ADVENTURES IN THE SOUTHERN COMBINATION

To be printed in the National League South game v Braintree Town Saturday 5th September 2026

It's too hectic at work to bother with friendlies. So my pre season warm up was courtesy of the Southern Combination League, which is mainly teams representing small towns and villages across Sussex with the odd exotic location thrown in like Guernsey and Lingfield and the mysterious Dial Square. It's the sort of league were players swap clubs like children do football stickers.

Brighton is like one of your friends who never stops partying, no matter what day of the week or what time of year. Come Pride Weekend this is turbo charged madness when hundreds of thousands join the party. Think Glastonbury minus the tents but with a million pieces of glitter covering the streets.

But I had other plans. A trip to Newhaven no less.

The football club has mirrored the small towns fortunes. Newhaven Football Club had at one point sunk to Division 3 with a massive stand that had stood derelict for over 15 years as a previous owner ran out of money before finishing it. The town centre surrounded by a large ring road was desolate and depressing.

Fast forward a few years and there's been plenty of investment – in the town and football club. Lots of sports and new facilities, cafe, new loos, community garden to add to the bowls, cricket, tennis, bike park surrounding the ground. The fort's been done up...there's even a micro-pub which is always a sign of something brewing. Still I had my eyes on the Prince of Wales, a proper back street boozer with traditional green tiling but worryingly a For Sale sign outside. The contrast to Pride couldn't be more stark. Infact I was the only customer. As the very elderly landlady grimaced at my bank card, I asked if it would still be a pub if sold and she said yes. Eventually other punters popped in, comfortable in the place like a well worn pair of slippers. We so need these spaces to survive and thrive.

After Thatcher sold off Newhaven Port, along with the rest of the countries treasure - something that is now biting us in the bum as we are fleeced for everything - the sandy beach that people had used for generations has been closed by the French owners because of the old health and safety routine. A few weeks ago, people took some direct action, busted down the gates and enjoyed the beach in the sweltering temperatures our climate now delivers. It's been made even more secure now, but really is it beyond the wit of man to give the seaside town its best beach back for families to enjoy?

As I approached the ground, children appeared from everywhere in their Newhaven kit and the crowd topped a healthy 312 who got to see a very decent end to end game. Crawley Down Gatwick looked to play the better football and were quick in defence, going a goal up within 3 minutes while Newhaven went into a back-passing-to-the-keeper loop. Things changed after the second half when Newhaven got a goal back then missed a host of very decent chances. A sub in the dug out managed to get himself sent off. Youngsters behind the opposition dugout where asked to move after giving the Crawley Down manager grief. Others had a drum, one even hit a wheelie bin. It ended 1-1 and I even got to see the obligatory ferry pull up alongside the ground. A very decent start to my footballing season.

Next up was Hassocks, which I hadn't visited since they beat Bromley in an FA Cup game 25 years ago, when Bromley were a couple of divisions higher in Ryman League Division One. I wonder where they are now?

This was a totally different Newhaven from Saturday. In your face, front footed and committed. Apart from a few last minute goal clearance scrambles i'd say they were worthy of their 3 points

Like Newhaven's ground, Hassocks has been transformed. Mind you, if i was a local garden centre i'd be checking my outdoor bench stock. Hassocks ground was littered with them. I counted 17 behind the goal alone and one had a gazebo with a family enjoying a picnic.

The grass pitch was as you would expect from a prolonged drought hard and patchy but pretty decent considering. Sports clubs can water but thanks to another successful sell off, those bills are eye watering. Still, at least some shareholders somewhere will be coining it in.

Hassocks pulled off the impossible a couple of seasons back, winning the Southern Combination Premier league with allegedly no playing budget. Unfortunately they only lasted a season in the Isthmian. The guy in the car park said he could already see the difference in quality from the Isthmian after they dismantled Lingfield 5-1 on the opening day. But they struggled at times tonight and relied on some bullet throw ins into the box to create chances.

The Hassocks chairman has obviously got his head screwed on and the ground has a flashy score board with jazzy graphics, there's even a mascot, two bars and places to eat. Its neat, tidy and the locals obviously enjoy coming here, with a crowd of 352.

Hassocks programme editors also deserve credit for brilliant copy. 'One half of your programme editing team would like to especially welcome Newhaven assistant manager Clive Blunt, who did an excellent job building my new kitchen last year' set the tone for an entertaining read.

Newhaven and Hassocks are two proper community clubs, doing things the right way. Let's hope they both have successful seasons on and off the pitch.