Ryman League Premier Preview

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Courtesy of Bromley fc

 

RYMAN LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION SEASON 2006/07 PREVIEW

 

 

AFC Wimbledon

 

Since their inception in 2002 relations between our two clubs supporters have not exactly been good, to be honest I donít look forward tour games because the talking points rarely seem to be about the actual game. Last season The Wombles of Norbiton made the play offs but were well beaten by a very impressive Fisher side. Theyíve made a couple of signings and will be looking to go one better this time. As you all know they play at Kingstonianís ground, nearest station Norbiton.

 

http://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/

 

 

 

Ashford Town (Middx)

 

Fresh from their promotion Ashford are now playing at the highest level of football in their history. Their ground is miles from the station and we havenít fared well there over recent meetings, they are a very tough side to beat. The ground is pretty basic and is in an industrial area very close to Heathrow Airport.

 

 

 

Billericay Town

 

We were involved in four very close games against Billericay last season, each side winning one and the other two were 2-2 draws. They were easily one of the best sides we played and will be looking to do better than their seventh placed finish last season. The ground is not too far from the station and quite unique as they have added to it each time they have been promoted. Be aware that the local kids like a wind up.

 

http://www.billericaytownfc.co.uk/

 

 

 

Boreham Wood

Promoted from the Southern Eastern Division Boreham Wood had a great season also making the semi final of the FA Trophy. They thrashed us at their place in November 2005 and looked a very strong attacking side. The ground is a walk down the high street from the station and not too bad, but some of the locals can be very confrontational and there were some unpleasant flare ups during their Trophy run.

 

http://www.web-teams.co.uk/home.asp?team=borehamwoodfc

 

 

 

Carshalton Athletic

The Robins were relegated from Conference South despite the best efforts for former Bromley manager Dave Garland to turn it around with a late run of good results. Since the Graham Roberts days the club have had a lot of financial problems and will be looking to re-establish their place back in the Ryman Premier. The ground is pretty good and quite close to the station, all their fans stand on the side terrace.

 

http://www.carshaltonathletic.org/

 

 

 

Chelmsford City

With former Canvey Island Owner/Manager Jeff King in charge The Clarets will be looking to win the league this time round, back at their own ground within the city and playing in front of big crowds everything seems to be clicking into place for them. Their ground is a big athletics stadium, but they have had the common sense to put metal terraces behind each goal. They have a large vocal following.

 

http://www.chelmsfordcityfc.com/

 

 

 

East Thurrock United

After a great start the Rocks slipped to a mid table finish last season following the departure of some of their better players. The bar is ok, but the ground is poor and very open. They didnít even have any food on sale when we played there. Right in the Essex industrial area itís not an away trip many will look forward to. Very few supporters, but a tough side to beat.

 

http://www.eastthurrockunited.moonfruit.com/

 

 

 

Folkestone Invicta

Folkestone finished mid table last time round after flirting with the drop for a while. They will be looking to do a little better this season, but they certainly proved to be tough opponents for us taking four points from the two matches and not looking troubled at all when we made the trip to the coast in January. The ground is a proper football venue and the locals seem ok when weíve played them.

 

http://www.folkestoneinvicta.co.uk/

 

 

 

Hampton & Richmond Borough

Alan Devonshireís team had a very good season making the play off final before losing to the might of Fisher in full flow. We took four points off them, much to our and their surprise. The ground isnít too far from the station and quite leafy and pleasant in a very affluent part o London. The fans seem ok too they took a large number to the play off final, their nickname is The Beavers! http://www.hamptonfc.com/

 

 

 

Harrow Borough

The away trip that most Bromley fans least look forward to, not just because itís miles from South Harrow tube, not just because itís always cold there and they get small crowds, but mainly because we always lose! The fans they do have are alright the food is good and the ground and bar ainít bad at all, just donít go expecting to get any points, they finished 16th last season. http://www.harrowboro.co.uk/

 

 

 

Hendon

After initially being relegated as the worst placed fourth bottom team in step 3, The Greens got a reprieve with the downsizing at Canvey, which kept up their record of always playing in the top flight of the Ryman Isthmian League. Hendon will open their season at Claremont Road, but the future of their ground is very much in doubt with the local council looking to sell it off. They struggled virtually all of last season, but still beat us at their place in September. We have only won there three times in over 50 years. They have picked up some new young fans, which the club desperately needed. The ground while itís still there is a proper old style football stadium.

 

http://www.hendonfc.net/

 

 

 

Heybridge Swifts

The Swifts finished second last season, but lost out on penalties to Hampton in the play off semi final. Spent plenty of cash last season, but this was not matched by their crowds which rarely get over 200. Heybridge is seven miles from Witham Station and in a very remote part of rural estuary Essex. The locals seem ok and the ground is not bad, but quite open to the elements. http://www.heybridgeswifts.com/

 

 

 

 

 

Horsham

Horsham came up in second place from Division One and richly deserved it after losing out in the play off final to us the season before. They are very good attacking side and will be looking to avenge three large defeats we inflicted on them in 2004/05. They have a good number of vocal friendly fans and the ground is a good place to visit, not too far from the station with a big covered side terrace. http://www.horshamfc.co.uk/

 

 

 

Leyton

The East Londoners slipped down the table as the season went on, but gave us a football lesson when we met in March led by inspirational captain Dean Chandler. The ground is a bus ride from Walthamstow tube and quite unique with itís three stands and tight perimeters surrounded by houses. They donít have a large support, but you can buy dodgy DVDís from a guy in their bar! http://www.leytonfc.co.uk/

 

 

 

Margate

The Seasiders finished 14th after moving back to their home town and getting their financial house back in order. They are looking to do much better this season and have changed manager and brought in some new faces. Hartsdwon Park is a shell of the fine ground it used to be, but Margate are looking to rebuild it and they have still got a good large local support. Annoyingly some of their fans stand at the same end for both halves so it can get a little tense on occasions. Itís very close to the station and sea front. http://www.margate-fc.com/

 

 

 

Ramsgate

The Rams have won two promotions in a row under Jim Ward and are now higher than they have ever been before. The ground is a little rough round the edges but still a good football ground with plenty of terracing on the three sides that are open. The locals didnít like Wimbledon and like Margate stay at one end for both halves. The station isnít too far away and the sea front is close too. They are big direct attacking side who will give any side a good game. Will be looking to avenge our 4-0 Kent Senior Cup Semi Final win in April. http://ramsgate-fc.co.uk/index1.htm

 

 

 

Slough Town

The Rebels are still playing in exile at the home of The Royalists in Windsor. The ground is a cab ride from either of the Royal townís stations and pretty desolate when you get there. Slough struggled last season finishing 17th, but they took four points of us! They have kept a good following despite all the bad luck and set backs the club has suffered in recent years. http://www.sloughtownfc.net/

 

Tonbridge Angels

The Angles won the division one play off final with the help of former Bromley players Fraser Logan and Wade Falana. Tonbridge is owned by former Ravens keeper Nicky Sullivan and they have done well to get back to this level of football. They have a large vocal support and will provide tough opposition to any side. The ground is a long walk from the station and quite a strange looking place as itís slowly grown and been added to since they moved their from their former town centre home.

 

http://www.tonbridgeangels.co.uk/

 

Walton & Hersham

The Swans did well to finish ninth following promotion last season and always are a tough physical side to play. We did do the double over them last season, both games finishing 1-0 with goals from a free kick & a penalty, which shows you how close they were. The ground is a pleasant walk through the affluent Surrey suburbs from the station and not bad for an athletics arena, but it needs a lick of paint! They have a fair number of vocal fans who stand on the side terrace. http://www.waltonandhershamfc.org.uk/

 

 

 

Worthing

Both times we played Worthing they looked a better side than their ninth placed finish, but they fell away towards the end of the season after good cup runs. They will be looking to at least make the play off places this time round. The ground was voted as the best ground visited by Bromley fans in TFT with three sides of terracing and a large main stand and is fairly near the station and not too far from the sea, they have a pretty large support. http://www.worthingfc.com/

[Umpire]

Lol. Did you see what it says in the Ramsgate section: "The locals didnít like Wimbledon..."?

[michael]

They have missed out Staines who imo are promotion favourites-good strong and particularly well organised side last season, and they've strengthened further by 2-3 players.

 

Staines and Bromley themselves are ahead of the more popular favourites of Hampton and Chelmsford in my opinion

[Cookie]

I agree with you there MM . Staines, I think, are going to be a handful for other clubs this season.