By Daniel Ford
The perfect storm could be heading to the Eastbourne football world.
Eastbourne Town are firmly established in the Isthmian League South East Division after their promotion last season – and they could be joined by both Hastings United and Eastbourne United soon.
Hastings are struggling in the division above and have a fight on their hands to avoid relegation, while Eastbourne United are hovering with intent in the Southern Combination and look a good bet for promotion via the play-offs.
Three local sides in the same league will make for great crowds and added excitement for fans but managers will be biting their nails at the prospect of scrambling for the limited resources of quality players in the area.
But which manager would fancy their chances if the perfect storm does strike the south coast?
Eastbourne Town quietly impress
Jude Macdonald at Town is a shrewd operator, managing a small squad (with some smart loan signings when needed) and a limited budget. He will always be remembered for the run of 17 unbeaten games that launched the club back into Isthmian League football after a ten-year absence.
But it’s the understated work in the higher division this season that deserves the most praise as Town have added regular points against quality opposition to solidify their place in the league with the iconic name.
“We want to keep proving we are a good side at this level,” Macdonald told the BBC in a recent interview – and he’s certainly done that.
On the perfect storm, he admitted it would be tough for Town. “The others have almost certainly got bigger budgets than us, Eastbourne United better facilities, and Hastings bigger crowds,” he said.
The battle of Hastings
But this season, Hastings’ bigger crowds can be nothing but disgruntled after their slide into the relegation zone in the Isthmian Premier after pushing for a play-off spot in the previous two seasons. They are currently 20th out of 22 teams and play against Wingate & Finchley tonight (Tuesday March 11).
The loss of defender and long-throw expert Ollie Black to Worthing Town (he later returned on loan) certainly didn’t help.
On the bench, the club have turned to the experience of Danny Searle who has worked at West Ham United, Aldershot Town, and Ebbsfleet United in previous coaching roles.
But his appointment has yet to turn the tide at the Pilot Field and it remains to be seen whether he would relish the grind of step four football if he doesn’t keep them up.
United thrive at new-look ground
Eastbourne United started the season as one of the title favourites in the Southern Combination, but a poor – and completely unexpected – start saw them take eight games to record their first league win.
It certainly didn’t help that they were playing their ‘home’ games at Newhaven as they waited for the redevelopment at their Oval ground to be completed.
But the makeover – more than £1 million was spent on converting facilities at the ground which has been their home since 1947 – was worth the wait.
Attendances have boomed, boosted by community initiatives to attract local residents, and the team has shot up the league to the verge of the play-off places.
The experience of manager Anthony Storey, an ex-pro with Middlesbrough, will be crucial in the run-in. Players have come and gone at the Oval this season, with Storey using an astonishing 51 players in the first team so far.
Notable departures include the talented Arron Hopkinson, well-known for being the face of the Football Manager computer game (to Crowborough Athletic) and stalwart defender Alfie Headland, who made over 200 appearances for the Oval side (to Hailsham Town). New faces include strikers Sonny Walsh (on loan) and James Hull, both from neighbouring Town.
If he can get the club over the line, manager Storey is certainly relishing the prospect of the three local rivals coming up against each other next season.
“It would be amazing for all three clubs financially and with the big local derbies making the area very competitive”, he said.
“I can’t see a downside really. Hastings would obviously have the advantage because of their bigger crowds I suppose. It’s good for the area but will certainly put some pressure on all of us!”
Borough edges into the spotlight
Meanwhile, at the top of Eastbourne football, Borough are thrilling fans as they push for promotion to the National League, which would leave them just one step from the Football League.
The footballing skills displayed in training sessions by manager Adam Murray, who has extensive Football League experience with clubs including Derby County and Oxford United, has delighted fans on social media. But on matchdays it’s the defence, led by the six foot-five Frenchman Moussa Diarra, that has impressed.
They enjoyed a spell at the turn of the year without conceding a goal for seven games and have kept their goals-against tally to just a goal a game.
Their development of players continues to impress, with Brayden Johnson sold to Middlesbrough in January following the transfers of Fletcher Holman to Wolves and Leone Gravata to York City last season.
Perfect storm? Who’d have it any other way, living by the coast?
• Daniel Ford is the author of Fish, Chips & Football, a book that covers a season of football in Eastbourne and along the coast. To order: www.chasemysnail.com
Main image: Emilio Garcia / Unsplash
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