2017-18 Isthmian Leagues

[Paddy]

I suppose you could factor in Margate actually had a decent boss in Terry Brown too so for the rest of us I hope you're right, but I can't see them falling short as aside from your good selfs there's no other team to challenge them in the way that Maidstone did to Margate.

 

[Aberstone]

Let's be honest, Billericay's squad is a thousand times better than Margate's. Shame they'll lose the title to W&F since they have our centre half pairing from our title winning 2013-14 team.

 

[rudebwoyben]

I suppose you could factor in Margate actually had a decent boss in Terry Brown too so for the rest of us I hope you're right, but I can't see them falling short as aside from your good selfs there's no other team to challenge them in the way that Maidstone did to Margate.

Margate didn't even finish 2nd that season, Hendon did!

 

[The Paranoid Pineapple]

They should obviously win the league at a canter but I think PP (other PP) is right in that they do seem a bit shambolic (like a much better Dipre's Carshalton). Some grounds for optimism that they may not have everything their own way.

Not much Ks news lately. Ryan Moss has sadly departed (again) but Joe Turner is staying which is good. Other than that...

 

[Paddy]

Not much Ks news lately. Ryan Moss has sadly departed (again) but Joe Turner is staying which is good. Other than that...

& as if by magic!

Sam Page, Adam Thompson & Ricky Sappleton all announced for the 2017/18 season.

Not sure about Thommo coming back to us... a K's legend he is no doubt but i cant help fear if it doesn't go well he might tarnish his cult hero status in a semi Tommy Williams-esque kind of way.

Our friendly match with a Reading U23 side at their training facility has been clarified as 'behind closed doors' & our first friendly with Horsham (at Lancing's ground) is some kind of bastardised Americanised three thirds of 40 minutes abomination of a football fixture.

 

[Pink Panther]

I suppose you could factor in Margate actually had a decent boss in Terry Brown too so for the rest of us I hope you're right, but I can't see them falling short as aside from your good selfs there's no other team to challenge them in the way that Maidstone did to Margate.

Margate didn't even finish 2nd that season, Hendon did!

Hendon finished ten points clear of Margate. I don't think anyone foresaw that challenge, or ETU accruing 92 points to finish 3rd in their promotion season. And Hampton were almost relegated the year before they won the championship. It's not that unusual for a strong challenger to emerge from nowhere in this division.

I'm hoping Dulwich can find the consistency to make a serious challenge for first place rather than our now customary play off place 10-15 points below the champions. Our recent trend has been to fall away in the final two months of the season, stumble into the play offs with no form or momentum, then completely rebuild the squad in the summer and repeat, but this time we've made very few changes in personnel so we ought to be able to hit the ground running with a squad of tried and trusted players. Last season we were very ordinary until the new year but gained confidence from a Trophy run, and that seemed to fire up our league performances. Our form over the final two months was so good I actually expected to win the play offs for once, especially after annihilating an in-form Enfield Town in the semi, but Bognor played much better than in either of our league meetings with them and deserved it on the day.

 

[The Paranoid Pineapple]

& as if by magic!

Sam Page, Adam Thompson & Ricky Sappleton all announced for the 2017/18 season.

Not sure about Thommo coming back to us... a K's legend he is no doubt but i cant help fear if it doesn't go well he might tarnish his cult hero status in a semi Tommy Williams-esque kind of way.

Our friendly match with a Reading U23 side at their training facility has been clarified as 'behind closed doors' & our first friendly with Horsham (at Lancing's ground) is some kind of bastardised Americanised three thirds of 40 minutes abomination of a football fixture.

Hmm, what on earth is that Thompson signing about? He was great for us in the past but this was about a decade ago in the 1S! Not the sort of player a club expecting to be competitive in the Prem should be signing, I fear. Sappleton seems a backwards step as well. Colour me somewhat worried.

 

[Riverside64]

SIgned Brad Warner from Bowers last week who was their top scorer last season with 30+ goals. Thought he'd gone to ETU as he was announced on their website but he's joined us instead. With 2 automatic promotion spots available at our level (3 if you count the best 3rd placed team across step 4) most clubs will be thinking they'll never have a better chance of getting out of this division.

 

[Paddy]

Hmm, what on earth is that Thompson signing about? He was great for us in the past but this was about a decade ago in the 1S! Not the sort of player a club expecting to be competitive in the Prem should be signing, I fear. Sappleton seems a backwards step as well. Colour me somewhat worried.

CE seems to rate Sappleton. He wasn't exactly a world beater in his first spell for us but he seems to have had a good record under Craig at Billericay so I'm willing to put his previous spell to one side under the 'Tommy Willimas Effect'

 

[Pink Panther]

Regarding earlier comparisons between Margate and Billericay, I spotted this link on the Hendon forum where former Margate goalkeeper and manager Nicki Bull talks about his time at Gate:

https://footbullworld.com/2017/05/16/my-time-at-margate-where-do-i-start/

 

[townsendaround]

Hi all, I'm now looking after comms for the Bostik Football League. I'm not going to spam the forum with lots of stuff, but I will post the odd story I think you might find interesting, and was wondering if there is anyone you'd recommend as a subject for my Friday interview series? Here's the first one, with George Dowell of Worthing. Jake Robinson of Billericay Town follows this week.

http://www.isthmian.co.uk/the-bostik-friday-interview-george-dowell-worthing-37387

I'm also looking to do some supporter-led season previews. If any of you would be happy to answer a few questions (I'm looking for one supporter from each club) please send me an email at itownsend@isthmian.co.uk.

Thanks all. See you at a ground near you soon- I want to feature at least one match per week.

 

[Paddy]

Congrats on your new position! Will you still be running your blog also or would that be seen as a conflict of interests/would you be way to busy with the new gig?

I've asked around my fellow K's mates if anyone wants to get involved for an interview. I haven't really seen enough live K's games in the last year to feel like I can help with an accurate preview myself.

 

[Riverside64]

Friendly vs K's has been moved from Bridge Avenue on 20th July to Fetcham Grove on 31st July.

 

[Paddy]

Friendly vs K's has been moved from Bridge Avenue on 20th July to Fetcham Grove on 31st July.

This is now our first ever 'home' game at FG. One for the history books.

 

[townsendaround]

Congrats on your new position! Will you still be running your blog also or would that be seen as a conflict of interests/would you be way to busy with the new gig?

I've asked around my fellow K's mates if anyone wants to get involved for an interview. I haven't really seen enough live K's games in the last year to feel like I can help with an accurate preview myself.

Thanks Paddy, I got a K's offer and you may well have provoked it! Not sure I'll get time to write elsewhere, it's supposed to be ten hours a week but it's fast becoming a second full time job. Ground breaking announcement tomorrow, fixtures Thursday.

 

[Paddy]

Yeah that was my doing & you'll get a bloody good interview out of him

Can't wait for the fixture list... But I'm calling it here now that we'll be away on day 1, away on the last day of the season & we will have Not Police for our bank holiday games even though it makes so much sense to give us Leatherhead.

The announcement tomorrow got anything to do with the new Step 3/4 leagues for next year? Iirc the Isthmian are running one of the steps & the Southern League are running the other?

 

[townsendaround]

Yeah that was my doing & you'll get a bloody good interview out of him

Can't wait for the fixture list... But I'm calling it here now that we'll be away on day 1, away on the last day of the season & we will have Not Police for our bank holiday games even though it makes so much sense to give us Leatherhead.

The announcement tomorrow got anything to do with the new Step 3/4 leagues for next year? Iirc the Isthmian are running one of the steps & the Southern League are running the other?

No, today's announcement is about Lewes and out there now. Fixtures released by the clubs at 10 AM tomorrow, although I'll have a preview up at around the same time.

 

[Jemfy]

The announcement tomorrow got anything to do with the new Step 3/4 leagues for next year? Iirc the Isthmian are running one of the steps & the Southern League are running the other?

I thought all the relevant details about that were out for now. The only thing that hasn't been confirmed is what is planned to happen with the geographical footprints of the various divisions, and where the new ones are to sit etc, however I imagine they would like to wait until the last min to make the decisions a little easier depending on which clubs are looking like coming up (specifically thinking more about step 5 promotions here).

 

[Paddy]

No, today's announcement is about Lewes and out there now. Fixtures released by the clubs at 10 AM tomorrow, although I'll have a preview up at around the same time.

Just seen it & it is good to hear. Especially as when I read your post before looking at the Isthmian League site I was worried they'd withdrawn or something, taking away what is probably the best away day in the league.

 

[townsendaround]

http://www.isthmian.co.uk/bostik-league-fixtures-released-37501

Fixtures out now!

 

[Paddy]

Billericay away on day 1. Get that one out of the way nice & early! Merstham for BH Monday & Boxing Day is a bit of a let down but it's better than Met Police at least. Away on NLD again (not that being at home would actually make much difference anymore). Away on New Years Day.

 

[Raymondo316]

Frannie Collin & Matt Bodkin are the latest to join Maidstone old boys. I make that 8 ex stones players down their now.

 

[Jay Brown]

We have just been moved over to the Ryman South from the North.Looking forward to a few away days down the coast and especially Guernsey.Lost a few players,Theo Fairweather-Johnson to Hornchurch,Michael Power to Cray Wanderers,Jack Barry to Aveley and Russell Bedford to Cray Valley.Some decent additions tho,Jack Barham from Thurrock,Terry Murray from Corinthian Casuals,Conrad Lee from Sittingbourne,Danny Young from Greenwich Borough,Richard Seixas from Dartford and Frankie Sawyer from Hythe.

Looked good on Tuesday against a strong Welling side drawing 1-1 and have Dartford at home tomorrow.

 

[townsendaround]

I watched Burgess Hill Town take on Eastbourne Borough last night and they weren't half bad, although what that means for the season ahead I've no idea.

But here's something on Billericay Town, because you obviously can't get enough (sorry)! I interviewed their striker Jake Robinson. http://www.isthmian.co.uk/the-bostik-friday-interview-jake-robinson-billeric-37532

By the way, thanks for all the offers to do a pre-season preview. K's, Burgess Hill, East Grinstead, Phoenix Sports, Hendon and Margate covered. Keep your offers coming!

 

[DarkSithLord]

We have just been moved over to the Ryman South from the North.Looking forward to a few away days down the coast and especially Guernsey.Lost a few players,Theo Fairweather-Johnson to Hornchurch,Michael Power to Cray Wanderers,Jack Barry to Aveley and Russell Bedford to Cray Valley.Some decent additions tho,Jack Barham from Thurrock,Terry Murray from Corinthian Casuals,Conrad Lee from Sittingbourne,Danny Young from Greenwich Borough,Richard Seixas from Dartford and Frankie Sawyer from Hythe.

Looked good on Tuesday against a strong Welling side drawing 1-1 and have Dartford at home tomorrow.

Welcome to the forum.

 

[Jay Brown]

Welcome to the forum.

Thank you

 

[townsendaround]

http://www.isthmian.co.uk/running-up-that-hill-37611 Something about Burgess Hill Town, with a guest appearance from a Champions League winner.

Thanks very much to all those from the forum who have volunteered supporter previews. We still have a few spaces to fill, but the quality from those here has been superb. I'm going to start running them on the website tomorrow.

 

[Paddy]

Pre season update from the red half of Leatherhead:

08/07 v Horsham (a) 2-1 win
11/07 v Reading U23 (a) 1-5 loss
15/07 v VCD Athletic (a) 2-2 draw
18/07 v Walton & Hersham (a) 0-1 loss

Not the pre season pick-me-up we would have hoped for thus far with our only victory in 4 being against Horsham while last night we were defeated by Combined Counties Premier side Walton & Hersham on a park pitch. Teams we've put out have mostly been trialists though so this isn't an accurate reflection of where we are at. 5 friendlies to go before the real football begins.

Aaron Lamont, despite being one of the players to sign on with us for the 2017/18 season has had to move down Cornwall way for work so he's left us to join National League South side Truro City.

Project Chessington is dead. The board probably don't see it this way but the Kingston Council have said "there is little chance of Kingstonian getting new stadium on golf course site in near future". Better get comfy on that 465 bus from Kingston to Leatherhead because we'll be doing that journey for a long time.

 

[benmightsay]

Went down to Enfield Town for their friendly with Chelmsford City last night, I can see why they get such good crowds down there. Lovely community feel and great value all-round. They looked relatively decent, too. Ryan Blackman in midfield has a lovely touch and Simon Thomas up front was a handful.

I did actually vlog my experience if anyone's interested, has a bit of match footage in there.

 

[DarkSithLord]

Went down to Enfield Town for their friendly with Chelmsford City last night, I can see why they get such good crowds down there. Lovely community feel and great value all-round. They looked relatively decent, too. Ryan Blackman in midfield has a lovely touch and Simon Thomas up front was a handful.

I did actually vlog my experience if anyone's interested, has a bit of match footage in there.

Welcome to the forum Ben.