AFC Wimbledon – The job done by Trevor Williams and co. is a fine one, but thanks to Coney Hall FC there was some bad blood between the fans, bizarre since we only met once in a friendly and we got on really well! They won the Combined Counties League at a canter, not losing a game. Nearest station Norbiton, about 20 mins walk. Will be favourites to go up again, especially now they have employed Hendon’s old manager and many of last seasons Hendon squad. Kingsmeadow is a biggish new ground, but many of their games will be all ticket due to the large home support. http://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/
Ashford Town – We met the Kent side in the FA Cup last season, beating them after a replay. The ground is in Kingsnorth, 4 miles from Ashford Station. They finished mid-table in the Doc Martens Eastern. We were not popular with them thanks to what they called Macca’s rough tactics! It’s a fairly new ground of which the main stand is the best part. http://www.ashfordtownfc.co.uk/
Banstead Athletic – Up on the Epsom Downs this is a cold lonely place. They always give us a good game and are a good side. Nearest station is Tattenham Corner. Not fun in winter, pretty bleak even on the nicest of summer days it’s basically a pitch tacked onto a social club and the crowds double at half time when the horse racing finishes on the TV! http://www.bansteadathletic.co.uk/
Bashley – Way out in the wilds of the New Forest, this side nearly made it to the Conference a few years back. Last season they finished just under the playoff place. According to the Non-League Directory the nearest station is New Milton, 30 mins walk away. They lost their manager and many players in the close season. http://www.bashleyfc.co.uk/
Burgess Hill Town – A side on the up, promoted from the Sussex County League a season ago winning it by 21 points, they had a good first year in the Doc Martens just missing out on the play offs. Nearest station is Wivelsfield! Not far from our cup nemesis Hassocks, they have quite a rivalry going with Hastings. http://www.bhtfc.org.uk/
Corinthian-Casuals – How they stayed up I don’t know. A god forsaken shit hole in the industrial hell known as Tolworth. This tests the faith on any fan and they play in pink & brown! Nearest station Tolworth, near a massive Bowling Alley, which might be worth checking out to brighten the day up. http://corinthian-casuals.co.uk/
Cray Wanderers – The Wands need no introduction. They are the second oldest team in the world and share Hayes Lane with us. The team that won the Kent League & Senior Trophy contained many old Bromley players including Mark Tompkins, Dave Gray & Ian Rawlings. This season will see us on level terms for the first time ever I think. http://www.craywands.co.uk/
Croydon – The worst ground in the league. I know this without seeing any of the newcomers! The soulless Athletics Arena on the outskirts of Croydon is a dreadful place to watch any game. Mercifully the Arena Tram stop is not far away and provides a swift getaway. Dave Garland currently manages the side, which makes them even more popular with Bromley fans. Finished fifth from bottom. No current site, just a few fans.
Croydon Athletic – There'll be a few visiting fans wondering around Thornton Heath trying to find this place. It’s tucked away behind some houses and takes some tracking down. Best to get a bus from Croydon and get off in Galpins Road. They have recently built a new stand, with the rest of the ground quite basic and the food is by far the best on sale in the league. http://www.btinternet.com/~croydonathleticfc/
Dorking – Won promotion from the Ryman Div Two, were once in the Premier Division and then fell away alarmingly. Their ground is very leafy and green, but a bit run down. Not too far from the station at the back of the High Street. CCL side Seelec Delta share the ground and the pitch is meant to be very bad. http://www.dorkingfc.co.uk/
Dulwich Hamlet – The dear old Pinkies choked in the playoff after a dramatic collapse following our 4-0 win at Champion Hill on Easter Monday. The ground is near East Dulwich station and not too far from Denmark Hill. It’s tucked behind the Sainsbury’s. The similarities between us and them are plenty, proud history, good fans, uncertain ground future & average team! The ground isn’t a patch on the old one. http://www.hamletweb.co.uk/
Fleet Town – Based in Hampshire, the ground is listed as 1.3 miles from Fleet station. They finished in the relegation zone of the DME last season, but were reprieved by the demise of Southall Town and then switched with Sittingbourne to join the Isthmian League, poor sods! Former QPR player Andy Sinton has just joined them. http://www.fleettownfc.co.uk/
Hastings United – At last a decent trip to the coast! Hastings had a bad season last time round and finished near the bottom of the Doc Martens Eastern. The ground is cool, it has a massive main stand and terrace behind one goal. Unfortunately it’s miles from the station and you can’t get back after a mid- week game, so get a good B&B sorted. Lloyd is on good terms with their fanzine editor. http://www.hastingsunitedfc.co.uk or http://www.oocities.org/gizmos1uk/home2.html
Horsham – Another ground not too far from the station and it’s not a bad one either, with an old stand and terracing on all sides. Most of their fans seem like they’d be more at home at Twickenham, but they make a lot of noise. They had a poor year finishing nearer the bottom. We should thank them for contributing to the sacking of Alan Walker. http://www.horshamfc.freeserve.co.uk
Leatherhead – Hmmm what can I say? We don’t see eye to eye with their fans, thanks to some clumsy press releases ahead of an FA Cup game in 2002 and then their gloating which carried on for several months afterwards. It was lovely to get six points off them last season. Their ground is prone to flooding too, although when it is dry it’s very nice. http://www.leatherheadfc-online.co.uk
Metropolitan Police – Nice ground, no fans! They are prone to calling games off at the drop of a hat, especially when there are protests in London or a petrol strike! Finished near the bottom again, never seem to get relegated some how and always take points off Bromley! They have now opened their ranks to non-police staff, which may improve their results and gives them less reason to call games off. No fans, no website!
Molesey – It’s a very long trek from Hampton Court station and not worth it when you get there. The main stand looks like a cricket pavilion, the rest is best forgotten! Perennial strugglers, who once were in the Premier Div and boast Cyrille Regis as a former player. Not enough fans to sustain a website.
Newport IOW – The plans are already being made for a ‘wrong un’ weekend, so get ready for a Tuesday night away trip and men over board on the ferry! They finished near the bottom of the DME last season. Apparently it’s a newish ground and you have to get a bus from any of the main ferry ports. http://www.newport-fc.co.uk
Tooting & Mitcham Utd – Mad new ground. It is a short walk from Mitcham Tram Stop. They too have some good vocal fans and a proud history. Finished mid-table, very up and down since Richard Cadette took over as manager. http://www.netcomuk.co.uk/~staylor2/index.html
Walton & Hersham – Not bad for an athletic track, needs a lick of paint, but a short stroll from Walton on Thames station through some very wealthy housing, which was home to punk band Sham 69! They finished one place under us and were a very tough tackling side to say the least! http://www.waltonandhershamfc.org.uk
Whyteleafe – A very friendly club in the Surrey commuter belt, close to both stations in the small town. They have a big stand behind one goal, which was built by the players ahead of a FA Cup game with Chester City. The pitch is nearly as bad as ours so call if there is any rain that week. They had a poor season after a good start and finished lower mid table. http://www.theleafe.co.uk
Col.
July 2004.