SPELLY WELLIED BY SEVENTH HEAVEN DOCKERS

Printed in the National League South v Torquay United Saturday 26th August 2023  We lost 2-1 in front of 1127

With the cost of everything going up and my bloody kids expensive Albion addiction, my trip to Weston Super Mare was scuppered. So I reached down the back of the sofa, sold some of my children's belongings on e-bay and scrapped enough pennies together to go and watch Newhaven in the FA Cup preliminary round.

Earlier in the week figures were published saying Brighton and Hove Albion contributed a staggering £595 million to the local economy last season – while qualification for Europe will add £80 million to this seasons total. The money includes £327 of direct income, £26 million spent by visitors, £20 million in goods and services in the city by club employees and a further £222 million of brands and media value to the local economy, which massively increases the cities profile around the world. Pretty handy for a seaside tourist town. While those figures are eye watering, all football clubs will bring in income; be that from visitors, being major employees – and also the different community activities they carry out.

In many ways Newhaven Football Club has mirrored the fortunes of the small town, which is very much on the up while retaining it's quirkiness. Helped (or hindered!) by the fact that families are leaving Brighton in droves as renting and buying a home becomes impossible making nearby seaside options much more attractive than before. The club have always been pretty well supported - infact the best supported in their league with an average of 264 per game. The imposing stand that was derelict for so long is now open, they've got a 3G pitch thanks to the use of some government regeneration cash and there seems to be improvement works going on continousily. There's always loads of children wearing Newhaven kits. They've got a good social media presence and their decent programme also showed their smart thinking and cost cutting, doubling up for the previous Tuesdays league game as well as this cup one.

I'm really not sure why Newhaven are still in the Southern Combination – well apart from the fact that its bloody hard to get out of Step 5. They have the infrastructure and certainly the crowds to be in the level above, if not further.

I arrived a little earlier and wanting to do my bit for the local economy sniffed out a backstreet boozer, where they had Stella coming out the Kronenbourg tap and the main topic of conversation was a locals moulting dog. Watch out Reg, you could be given a ban or a stretch of hoovering unless you comb your dog before you next visit the pub.

Todays opponents were Spelthorne Sports of the Combined Counties Premier. One guy watching his 16 year old play for Sports said he wished they could match what Newhaven had in terms of crowds and infrastructure. With an average crowd last season of just 47 – probably not helped by 10 other senior clubs just under four miles from them - I wondered if they had picked up many supporters from Staines Towns untimely demise. I know the renamed Staines & Lammas (Middlesex) had hoped to become the town club of choice but maybe that whole sorry saga of the Swans being snuffed out of existence had soured their supporters from watching football ever again.

It was a pretty even first half – 'Spelly' the better attacking team with more chances than a cautious Newhaven and they deservedly took the lead. But blimey, in the second half the Dockers steamrollered the team from Surrey, scoring 6 without reply to win 7-1. Afterwards the man of match with four goals Ian Robinson was interviewed by a very young lad who asked what the manager said at half time – his reply being that it wasn't repeatable!

So eight goals, the obligatory big-ferry-in-the-background pic, my football fix and the very welcome news that Slough had won handsomely away. I'll drink to that, or I would have if I had any money.

Meanwhile Newhaven were in the FA Cup 1st Qualifying round for the first time in 61 years. Yes, they have only played in the competition nine times during that period, but still. Maybe it's a cup run that will help fill those coffers, attract more fans, boost the local economy and finally get them promoted.