. Fortunately, their team manager had taken over as their chairman and with a new working committee was hoping to sort things out.
Richard also goes on to talk about our recent fireworks display which had been spoiled by 2 groups (of boys) climbing into the ground, as a result of which they had disconnected some of the firework wiring (which might have harmed them).
Let’s get back to the visit of Ringmer. The programme’s 20 team league table shows us to be in 15th place with Ringmer a couple of places below us. The match was played in a very strong wind and saw a couple of goals in the first 15 minutes - Aaron MacMillan putting us ahead only for Ringmer to score a couple of minutes later. Early in the second half Drew Crush’s powerful header put us back in front only for a defensive East Grinstead mistake to gift an equaliser. And 2-2 was how it ended.
GOALLESS AGAINST THE OYSTERMEN
Moving on a few years we’ll have a look at the programme for East Grinstead v Whitstable on Saturday 15 November 2014 in the Isthmian League.
Chairman Richard Tramontin starts his notes by reminding us that we had played Whitstable four years ago - away in the FA Cup. A spectacular goal some eight or nine minutes from the end had won that FA cup match 1-0 for Whitstable.
Tony Beckingham had been our manager at the time of that previous match against Whitstable - and now in 2014 this would be his first home game back here as manager after taking over from Simon Funnell. Simon had taken us out of the Sussex County League into the Isthmian League where we were now struggling.
Tony tells us that he “hoped when I left East Grinstead that one day I would return … but not quite yet!” He had reason to be very pleased that we had won his first game in charge on the previous Saturday away to Tooting & Mitcham. The programme’s match report gives us more information about that win with Tony’s strengthening of our defence having a significant part to play. Early in the second half Steve Sargent’s free kick was met by a successful header from Guy Harding to put us ahead. And we continued to hold on for a 1-0 win.
But as the programme’s league table shows we were still third from bottom - having played more games than the two teams below us. Whitstable were in tenth place. A hamstring injury after five minutes saw us lose Ben Chick to be replaced by Kieron Pamment with the rest of the first half being rather quiet. In the second half Whitstable began to threaten rather more - but we were just about hanging on - and by the time the ref blew his final whistle, neither side had managed to score a goal.
Meet The Moatsiders
Jamie Decruz
Manager Jamie started his managerial career at Su2on United where he was the U18s manager before progressing to the U23s, and then gaining experience working with the first team. In 2021, Jamie took the reins at Colliers Wood United. He gave the club their highest finish in 20 years. In the summer of 2023, he joined Kingstonian as their assistant manager, before accepKng the Merstham job at the end of September. His first game in charge will live long in the memory. 3-0 down at half Kme at home to Beckenham, the Moatsiders roared back to win 4-3. He guided the side to a fiPh place finish last term and a place in the play-offs. A hugely popular figure at the Moatside.
Rob Tolfrey
Goalkeeper. Keeper Rob is a genuine Isthmian League legend. In the 23/24 season, Rob made his 650th appearance for the K’s and he was already the clubs record appearance holder. He made thirty-three of those appearances that season, and sKll had Kme to play a match on loan at Raynes Park Vale. He previously played for Horsham, way back in the mists of Kme, but signed for the K's in November 2009 and the rest is history. Rob joined us at the start of the 2024/25 season and has been a calming influence on a young side.
Sam Allen
Goalkeeper. Sam has been a very dependable back up to Rob Tolfrey and made several league and cup appearances last season, including one at Broadbridge Heath, where he replaced an injured Tolfrey with 20 minutes remaining in a win pivotal to our play-off push. A well-liked member of the squad, happy to watch and learn.
Ollie Khinda
Defender. Ollie originally joined us on loan from Su2on United and quickly displayed his versaKlity by playing both as a holding midfielder and right back at various Kmes during the campaign. The loan move was made permanent. In his first full season for us, he was voted Players Player of the Year and last season added Young Player of the Year to his set.
Paris Hamilton-Downes
Defender. Before Paris joining us in the summer, the Robins legend clocked up more than 300 appearances for Carshalton, including 35 last season and chipped in with a couple of goals. Paris had been at Colston Avenue since 2011, having started in the academy, before graduaKng to become club skipper and one of the first names on the team sheet, season aPer season. Jamie was delighted to bring in such an experienced leader on the field.
MaO Drage Defender. Ma2 joined us at the tail end of the 23/24 season from K’s having made 38 appearances for them. He made his debut for the Moatsiders in an away win at Hythe Town and has quickly established himself as a favourite. Last season, he became club captain and was voted Players Player of the Year. In addiKon to being a commanding presence at the back, Ma2 also chipped in with a number of goals last term, including several important direct free kicks near the end of the season. Earlier in his career he was a big part of the Dulwich Hamlet squad, making an incredible fiPy-four appearances as they reached the Premier Division Play Off Final in 2015/16.
Harry PoinPng Defender. A commanding central defender, with great potenKal. One of the modern breed of centre backs, very comfortable with the ball at his feet. Harry was dual registered with Walton & Hersham last season, but made the move back to the Moatside permanent aPer Christmas.
Ben Shroll Defender. Ben comes in on a dual registraKon deal from Sholing. The centre back came through the youth setup at Aldershot Town, from where he went on loan to Hampton & Richmond Borough and Havant and Waterlooville. He joined Hayes & Yeading United last season, and moved to Sholing in the summer.
Harry Murphy
Defender. A leP back with a lot of grit and determinaKon, rarely beaten in one to one’s and good in the air too. Harry was with Jamie Decruz at Colliers Wood and then Kingstonian and was one of Jamie’s first signings when he took the Merstham job
Jude Malloy Defender. Last season was interrupted by injuries, but at his best, Jude is defensively sound, and also gets up and down the leP flank to offer an a2acking opKon with his buccaneering runs. The ex-Walton & Hersham and Leatherhead defender joined us from South Park.
Charlie Greenwood
Midfield. A fans’ favourite, Charlie’s campaign last season was blighted by a series of injuries and he was sorely missed by the team during the closing months of the season. Charlie first joined Merstham at the start of the 21/22 season from Sevenoaks and impressed, despite the club being relegated from the Isthmian Premier. Charlie decided to move to East Grinstead, before signing for K’s. Everyone at the Moatside was delighted to see the return of the midfield maestro. A high-energy, all-acKon midfielder who regularly contributes goals and assists.
Louis Evans
Midfield. Louis joined us in the summer from Broadbridge Heath and impressed in pre-season. Louis had been a Bear since the summer of 2022, and last season scored eight goals from his thirty six appearances, including the first in a three-two win against us back in February. The midfielder joined the Bears from Woking, and prior to becoming a Card played for Lancing, and at Under 18 level for Worthing.
Lee Lewis
Midfield. Lee joined us in January 2023 from Erith & Belvedere and quickly established himself as a key figure in midfield. With his driving runs and thunderous long-range strikes, it’s easy to see why he earned the nickname “Rocketman.” APer being named Managers’ Player of the Season, Lee moved to Welling United, but made a welcome return to the Moatsiders in August.
Ryan Healy
Midfield. A hard-working defensive midfielder, Ryan rejoined us at the end of February 2025, having first appeared for the Moatsiders during the 20/21 campaign. He was captain at South Park Reigate, and made twenty nine appearances and scored four goals. He quickly established himself in the Merstham side as we made it to the play offs and scored one of the goals of the season against East Grinstead. He was a mainstay of the Carshalton AthleKc side which won the South Division in 2018, and also spent Kme with Weskield.
Billy Oram
Midfield. One of Jamie Decruz’s first signings, Billy moved to the Moatside from Isthmian SouthCentral side Badshot Lea. He quickly established himself as an integral part of the midfield and a fans’ favourite. An a2acking midfielder who has the vision and ability to pick a pass. His first season at the Moatside was disrupted by a knee injury, which ruled him out for a couple of months. In and out of the side last season and had a short loan spell at Fleet Town. Renowned for his pre-game meal!
Sam King
Midfield. Sam is another former South Park player, where he had a fine 23-24, playing fortyseven Kmes, scoring fiPeen goals, and assisKng many more. He scored the winner as the Sparks liPed the Surrey Senior Cup at the end of the campaign. He played thirty-three Kmes for the Sparks- with six goals- during 22-23, and eleven Kmes with four goals aPer making his debut in February 2022. Sam started last season well, but a series of injuries saw his lose his starKng place and had to be content with a role from the bench.
Olu Lawal
Forward. Olu joined Merstham from St Albans City City where he came through their Academy programme. Olu Lawal made 9 appearances for the Saints that season before being loaned out to Berkhamsted FC on a dual registraKon agreement. The wide man joined us at the start of last season. He has blistering pace and an eye for goal.
Aaron Jenkins
Forward Aaron joined the Moatsiders at the start of the 2024/25 campaign having spent the previous season at Su2on Common Rovers. Aaron scored on his compeKKve debut for the Moatsiders in the FA Cup in August. He chipped in with a number of goals last term including a purple patch over the Christmas period with 3 goals in 3 games.
Korrey Henry
Forward. Korrey became a fans’ favourite when Frank Wilson signed him for the Moatsiders. He formed a prolific partnership with John Ufuah and the two were banging in goals for fun before Carshalton came calling and signed the striker. He started his career in West Ham United’s U18’s and also has had spells at Yeovil, Poole, Braintree, Bromley & Dulwich Hamlet. Last season, Korrey had a slow start to the campaign, but aPer Christmas he was on fire and finished with 24 goals. Moatsiders fans are hoping for more of the same this term.
Finlay Johnson
Forward. A forward who came through the youth system at Stevenage, and has also had a loan spell at Biggleswade Town. He was regularly part of the Stevenage first team squad prior to his departure from the club. He joined Kingstonian on loan, but played only once. He then played loan football with South Park Reigate, making fiPeen appearances and scoring eight goals, before being snapped up by Cardiff City. He returned to the Sparks in the summer, and four goals from sixteen appearances before signing for the Moatsiders in November.
Louis Degand
Forward. Louis was a big part of a very successful Metropolitan Police youth side, and scored five goals in sixteen matches for the first team at Imber Court last season aPer playing nine Kmes in the early stages of 23-24. In between the two he was a major contributor to Chertsey Town's success in the South Central Division in 23-24, the winger scoring nine goals in twenty seven appearances for the Curfews.
Jamarie BrisseO
Forward. Jamarie signed for the Moatsiders in the summer. He ended last season at Phoenix Sports, making 12 appearances and scoring three goals, aPer signing on in February. Jamarie moved to Sports from Leatherhead, where he played nine Kmes and scored once. The winger previously signed on for a second spell at Beckenham Town and scored thirteen goals in twenty three appearances, including 2 against us!
Ever thought of volunteering to help your local football club?
There are many different volunteer roles in non-league football and Isthmian League football clubs need your help with them.
The Trident Leagues and Pitching In’s online Volunteer Hub is the place where you can find opportunities and contact your local football club.
Please visit Pitchinginvolunteers.co.uk to find out more
