- 5 months ago
Matt Pole is joined by Sussex sport guru Steve Bone and our latest special guest, Haywards Heath Town manager Kev Green.
Kev’s playing career included spells at Three Bridges - back when they were still a county league outfit and where his dad was on the board - as well as Pease Pottage and Malden Vale (the club now known as Raynes Park Vale).
In more recent times he’s been manager at Montpelier Villa, at Steyning when they won the SCFL Premier title in 2023-24, and since the middle of last season, Haywards Heath - who have had a good start to the 2025-26 season and sit top of the early SCFL Premier Division table.
Kev’s playing career included spells at Three Bridges - back when they were still a county league outfit and where his dad was on the board - as well as Pease Pottage and Malden Vale (the club now known as Raynes Park Vale).
In more recent times he’s been manager at Montpelier Villa, at Steyning when they won the SCFL Premier title in 2023-24, and since the middle of last season, Haywards Heath - who have had a good start to the 2025-26 season and sit top of the early SCFL Premier Division table.
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SportsTranscript
00:00Welcome to another episode of the Sussex Non-League Podcast, where we take a look at all the
00:05latest goings on at grassroots football across the county. I'm Matt Pohl, and in this edition
00:09I'm joined by Sussex Sport Guru Steve Bone and our latest special guest, Haywards Heath
00:14Town Manager Kev Green. Kev's playing career included spells at Three Bridges, back when
00:19they were still a county league outfit and where his dad was on the board, as well as
00:22Peace Pottage and Maldon Vale, the club now known as Rains Park Vale. In more recent times,
00:27he's been manager of Montpellier Villa at Stenning when they won the SCFL Premier title in 2023-24
00:32and since the middle of last season, Haywards Heath, who've had a good start to the 2025-26
00:37season and sit top of the early SCFL Premier Division table. First and foremost, Kev, thank
00:43you for joining us. How are you today? Yeah, not too bad, guys. Thanks for having us on.
00:48Absolute pleasure. Tell us a little bit about the job at Haywards Heath. How did you end
00:51up there when the vacancy came up and how has it gone for you in the time you've been there?
00:55As you mentioned, it's been a flying start for you this season.
00:59Yeah, I mean, if we go back to last season, obviously, I think it probably came to a shock
01:06to everybody that I ended up as manager of Haywards Heath, not myself included in that,
01:12to be honest with you a little bit. But what people probably don't know is that I've actually
01:16had a bit of a long-standing relationship with Haywards Heath. I actually set up their
01:23youth development centre a few years ago. So I've been coaching here for a number of years
01:29with the younger players. When Heath got relegated the season before last, obviously, I was manager
01:38at Stenning and it looked like we were probably going to go head-to-head on that season. So
01:42having chatted with Steve, the chairman, and obviously the guys at Stenning, I kind of stepped
01:48away from the Heath role. So there wasn't a conflict of interest in that season. And then
01:57when I left Stenning, the first person to give me a call was Steve to come back and sort of get
02:01involved with the youth teams again. So when I was on a little management break, I was actually
02:08still coaching at Haywards Heath. So still working with the youth teams and doing holiday camps and
02:14things like that for them. So yeah, the reason I've ended up at Haywards Heath is probably not
02:20so much of a surprise to everybody that's around Haywards Heath because they would have seen me here
02:25for a while. But yeah, obviously, it was a difficult period coming into something I've never really
02:35experienced in football before. And I don't think it was an easy thing on anybody, the players that were
02:43here on the board. But we did what we could to get ourselves going. It was a really strange kind
02:55of time, really, to be honest with you. I mean, we did a statistic with the coaches here. I think I
03:01managed 27 games last season. And in 24 of the games, I had to make a sub in the first half or at
03:07half time because of injury was just incredible. I've never seen anything like it. There was a lot
03:14of long term injuries kind of when I came in as well. So but yeah, we did okay last year, probably
03:21where the club was when I came in, we probably should have done a little bit better if we've
03:25been totally honest. But we were fighting fires. But, you know, the long term kind of plan is now in
03:36place. And we're kind of in full flow, ready to push that on now, really.
03:41And over the summer, you have done a fair bit of rebuilding of the squad. Obviously, you needed
03:47to do that and wanted to do that. Tell us about some of the players you've brought in. And maybe
03:53some of the players that you kept from last season as well. Who were you sort of some of
03:56a key?
03:57Yeah, there was probably six or seven that we've kept from from last year that the likes
04:04of Matt Astle, Charlie Meehan, Charlie Towning, so John Sanchez. So there was there was a core
04:13of the group from last year. We probably would have liked to have kept one or two more. But
04:19for various reasons, they've moved on. But yeah, but we we've managed to recruit really,
04:25really well. And what was really important, I think I spoke to you, Steve, earlier in preseason,
04:30we we got everything done pretty, pretty quick. We knew we wanted to go into that first training
04:38session with the squad that we were going to kind of start the season with. And we we've managed
04:44to do that, pretty much to a man. So yeah, so there was there was a few of the boys obviously
04:51I had at Stenning have come in. We signed from Broadbridge Heath, we brought in Billy Fuller,
04:59Mark Goldson, and Carl Sim. So yeah, so we we managed to sign a lot of players that have
05:08got step four experience, but not just step four experience. We actually got a lot of players
05:13who have experience of winning this division as well. So hopefully, as we go through the
05:21months that can, that experience can sort of pay some dividends as well. The other boy
05:27that I was really pleased that we we kept was a guy called Flynn Bolton, who wouldn't really
05:33be known in this area. But we signed him for the last five games of the season last season
05:37from from from Basingstoke. Very, very talented player. And yeah, he signed for this season
05:44as well. So we were really, really pleased with the work that we've done. And it's it's
05:48it's looking positive.
05:49Yeah, it is indeed. As we mentioned, Kevin, the season started well for you, although you've
05:54exited a couple of cups, you've had a really, really good start to the league. And I know
05:59I think it's only two or three games in, but how would you assess performances so far?
06:03Yeah, we the first we had a really tough draw in the FA Cup, if I'm being honest, I don't
06:08think we could have had a hard draw. The only way it could have been harder is if we went
06:11to their place, to be honest with you. And if if I'm being honest, we performed very, very
06:15well on the day and we were a little bit lucky to go out. We had a number of chances second
06:21half and just couldn't score. And, you know, when when you play that higher level opposition
06:28and some experienced boys, you know, I spoke to their gaffer at the end of the end of the
06:34game. And, you know, he sort of said the way to explain it is Barry Fuller played centre
06:38half for him and was immense. And their goalkeeper who they signed from Gillingham the day before,
06:43I think he was also immense. And he said that summed it up. We had to be really good at the
06:47back to kind of stop you stop you guys from scoring. So we were a little disappointed to go
06:54out because we felt we we'd done enough to at least get a replay if I'm being totally
07:00honest. So that was a tough draw. But in the league, we've been very good. That's three
07:07good, good wins. We scored nine goals conceded one. But it's, it's really early days, you know,
07:16I'm not really looking at league tables, anything like that at the moment. Our main aim is to
07:21continue to, to improve, to continue to grow as a team. And we have got room to do that. There's
07:28no doubt about that. I spoke to the players in training last night about it. We're, we're not
07:32anywhere near the finished article yet. Which is going to be the case when you're bringing a lot
07:38of new players into it together. But the early signs are positive.
07:43In terms of the, the Premier Division season and how it's going to pan out. There's, there's, we've
07:51spoken about it on here a couple of times, there seems there's a lot of clubs who you could see as
07:56potential title winners or playoff contenders. Hayward Seath being one of them. Stenning, you know
08:02plenty about. You'd expect them to be strong again. Can never rule out the likes of Eastbourne United,
08:07Peacehaven, Newhaven and so on. And, and, you know, one or two clubs from outside the county
08:12as well. Do you see it being a really competitive league? Do you think it'll be quite an open
08:17title race?
08:18I think it's, it's shaped up like that already, isn't it? In the first three games it's, it's,
08:23it's looking that way. You know, there's a, there's a few clubs that have got three wins
08:28on the board. Um, you know, we expect Stenning to be, to be strong. We expect Guernsey to be
08:36strong. We expect Horsham YM to be strong, Peacehaven to be strong. So yeah, I think,
08:40I think it's going to be a competitive league this year. Um, it's, it's, as I say, it's very,
08:46very early days though, and things can change very quickly. Um, but yeah, you know, it's,
08:52it's exciting to be part of that competition and, you know, we'll give it a really good go to see,
08:57you know, see where we end up, but you know, we're not under any, uh, illusions that it's
09:03going to be easy or it's going to be any easy games. Cause I don't think there is even,
09:08even, you know, we've played, we played Seaford first game of the season and we won
09:144-1 and I actually thought they were really good to me, honestly. Yeah, it was one of those
09:19ones where we probably were just a bit, bit clinical and they might feel a bit agreed
09:25but I thought they were very good. And I, I know they gave Guernsey a good game as well.
09:28You know, um, we had one of our guys at the ground watching that. So they, they, um,
09:33they said that they gave Guernsey a good game. So it, it's, you know, there's, there's teams
09:37probably outside of the favourites that I think will upset teams this year as well.
09:42So it's going to make it a bit, bit interesting. Um, I know you said it's early days, Kev,
09:47but are Heywood's Heath geared up to be back in the, um, Isthmian league and then stay at step
09:51four. Um, I think we've seen in recent years with teams like Broadbridge Heath and Eastbourne
09:55town going into that step, the, the, the gap between step five and four has seemed to lessen
10:00in, in recent years. Yeah. Yeah. Um, for me, this club's ready to kind of go and explode really,
10:07to be honest with you. I, you know, the, we get, we get really good numbers down here.
10:12Um, I mean, there was a couple of games last season, couple of league games.
10:16I think the Hassett's game, there was about a thousand on boxing day, I think was here.
10:19Um, the last game of the season against peace haven was 700 odds. Um, so, you know, where the club is based,
10:30um, it's kind of on that road in between sort of Brighton and London on the train line.
10:36Um, the town of, of, you know, 60,000, 65,000 people, whatever it is.
10:41Um, it's, it's kind of ready to be, in my opinion, not just a step four, but a step three club.
10:48Um, with the plans behind the scenes here, um, of how we are looking to, to link up the youth to the, to the first team.
10:58Um, you know, we've, the planning applications got in for a, for a new 3G pitch and a new stand here as well.
11:03So the club's in a, in a, a good, good place off the pitch.
11:07Um, you know, it's kind of our job now to get it right on the pitch and kind of fulfill the club's ambitions, really.
11:13So it sounds like there's very much a long-term planning.
11:18It is part of the thinking there.
11:20Is there, has the club as a whole got an idea of, I don't know, where it wants to be, say, five years' time or even longer than that?
11:28There's definitely a, there's definitely an idea of where we want to be.
11:31There's no kind of pressure to say that's got to happen in one year, two year, five years, whatever.
11:36But, you know, um, the, the main, the main kind of ambition is, is to give the, the town of a club that they can be, um, proud of and get behind, you know, and a facility here as well that can be used all the time as well.
11:53That's, that's the other, um, the other thing, you know, off the pitch here, we, we've got a, a cafe at the ground now that's open seven days a week.
12:02Um, um, today it's quite busy here.
12:06I'm actually at the ground at the moment.
12:07It's quite busy here cause Crawley are training here today as well.
12:09So there's a lot going on here today as well.
12:11Um, so yeah, the, the clubs, the clubs ready off the pitch, but I think, as I say, the main kind of ambition is to give the, the people of Hayward's Eve a club that they can really get behind.
12:21And if you get people behind it, then that's going to help push it up divisions as well.
12:26You know, so that's the, that's kind of the immediate kind of, um, ambition.
12:31Yeah.
12:32Tell you what, if we'd know, sorry, just quickly, if we'd known Crawley were training there today, we'd have got Scott Lindsay on as a guest instead of you.
12:37I think.
12:42Another time.
12:43Another time.
12:44Absolutely.
12:45Well, brilliant.
12:46Thank you for those insights, Kev, but stay with us while we look at some of the other goings on in the Sussex non-league scene.
12:49And after talking about Heath's FCFL premier aspirations, we will now take a look at the rest of the division.
12:54Uh, four teams still boast a flawless 100% record after three games.
12:58Uh, while three sides have yet to pick up a point, which teams both Steve and how has the rest of the league been shaking up?
13:04Yeah.
13:05Really interesting division.
13:07Um, as, as Kev has said, they're shaping up already.
13:10Uh, and it's not necessarily the teams you'd expect, uh, in total, uh, the top or the bottom.
13:16So the four with a hundred percent record so far are Haywards Heath, Guernsey, Hawson YM and Forrest Rowe.
13:22I shouldn't think too many people would have predicted Forrest Rowe would have done that.
13:25Uh, would have started like that after coming up through the playoffs from division one at the end of last season.
13:31Um, three other teams unbeaten with two wins and a draw, namely Newhaven, Stenning, who we've talked about and Bexhill.
13:39They've had a good start, even though they can't play at home yet because, uh, of cricket at their ground.
13:44Um, and then at the other end of things, um, the, the big surprise I suppose is that Lansing are yet to, to win their first point.
13:52You, you'd have expected Lansing to get off to a better start in the league.
13:56Done well in the FA Cup, uh, which we'll talk about in a minute, but, um, in the league, still looking for their first point.
14:01Um, they almost got a point at Stenning the other night.
14:05Um, it was 3-3 going into injury time and they lost, uh, lost 4-3 down on the shooting field.
14:11Um, with them at the bottom, Little Common, Wick and Midhurst.
14:15Uh, sorry, Wick and Little Common still looking for their first point.
14:18Uh, a few teams including Midhurst, uh, Seaford, Eastbourne United and Van Denien's just on one point so far.
14:25But as Kev said, very early days, you played three games.
14:28You've, you've got, what, quick bit of maths, you've got another 35 to play yet.
14:33So, all to play for.
14:34It will settle down after a while, but it does look like being a really good competitive, um, league this year.
14:40Yeah, couldn't agree more.
14:42Um, Kev, Heath travelled to Guernsey, uh, I think it's February next year for a game which may well influence the destination of the, uh, SFL Premier title.
14:49Um, I think I've asked most managers this because I'm always fascinated to hear how sides prepare for trips to places like Guernsey and, um, Jersey for some of the Eastman South East teams.
14:58Have you given much thought to this jaunt yet or is that a problem for 2026 Kev Green?
15:04Probably 2026 Kev Green, if I'm being honest.
15:07Um, yeah, I mean, it's obviously comes with, uh, um, we were, we were at Wick Tuesday night.
15:13So I spoke to, spoke to Lee about how they, they did things.
15:16He was saying like players getting up at 3.30 in the morning and, um, he mentioned that they got there and some of them weren't allowed to wear their boots and things like that because of the new pitch over there and things like that.
15:26So, you know, I, I, I suppose what I'll do is when we get a bit closer, I will speak to a few people about their experiences, what they found worked for them and, um, what could work for us if, if, you know, if they're nice enough to tell me it'd be nice, but, um, um, yeah, it's, it's definitely something that's, it's a bit different for all of us in this division.
15:48Um, but yeah, with regards to kind of saying, or is it going to be a title decider or things like that, we're way too early to kind of look at it like that.
15:58Um, what it will be is a nice experience.
16:01Um, I'm told the pitch in the stadium is unbelievable.
16:05Yeah.
16:06It sounds like it would be a great day for supporters, but bit of a nightmare for people involved in the play in the weekend.
16:12Yeah.
16:13Yeah.
16:14But we should obviously, um, stepping away from league football for a moment.
16:17Um, as Steve mentioned last weekend, saw some of our sides compete in the preliminary round of the FA Cup.
16:23Who advanced the first qualifying round, Steve?
16:25And, um, were there any shocks among them?
16:27I know that there was one result in particular that particularly shocked me, which I'm sure you'll mention.
16:32Oh, I'm trying to work out which one that is now, but let's see.
16:35You can put your hand up when I mention it.
16:38Um, so yeah, we had, I think we had 13 off the top of my head, uh, teams, uh, playing in the preliminary round last weekend.
16:47Uh, some, as, as always, of course, some, some won, some lost.
16:51The winners, uh, from Sussex last weekend were Hastings United.
16:55They got through against Harrow Borough at home.
16:57Freddie Legg, uh, got the goal there.
16:59Lansing, as we've said, started really well in the FA Cup.
17:01They beat Harefield.
17:02Little Hampton Town got through at home to North Greenford.
17:05Stenning beat Hemden at home.
17:08I think they were one down, uh, and came back to win 2-1.
17:11So that was a good effort.
17:13And Three Bridges, who we'll talk about when we get to the Eastman League in a bit.
17:16Um, one of the Cavs old clubs, they, uh, going well.
17:20And they beat Horsham YM 4-1 in the Cup.
17:23Decided to go out then apart from, uh, YM, uh, Three Bridges were Eastbourne United.
17:29We'll be kind to them and we won't mention the score at Sheppie.
17:32Yeah.
17:33It was quite big.
17:34Uh, Seaford Town went out at home to Whiteleaf.
17:37Uh, I was going to say Whitehawk there, but no, it's Whiteleaf.
17:39Hassex lost at home to Beckenham.
17:41Bognor lost 3-1 to Hackney Wick of the Essex.
17:44My hand is up.
17:45My hand is up, Steve.
17:46My hand is up.
17:47That was a surprise.
17:48We would have, we probably talked about it on the last pod.
17:51I think you would have expected Bognor to come through that.
17:54They've had a little bit of a shaky start.
17:56A lot of new players in the team.
17:57Uh, and we'll talk a little bit later about Michael Birmingham's decision to move Bognor
18:03as well.
18:04So they're out already.
18:05Crowborough are out.
18:06They lost at home to Deal.
18:07And Bexhill lost at home to Rainspark Vale, uh, which has left us with, I think, uh, nine
18:13Sussex teams in the first qualifying round.
18:16Yes.
18:17And that brings us quite nicely to the first qualifying round, Steve, because the draw was
18:20made on Monday afternoon.
18:22And, um, who have those nine sides been drawn against?
18:25So we've only got one Sussex derby among those ties.
18:28That is Stenning against Lansing.
18:30I think those two are going to be playing each other every five minutes this season.
18:33That's clearly going to be a good rivalry between them.
18:35Probably suits Hayward's Heath if those two are occupied with each other.
18:38Well, we've got about four games with Roffey, I think, at the moment.
18:41Yeah.
18:42Yeah.
18:43It's funny how these guys go like that, isn't it?
18:45Yeah.
18:46Um, apart from that, only one, apart from Stenning, only one other Sussex team at home
18:49in the next round, which is a bit of a shame.
18:51That's three bridges.
18:52Uh, that's good for them.
18:53They're at home to Walton and Hersham.
18:55All the others are on the road.
18:57Chichester City go to Havent.
18:59Uh, so that's a step three, uh, clash.
19:02Hastings United are off to Faversham.
19:05Burgess Hill Town go to Wokingham.
19:07Probably good that they've got an away game because their pitch is still not quite ready
19:11yet.
19:12Uh, Littlehampton go to Bedfont, who they were due to play that weekend in the league
19:16anyway.
19:17Lewis go to Flackwell Heath and Whitehawk go to Hayes and Yedding.
19:21So, plenty of Sussex interest in that next round, next weekend, 30th and 31st of August.
19:27And there's plenty of Sussex interest this weekend.
19:30Um, in the early rounds of the FA Vars and FA Trophy.
19:33Two Sussex teams are in the FA Trophy preliminary round.
19:36Well, I think more than 20 clubs from the area will play FA Vars first qualifying ties.
19:40Uh, which of the fixtures involving Sussex clubs look out for, Steve?
19:43And do you think we'll see, uh, any potential Sussex representation at Wembley for one of
19:48the finals in May?
19:49Well, we, taking your last question first, we hope, uh, to be going to Wembley with somebody
19:54in May, don't we?
19:55Yes.
19:56I think Hayes Heath was shooing for the FA Vars final, personally.
19:59No, no pressure, Kev.
20:00You'd think so, wouldn't you?
20:01Yeah.
20:02You can do it, Kev.
20:04Somebody's got to get to the finals.
20:06It's easy, isn't it?
20:07Why not?
20:08We've only got to beat about eight teams on the way there.
20:11Uh, we've, I mean, since Littlehampton got there in 22, obviously we've been wanting
20:15to go back there, uh, from our point of view, mainly because the buffet is really good in
20:19the, in the press room.
20:20That's, that's, that's, that's the main hope.
20:23Um, yeah, you just never know, but it's a long way to go, you know.
20:27Yeah.
20:28There won't be any teams at this stage getting carried away by any thoughts of that.
20:31If you get as far as the sort of quarter finals and then get a good draw, you can, you
20:34can start to dream about it.
20:36But some of the ties to look out for this weekend.
20:38So there's just two, uh, Sussex sides in the FA Trophy.
20:41They are three Bridges who are away to Marlow and Haseks who are away to Sheppey.
20:46Um, I won't mention all the FA Vars games because there are quite a lot of them we've
20:50heard about.
20:51Um, we'll hear about Hayward's Heath's tie.
20:54Um, other ones to look out for, um, Loxwood against Eastbourne.
21:00United, I think is the only Sussex derby at this stage of, of the Vars.
21:05So that'd be an interesting one.
21:07Um, sorry, having said that, I've just seen another one.
21:11Arundel against Stenning.
21:12We keep mentioning Stenning and coming into this.
21:14Arundel against Stenning is an interesting one.
21:17Bexhill against Guernsey.
21:19Um, that, that, that would be an interesting one.
21:21See how they do.
21:22Bexhill have started quite well.
21:24Um, Pagam are playing an overseas team as well.
21:27Newport, Isle of Wight, uh, not, not quite as far to come as Guernsey.
21:32Uh, and then, uh, another one that catches the eye.
21:35A little bit just because it's a bit of an unknown quantity is New Haven off to visit
21:39AFC,
21:40Wall Countians who are new to division one of the SCFL this year.
21:44And we don't yet know too much about them.
21:46So yeah, lots of ties to keep a lookout for, and hopefully we'll have a fair few teams
21:50still, uh, in the, in the Vars and trophy running after this weekend.
21:54Yeah, absolutely.
21:55Fingers crossed.
21:56Um, Kev Heath will be off to, uh, East Preston, I believe in the FA Vars.
22:00Um, how big of a test will EP post the Blues and how confident are you advancing to the
22:04next round?
22:05Oh, um, well, it's, it, you know, it's going to be, uh, it's going to be a challenging game.
22:11We actually know a little bit about them because we, we watched them a couple of times last year.
22:16We were interested in, uh, Zion McLeod, who's been scoring goals for fun for him.
22:20So we, we had a look at them a couple of times last year.
22:23Um, so we know a little bit about them.
22:25Um, they're going to be a tough opponent, you know, but as I say on our day, we, we fancy ourselves against anyone really.
22:33So it's, it's, it's about going there with the right attitude and, and playing the way that we play.
22:38And then we'll see where that, that takes us.
22:40But, you know, it's like, you know, they're not going to make it easy for us.
22:44We have to go there with the right attitude.
22:46So.
22:47Yeah, absolutely.
22:48Well, best of luck to yourselves and best of luck to all our Sussex sides involved in those competitions.
22:53Uh, looking at the Isthmian Premier and promoted Burgess Hill have taken to the division like a duck to water since promotion,
22:59but it's been more of a mixed bag for Lewis, Chichester and Whitehawk.
23:02And what's the latest from our quartet of step three clubs, Steve?
23:06Yeah, they've all done okay so far.
23:08Well, Burgess Hill have done more than okay because they've won two and drawn one.
23:12Uh, and they're playing all their, I think they're playing their first six away from home.
23:16So those, those seven points so far are all away from home.
23:19I think they've beat Potters Bar and Cray Valley and then drew 3-3 at Aveley last week.
23:25Another two away games to come for them this weekend, but they're in, they're up in fifth place.
23:29As we predicted on this, um, podcast a little while ago, they might be.
23:33We said they, they have a bit of momentum about them and, um, might go well and proving us right so far.
23:38Uh, Lewis, not too far behind them.
23:41Lost their first game at home, but I've had two away wins since one at Welling last week.
23:46Welling just down from National South, so that was a good result.
23:49Chichester City, uh, got their first win last weekend at home to Hashtag after starting with two draws.
23:55So they're 10th.
23:56White Hawk, um, got their first win.
23:58Uh, they're, they won 3-2 at home to Cray Valley last weekend and they are 13th.
24:03So yeah, no, no, nobody, none of our sides running away with it, but none of them have much cause for alarm at this stage of things, which is good.
24:11And I think that's pretty much as, as most people would have, would have predicted, you know, you're probably not looking at title contenders from Sussex in that division this year.
24:21Hopefully you're not looking at any relegation battles either.
24:24Hopefully that's the way it'll pan out.
24:26Yeah. Fingers crossed.
24:27Uh, we're dropping down a division into the East and South East and fortunes have been contrasting to say the least for our clubs in that division.
24:33One of our sides sits at the summit after two games while two occupy the bottom two places.
24:38Um, seven sides from Sussex in this division, Steve, um, how have they been getting on?
24:43Yeah, three bridges, the ones to watch.
24:45Um, and again, without blowing our trumpets, own trumpets too much.
24:48I think we, I think we said they might do okay.
24:50They've been there or thereabouts for a couple of years, haven't they?
24:53They got to the playoffs in 23, 24, lost to Chai, and then they were just about five or six points short of the playoffs last season,
25:01even though they played half the season, uh, where they weren't, you know, home games weren't at home,
25:07where they were having their pitch laid and, um, they were having to go on the road.
25:11Uh, so, uh, only two games played.
25:14So again, we can't read too much into it, but they've won both.
25:16They've scored nine goals in the process.
25:18They had a big win over Eastbourne Town, um, at the start of the season.
25:22So, yeah, so far, so good for them.
25:24I think going down from there, Broadbridge Heath, four points from six.
25:27They'll be happy with that.
25:28Same for Hastings, um, started with a nil-nil draw, then, then beat Eastbourne Town in the next one.
25:33Um, Krobra and, uh, Haseks, the two sides that have come up from step five,
25:39both, uh, sitting in mid-table, um, after one win from their first two.
25:44Um, and then moving down towards the bottom, the two strugglers so far,
25:48Eastbourne Town and East Grinstead, both yet to get off the mark with a point.
25:53Um, it will come though.
25:56I'm sure both of those, uh, you know, not panicking too much at this stage.
26:00Two games to come for most teams over the weekend.
26:02Not all teams, but most teams playing twice over the weekend.
26:05So, good chance to get some points on the board.
26:08Yeah, absolutely. Kev, um, obviously Heath Smith, Sussex neighbours,
26:11Haseks were brilliant last season, lifting the SCFL Premier title
26:14to earn promotion to the Isthmian League.
26:16Um, it's kind of come out of nowhere, isn't it, to me?
26:18Um, how impressed have you been with the trajectory of Robins?
26:21Um, and is it good for the area to have another Isthmian League club?
26:24Although no doubt you'll be desperate to join them very, very soon.
26:27I think it's good for the area, isn't it?
26:30If we get as many Sussex teams into, uh, into step four, step three,
26:34it's, it's, it's better for Sussex football, right?
26:36Um, so yeah, I mean, Westy, obviously he's been a bit at Haseks a few years now.
26:41So, you know, I've played against him whilst at Stenning
26:44and obviously with Heath last year.
26:46Yeah, they deserved it.
26:48So, you know, fair play to them.
26:49And as I say, it's good for, good for Sussex football, isn't it?
26:52Get as, get as many teams as we can in those divisions.
26:55Yeah, absolutely.
26:57Could not agree more.
26:58Um, but staying at step four, uh, Littlehampton have enjoyed a fine start to life in the Isthmian
27:02South Central, while West Sussex neighbours, sorry, Bognor have found things a touch more
27:06difficult.
27:07Um, we'll take an in-depth look at the Rocks in a tick, but Steve, how have the Golds
27:11quit themselves, uh, so far?
27:13Um, you surprised by their start?
27:15Um, yeah, it's probably been a little bit better than you'd have expected.
27:19Um, for them, I don't think that's too disrespectful to them in saying that.
27:23They've won two from two so far.
27:25Um, haven't let a goal in.
27:26You know, they've got a 1-0 win and a 2-0 win.
27:29One of those wins was against Bognor, um, at home last weekend.
27:33And as we've said, the Littlehampton are still in the FA Cup as well.
27:36Um, so, yeah, you can't argue with any of that.
27:39Um, look very solid at the back.
27:41Uh, Kev just mentioned Zion McLeod, um, a player that he's looked at.
27:46It was at East Preston, I think, last season.
27:48He's gone to Littlehampton at the moment and has started very well.
27:51He's scored some goals for them.
27:52Um, so that gives them a new threat up front.
27:55They've, they've got some of the players that have been there for years and years as well.
27:59So they've got the sort of the nucleus of that team of old that we know can be successful.
28:04Um, so yeah, they'll, they'll be delighted by their start and could, could be a little sort of promotion push, um, in the offing from them.
28:11Yeah.
28:12Fingers crossed.
28:13Um, we're going back to Bognor.
28:14This week saw the departure of joint boss, uh, Michael Birmingham, who we've previously had on this podcast.
28:19Uh, with Jamie Hout moving into the role of first team manager.
28:22Birmingham, who was late at the club until the end of August, cited personal reasons for his impending departure.
28:27And he's adamant that his decision isn't related to the poor start the Rocks have made to the campaign.
28:32Um, first things first, Steve, tell us a little bit of more about this, this start to the campaign that the Rocks have.
28:37And, um, how much of a shock was Birmingham's exit?
28:40Um, I read an interview with Carl Eldridge about his departure, which you can read on the Sussex World website.
28:45And, um, he was typically forthright as he is, um, with his reasoning behind his departure.
28:50And I've spoken to him this morning, funnily enough, as well.
28:53Um, he wanted a little chat with me.
28:55So, and he's kind of reiterated again, his reasons for going.
28:58I'll talk about that in a second.
28:59But yeah, Buckner's start to the season has been quite odd, really, because first game in the season, you know, they went into this step four division.
29:05They've been moved over to Eastman, South Central, along with Littlehampton.
29:09Nobody in Sussex knows too much about a lot of the teams in that league.
29:13The New Hampshire teams, Surrey teams, sort of outer London teams.
29:16Um, so, Buckner started on the first day away to Porchester, down near Fairham.
29:21And were 4-1 down after an hour and somehow managed to win 5-4.
29:26So that was a crazy start for them.
29:28Um, but the second game lost at Littlehampton and were sort of well off the pace, apparently.
29:34Well beaten by Littlehampton, who deserved that most thought.
29:38Uh, and then, as we've said last weekend, went out of the FA Cup to a Step 5 team, Hackney Wick,
29:45of the Essex Senior League Premier Division.
29:47Um, so, yeah, it's been a bit of a rocky start for them.
29:51But they had a big rebuild in the summer, a lot of new players coming in.
29:56Uh, a lot of last season's team left, which was probably inevitable after relegation.
30:00So, I don't think anyone's panicking too much about results just yet.
30:04I think it will settle down.
30:06But as you say, they've, they've been rocked.
30:08The rocks have been rocked this week, um, by Michael Birmingham announcing that he's stepping down.
30:13He's, he's, he's actually staying for the past, for the last couple of games of the month.
30:18And he'll leave after their game next weekend, 30th of August.
30:22Um, and yeah, it's not, he, he stresses it.
30:25It's not because they've had a bad start, but there might be some frustrations as a result of their bad start.
30:30But basically, he's fallen out of love with football.
30:33He, he was a horned dean a long time and admitted that he got a little bit stale there.
30:38Um, and when the Bogner job came up middle of last season, when Robbie Blake, uh, departed,
30:46he thought that would be the thing that would sort of reignite his love for football.
30:50So he went in there with Jamie Howell.
30:52It, it was harder than he imagined and, and they, they couldn't quite turn around the team maybe as quickly as some people hoped.
30:59Um, but just generally over time, he, he's found that there's football has changed since he was a player.
31:06And even since he was first a manager, uh, a lot of frustration with the standard of refereeing, I think from him.
31:14He's always been quite vocal about, you know, if he, if he sees a referee doing poorly, he'll, he'll say so.
31:20And that's got him into trouble a few times, but, but a lot of other things as well.
31:24I think he's, he, he thinks the players of today are very different.
31:27Um, there's in, in many ways, um, sort of less commitment from players than, than they used to be, you know, to a club's cause, you know,
31:39sort of fighting for the shirt and fighting for points and everything.
31:42And he, and he says, you know, he's got a family.
31:45He's got, uh, I think he's got three sons and a daughter.
31:47He's now got two grandchildren, just turned 50.
31:50He says that a lot of that family have grown up.
31:52Well, he's been busy full time with football.
31:55He, he now thinks it's time to, time to give a bit of time and attention to, to the family, uh, rather than football.
32:03I, as I spoke to him this morning, just to go over some of these points.
32:06At one point he said to me that he's come to despise football, which is, which is a shame.
32:11It's from someone who's, who's been in it so long.
32:15Um, very sort of praiseworthy of how Bognor have been with him.
32:19You know, they've listened to what he's had to say.
32:21They've tried to convince him to change his mind and to stay.
32:24Uh, but his mind is not for changing.
32:26And I said to him, do you think you'll come back to football at any stage?
32:30And he said, no, absolutely.
32:33Just, just not expecting to, because I know sometimes when a, when a manager leaves and says he wants to spend time with his family, you know, it's more a player perhaps than a manager, but you know, five minutes later, they'll turn up down the road at another club.
32:46It happens, doesn't it?
32:47It's the nature of football.
32:49I don't think it's going to happen in his case.
32:51I think he's, he means what he says.
32:53He wants to watch a bit football.
32:54He'll pop along to Bognor.
32:55I think occasionally, uh, he's got a couple of sons who play for different teams up Hampshire way.
32:59Uh, but no, a very, he's been very honest about it.
33:04Very forthright.
33:05And you have to respect him for that.
33:06Yeah, absolutely.
33:07Put, uh, putting you on the spot here a bit, Kev, but what'd you make of that?
33:10I'm sure there's some points that Michael made that you can probably sympathise with.
33:14Oh, a hundred percent.
33:15I think, um, yeah, I mean, football has changed an awful lot.
33:19Um, some ways for the better as well.
33:22Oh, you know, we have to be honest about that.
33:24Um, but yeah, yeah.
33:27Yeah.
33:28The game has definitely moved on a little bit and not society's moved on a little bit
33:32as well.
33:33Right.
33:34I think, you know, the young players that are coming through now, they communicate differently
33:39than, than when we were younger.
33:42Um, you know, they've, they've got a lot more, um, uh, opinions about things, I suppose is
33:49an easy way to say it, but you know, that, that doesn't make them like bad people.
33:55And, you know, I think the commitment thing is the big thing.
33:58I think that that's the, that's the big thing.
34:01I mean, I'm lucky that we've got, uh, 2021 players here and we did a presentation to him
34:07saying, look, if you, if you're going to win things, the commitment bit is the big thing.
34:11You know, if you're, if you're ducking in and out or, or you're, you know, even if your mind's
34:18kind of half in it and half out of it, you know, you're not going to be for us.
34:22We want people that are really going to sort of, uh, focus on what the, uh, the target is
34:28and, and commit to that.
34:29So I, I totally get it from his point of view.
34:31If, if, if, if, you know, if you're not, if your heart's not in it, then what's, what's the point?
34:37You know, and it just sounds like he's got to that point, doesn't it?
34:41Yeah.
34:42Yeah.
34:43Well, whatever he does next, we wish him all the very, very best of luck.
34:46Don't we, Steve?
34:47Absolutely.
34:48Uh, we'll jump into the National League South now, and our three teams, Eastman, Borough,
34:52Horsham and Worthing have all endured, um, up and down starts.
34:55We say, uh, both the sports and the promoted Hornets find themselves near the foot of the table,
34:59albeit after only three games.
35:01Um, while the rebels have so far been quite inconsistent.
35:05Um, what's the latest from these three clubs, Steve?
35:08Yeah.
35:09As you say, it's been, it has been up and down, probably more, a bit more down than up,
35:13really, if you look at the three overall.
35:15Um, Worthing have had one win, one draw, one defeat.
35:20Um, the wind came at Horsham, uh, last weekend, which you saw, no, Matt?
35:25Um.
35:26I did.
35:27That followed a draw.
35:28What was it?
35:29Draw the first day with Bath City, wasn't it?
35:30Yeah.
35:31First defeat for Worthing, um, was a 1-0, 1-0 loss at Farnborough on Wednesday game,
35:36which was rather overshadowed by a, uh, a leg break, um, suffered by a Farnborough player,
35:42Aaron Coole, who, who we believe is now on the mend, and is, is had surgery,
35:47and is likely to be out of hospital soon, just in an accidental challenge.
35:50You know, nobody's felt that.
35:51So, yeah, a little bit up and down for Worthing, but I, I don't think Chris Agata will be too surprised by that,
35:58or too concerned by that, um, early days, and he's got a lot of new players in that team,
36:03still probably working out his best 11 and his best formations and so on.
36:07Um, a couple of games to come for them over the Easter, uh, not Easter, uh, the backholder weekend.
36:13Um, the, a little bit more concerned than Worthing at this stage will be, um, Eastbourne Borough in particular,
36:21and, and Horsham, both still looking for their first win, just one point from, from the first three.
36:26And the surprise with Eastbourne Borough is that they had two home games last week against Hornchurch and Dover,
36:31uh, and having gone all the way through last season unbeaten at home until the, until the playoff semifinal,
36:37they've lost both of those, those first two home league games.
36:40So that'll be a real disappointment to them, to Simon Leslie and everybody down there.
36:44And to the manager, Matt Gray, uh, spoke very honestly after the second one of those,
36:49after the Dover game and said, you know, we're a work in progress.
36:53Uh, we, we are not strong enough as a squad at the moment.
36:57We're working hard on recruitment, but it's not easy.
37:00So I think there'll, there'll be some additions to come probably quite soon at Eastbourne Borough.
37:05Uh, and I think they will pick up.
37:06I don't think they're going to stay in the ball for long.
37:08And hopefully Horsham won't stay in the bottom four for long either.
37:11I think Horsham have shown some, some good signs, haven't they?
37:14Um, yes.
37:15Good, good point for them.
37:16You know, the first point the other night will be a good psychological, uh, boost for them.
37:21Um, and even at home to Worthing, you know, they were tuning up and if they held on to the lead until halftime against Worthing,
37:27we could be looking at a very different league table, couldn't we?
37:30So, uh, their time will come, I'm sure.
37:33Yes, absolutely.
37:34And I think, as I've said to you, Steve, I don't think Horsham's season will be defined to defeats to teams like Worthing or Chelmsford.
37:41Um, beat some of the teams around them, don't they?
37:44Yeah, absolutely.
37:45A point against Chesham, um, an unbeaten Chesham, I add.
37:48It's a good platform for them.
37:49Uh, they're at home to Torquay Saturday and away at Maidenhead on Sunday.
37:52Again, two difficult games, but, um, yes, we wish all our sides in the National League South the very best of luck.
37:59Uh, finally, as is traditional, we come to our games of the weekend.
38:02Uh, Steve, what have you picked out for us?
38:05I'm going to go for one that's taking place on Monday and it is the Isthmian Premier Derby, Lewis against Burgess Hill.
38:12I think that would be a really interesting one.
38:14I think that would be two quite well-matched teams.
38:18Um, difficult to call the result of that one.
38:21Burgess Hill are going into these away games very much to win.
38:25Um, they've got, as we said, seven points from nine so far.
38:30Lewis, after a bit of a false start in their first game, have picked up very well under Brad Pritchard,
38:35um, who is speaking very well about sort of how the togetherness in the squad is very strong.
38:40Uh, and, and they're looking for a good season as well.
38:43So, you can see that being a sort of high-scoring draw or something like that.
38:462-2-3-3.
38:47I think there'll be plenty of entertainment for the fans down there on Monday.
38:50Yes, absolutely.
38:51And quite nicely, I've picked a game that has taken place on Saturday.
38:55Ringmer v Tooting and Mitchum in the first qualifying round of the FA Vars.
38:59I believe it's Ringmer's first ever appearance in any FA competition.
39:03And, um, they're coming up against a side who have fallen on hard times.
39:06But, nonetheless, I looked them up and they've reached the FA Cup proper on ten occasions.
39:10So, Tooting and Mitchum are a team with plenty of history there.
39:13And best of luck to all sides over the bank holiday weekend.
39:16Finally, Kev, we've spoken a little bit about what you're up to on Saturday.
39:20But, um, what are he doing on bank holiday Monday?
39:23Where will they be playing?
39:24I think I mentioned it earlier.
39:26We've got Rofi again, um, in the league, in the league here.
39:30Um, yeah.
39:31So, we know it's going to be a tough game.
39:34They're a good side.
39:35Um, we let ourselves down a little bit in the cup game.
39:38Um, last week, we didn't, we didn't make six or seven changes for that, for that game.
39:43But there was no excuse.
39:44The team we put out was more, more than good enough to, to go and win the game.
39:48I know Rofi made a few changes as well.
39:49And, you know, they defended really, really well.
39:52We just started the game poorly.
39:53And I then couldn't score when they, when they were defending well.
39:57But, um, yeah, we know it's going to be a tough game, but I know the boys are very, very up for it.
40:04And again, we'll give it a go and hopefully we can get three points.
40:08Yeah.
40:09Fingers crossed.
40:10Well, best of luck to everyone at Heath.
40:11Uh, not just for this bank holiday weekend, Kev, but for the rest of the season.
40:14And thank you very much for joining us today.
40:16Um, don't forget to keep checking out sussexworld.co.uk forward slash bot for all the best coverage
40:21of local football, plus your local Sussex weekly papers.
40:24And keep your eyes peeled for future episodes of the podcast.
40:27We will have guests from Eastbourne, Borough, Lewis, Three Bridges, Stenningtown, and many other clubs.
40:32Thank you very much for listening and or watching, and we will see you when we see you.
40:37Cheers.
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