The Non - League thread

[Royal Rother]

Has Victor Osobu left already?

He does seem to flit about.

[Christof]

Yep, gone to SYCOB I think. Looked okay, very fast, but probably not good enough to justify a start every week, so maybe that's why he left.

[Royal Rother]

Not good enough...? Yet he's gone to (what appears to be) a better team.

[Royal Rother]

FOC, how many non league grounds have you been to now?

A Windsor fan reckons he's done 249 following Windsor and Windsor & Eton down the years.... that's about 2 seasons worth for you isn't it?

[Four Of Clubs]

FOC, how many non league grounds have you been to now?

A Windsor fan reckons he's done 249 following Windsor and Windsor & Eton down the years.... that's about 2 seasons worth for you isn't it?

... not sure of my precise figures to date - probably only somewhere between 300 & 350 - I try and keep a count of leagues I'm targetting and don't have many left there but have often ventured further afield for Cup/Vase games particularly when I want to go somewhere new.
Sadly quite a few grounds I've visited down the years are no longer in use - even my kids are slightly distraught at 'losing a tick' this season following the (perhaps temporary) demise of Cricklade Town!

eg I've also 'done' Thame Utd at three different grounds but only really count that as one - maybe two - indeed the total above doesn't include any sub-STEP06 either - of which I've racked up a fair number - either due to clubs dropping out of the upper levels of the Pyramid (Trowbridge, Wallingford, Lambourn) or games at 'silly' season time - evening KOs on pitches without lights such as in the N.Berks, Surrey Intermediate, Hants Premier etc.

Now you've inadvertently pointed out the gap in my NL cv I suppose I'll have to back-track and come up with a better way of counting where I've been!

I'd probably do a lot lot more if I could 'retire' Dad's Taxis or if I didn't buy an ST for the M'Stad every season ..... that probably cuts my season quantities by at least a third.

I very rarely attempt a 'new ground' midweek too, as there are not that many left for me to do in sensible range - possibly some just inside the M25 but its the routes there being f£cked virtually every evening that has put me off.

[Christof]

Not good enough...? Yet he's gone to (what appears to be) a better team.

Apparently he has replaced Yashwa Romeo at SYCOB. Maybe he is good enough, from what I saw he could have done a job, but probably wouldn't have started (Ed Smith and Scott Harris are quite a long way ahead IMO) so I guess he's gone for more regular game time. To be fair, Slough are paying for him whichever way you look at it

SYCOB better? At the moment yes. By the end of the season? We'll see!

[Royal Rother]

[Royalsfan22]

I see our near neighbours Reading Town are top of the Hellenic premier league with 7 wins from 7 with their latest win on Tuesday over Abingdon United. They certainly had to work for it though!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DY2ueUj5jw

[Royalist]

When i first saw Victor i assumed he'd go on to a higher level than the local clubs. He moved to Malta but seems to of gone backwards. Perhaps the Athletics club can try him as a sprinter!?

[Royal Rother]

Personally I didn't rate him as a real footballer and was rather surprised a club (albeit a Maltese club) were prepared to make him a full time pro.

To me he was an average player, average finisher but with an absolutely devastating turn of foot which, at the level he was playing at with Windsor at the time, was always going to be a very dangerous weapon. And, for that brief time he was with us, we loved him for it.

As it happens he did pretty well in Malta before a bad injury knocked him back IIRC.

[Royalist]

He turned down a move to Hayes and Yeading to stay at Hemel just a year ago. Perhaps he just doesn't want to or can't commit fully? Either way one of the more exciting non league players at that level.

[Royal Rother]

He's still only 24 but has logged up a few clubs already.

Hayes -> W&E -> Mosta -> SYCOB -> Hemel -> Slough -> SYCOB

[Four Of Clubs]

... here's the NL preview for this w/e -

- FA Vase starts up - open for clubs at STEP05 and below (with lights).
I believe all ties may go to Extra Time if tied at 90' but only those denoted '+' can be decided on the day by penalties.
Unless the ruling has changed: this arrangement can be agreed between both sides AND with the Match Referee up to an hour or so before KO - hilarious consequences if, as happened in a match I went to once, no-one can remember what they've agreed ! - everyone standing around at the end of ET berating all and sundry including a League Official, there purely by chance, to take in a game on his 'day off' (we'd been chatting to him) , who had no idea what FA ruling was being applied :



Friday 6th September
FA Vase 1st Round Qualifying
19:30 Badshot Lea v Knaphill @ Ash Utd FC

Saturday 7th September
FA Vase 1st Qualifying Round
75 Hillingdon Borough v Bedford
76 London Colney v Codicote
77 Cockfosters v Cogenhoe United
78 London Tigers v Baldock Town+ no replay
79 Winslow United v Leverstock Green
80 Hadley v Biggleswade United
81 Harefield United v Wellingborough Town
82 Berkhamsted v Hertford Town
83 FC Broxbourne Borough v Sporting Bengal United
84 Wembley v Potton United
85 Holmer Green v AFC Kempston Rovers
86 Greenhouse London v Long Buckby
87 AFC Biggleswade v Sileby Rangers
(walkover for Sileby Rangers – AFC Biggleswade removed)
88 Crawley Green v London APSA
89 AFC Dunstable v AFC Rushden & Diamonds
91 Southall v Haringey Borough
92 Rushden & Higham United v Northampton Spencer
93 Langford v Newport Pagnell Town
94 Kings Langley v Colney Heath
95 Tring Athletic v Eton Manor
96 Thame United v Carterton
97 Farnham Town v Ardley United
98 Cheltenham Saracens v Hook Norton
99 Kidlington v Newbury
100 Frimley Green v Windsor
102 Ash United v Holyport
103 Shrivenham v Malmesbury Victoria
104 Brimscombe & Thrupp v Sandhurst Town
105 Highworth Town v Camberley Town
106 Flackwell Heath v Hartley Wintney
107 Mile Oak v Arundel
108 Pagham v Molesey
109 Sevenoaks Town v Canterbury City
110 Selsey v Littlehampton Town
111 Saltdean United v Southwick
112 Dorking Wanderers v St Francis Rangers
113 Kent Football United v Lingfield+ no replay
114 Shoreham v Horsham YMCA
115 Horley Town v Newhaven
116 Chichester City v Cray Valley (PM)
117 Raynes Park Vale v Holmesdale
118 Chessington & Hook United v Hailsham Town
119 Oakwood v Glebe
120 Steyning Town v Ashford United
121 Croydon v Seaford Town
122 Phoenix Sports v Sidley United
(walkover for Phoenix Sports – Sidley United removed)
123 Colliers Wood United v Dorking
124 Deal Town v Epsom Athletic
125 East Grinstead Town v AFC Uckfield
126 Laverstock & Ford v Cheddar+ no replay
127 Team Solent v Horndean
128 Chippenham Park v Bristol Manor Farm
129 United Services Portsmouth v Calne Town
130 Brockenhurst v Hayling United
131 Welton Rovers v Petersfield Town
132 Bradford Town v Portishead Town+ no replay
133 Winterbourne United v Ringwood Town+ no replay (at Ringwood Town FC)
134 Warminster Town v Alton Town
135 Melksham Town v Devizes Town
136 Hythe & Dibden v Oldland Abbotonians
137 Fawley v Amesbury Town
138 Keynsham Town v Fleet Spurs+ no replay
139 Hallen v Whitchurch United+ no replay : just as well: these two have already met twice in the FA Cup in August - Hallen winning the replay at Whitchurch
140 Pewsey Vale v Folland Sports
141 Romsey Town v Bournemouth
142 Westbury United v Ashton & Backwell United+ no replay
143 Barnstaple Town v Witheridge
144 Sherborne Town v AFC St Austell
145 Bovey Tracey v Wells City
146 St Blazey v Ilfracombe Town
147 Camelford v Torpoint Athletic
148 Plymouth Parkway v Bridport
149 Elmore v Wadebridge Town
+ - penalties agreed in first match, no replay



CONF
Aldershot Town v Macclesfield Town
Alfreton Town v Woking
CONFN
Oxford City Vs Colwyn Bay
CONFS
Bishops Stortford Vs Havant & Waterlooville
Concord Rangers Vs Dorchester Town
Eastleigh Vs Bromley
Ebbsfleet United Vs Bath City
Farnborough Vs Dover Athletic - last time I read: 'green light' to play at last?
Gosport Borough Vs Maidenhead United
Hayes & Yeading Utd Vs Chelmsford City
Staines Town Vs Eastbourne Borough
Tonbridge Angels Vs Sutton United
Weston-Super-Mare Vs Boreham Wood
Whitehawk Vs Basingstoke Town

ISTH1S
Guernsey v Whitstable Town

SOUTHP
AFC Totton v St Albans City
Biggleswade Town v Hungerford Town
Chesham United v Truro City
Redditch United v Banbury United

SOUTH1C
Ashford T (Middx) v North Greenford Utd
Aylesbury v Dunstable Town
Beaconsfield SYCOB v Marlow
Chalfont St Peter v St Ives Town
Chertsey Town v Barton Rovers
Kettering Town v Aylesbury United
Rugby Town v Slough Town
Uxbridge v Egham Town
SOUTH1S&W
Clevedon Town v North Leigh
Didcot Town v Yate Town
Fleet Town v Bridgwater Town
Guildford City v Tiverton Town
Taunton Town v Thatcham Town

CCLP
Epsom & Ewell v Bedfont Sports
Hanworth Villa v Cove
Westfield v South Park
CCL1
Bedfont & Feltham v Worcester Park
Cobham v Staines Lammas
Eversley & California v Banstead Athletic
Farleigh Rovers v Spelthorne Sports
Sheerwater v AFC Croydon Athletic

HELLP
Abingdon Town v Ascot United
Abingdon United v Bracknell Town
Binfield v Oxford City Nomads
Highmoor Ibis v Wootton Bassett Town
Reading Town v Wantage Town - meeting of the 100% ers at Scours

HELL1E
Burnham Res v Headington Amateurs
Chalfont Wasps v Finchampstead
Chinnor v Henley Town
Maidenhead United Res v AFC Hinksey
Penn & Tylers Green v Rayners Lane
Wokingham & Emmbrook v Milton United
Woodley Town v Didcot Town Res

WESS1
Andover New Street v Cowes Sports

... again not many 'new' ticks available in the Vase for me for tomorrow (Sat)- disappointing this early in the competition only 1 match at a ground in my 'targetted' leagues and that's least 2 hrs away. May be forced to dip into Kent/Sussex (M25 permitting) - trouble with the selection there, is they all seem to be games involving sides from the same leagues - so hardly 'The Magic of the Cup' (Vase ).
Maybe I'm just too damned 'picky' !
There are three Sussex v Kent League clashes on offer at: Oakwood (a suburban pile somewhere between Gatwick and Crawley) , Steyning (NW inland from Brighton) or Chichester - so maybe one of them, unless traffic prospects in that direction are poor?

Sunday 8th September 15:00 h KO
FA Vase 1st Qualifying Round
90 London Lions v FC Romania @ Hemel Hempstead FC

[Four Of Clubs]

...here's the stuff from yesterday - bit of a rush as I'm about to dash off to Hemel, if the youngest has done his homework - if not I'm leaving him behind!

FA Vase 1st Round Qualifying

Friday 6th September
19:30 Badshot Lea 0-1 Knaphill @ Ash Utd FC

Saturday 7th September

FA Vase 1st Qualifying Round

75 Hillingdon Borough 6-0 Bedford
76 London Colney 2-3 Codicote
77 Cockfosters 5-3 Cogenhoe United aet
78 London Tigers 1-2 Baldock Town+ no replay
79 Winslow United 6-3 Leverstock Green aet
80 Hadley 3-1 Biggleswade United
81 Harefield United 0-1 Wellingborough Town
82 Berkhamsted 3-2 Hertford Town
83 FC Broxbourne Borough 0-3 Sporting Bengal United
84 Wembley 6-0 Potton United
85 Holmer Green 1-0 AFC Kempston Rovers
86 Greenhouse London 4-2 Long Buckby aet
88 Crawley Green 4-5 London APSA
89 AFC Dunstable 1-1 AFC Rushden & Diamonds aet
91 Southall 0-2 Haringey Borough
92 Rushden & Higham United 0-4 Northampton Spencer
93 Langford 1-5 Newport Pagnell Town
94 Kings Langley 1-3 Colney Heath
95 Tring Athletic 1-0 Eton Manor
96 Thame United {EIGHT} 8-0 Carterton
97 Farnham Town 2-1 Ardley United aet
98 Cheltenham Saracens 0-2 Hook Norton
99 Kidlington 5-2 Newbury
100 Frimley Green 1-3 Windsor – allegedly a fair number of the home teams’ first choice XI were on holiday FG missed a pen before Windsor opened the scoring – Cambo the visitors in the next round on the 21st Sept?
102 Ash United 0-1 Holyport ‘ port host RTFC in the next round
103 Shrivenham 4-2 Malmesbury Victoria
104 Brimscombe & Thrupp 3-1 Sandhurst Town
105 Highworth Town 1-3 Camberley Town
106 Flackwell Heath 1-4 Hartley Wintney – HW now travel to Larges Lane
107 Mile Oak 1-1 Arundel
108 Pagham 2-1 Molesey
109 Sevenoaks Town 5-0 Canterbury City
110 Selsey 0-2 Littlehampton Town
111 Saltdean United 2-4 Southwick aet
112 Dorking Wanderers 4-3 St Francis Rangers aet
113 Kent Football United 3-3 Lingfield aet Lingfield W on pens
114 Shoreham 2-1 Horsham YMCA
115 Horley Town 2-6 Newhaven
116 Chichester City 3-5 Cray Valley (PM) aet
117 Raynes Park Vale 0-2 Holmesdale
118 Chessington & Hook United 3-1 Hailsham Town
119 Oakwood 3-4 Glebe
120 Steyning Town 0-2 Ashford United
- Was at this one just - bit of a mad dash M3 M25 M23 across to A24 and down to nr Worthing. Att 142 - Not a bad game – funny weather rain and wind and bright sunshine – away side 100% in STEP05 too good for current leaders of STEP06. Not a bad ground for that level lights nice clubhouse food bar etc.
121 Croydon 2-0 Seaford Town
123 Colliers Wood United 1-3 Dorking – bit of a shock; ‘Chicks’ currently without a point in CCL1, win at CCL Premier side – now have to ‘find’ Glebe from the Kent Invicta league
124 Deal Town 1-3 Epsom Athletic aet
125 East Grinstead Town 2-1 AFC Uckfield
126 Laverstock & Ford 5-2 Cheddar
127 Team Solent 1-2 Horndean
128 Chippenham Park 2-3 Bristol Manor Farm
129 United Services Portsmouth 6-1 Calne Town
130 Brockenhurst 5-0 Hayling United
131 Welton Rovers 0-2 Petersfield Town
132 Bradford Town 5-0 Portishead Town
133 Winterbourne United 2-1 Ringwood Town
(at Ringwood Town FC)
134 Warminster Town 4-3 Alton Town
135 Melksham Town 4-1 Devizes Town
136 Hythe & Dibden 3-2 Oldland Abbotonians
137 Fawley 5-2 Amesbury Town
138 Keynsham Town 2-1 Fleet Spurs
139 Hallen 2-0 Whitchurch United
140 Pewsey Vale 0-5 Folland Sports
141 Romsey Town 6-4 Bournemouth
142 Westbury United 1-3 Ashton & Backwell United
143 Barnstaple Town 3-2 Witheridge
144 Sherborne Town 3-1 AFC St Austell
145 Bovey Tracey 3-2 Wells City aet
146 St Blazey 3-2 Ilfracombe Town
147 Camelford 2-1 Torpoint Athletic
148 Plymouth Parkway 4-2 Bridport
149 Elmore 2-2 Wadebridge Town



CONF
Aldershot Town 1-0 Macclesfield Town
Alfreton Town 3-1 Woking
CONFN
Oxford City 1-2 Colwyn Bay
CONFS
Bishops Stortford 2-1 Havant & Waterlooville ‘Hawks’ led until he last minute of normal time
Concord Rangers 1-0 Dorchester Town
Eastleigh 2-1 Bromley ‘Spitfires’ leap up to first place
Ebbsfleet United 1--1 Bath City
Farnborough 1-0 Dover Athletic
Gosport Borough 0-2 Maidenhead United Magpies neatly placed in 5th
Hayes & Yeading Utd 4-0 Chelmsford City
Staines Town 2-1 Eastbourne Borough
Tonbridge Angels 1-1 Sutton United
Weston-Super-Mare 3-0 Boreham Wood
Whitehawk 1-0 Basingstoke Town

ISTH1S
Guernsey 2-1 Whitstable Town att 1025

SOUTHP
AFC Totton 2-5 St Albans City
Biggleswade Town 0-1 Hungerford Town
Chesham United 4-2 Truro City
Redditch United 2-3 Banbury United
Stourbridge 1-0 Burnham

SOUTH1C
Ashford T (Middx) 1-2 North Greenford Utd
Aylesbury 0-4 Dunstable Town
Beaconsfield SYCOB 1-1 Marlow - 'young master' Spence notched on 15'
Chalfont St Peter 0-1 St Ives Town
Chertsey Town 0-1 Barton Rovers
Kettering Town 4-3 Aylesbury United
Rugby Town 0-4 Slough Town all four goals for Smith (?)
Uxbridge 0-5 Egham Town
SOUTH1S&W
Clevedon Town 0-2 North Leigh
Didcot Town 2-0 Yate Town
Fleet Town 0-2 Bridgwater Town
Guildford City 1-4 Tiverton Town
Taunton Town 3-0 Thatcham Town

CCLP
Epsom & Ewell 1-0 Bedfont Sports
Hanworth Villa 5-2 Cove
Westfield 0-2 South Park
CCL1
Bedfont & Feltham 2-3 Worcester Park
Cobham 0-2 Staines Lammas
Eversley & California 3-0 Banstead Athletic
Farleigh Rovers 0-1 Spelthorne Sports
Sheerwater 1-0 AFC Croydon Athletic

HELLP
Abingdon Town 1-1 Ascot United
Abingdon United 1-4 Bracknell Town ‘Robins’ win again but was probably expected- though Ab Utd had pushed RTFC close in midweek – yet still remain pointless.
Binfield 3-2 Oxford City Nomads – ‘ Moles’ edged it vs 3rd place OCN and are now tucked in nicely in 5th place just behind Ardley and ahead of Highworth and Highmoor/IBIS on GD. Host H/I this Monday evening.
Highmoor Ibis 2-2 Wootton Bassett Town
Reading Town 0-3 Wantage Town pretty decisive win (again) at Scours for the Freds – shatter RTFC’s 100% league record and replace them at the top: 8 goals better off and a game in hand.
HELL1E
Burnham 0-4 Headington Amateurs
Chalfont Wasps 3-1 Finchampstead
Chinnor 3-2 Henley Town
Maidenhead United 0-2 AFC Hinksey
Penn & Tylers Green 3-3 Rayners Lane
Wokingham & Emmbrook 1-0 Milton United
Woodley Town 2-1 Didcot Town Res – Woodley’s first win get them off the bottom – now surprisingly occupied by Finch but they do have three games in hand

WESS1
Andover New Street 0-4 Cowes Sports
E Cowes Vis 1-3 Tadley Calleva

Sunday 8th September
FA Vase 1st Qualifying Round
90 London Lions v FC Romania @ Hemel Hempstead FC

[Terminal Boardom]

I heard that 5 Frimley Green first teamers were on a stag weekend. Their keeper pulled off an absolute worldy only for three defenders to just stand and watch while our new #4 strolled past to hammer in the first from 3 yards out. His reaction was absolute comedy. He kicks his left hand post, hurls his water bottle at the other post then screams at his defenders calling them a bunch of f@cking lazy pricks. Ben Harris also got his first of the season while Kane Jones came off the bench to notch Windsor's third in second half stoppage time. That pitch at FG has a bit of a slope. Camberley at home in the next round but before that we are away to badshot Lea next Saturday (At Ash Utd FC).

[Royal Rother]

He also called them a bunch of useless pcunts.

I did mention it to him in the 2nd half that I'd noticed he had reminded them of their responsibilities somewhat vociferously after the 1st goal... He smiled and said he would "remind them after the game as well, you can be fcuking sure of that....".

[Christof]

Rugby Town 0-4 Slough Town all four goals for Smith (?)

Ed Smith did indeed get all 4, and had a penalty saved at 0-0 as well! Good game, with both sides down to 10 men in the first half. Rugby lost a man due to deliberate handball on the goal-line (hence the penalty), Slough lost Blount for a rugby tackle (get it?) whilst last man. Similar to the Glen Little Wealdstone post, Rugby had a load of mascots for Non-League Day - if your sprog came along with a League replica top, they got to be part of the line-up and take part in a penalty shoot-out at half-time, great idea (sadly won by one of 3 kids in a Leeds top).

Uxbridge 0-5 Egham Town

Ryan O'Toole, once of this parish got a couple of the Egham goals.

[Four Of Clubs]

'Moles' edged past 10 man Highmoor/IBIS this evening (Mon) in front of a healthy (but wet) 169 @ HIll Park Farm.

Binfield now up to 5th - back in FA Cup action this w/e @ Ardley Utd then H v Newbury next Monday (16th) unless the Cup game needs a replay.

[Four Of Clubs]

... results from tonights NL games - and there weren't many :

... another Hellenic Premier league win for RTFC 3-0 over a much weakened Bracknell Town at Scours att 98 - means they leap back top over Wantage but have now played two games more.
I went along but arrived to find turnstiles shut and no-one else being allowed in cos the lights had just failed @ c. 19:40.
Eventually all came back on by 20:00h: so we were admitted & the game started . Not overly impressed with RTFC - Bracknell were game but had no punch up front. Had a lengthy spell pressing early 2nd half but a goal wouldn't come and RTFC managed to kill the game - once on the break - notching another near the end. (Graham) Lewis is still a handful for this level.

other league games -
Ab Utd 0-4 Brimscombe & T
Ardley 5-1 Holyport
Highworth 1-0 Thame

..in the Floodlit Cup opening round
Ascot 2-0 Newbury
Chinnor 1-2 Wantage
Flackwell bt Shortwood Res on pens aet was 3-3 at FT
Kidlington 3-0 Finchampstead - not quite sure how Finch can enter a Floodlit competition - presumably have to play every tie away?
Milton 4-0 Rayners Lane


Epsom & Ewell win again in CCL Prem 3-2 @ Horley - now 8 wins from 8
In Div One Dorking's game vs Cobham postponed - their Goalposts have 'sunk' ! match on Saturday H v Fizzers also OFF though it may get switched to Sandhurst?

In the Hants Senior Cup:
Eversley beaten 2-5 by Newport IoW; after a 4-4 draw Fareham (NOT Farnham) lose 0-2 on pens aet v Cove; Alton lose 2-3 @ Folland also aet.
Tadley 1-2 Christchurch
Not that much of note on tomorrow (Wed 11th) either:

B&B Senior Round One Burnham v Diddy


... might see if I can remember the 'secret knock' at H/T @ AFC Aldermaston in the Hants Premier League - they are at home to the delightfully tagged 'Baffins Milton Rovers' a side based a mere 'Debtors Leap' from Fratton Pk on the seafront nr Great Salterns Golf Course.

[Four Of Clubs]

..couple of 'minor drop-offs' in my review of last night;

Epsom & Ewell's win was actually a Cup Tie - though they are 8 from 8 in the league

Something odd about the Cove result in the HSC too - CCL Midweek Bulletin issued this AM has them losing 5-6 aet on pens at Fareham; Mitoo results site has them winning 2-0 on pens- that score looked odd (but not impossible I s'pose) for a shoot-out?

..there's an NL Forum chap whose also Fixture Sec at Fareham who'll probably post up a report before long, confirming who actually went through.

UPDATE: Hants FA site has home win and links to a report from the Fareham website - winners go to Gosport next round.

Were also wins away from home in that competition for Fleet Spurs and Whitchurch Utd.