Division One South: Ashford Town (Middx), Banstead Athletic, Bognor Regis Town, Bracknell Town, Bromley, Carshalton Athletic, Chertsey Town, Corinthian Casuals, Croydon, Croydon Athletic, Dulwich Hamlet, Egham Town, Epsom & Ewell, Horsham, Leatherhead, Lewes, Metropolitan Police, Molesey, Staines Town, Tooting & Mitcham United, Walton & Hersham, Whyteleafe, Windsor & Eton, Worthing.
So regionalisation finally happened and we find ourselves facing some new teams for a change and at least two if them for the very first time. Here’s what I know about the new faces on the block and the old ones too.
Ashford Town (Middx) – We played them in the League cup back in 2000 during the petrol strike and won 3-1. It’s a very long walk from the station and I’ll be getting a cab this time! They have done well since winning the Combined Counties League in May 2000 and now are at their highest ever level of football. The ground is ok, but quite open.
Banstead Athletic – Again I think this is the highest level they’ve played at, I’ve never been there, but I understand the ground is fairly near Tattenham Corner Station. I saw some pictures on the net and it looked a tad ‘basic’. I’ve certainly not seen us play them before. John Myatt came from there and briefly returned in 2001.
Bognor Regis Town – As far as I know we are banned from Nyewood Lane for this season after one drunk guy walked on the pitch last season. Wins are usually hard to come by down by the coast, it’s a nice ground with a good bar and excellent food. They came close to going up last year before falling away at the end. A cab ride from the station.
Bracknell Town – I know nothing about them apart from Cray played them in the FA Cup last season and lost 2-1. The Directory says their ground is quite near the station, which is always a bonus. They finished in the top 6 of Division three.
Carshalton Athletic – Graham Roberts currently manages the team, which is the only thing I’ve really got against this team. Their ground has a great covered terrace along one side and they too have had problems with mystery fires. Probably one of the promotion contenders if the ex-Hun keeps his toys in his pram. Near Carshalton station.
Chertsey Town – Not new to us at all, they were relegated from the Premier Division the season before us and went down again soon after. The ground is nice and quite close to the station, but it is a poxy journey from Waterloo. This could see the return of the Supporters Club’s River Cruise.
Corinthian Casuals – I went there towards the end of last season for a 0-0 with Tring. This is a famous old name in non-league football, but the ground is not fitting of that. It’s basic, open and has no atmosphere at all. The bar’s not bad though and the few supporters they have were friendly. Our old favourite Gwynne Berry was playing for them. It’s a fair walk from Tolworth station, but there is an old-school bowling alley near by.
Croydon – Awful shit hole! I hate watching football at this soulless athletics stadium we once had to call ‘home’. The one thing going for it is that it’s right by the Arena stop on the Tram. This will be the firsttime Bromley fans have travelled by tram to a game in a long time! They were relegated from the Premier Division last year by some way and their Chairman/Manager/Benefactor has quit over the summer.
Croydon Athletic – Do not upset the locals here! A few of us went to see them play Hornchurch in a promotion battle in April 2001 and it was very lively on and off the pitch. It was quite a hike from Norbury station, maybe someone knows a quicker way, but I can’t see one on the A to Z. They had a great season last time out winning Div 3 and will be one to watch this season too. Main striker Fowler got something like 50 goals.
Dulwich Hamlet – Our oldest rivals in this division we’ve shared chairman mangers and players over the years with The Pinkies all of which have added to the spice. They always seem to have things slightly better than us on the whole. Both of us have great histories and dodgy presents! They will be up there this season with a strong forward line. A fair walk from Denmark Hill station.
Egham Town – I’ve seen us play them once, in a League cup game back in 1987 at The Nest and we won. I understand it’s a long way from the station and according to the directory their nickname is ‘The Sarnies’! They’ve come straight up from Division Three.
Epsom & Ewell – They share with Banstead and we used to play them in the league a long time ago. Another side who have come up from Div 3, Matt Elliot, Chris Powell and Alan Pardew all played for them.
Horsham – We’ve been here twice in friendly games in the recent past and I really liked this old school football ground. It’s only a short walk from the station and they have a fair sized group of vocal supporters who stand at the side. Marcell Dennis was there last season.
Leatherhead – We only just avoided relegation at their expense in May 2001 and now they are back on level terms with us. There has been no shortage of goals when we’ve played there. The ground is in very leafy Surrey and is kind of quaint, especially the canteen in the stand. I believe their supporters bought out the club and now run it. Another one that is quite close to the station.
Lewes – Luckily we don’t play them near Bonfire Night! Celtic shirts are not recommended! The ground itself is unique set in a Roman Amphitheatre with a small stand on top of the grass bank. When I last went there in December 1990 we won 4-3 and the seats in the stand were from an old Cinema. They had a great season last time winning Div 2 and playing away to Stoke in the FA Cup. They will be a genuine contender for promotion again.
Metropolitan Police – This will suck no two ways. I don’t believe works teams belong in senior football, especially when they knock you out of the FA Cup! The ground is top class as is the pitch, but I do not recommend going in the bar. I think Thames Ditton is the nearest station we last played there in October 1990 and lost 3-1.
Molesey – Yuk! This is a very long walk from Hampton Court station and we rarely do well at this place. The stand looks like a cricket pavilion and the rest of the ground is pretty poor. They had a few seasons up in the Premier Div and then fell away to Div 2. Cyrille Regis once played for them so they have got something to be proud of!
Staines Town – Currently sharing with Walton while a massive sports complex is built on their old ground, the away game often finishes 0-0. Not a very exiting side, but they get results and have recently picked up a vocal support behind the goal.
Tooting & Mitcham United – A new ground for us to visit on New Years Day and it looks very impressive on their website. They also have a very strong squad together for this season and will be going for promotion. A good vocal support and a shared loathing of Dulwich make them popular at The Nest.
Walton & Hersham – Nice ground despite the athletics track, we’ve done surprisingly well here the last couple of years. Not too far from Walton station, we once played a home game there after the 1992 fire.
Whyteleafe – Right between the two stations, both are short walks. Nice bar and picturesque setting in the leafy Surrey suburbs. There is no rivalry between the two clubs to speak of, they are just too friendly! Will probably have a better season than last time out when they finished below us!
Windsor & Eton – Struggled last season having just got promoted from Div 2. This is a long way from the station and a cab is essential. We gave them their first win last season. It’s a nice place apart from the Royal connections. Singing ‘Flower of Scotland’ in the local pubs is not recommended!
Worthing – A really decent proper football ground and what seems a growing support, good website too. They are a strong side and will give you a tough game. Two fairly good bars and ok food, plus it’s a coastal trip. Near Worthing station and not far from Brighton for a day out.
-- Col