THE STAGS
THE OFFICIAL MATCHDAY PROGRAMME OF
MIDHURST & EASEBOURNE FOOTBALL CLUB
MIDHURST & EASEBOURNE VS CRAWLEY DOWN GATWICK
SATURDAY 26 APRIL 2025 KICK-OFF 3PM
MIDHURST & EASEBOURNE FOOTBALL CLUB
Full Name Midhurst & Easebourne Football Club Nickname The Stags Founded 1946 Ground The Rotherfield
Chairman
Mark Broughton
Secretary
Mark Broughton
Treasurer
Barry McMahon
First Team Manager
Andy Ewen
First Team Assistant Dan Trussler
First Team Coach
Jamie Angell
First Team Coach
Arnie Miron
First Team Physio
Lewis Sandy
Reserve Team Manager
Mark Broughton
Reserve Team Physio
Maddie Mantel
Groundsman
Tom Merritt-Smith
Bernie Penney
Stephen Ewen
Matchday Programme JMA Programmes
The club has 2 senior teams and 8 youth teams. The First Team are currently members of the Southern Combination Football League and compete in Premier Division , whilst the Reserves play in the Premier Division of the Hampshire Development League.
The club was established in 1946 by a merger of Midhurst, whose ground had been used to build a school on, and Easebourne, who had lost several officials and players during the World War II.
They joined the West Sussex League and went on to win the title in 1955–56, 1962–63 and 1964–65, as well as the Malcolm Simmonds Memorial Cup in 1959–60. After the top division was renamed the Premier Division, the club won the league again in 1967 –68, the Bareham Cup in 1970–71 and the Malcolm Simmonds Memorial Cup in 1973–74. They won the Premier Division and Malcolm Simmonds Memorial Cup double in 1976–77 and retained the cup the following season, before winning another league and cup double in 1979–80. Although an application to join the Sussex County League was rejected in 1980, they were accepted into the league the following year, becoming members of Division Two.
In their first season in Division Two, Midhurst & Easebourne were runners-up, earning promotion to Division One. The club finished bottom of Division One in 1986–87 and were relegated back to Division Two. They won the Division Two Cup in 1988–89, beating Newhaven 5–3 on penalties in a replay. The club returned to Division One after finishing second in 1991–92, but were relegated back to Division Two at the end of the following season. A second successive relegation in 1993–94 saw them drop into Division Three. Although they won Division Three at the first attempt, the club were relegated back to the division at the end of the 1997–98 season.
In 1998–99 Midhurst & Easebourne finished bottom of Division Three and were relegated to the Premier Division of the West Sussex League. They were Premier Division champions and Centenary Cup winners in 2001–02 and were promoted back to Division Three of the Sussex County League. The following season saw them win the Division Three title and the Division Three Cup, earning promotion to Division Two. Although they finished bottom of Division Two in 2009–10, the club avoided being relegated to Division Three. In 2015 the Sussex County League was renamed the Southern Combination, with Division Two becoming Division One. Midway through the 2018-19 season, the club found themselves bottom of Division One and appointed Liphook United Manager, Andrew 'Lemmy' Ewen as First Team Manager, who subsequently saved the club from relegation to Division Two. The 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons were both ended early and deemed null and void due to COVID-19, with the club sitting 6th and 4th in respective seasons.
The 2021-22 saw a return of success to the club. With the first team winning promotion to the premier division via the playoffs and also winning the league cup. A real triumph for Lemmy and his team after having the two previous seasons curtailed when in strong positions. The reserve team also enjoyed success with a second place finish, securing promotion to their respective premier division.
With last seasons achievements, and subsequent promotion to step 5 football we now find ourselves competing in the Fa Cup for the first time in our history. 2022-23 is sure to be an exciting historical season for everyone involved in the club and town.
MANAGER’S MESSAGE
LEMMY
Good afternoon welcome to The Rotherfield for this Southern Combination League fixture against Crawley Down Gatwick,
I extend a warm welcome to our visitors their officials, players, supporters along with the match officials.
Starting with today’s game it’s well known that its my last game as manager of this special club, today’s opponents occupy the last play off position, I know the lads will really want to send me off with a win. CDG have to win the game to secure their play off spot, Petersfield will be hoping we can do them a favour today, first they need to win at Roffey which I think they will. Peacehaven also have a slim chance but they need us to beat CDG with them having to win at Haywards Heath on an exciting final day.
Where do I start December 2018 I took over this club bottom of Division 1 to leave the club as a good Premier side add the cups we’ve won along the way it’s been a brilliant journey that I’m very proud what we have achieved.
Remembering our first game in front of 17 fans to leave it with an average of 84 shows how far we’ve come. Having to continually bring in young lads, helping them develop then seeing some progress up the pyramid to step 3 & 4 is a big highlight for me.
I was lucky to play at a very good level, helping others achieve that means more to me than people actually realise.
Rusty Is the latest example last week I watched him play for Chichester 18 months ago we got him from park football, we’ve helped him develop then pushed him to move up. I have to thank Miles for the way he conducted himself dealing with this, others coming in throwing money around lucky Rusty has a good head not following the ££, he listened had trust in me, now he’s getting everything he deserves.
We’ve had many good memories and highlights with some awful days as well that’s part of the journey. One memory always comes to me as we drive past it most weeks, the Storrington pond I will leave that there, the lads will just laugh.
I’d like to thank Mark Broughton along with the committee for giving me the opportunity.
My management team deserve all the plaudits, I’m a very demanding person to work with, everything has to be done to perfection they’ve delivered going above and beyond. every player that has played for me I personally thank you all for buying into our vision. Duncan Brown needs a mention, he’s the only player left from when we took over back in 2018.
The supporters I thank you for the continued support you gave us, staying with us when we had those bad days.
My family for all the support you gave me, stepping up when I needed it during the tough times we’ve had.
My partner Sylvia for washing the kit every week add in the training equipment it’s not until you actually take a moment realising what people do as it just becomes a routine.
Sunday is going to feel really strange, for the first time since i can remember I won’t actually be involved in a club or have any planning or analysing to do, I just hope Sylv don’t get ideas in her head.
I wish everyone at the club well, I’ve made so many friends, I will be over to support when I can.
Thank you to everyone who has contributed on this journey.
Lemmy
FIXTURES & RESULTS LEAGUE AND CUP 24/25
TODAY’S VISITORS
CRAWLEY DOWN GATWICK
FOUNDED 1993
NICKNAME
THE ANVILS
GROUND
HAVEN SPORTSFIELD
CHAIRMAN
DONAL BARRETT
MANAGER
JAMES DAY
The club was established in 1993 as a merger of Crawley Down United and two other clubs, and was initially named Crawley Down Village. They took the place of Crawley Down United in the Premier Division of the Mid-Sussex League, and after a third-place finish in their first season, they were champions of the league in 1994–95. The club were promoted to Division Three of the Sussex County League. They were Division Three runners-up in their first season in the division, earning promotion to
Division Two. In 1999 the club were renamed Crawley Down. Although they finished third in 1998–99, they were unable to be promoted to Division One due to a lack of floodlights at their ground.
In 2010–11 Crawley Down finished third in Division Two, earning promotion to Division One after floodlights were installed. After finishing eighth in their first season in the division, they were Division One champions in 2010–11 and were promoted to Division One South of the Isthmian League; the season also saw them win the Sussex RUR Cup, beating AFC Uckfield Town 2–0 in the final. In 2012 the club were renamed again, becoming Crawley Down Gatwick. The 2013–14 season saw them finish second-from -bottom of Division One South, resulting in relegation back to the Sussex County League. The following season saw a second successive relegation as they finished secondfrom-bottom of Division One of the Sussex County League. At the end of the season, the league and divisions were renamed, resulting in the club playing in Division One of the Southern Combination for the 2015–16.
TODAY’S TEAMS
SCFL PREMIER DIVISION
MIDHURST CRAWLEYDOWNGATWICK
Harry
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Matthew Dyson
Assistants: