Where to support Non League Day 2023 in Sussex
Non League Day 2023 takes place this year on Saturday 25th March and there are a huge number of grassroots clubs getting behind the concept with admission offers and other events to mark the occasion.
For the uninitiated, Non-League Day takes place annually and celebrates everything about the amateur game. It is held when there is an international break and aims to encourage fans of Premier League and Championship clubs to go and support their local grassroots sides.
Sussex is blessed with a thriving non league scene right now, from Worthing loving life in National League South to the tightest Southern Combination League title race there has been for some time.
Many of these clubs are exclusively volunteer run, with money taken at the turnstiles often funding thriving youth set-ups, projects and facilities which are of benefit to the whole community. By attending a Non League game, you will be playing your part in supporting such ventures
The players on show might not be quite the same level as Moises Caicedo, Alexis Mac Allister and Solly March, yet you could still find yourself surprised by the standard… March of course having been signed by Brighton from non-league Lewes.
You will also find what we like to call “real football” at these non league venues. Places where it does not cost £3.20 for a bag of Starburst.
Where you can stand and drink a pint whilst you watch and where you are guaranteed a friendly welcome – one which does not involve being searched for dangerous weapons such as bottle tops, flasks or homemade sandwiches.
Think that sounds good? Well here are some of the games taking place on Non League Day 2023 across Sussex worth checking out, along with a full list of matches down to Southern Combination Division Two for you to make your pick from.
Worthing v Havant & Waterlooville – 3pm
Worthing have been flying in National South after winning promotion from the Isthmian League at the end of last season. With seven matches to go, they could yet force their way into a playoff spot.
Their fixture against Havant & Waterlooville looks pivotal in that quest to become the highest ranking non league side in Sussex.
Havant are one place and two points better off than Worthing in the standings and another big crowd is expected at the Crucial Environmental Stadium, where average attendances are in excess of 1,000 this season.
And if the idea of a huge crowd and a promotion six pointer is not enough to tempt you, then how about the identity of the Rebels manager?
Adam Hinshelwood in the dugout means there is the prospect he has taught his players how to score own goals from 30 yards, as he famously did against Colchester United on Boxing Day 2008.
Tickets for Worthing v Havant & Waterlooville are priced at £14 adults and £10 concessions. It is recommended to buy in advance from this website.
Lancing v Three Bridges – 3pm
Hinshelwood is not the only ex-Albion player managing these days. Dean Cox is at the helm of Lancing and they have a tasty Sussex derby in the Isthmian League South East division against Three Bridges to look forward to.
Bridges made it to within two games of the first round of the FA Cup earlier in the season, losing at home to Hereford in the third qualifying round.
Brighton supporters of a certain vintage can sympathise with how that feels after the Bulls gained a measure of revenge for the final day of the 1996-97 season, eliminating the Albion from the FA Cup six months later.
In terms of this meeting, Three Bridges are five points above the relegation playoffs and Lancing two. Both could feasibly get sucked in and that should add additional spice.
Lancing are offering entry by donation, so you can effectively turn up and pay what you like. Culver Road is a tidy little ground too as the home of the Sussex County FA.
Hassocks v Newhaven – 2pm
There are not many better spots to spend a day watching non league football in Sussex than the Beacon, home of Hassocks. The bar serves a range of craft beers, the food is brilliant and the scenery with Jack & Jill Windmills looking down on the ground stunning.
The football has not been bad this season either. The Robins have been free-scoring on their way to eyeing up a first top 10 finish in a decade, particularly since the turn of the year in a run of form involving just one defeat.
Equally impressive in front of goal have been their Non League Day visitors Newhaven, who became the first Sussex club to smash the 100 goal barrier this season.
The Dockers are locked in a enthralling battle with leaders Broadbridge Heath for the Southern Combination League title, with just two points separating the top two going into the final six matches.
Hassocks are offering reduced admission to anyone who brings along an item for the Hassocks Community Food Bank.
A donation gets an adult in for £4 and a concession for £2 compared to the normal prices of £7 and £4. So, not only can you support non league football, but you can also help those in need at the end of a long, hard winter.
Please note that Hassocks v Newhaven kicks off at the earlier time of 2pm, allowing longer to get home before Starstruck starts on ITV.
AFC Varndeanians v Crowborough Athletic – 3pm
If you fancy reminding yourself just how far Brighton have come in the past 12 years, why not take a trip down memory lane and visit Withdean Stadium for Non League Day 2023?
The Theatre of Trees now plays host to Southern Combination League Premier Division side AFC Varndeanians, who host Crowborough Athletic.
Withdean is of course much changed since the Albion played there. The South and West Stands are gone. There is no bacon baguette van.
Dick Knight will not be on the pitch at half time cutting a giant birthday cake. And presumably, there is no madman hiding in the forest who lets off fireworks every time Varndeanians score.
What you will find though is the same dugouts, same North Stand and same feeling of playing a pre-season friendly in Scandanavia as Lou Macari once famously described it.
You could even take in a Sportsman Carvery beforehand, although we note that the price has risen to £7.49 from the £3.99 we used to pay to be fuelled through a game and onto Tru afterwards. Brexit means Brexit.
Shoreham v East Preston – 3pm
The WAB team visited Shoreham during the September international break. There was a stag do from Birmingham who were invited onto the pitch to partake in a half time penalty shootout.
This all went rather well until the stag managed to blaze his spot kick over the stand and out of the ground, much to the delight of everyone watching.
But even without 20 pissed up Brummies watching the big game between the Musselmen and Forest Row, Middle Road is a venue worth checking out.
The bar serves both Birra Moretti and Anglo Poretti on tap, which is good news if you want your mind altered by strong Italian lager alongside 90 minutes of football.
Shoreham also recorded the longest unbeaten start to the season of any non league team down to step seven in the country, making it until February 28th before losing at the 24th time of asking.
The Musselmen obviously top Southern Combination League Division One thanks to that run, but it is a lot tighter at the top than you might think.
Dorking Wanderers B and Epsom & Ewell are three and four points behind respectively. Shoreham will therefore be gunning for three points when East Preston visit on Non League Day.
Non League 2023 Day fixtures in Sussex…
National League South
Worthing v Havant & Waterlooville
Isthmian League Premier
Lewes v Potters Bar Town
Isthmian League South East
Burgess Hill Town v Chatham Town
East Grinstead Town v Ashford United
Lancing v Three Bridges
Littlehampton Town v VCD Athletic
Whitehawk v Cray Valley PM
Southern Combination League Premier
AFC Uckfield Town v Saltdean United
AFC Varndeanians v Crowborough Athletic
Broadbridge Heath v Bexhill United
Crawley Down Gatwick v Alfold
Eastbourne United v Roffey
Hassocks v Newhaven
Horsham YMCA v Eastbourne Town
Little Common v Midhurst & Easebourne
Loxwood v Lingfield
Southern Combination League Division One
Arundel v Epsom & Ewell
Seaford Town v Billingshurst
Selsey v Hailsham Town
Shoreham v East Preston
Wick v Dorking Wanderers B
Worthing United v Oakwood
Southern Combination League Division Two
Bosham v Jarvis Brook
Charlwood v Ferring
Copthorne v St Francis Rangers
Rottingdean Village v Upper Beeding
Rustington v Worthing Town
Storrington Community v Brighton Electricity
