THE STAGS
THE OFFICIAL MATCHDAY PROGRAMME OF
MIDHURST & EASEBOURNE FOOTBALL CLUB
SCFL PREMIER DIVISION
MIDHURST & EASEBOURNE VS CROWBOROUGH ATHLETIC
SATURDAY 8 MARCH 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 Crowborough Athletic,
I extend a warm welcome to Sean his management team, players. club officials and supporters.
Firstly congratulations to Sean for reaching 500 games managing the Crows, that’s some achievement mate.
Crowborough are where I thought they would be, they’re a top side who have a brilliant management team, looking in from a far they’re a very well run club who engage with the community and benefit from that with the great support they get.
Today’s game were again going to be have to be at our best. Last Saturday we gave Hassocks a good game we were right in the game until stoppage time where they got the second goal, it was a chance we had to take either stay as we were and accept the 1 nil defeat or have a go and try and nick a equaliser with the risk we might concede as well by throwing more men forward, sometimes you get that goal others like Saturday we didn’t.
Tuesday we welcomed Roffey another side right in the playoff mix, what a performance the lads put in with us winning the game 2 nil. Definitely in our top 3 performances this season the challenge for the lads is can we back it up and cause more excitement for the play off pack. We’ve still got a few sides chasing the play offs to play, on our day we can beat anyone so teams will be looking at us to cause a few upsets for sure.
Thank you for the continued support
Lemmy
STAGS 0-2 HASSOCKS
HIGH FLYING HASSOCKS PUT TWO PAST STAGS
James Westlake’s Robins travelled to the Rotherfield this afternoon hoping to keep their title wining dreams alive.
The game started off cagily and during this period of play the ball could rarely find the surface. In the 7th minute the away side nearly found the opener with Brad Tighe whipping in an inviting delivery which Jamie Wilkes thumped against the post. Hassocks then came close again as the ball tickled across the six-yard box but was cleared away by the Stags defense.
After a more few chances, the Robins found the breakthrough in the 31st minute with target man Farrell slotting home a teasing ball in, which was well worked from over on the left-hand side.
With 5 minutes to go till the break, Andrew Ewan decided to make his first sub of the game bringing on George Bowerman for winger Marcus Bedford who had struggled to find the spark that he normally brings onto the pitch.
Ewan’s magic seemed to work yet once again as Bowerman got stuck in straight away with the ball finding his feet almost every time the ball was in play. Rustell hit a swerving shot from distance that the Hassocks keeper gathered at the second attempt.
With half time slowly approaching the Stags were itching to find an equalizer, whilst Hassocks were doing everything they could to try and secure a second and see the game off.
In the second half Hassocks found themselves with lots of chances, but they couldn't seem to find the back of the net. Things then got worse for Hassocks as goal scorer and dangerman Ruari Farrell went down with a head injury which did look quite serious as the physio was required to go over and have a look at the incident. Thankfully Farrell managed to get up onto his feet.
The fans weren't happy with some of the decisions the referee made as the clock ticked on and some were getting pretty frustrated. Hassocks made some changes and new entrant Leahy looked to offer something in the final stages.
Time went on and Hassocks did put the cherry on the cake through a Morgan Vale thunderbolt, the ball came out to him on the left he looked up and saw the space, decided to cut inside and he hit it, it paid off in the end finding the back of the net!
There went the final whistle, and the travelling fans and players will be taking the 3 points back to East Sussex, as for the Stags all focus will be on the game at Home to play-off contenders Roffey on Tuesday Night.
By Tom Hughes
FIXTURES & RESULTS LEAGUE AND CUP 24/25
TODAY’S VISITORS CROWBOROUGH ATHLETIC
FOUNDED
1894 GROUND
CAPACITY
2,000 CHAIRMAN
MALCOLM BOYES
MANAGER
SEAN MUGGERIDGE
The club was established in 1894 and initially played in leagues in the Tunbridge Wells areas. In 1974 they joined Division Two of the Sussex County League. In 1977–78 the club won the Division Two Cup. They remained in Division Two until being relegated to Division Three at the end of the 1983–84 season. After finishing as Division Three runners-up in 1986–87, the club were promoted back to Division Two. In 1992–93 they won Division Two, beating title rivals Stamco 3–2 on the final day of the season with Stamco having only needed a draw to win the title, and were promoted to Division One. They remained in Division One until finishing bottom of the division in 1995–96, at
which point they were relegated to Division Two.
In 1998–99 Crowborough were relegated to Division Three. Although they were promoted back to Division Two in 1999–2000 having finished only fourth, they were relegated to Division Three again the following season. In 2001–02 they won the Division Three Cup, and in 2003–04 the club were Division Three champions, and after winning Division Two the following season, they returned to Division One. The 2006–07 season saw them win the League Cup. In 2007–08 they won Division One and were promoted to Division One South of the Isthmian League. However, after the majority of the team left following the withdrawal of financial support from a major benefactor, the club finished bottom of the division in their first season in the league and were relegated back to the Sussex County League. In 2014 the club were transferred to the Southern Counties East League, and became members of the Premier Division in 2016 when the league gained a second division.
Honours
Sussex County League
Champions 2007–08
Division Two champions 1992–93, 2004–05
Division Three champions 2003–04
John O'Hara League Challenge Cup winners 2006–07
Division Three Cup winners 2001-02, 2003–04
Mid-Sussex Senior Charity Cup
Winners 1951–52, 1953–54
STAGS 2-0 ROFFEY
SENSATIONAL STAGS STUN ROFFEY
Andrew Ewan’s men managed to blast two past another play off contending side Roffey on Tuesday night.
On paper Roffey looked like securing the three points. The Stags started the game on the front foot looking to get themselves the early goal, which they nearly did when the ball fell to striker Lewis Rustell, but he dragged wide. A few minutes later Roffey did the same up the other end but also could not convert. Stags star boy Toby Hewett impressed early with his dangerous deliveries into the penalty area and his fancy footwork looking the brightest spark on the pitch so far. Midhurst were soon awarded a free kick in a dangerous crossing position, but nothing was made of it. The blues deservedly broke the deadlock in the 12th minute with Owen Sheriff scoring a glancing header straight of the skippers inviting delivery (Harry Giles)
Towards the end of the first 45 there was a sense in the air that the Midhurst fans were developing a sense of frustration towards referee Adan Siage, deservedly so.
Early in the second period Roffey appealed for a hand ball which was not given and play continued. After some good football played Midhurst found another with an absolute piledriver from Lewis Hamilton, the ball was expertly executed into the bottom corner. Time was ticking and Roffey could not find anything to go their way. In the 56th minute they had a man go down in the box which caused some conflict between opposition players and managers but in the end was not given. In the closing stages the blues were awarded a free kick in another position that they could cause a threat from, but goal scorer Lewis Hamilton just couldn't keep it down as it sailed over the crossbar. That was basically the second half summed up in one the away side did not look like scoring at all during the second half and went home with work to do as the referee put the whistle to his mouth and closed the game off.
Outstanding win for Ewens blues on Tuesday, he should be proud of every single one of them for their efforts
Next up is another clash on home soil as Midhurst welcome Crowborough Athletic to the Rotherfield this Saturday.
By Tom Hughes
TODAY’S TEAMS
SCFL PREMIER DIVISION
MIDHURST CROWBOROUGH
Harry
Marcus
Jakob
Marcus
Martin
Adam Larkin
Jack Mayhew
Henry Muggeridge
Connor Pring
Vowles
Mohamed Zabande
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Christopher Findlay-Geer
Assistants: Luke Irelan-Hill and Adam Woods