2018-19 National League South

[LondonOrn]

Strange all this I've heard about fans of little clubs picking fights with those of big/ex-league ones, in this case the Bath fans (ie those that actually attended) seemed perfectly civilised and just there to get behind their team. Might've been different though if Woking had won?

 

[Aberstone]

15k Aber? That’s 5k up on what he said a couple of weeks ago, though about half of what he was paying last season.

Yup, confirmed to a Billericay fan on Twitter yesterday. Harry Wheeler convinced him to bump up the budget so in his words they 'have a shot at the title, definitely playoffs'.

As we saw in the Trophy game last season, their defence leaves a lot to be desired and that's where they'll have to get their recruitment right this summer if they are to challenge at the top. They're absolutely stacked in midfield and up top so no problems there.

 

[yellow]

Strange all this I've heard about fans of little clubs picking fights with those of big/ex-league ones, in this case the Bath fans (ie those that actually attended) seemed perfectly civilised and just there to get behind their team. Might've been different though if Woking had won?

Happened when we went to Basingstoke in 2015 too. Had about 400 there without segregation, got well beaten and fans resorted to scrapping in the terraces. Definitely think a lack of segregation in places this season will bring our idiots out more.

 

[Pinner Stones]

Happened when we went to Basingstoke in 2015 too. Had about 400 there without segregation, got well beaten and fans resorted to scrapping in the terraces. Definitely think a lack of segregation in places this season will bring our idiots out more.

You will be segregated at Wealdstone along with Woking, as will Hemel for the 71 fans on a Saturday they brought last season.

 

[Pink Panther]

On St. Albans, yeah that's a decent enough away day but I'm not a fan of Clarence Park, it's just a concrete mess even with all its history. Chelmsford has plenty of pubs in the city centre and I always enjoy Truro. I'm just hoping the fixture gods give us Weston away on a day that I can attend - 5 seasons we'll have been in this league with them now and various reasons have prevented me from attending the first 4. It's also the only ground from the clubs in the league last year that I've yet to visit.

I was forgetting it's almost 20 years since I visited St Albans, it having been an annual occasion throughout the 1990s. I guess they were forced to upgrade/ruin the place when they were briefly a National Division club a few seasons back.

I did Chelmsford as a neutral shortly after they moved there; similar configuration to Enfield Town without cover behind the goals. Not sure whether they've improved it since then, but a good town for a day out.

My five new grounds are Truro, Torquay, Weston-super-Mare, Evesham (Gloucester) and Eastbourne Borough. It's a good many years since I've visited some of the others.

Expecting Billeri$$$$ay to walk away with it, only hope is Tamplin gets fully involved in team affairs and they stumble to mid-table. Dartford and Chelmsford to be up there again along with Woking.

Billericay only won the Isthmian League with one game to spare, despite Dulwich being plagued by unforseen off-field issues and being abruptly thrown out of our ground with two months of the season to go; not to mention our two most experienced forwards (Gavin Tomlin and Dumebi Dumaka) both missing almost the entire season through injuries. Tomlin recovered sufficiently from a broken leg to score his second goal of the season in the play-off final. The previous season he played in 60 out of 68 matches, scoring 19 goals, and I'd go so far as to say that had he been available for a similar proportion of this season his influence on the team is such that we'd have squeezed out the extra five points that would have made us champions. I can only see Billericay winning it if there's no other side capable of getting much more than 80 points, as I'm sure the destabilising influence of Tamplin will cause a meltdown or two when they're up against decent sides who know the division inside out; they should be in the top seven though.

15k Aber? That’s 5k up on what he said a couple of weeks ago, though about half of what he was paying last season.

I'm sure you'll get used to Mr Tamplin changing his mind and contradicting himself every other week/day. I thought most of their players were signed on 2 year contracts at the start of last season, so it could be interesting if he wants to half the wage bill. They singed one player based in Halifax (Elliot Kebbie?) then Tamplin decided he didn't fancy him and wanted to cancel a 2 year contract after just a few weeks even though the player had committed no disciplinary offences or done anything to warrant such action.

What sickens me most about this clown is that he tried to buy Dagenham and Bishop's Stortford first but they both turned him down for being too dodgy and/or wanting complete control. His project isn't about Billericay Town FC, it's all about himself; the club is just a vehicle for his own ego. It could have been any club desperate enough to let him take over. I waited 40 years in the hope of seeing my club win the Isthmian League Championship for the first time in my lifetime (we won it four times in the dim and distant past, having played continuously in that league since 1907), our tally of 95 points would have won it last year ahead of Havant, but it's my bad luck that this season happened to be the one when Glenn Tamplin FC bought that success at our expense.

 

[ForeverUnited]

I expect Slough to have a very successful season as well. There postponed games are the reason why they weren't neck and neck with us.

 

[Pink Panther]

I expect Slough to have a very successful season as well. There postponed games are the reason why they weren't neck and neck with us.

They'll be strong, I'm sure. They have a good management team in Jon Underwood & Neil Baker, who took Godalming as far as they were ever likely to get. Slough now have a brand new ground close to the town centre and a growing support. The infrastructure appears to be in place for them to flourish.

 

[LondonOrn]

They were an established Conference side during the 1990s but then recently nearly dropped into county league football, while not quite Leigh or Histon like, that's still some tumble from grace.

Apparently they were reprieved in 2008 after finishing second from bottom in Southern League Div. 1 South & West because of Halifax's demise, I don't quite understand that? Because didn't Halifax reform at Level 8, the same level Slough were in, so they should have still got relegated?

 

[Aberstone]

We’ve gone a bit mad on the signing front today. There could be more announced but so far the following have signed:

Tom Gardiner (St Albans City)
Montel Agyemang (East Thurrock United)
Matt Lench (Slough Town)
Stefan Brown (Hungerford Town)

 

[Pinner Stones]

Add .....

Yado Mambo formerly of Ebbsfleet. He retired in December through injury but medical advice has allowed him to return to playing.

 

[Pinner Stones]

Freddie Grant from Oxford City has also joined and two in from Staines Town, Sam Hatton and Wadah Ahmidi.

Eddie Oshodi retiring from football and 13 other players released.

 

[Seventyseven]

Well, we're really going for it..... none other than Bobson Bawlings! Yet another sicknote to add to the very long list that like to wear the yellow shirt (in training, on the bench, in the physio's room.... but not on the f**king pitch where it counts).

So far, this is going to be another year of struggle....

 

[Aberstone]

James Clark (Hungerford) and Marvel Ekpiteta (Bishops Stortford) have also joined bringing it to 10 signings today. 13 players have been released as a result. I think we now have 17 players signed up for next year now so maybe a couple more to come in but that’s it.

 

[Lew]

Sam Hatton, good god

 

[Aberstone]

Sam Hatton, good god

That’s the one where I’m thinking ‘ffs, what are you playing at?’

 

[Meadow]

Sam Hatton was our player of the year when we were promoted to the Football League and with good reason. Has he really got that bad in the 6 years since he left us?

 

[Pinner Stones]

That’s the one where I’m thinking ‘ffs, what are you playing at?’

Of all our signings, he’s the one that has been universally panned. He must be really, really bad.

 

[yellow]

Well, we're really going for it..... none other than Bobson Bawlings! Yet another sicknote to add to the very long list that like to wear the yellow shirt (in training, on the bench, in the physio's room.... but not on the f**king pitch where it counts).

So far, this is going to be another year of struggle....

Love how some are getting 'buzzing' after the signings so far.

Reid is a trier but not much else. Williams turns up as and when he fancies it. Sokolik injury prone. A quick google of Bawling brings up him sticking one over the bar from about 2 yards out, and off the back of 7 months out injured.

We'll piss this tinpot league.

 

[Clem Fandango]

All our players are on holiday right now so no news but rumour is Ed Williams is signing for Exeter. How true that is, is another thing. With Hereford going north the other rumour is Mills potentially coming here. Haven't see any retained list but would be surprised if Jamie Edge is still on it, lad has bags of ability (on the ball) but just doesn't look interested when he hasn't got it.

 

[DarkSithLord]

Steve King the new manager at Welling.

 

[Seventyseven]

Alex Akrofi moves from the Angels to Chelmsford.... big step up for the little fella. However, Chelmsford fans, do not criticise the poor little mite if he fucks up in front of goal.... you'll be in for a barrage of expletives from the diminutive former Angels' favourite....

 

[Raymondo316]

Surprised Chelmsford have signed him to be honest, when he was with us he didnt look close to National South standard.....Ryman Premier looked about his level.

Unless hes bulked up abit, in my opinion he will struggle. He was so lightweight when we had him at this level & his final product was rather questionable to say the least.

 

[Pinner Stones]

Bradley Hudson-Odoi rejoins the Stones after two years away.

 

[Aberstone]

Rhys Tyler has also joined the club too, signing from Hungerford. I’m delighted that Bradley’s back at the Stones, we didn’t have any natural wingers last year so great to get someone in who can beat a man and chip in with a fair few goals too.

 

[DarkSithLord]

Interesting appointment - Hampton and Richmond Borough have announced Gary McCann as their new manager after he ends a 15 year association with Hendon.

 

[yellow]

See Bath have signed Ross Stearn from Sutton (apparently we were in for him). Have also signed Ryan Clarke from us, and Chippenham have signed Yan Klukowski after his release here.

 

[JaredSUFC]

Not surprised Stern ended up at Bath. We initially signed him from Bath in 2015, and after his return from Eastleigh last season he spent a spell on loan at Twerton Park

 

[Seventyseven]

Luke Young moves to Wrecsam....

 

[yellow]

Deserves much better than our shit show.

 

[DarkSithLord]

I see Wealdstone have signed Godfrey Poku. He was awful for us from memory.